In this parashah, the Torah details the laws of tzara’as, which is a punishment for one who sins with his tongue. The holy Zohar (Metzora 53a) reveals to us that this is not the only punishment of one who sins with his tongue. In addition, his forbidden words also sully his mouth and block his tefillos from being accepted.
However, “death and life are in the hand of the tongue.” Just like the tongue has the power to block the gates of tefillah, it also has the power to open them. The holy Zohar (Vayeilech 288b) teaches us about the tremendous power of answering amen according to halachah. He writes: “When Am Yisrael are careful to answer amen properly, the Voice announces in all the worlds: ‘Pischu she’arim veyavo goy tzaddik shomer emunim’ (Yeshayah 26:2) – do not read it emunim, rather amenim. Just like Am Yisrael open the gates of brachos by answering amen, likewise, the gates of tefillah will be opened to them and their tefillah will be accepted.”
What about you, dear reader, will you approach davening without first opening the gates of tefillah?! The key is in your hand - will you give it up?!
It is not for naught that we say each morning, before Birchos Hashachar, the passuk that reminds us of this concept (Tehillim 69:14): “Aneini b’emes yishecha,” meaning “aneini b’emes” – answer me in the merit of answering amen, which as is known, means emes.
Do not miss the opportunity to open the gates of tefillah! Come early each morning to shul and say Birchos Hashachar bechavrusa! It is an easy, simple thing to do yet it is unbelievably powerful and it guarantees that your tefillah will be accepted, lerachamim uleratzon.
Good Shabbos
Yaakov Dov Marmurstein
