Rabbi Ari Shvat
Question
Dear Rav, I had a question that somewhat bothers me. On the Yomim Noraim, we say many universal tefillos like Uvchen Ten Pachdecha, and Vesimloch. However, many of the added tefillos in the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah are for Jews specifically, like Uchsov Lechaim and Besefer Chaim. This also applies to the rest of the year, like with Rofei Cholei Amo Yisroel and Goel Yisroel. I’m wondering why not just daven for everybody instead of just the Jewish people. Thank you so much and Kesivah Vachasimah Tovah and Shanah Tovah!
Answer
Shalom- Very important question! You are correct that Judaism is both national and universal. We also believe very strongly in truth, that emuna (faith), tefilla (prayer), ideals etc. must all be totally "real" and not "pretend", artificial or theoretical. It's natural that all people pray better and with more intensity (kavana) for their family (e.g. say if a parent is sick, God forbid) than for a sick stranger on the other side of the world, that they have never met! Accordingly, prayer for all mankind would be nice and theoretical, but it's almost impossible to really honestly have and deeply feel the proper warmth. We see all Jews as our extended family, so we daven for them even if we have never met them (and they do for us as well!), but to do the same regarding all of the gentiles in Africa, China, Germany etc. with whom we will never meet, inevitably turns our prayer into artificial and not "real" which detracts from their "realism" and warmth (especially since so many countries over history actually killed or expelled us or our relatives, it's that much harder to sincerely feel that proper warmth in such tfilot for them, which we really would like to have!). Accordingly, our tfilot usually start with our family (including all Jews), but some prayers, as you mentioned (not just on Rosh HaShana but all year round, like "v'Al ken nekaveh" the 2nd paragraph of Aleinu) do actually already speak of that more universal aspect, and as of now, more theoretical or ideal goal of prayer for mankind, for eventually we do desire & pray for goodness for all of the children of Avraham (including all Christians and Moslems) and all mankind! In short, both the national and universal are there, but the national is much more tangible and real. In addition, as the Chosen People and Light to the Nations, when it will be good for us, it will benefit all other nations as well, "and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you" (Breishit 12, 3), but chronologically as well as emotionally, Israel is first, which benefits all of our tfilot to be really "real" and not too theoretical, when we pray for wisdom, health, livelihood, and even when we pray for the universal.
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