Every day one should do what the Gemara recommends:– A person should always plead for mercy from Hashem that he shouldn’t get sick (Shabbos 32a). Which means that every day you should pray for good health. Every single day of your life! Don’t rely on Shemoneh Esrei – you don’t even think what you’re saying. It can be done outside of Shemoneh Esrei, or if you wish, you can add it when you finish Shemoneh Esrei, before you take three steps back. Beg Hakadosh Baruch Hu! Although you’ve prayed all your prayers by rote, by stereotype, like a record; but when you’ve finished, at least one little thing say with kavanah.
Now, I know you won’t do it, but listen to me anyhow. Say, “Please guard my health and my well-being.” means, “Guard me against automobile accidents and other accidents.” You have to pray always to be saved from sickness and accidents. What do people expect, that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is going to protect them for nothing? The reason there are sicknesses and accidents in the world—far away from us— is to be a spur, to incite us to pray, to come close to Him. But if you don’t pray, so what can He do? He might have to send an accident closer to home, chalilah, to make you aware.
So therefore, always!– Every person, man and woman, boy and girl, should always seek mercy from Hashem,– not to be sick. And that’s one of the most important pieces of counsel you will ever hear.
Reprinted from a recent email of Toras Avigdor based on a Thursday night lecture (July 2000)
