In the middle of Korach’s rebellion, Moshe Rabeinu davened to Hashem, asking “Al tefen el minchasam” (16,15) – don’t accept their mincha, their gift. What type of gift are we talking about? Says the Ramban, Moshe Rabeinu was davening that in case Korach would try to bribe Hashem by bringing korbanos, Hashem should not accept it. Also, Hashem should not accept any tefilla that Korach might daven that he should succeed against Moshe. This was the tefillah of Moshe Rabeinu in the words “Al tefen el minchasam”.
We see from the Ramban that Moshe Rabeinu was worried that in the event that Korach brings a korban nedava or tefilla, perhaps Hashem would accept it and help him succeed. Moshe felt compelled to daven that Hashem shouldn’t accept Korach’s korban or tefillah. This is astounding. What was Moshe Rabeinu worried about? Korach was a kofer! He was trying to destroy the foundation of klal Yisroel! If Korach wins, then the entire Toras Moshe is destroyed ch’’v! What was the possibility that Hashem would answer Korach’s prayer for success? Obviously, Hashem would never listen to such a tefilah. So what was Moshe Rabeinu worried about?
Rav Yechzkel Levinstein answers that a powerful tefilla can destroy everything and even has the ability to destroy the nevua of Moshe Rabeinu (that Hashem would create a new creation of opening up the ground to swallow them alive.) Yes, if Korach would daven strongly enough, Hashem would accept his tefilla and he would be saved, even though it would cause a chilul Hashem. So, Moshe Rabeinu had to daven a tefilla to counter the tefilla of Korach, pleading that Korach’s tefilla shouldn’t be accepted and that the ground should indeed open up to swallow him and his followers.
How powerful is tefilla! Even a rasha who is a kofer in the Torah can save himself through the power of tefilla! It doesn’t matter who you are; if you daven well, you are answered. Let’s get a glimpse of what it means to daven well.
The Brisker Rav had a private minyan where he would daven. One day, Rav Moshe Finkel took his young son along with him to daven in that minyan. That day was Rosh Chodesh, and they heard the Brisker Rav davening shemone esray and they realized he was skipping yaale v’yavo. The Gabbai went over to him, clapping his hand, saying “yaaleh v’yavo,!” “yaaleh v’yavoh!” The Brisker Rav didn’t hear. The Gabay banged really loudly, but again, the Brisker Rav didn’t hear. After davening, the Gabbai goes over and reminds him that it is Rosh Chodesh. “Oy! Yaale v’yavoh!” cried the Brisker Rav. “But Rebbe”, says the Gabbai, “I tried to remind you...” The Brisker Rav had terrible tza’ar that he forgot yaaleh v’yavo, but what a lesson was taught! When the Brisker Rav was davening, he didn’t hear anything. He had such diveikus that nothing could distract him. This was tefilla of the Brisker Rav.
