Shabbat Prayers: Shabbat Mevarchim VI

“All Israel becoming comrades.” The midrash (Song of Songs, Chapter 8) teaches, “Only the Ministering Angels are true Friends.” The Angels do not have an Evil Inclination. They are all completely focused on serving God. They share the same mission without any differences between them. Thus, they are described as, “Friends.”

The Rambam in his Commentary to the Mishnah (Demai 2:3) defines “Friend,” As a Torah Scholar who is able to connect to other Torah Scholars and share a wholehearted commitment to a mission of serving God.

It Is for this that we pray when we envision, “All Israel becoming friends,” that we will all be able to wholeheartedly share a single mission to serve God with our complete hearts.