"How much money do you need?"
They told him. It was the exact amount of money he had with him, which he had taken with him to perform his aveirah. It was a large sum. He overcame his yetzer hara and gave them all the money he had with him.
This good deed created a commotion in heaven. It was decided that he would be rewarded with the power of tefillah. Whatever he would ask, Hashem would fulfill.
The problem was that he might use his strength for negative things; after all, he was a very sinful person. Therefore, it was decreed in heaven that he would become an alcoholic. This way, he wouldn’t be aware of his strength.
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l told this story and explained that this is why Chazal gave us the mitzvah to drink on Purim. On Purim, everyone has the power of tefillah. Whatever we request is granted. To hide this great gift that Hashem gave us, Chazal decreed that people should drink. People get involved in that and forget that they have the power of tefillah.
Sometimes people say, "But I don't feel anything." They aren’t inclined to invest in Tehillim and tefillos on Purim and Taanis Esther because they say they don't feel the kedushah of Purim (....as if everyone else does feel the kedushah!). It doesn't make a difference whether you feel it or not. It is a special time for tefillah. Take advantage of it!
It can be compared to someone who enters an elevator, presses the button to reach the 100th floor, but refuses to exit the elevator when it stops. "You reached your destination; why don't you leave the elevator?" people ask.
He replies, "It doesn't feel like I climbed a hundred flights."
"Whether you feel it or not, you are now on the hundredth floor. Get out!"
The same goes for these holy days. It doesn't matter what you feel. The fact is that you are now at this high place. Take advantage of these days and invest in tefillah!
Once, a chasid of Rebbe Moshe Razvadover zt'l went to Belz to be with Rebbe Yissachar Dov of Belz zt'l for yom tov. When he returned to Razvadov, he feared that his rebbe would be upset that he hadn't stayed with him for yom tov, and instead went to Belz, so he apologized and said, "My feet were in Belz, but my heart was here in Razvadov."
The Rebbe responded, "Next time, keep your feet in Razvadov, and your heart can be in Belz."
For our topic, it doesn't matter what you feel in your heart. Regardless of what you feel, these are incredibly holy days. So, daven well, recite Tehillim, and act according to the holiness of the time.
A wealthy couple was childless. The husband asked his wife to go to Reb Meir of Premishlan zt'l for a brachah for children. The husband said, "Tell the rebbe that even if I must lose all my money to get this yeshuah, I agree to that, as long as I can have a child."
When she came to the rebbe, she stumbled on her words and accidentally said, "My husband says he agrees to remain with his money as long as he can have a child."
Reb Meir laughed because he understood what she had wanted to say. The rebbe said, "But you spoke correctly. Hashem can do anything. Why shouldn’t you stay with your money and have a child too?" And that is what occurred.
Why not ask for a lot? Hashem can give it to you.
The Ben Ish Chai zt'l asked the following riddle:
Ten birds are on a gate, and you shoot one of them. How many are left?
The answer is that only one is left because when you shoot one, the other nine will fly away. You are left with one – the one you shot.
