24 Aug PARSHAS RE’EH
Reb Yohonoson Eibshitz (Yaaras Dash 1:1) writes, “In the brachah of Shema Koleinu [in Shemoneh Esrei] a person should…pray for all his needs; for the minor and for the major issues; there shouldn’t be a matter that he doesn’t pray for from Hashem. If he needs a shidduch for himself or for his sons or daughters, he should pray to Hashem. For business, pray that Hashem give you success and lead you in the right way. The rule is: there shouldn’t be anything that you want to do that day that you don’t pray for it from Hashem, requesting that He grant you success, and lead you on the right path. Certainly, if there is some problem at home, chas veshalom, one must pray. Also, if there’s a simchah [such as a chasunah], one should pray that he doesn’t sin, chas veshalom, so that the simchah shouldn’t turn into a misfortune. Pray in your own words for every matter. Although your language is poor and you don’t know lashon hakadosh well, it is beloved to Hashem as if you prayed with many words, in a rich, clear and beautiful language. In the merit of this tefillah Hashem will listen to our voices. Such tefillos will be answered, and they will be to our benefit, because these tefillos are certainly said with kavanah. They are not said by rote – just with the mouth, while the heart isn’t there – since each day he will pray for something else, for the matters that he needs at that time. These prayers are in your own words, and you can’t say them without kavanah. Therefore, this is a perfect tefillah, because the primary tefillah is when it emanates from the depths of one’s heart. As it states , ‘I call to You from the depths…’ from the depths of the heart.”
The Divrei Yoel of Satmar zt’l said, “People say that one can choose his sons-in-law, but can’t choose his own children. I say the opposite. One can’t choose his sons-in-law, because whatever was decreed forty days before the formation of the child will be. However, one can choose his sons, because one can pray for them, educate them, and be a good influence for them, so they will grow up to be tzaddikim, talmidei chachamim…”
A barren couple in Eretz Yisrael went to many fertility doctors, but after twelve years of hoping, the doctors told them they would never bear children. That’s when they decided to adopt a child. When their child’s class knew how to read, the cheder celebrated with a siddur party, and the adopted parents came to rejoice with their child, whom they loved like their own. At home, the parents noticed that their child was extremely happy, in a way they’ve never seen before. They asked him about that, and he replied, “I always wanted a brother, and now that I will be davening with a siddur, I will pray that you have another child, so I can have a brother.” The father didn’t want to break the child’s heart, so he said, “Very good, begin davening.” Nine months later, they had a child. The tefillah and temimus of the child broke all barriers. Such is the power of tefillah.
The Yaaras Dvash continues, “A primary benefit [from praying in your own words] is that you will know in your heart that man and the Jewish nation aren’t subjugated to the times or to occurrences. [For if everything was by chance] one wouldn’t have to pray, since success would be dependent on one’s mazal, attempts, and caution. [His prayers remind him] that trying is falsehood ( ). Everything is planned by Hashem, Who arranges the steps of a Yid…”
A similar story happened with Rebbe Avraham Dov of Avuritch, the Bas Ayin zt’l. He arrived in Eretz Yisrael around Elul time. His plan was to stay in Tzefas until after the yomim tovim, and then move on to Yerushalayim. But on Chol HaMoed Succos, he changed his mind and decided to remain in Tzfas. This change of plans occurred when he heard a woman tell her son, “On Simchas Torah we will bentch geshem and I’m certain that Hashem will listen to the tefillos. Go up to the roof and bring the mattresses down, so they won’t get ruined in the rain.” The Bas Ayin said that he chose to remain in Tzefas, to be among people who believed so faithfully in tefillah.
Another form of prayer, which is customarily increased in Elul, is to say Tehillim.
The Rebbe of Gostanin zy’a was called by many the Tehillim Rebbe. When people came to him with their difficulties, he would prescribe a regimen of Tehillim — either the entire Tehillim, a section, or a few chapters — for them to say every day. Each person received a different ‘prescription’ which they would follow, and they were healed and saved from their hardships. Tzaddikim of Poland asked the Rebbe, “Rebbe of Gostanin, have you become a miracle worker?” “Not at all” he replied. “But I heard from the Rebbe of Kotzk zy’a that if Dovid HaMelech would have arranged the Tehillim in the order that he said them, Tehillim would have the power to resurrect the dead. Since Dovid HaMelech compiled the chapters in a different order, it doesn’t have that power, but all other salvations can still be attained by saying Tehillim.”
The Beis Ahron (Chanukah) writes, “One must believe that with Tehillim, one can be saved… from all troubles…”
The Noam Elimelech (Likutei Shoshanah, Shiru) writes, “Sometimes prayer doesn’t help, chalilah, because there is an accuser on him. Then he needs to become attached to the great world called Tehilah … That world is solely compassion, and [when one becomes bound there] everything is rectified. This is the reason the songs of Dovid HaMelech are called Tehillim [as these prayers brings the person to this world of compassion called Tehilah ]. One can accomplish everything with Tehillim. There is no Satan [that can stop those prayers]…”
The Pele Yoetz writes, “Saying a lot of Tehillim, banishes all castigations and afflictions from himself…from his household, and from his entire generation, and it bestows …abundance, brachos, goodness and success… There is a tradition from tzaddikim: If one is going through some form of hardship… he should read the entire Tehillim [from beginning to end] without interruption, with kavanah and humility, and he will see wonders. This is baduk and menusah, tried and proven. All of these benefits and many more will come to the one who reads Tehillim word for word, pleading joyously… because they are terrific prayers… wondrous praises… Even to those who don’t know what they are saying, their words are effective and accomplish much…”