“God, Lord of Hosts, how long will You fume (smoke) at the prayers of Your nation (Psalms 80:5)?”  When God is angered, the verse states that, “Smoke arose from His nostrils (18:9).” A barrier of smoke bars the path of Israel’s prayers as they struggle to ascend heavenward. (Rabbi Moshe Alshich)

I imagine the smoke of this verse, the smoke that blocks our prayers as hovering over us just as the smoke hovered over the ruins of Jerusalem and the Beit Hamikdash. I then imagine the Shofar of Elul as blowing away all the smoke that lingers from Av, clearing the way for our prayers to soar.

This verse can be used as a Kavanah when listening to the Elul Shofar: Please allow the Shofar, and the feelings it arouses in our hearts to clear all barriers between our prayers and You.

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