The Parsha begins with the most potent weapon that we possess – prayer.
There is nothing that we can accomplish physically without the main component which is the spiritual especially when we are looking to change the course of nature.
The Sforno explains that Yitzchok new he will have a child however he was begging and entreating Hashem together with Rivka in order that the mother of child should be Rivka and not someone else.
Chazal teach in maseches Sukka that the root of unusual word used in the above passuk – atar – means a pitchfork. Just a a pitchfork turns over the hay so to our tefillos turn over Hashem wrath into compassion.
There is another place where a similar language is used. Rashi in Parshas Ki Savo when discussing the power of Tzedaka also mentions this idea of turning over the attribute of anger to compassion. The common denominator can be explained, based on Rav Nachman in Likutai Moharan, that tefilla is a bechina of miracle, and so is giving tzedaka; it’s against human nature for one to give away something they are attached to and feel entitled to
This week in Shul after the netz minyan I began to discuss the most powerful prayer we have amongst our daily prayers. I’m referring to Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba recited in each Kaddish. The are many incredible Chazals; one in particular is found in Yalkut Shimoni 26 in Yeshaya Hanavi. Chazal describe the incredible benefits of saying Amen especially the Amen Yehei.... The Gemara in Shabbos 119 tells us that it can nullify decrees that were issued to last 70 years. In our daily videos, I mentioned two special stories that very much pertain to our current situation.
The first story is of the Brisker Rav who when arriving in Israel, shared the following. He was wondering for days what zchus did the land of Israel have that it was untouched by the raging fires of the holocaust. He then related that when he went to Yerushalyaim and heard the Amen Yehei etc he said “I finally understood.”
The second story is about the Alter from Navardak. Someone came to him with a request that the Rav should pray on behalf of a critically ill person. The Rav said I suggest you go right away to Yeshiva and hire two boys to answer Amen Yehei... and the sick person will be ok. The Rav explained that when reciting Amen Yehei one is tapping into what we call ‘above nature’ and a critically ill person needs nothing less than a miracle, which can be initiated by Amen Yehei.
May we utilize and harness this incredible power and be zoche to see yeshua bekarov.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
