Shmuel HaNavi

28 Iyar - Yahrzeit of Shmuel HaNavi Burial place - Jerusalem (Ramot), Highway 436 - visible from the window of the "Beit Sosha" Synagogue (Ramot Dalet) - a branch of the synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya in Moscow. The prophet Shmuel was the last judge of Israel before the period of the Kingdoms. G-d instructed him to anoint Shaul as the first king of Israel, and later to anoint King David as his successor. Shmuel is considered the "Father of all the prophets," second only to Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen. According to the Arizal, the level of Shmuel HaNavi's soul originates from Cain, the son of Adam. Shmuel also attained an ibbur of the souls of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon HaKohen. (Shaar HaGilgulim, Hakdama 32) Shmuel's soul later returned as Aviyah, son of King Yerovam. (Shaar HaGilgulim, Hakdama 33). In more recent history, Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg (1726-1778), a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, was considered to possess a spark of the soul of Shmuel HaNavi. The story of the birth of Shmuel HaNavi Elkanah had two wives, Chana and Peninah. Chana was childless and had not had children after nineteen years of marriage. Peninah, on the other hand, had ten children. Our sages say that the Almighty loves to send trials specifically to the righteous, because He wants to hear their prayers. In addition to the grief of having no children, Chana also suffered from Peninah's taunting her about her childlessness. She would say: "If you were righteous, the Almighty would not have withheld children from you!" Some commentators believe that Peninah only wanted to increase Chana's suffering so that she would pray more fervently and persistently, and that the Almighty would sooner hear her prayer. Elkanah loved Chana very much, despite her childlessness. "Do not cry, you are dearer to me than ten sons," he told her. "Rejoice in what you have, for this is the will of the Almighty." But his words did not comfort Chana; she did not accept her childlessness as a final verdict. Year after year she went with her husband to the Tabernacle and prayed there for the Almighty to give her a child. She vowed that if she had a son, she would dedicate him to the Almighty and give him over to serve in the Tabernacle. Chana prayed silently, so that no voice was heard, only her lips moved. When the High Priest Eli saw Chana praying, he thought she was drunk (she prayed while swaying). So he consulted the Urim and Tumim, where the following letters lit up: Shin, Kaf, Reish, Hei - combining which, the High Priest Eli got the word "shikura" (drunk). "And he asks Chana: - Are you drunk?" - to which Chana replies: - You read it wrong, you made a mistake - I am not drunk, not "shikura" - I am "kesara" (the same letters) - like Sarah (childless), I have come to weep over my childlessness." And indeed, upon returning home, Chana soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named her son Shmuel, which means "G-d has heard." Shmuel was an unusual child; the L-rd endowed him with intellect and spiritual strength beyond his years. His righteous mother, though she had waited so long for him and loved him with all her heart, fulfilled her vow and, as soon as it was possible, brought him to the Tabernacle and gave him to Eli, who raised him in holiness as a servant of the Almighty. Every year, when Chana came to the Tabernacle, she brought her son a new robe. On the day Chana brought Shmuel to the Tabernacle, the spirit of prophecy descended upon her, and she composed a hymn of praise to the Almighty, which we now read every year on Yom Kippur. This hymn mentions how difficult it was for Chana to part with her son, and contains prophecies about what will happen to the Jewish people until the end of time. Chana's prayer is one of the special prayers in Judaism. Several laws of prayer in general are derived from her example. For instance, it is said of Chana that her voice was not heard during her prayer. From this, the law is derived that one must pray quietly, and it is forbidden to raise one's voice. At the same time, Chana's lips moved, and therefore, according to the law, one must articulate the words with one's lips while praying. In some eastern communities, excerpts from Chana's prayer are included in the daily morning prayer. Women add: "Master of the world! Just as You heard Chana's prayer, so hear my prayer too!" Chana was a great woman. She rose above her troubles and trials. Her praise of the Almighty became the foundation of our prayer. Her prayer was able to annul the Almighty's decree. She overcame her personal feelings and dedicated the most precious thing she had - her son - to the Almighty. Interestingly, Shmuel HaNavi lived 52 years, which equals the gematria of the word "ben" (son).   Hannah’s Prayer – How to Reach the Heavens   Prayer of Hannah (Transliterated)