We are in the midst of powerful and intense days. We have moved through the courtship days of the month of Elul and entered the majestic days of Rosh Hashanah. We then continue through the intense awe of Yom Kippur and move further into the joy of Succot. All this progression, powered and motivated by prayer.



We have been in this season of penitence and prayer many times before. Yet, each of us individually are not what we were last year. Our nation, as a whole is not what it was just last year. As much as prayer reflects our desires and visions, it is more than anything, a reflection of the state of our soul.



This year, our souls have been battered and have been singed. How must that affect our prayers in this important period of time?



An insight that I first heard from Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof, Jerusalem, could prove to be very enlightening. Jews learn how to pray from Hannah in the Bible. In the first chapter of the book of Shmuel (Samuel), we learn of Elkannah of the tribe of Efraim, who had two wives .One was called Penina and the other, Hannah .Peninah was blessed with children, while Hannah remained childless.



We read in the text the following:



"And her rival [Peninah] vexed her sore, to make her fret, because HaShem had shut up her womb."



In what could have been a relationship of common purpose, Hannah remained alone (Shmuel 1:6).



When Hannah turned to her husband for comfort, he answered in a loving and compassionate manner:



"And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons?' " (Shmuel 1:8)



He did not understand, and she again remained alone.



She goes up to the House of G-d in Shilo and prays to her Creator. Eli, the wise and understanding high priest, approaches Hannah:



"And Eli said unto her: 'How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee.' " (Shmuel1:14)



Even Eli did not understand, and Hannah remained even more alone.



In that period of loneliness and despair, she turns to HaShem and prays, and G-d answers her favorably.



The most powerful prayer comes from the place of not having anything to depend on but G-d.



We, in this land, have witnessed miracle after miracle in the formation and survival of this state of Israel. We have watched the land blossom and its children returning home. We have witnessed the reunification of Jerusalem and the building of its ruins.



Yet, we have seen tragedy and sadness. We have experienced inner exile and destruction. We have tasted of the bitter cup of seeing those who we thought represented our vision turning against that very vision.



We stand, at times, very alone.



It is from that place, especially this year, that we turn to our Creator during these days of Majesty, Awe and Rejoicing. We must grow through all those phases, and the events of this year are clearly directing us through them all.



May our inner growth give us all the wisdom and insight to truly rejoice when that time will come; as it surely will.