Nitzavim

Parashat Nitzavim 5783

The Power of Tefillah 

The Baal Hatanya teaches that a treaty is not needed for the times in which things are wonderful between two friends, neighbors or Nations. Everyone seems happy and there are no problems. Yet, when things go wrong, very often the damage is irreparable. In order for the lines of communication to remain open even during the turbulent times, a treaty is put in place already during the good times so that there are avenues of repair which are always available.

The Shem MiShmuel quotes this to explain the brit , the covenant which is found at the beginning of our parasha between HaShem and Klal Israel. The ultimate brit that we have with Hakadosh Baruch Hu is tefillah. Tefillah affords us the ability to connect with HaShem regardless of where we are or what we are going through. Furthermore, tefillah is available even after Chas V’shalom performing the worst sins in the world. One would think that at that very moment, the sinner is left “without  hope and without prayer”, but in fact, the opposite is true. it is precisely for moments like those in which that brit is called upon.

This is the reason that the Midrash in our parasha opens up with a discussion about the great powers of Tefillah . The Midrash further comments that even if one is not granted their entire request, half will be granted. To illustrate its point, the Midrash cites the incident of Kayin. Upon killing his brother Hevel, it was decreed that he would become a restless wanderer (naa vanad) on the earth. Immediately, Kayin pleaded for mercy, finally acknowledging the gravity of his sin, but arguing that the terms of his exile amounted to a death sentence. HaShem accepted his plea.

At first the decree from HaShem  was - You shall be a restless wanderer (naa venad) on earth. Kayin cried out-  And Kayin said to HaShem, “My punishment is too great to bear! The Midrash explains that he said to HaShem, -  Ribono shel olam! You bear the whole world, yet my sin You cannot bear? You wrote, (Michah 7:18) 'Who bears sin and forgives the transgression,' forgiving the great sinner. Immediately, he found kindness before  Hashem, and He held back the "restlessness" (na), half the decree, and so it is written (Bereishit 4:16) 'And he dwelled in the land of Nad [wandering, but not naa, restlessness].  From here you learn that tefillah is held great before HaShem.

The Midrash continues that we similarly find by Chizkiyahu Hamelech (as he was about to die for the sin of not trying to have children) that his tefillah also saved him:- And so for Chizkiyahu, when the Navi told him, (Melachim 2, 20:1) 'Put your house in order, because you are going to die...' immediately ' Chizkiyahu turned his face to the wall and prayed to Hashem..' Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to him: 'I have heard your tefillah... I have added 15 years to your life...' So is it written, (Tehillim 145:19) 'He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.'" (Chizkiyahu was almost 40 at that time. If the standard life cycle is 70 years, his life was about to be shortened by 30 years. HaShem granted him 15 more years thus giving him half of his request)

The Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh notes that there is an obvious question that begs to be answered: If we are trying to show just how powerful tefillah is, why would we bring a proof from two cases where only half of the request was granted? There are so many stories of tefillah accomplishing everything, (Yitzchak’s request for a child; Moshe’s request for Miriam to be healed etc.) and yet we choose a half accepted tefillah?

Let’s take a few typical scenarios: Reuven needs parnassah; Shimon’s daughter needs a shidduch; etc.. All these are standard situations which Chazal tell us that HaShem wants to hear our teffilots. Of course He will grant our request; He wants to! but he first wants to hear it from us. The fact that Tefillah accomplishes this is a big deal, but again, HaShem actually wants to grant our requests and hear it from us .

But then there are times that one does not receive all that was requested. At that moment, one must wonder, why HaShem did not wish to say “yes”; perhaps there are certain aveirot that need to be reconciled, or perhaps the time is not the right time for whatever reason. In Kayin and Chizkiyahu’s cases, the decision was already made and yet, the tefillah still managed to gain a “yes” on some level. Now already we begin to see that Tefillah can even force HaShem’s hand kavyachol.

This message is doubly important right now as we stand at the shaarei tefillah. The gemara in Masechet Rosh Hashanah (18a) teaches us: Two people are taken to their beds, and their illness is the same, or two people ascend to the tribunal  for judgment, and their potential sentence is the same; but this one comes down from his bed, while the other one does not come down from his bed, and this one is saved from death, while the other one is not saved. - For what reason did this one recover, while the other one did not recover and why was this one saved from death, while the other one was not saved? The difference between them is that this one prayed and was answered, while the other one was not answered.- And for what reason was this one answered and the other one not answered? This one prayed a tefillah with his whole heart and consequently was answered, while the other one did not pray with his whole heart and therefore was not answered. But the person is about to die? Is he daydreaming as he prays? Rav Elya Lopian z”l answers that clearly the person does not believe how powerful his tefillots are! and because of that he does not put his heart into his tefillah . 

 HaShem desires nothing more than to grant us our requests if he sees that we strongly believe in our Tefilots . 

As  Rosh Hashannah is getting near , let us pray to Hashem withall our heart so we should merit  a year of good health,  parnassah berevach, nachat from our children, hatzlacha in all our endeavours, shalom bayit in our homes , and kol milei de meitav .

 Hashem wants to give it to us , so let's ask for it with sincerity  and surely we will be answered .

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Gad Bouskila