In the time of the holy Baal Shem Tov, there was once a drought, and the community declared a fast. Everyone gathered in the shul and prayed from the depths of their hearts, but their prayers were not answered. One day, the Baal Shem Tov saw a simple farmer reciting Shema. When he reached the words 'ועצר את השמים ולא יהיה מטר' - ‘He will shut up the heavens so there will be no rain’, he recited them with great intention and tears. In his holy spirit, the Baal Shem Tov perceived that at that very moment, the decree of drought was annulled. After the prayer, the Baal Shem Tov asked the man what he had intended when he said the words “He will shut up the heavens so there will be no rain”. The man answered that he had meant the simple interpretation of the words: “He will shut up the heavens”—that HaKadosh Baruch Hu would “press” or “squeeze” the heavens, as one presses grapes, until there would come a point where “there will be no rain”, because all the rain in the heavens would have been released. Then the Baal Shem Tov understood that the pure and simple intention of this man had saved everyone and annulled the harsh decree.
Yaakov Avinu, saw in his dream 'והנה סלם מצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה' - ‘and behold, a ladder was set upon the earth, and its top reached the heavens.’ One could interpret this posuk as an allusion to prayer. The word “ladder” (sulam) in gematria is equivalent to the word “voice” (kol), representing prayer, which depends on one’s voice. Sometimes, a person finds themselves in a lowly and degraded state, akin to “set upon the earth”. They may think that their prayer surely holds no significance before the Creator and, as a result, fail to pray for what they need. However, they do not realize that even in such a simple state, their prayer possesses immense power, as its “top reaches the heavens.”
The word sulam also equals the gematria of mamon (wealth). Both kol and mamon share a quality of “going up and coming down”, as they sometimes ascend and other times descend. Therefore, if a person sees that their financial situation is in decline, they should strengthen themselves in the service of prayer and believe that HaKadosh Baruch Hu desires their prayers and waits for them, as we see in the story of Choni HaMe'agel, whose prayer was answered. Shimon ben Shetach understood why Choni’s prayer was effective—not because he aligned his intentions with all the hidden mystical meanings, but because “you plead with the Almighty and act as though you are a child pleading with his father, who fulfills his wishes.” HaKadosh Baruch Hu loves prayers that are like those of a small child asking his father for what they want, using simple words and heartfelt intention. A prayer from the depths of the heart has the power to change the natural order and annul harsh decrees.
-Tiv HaTorah – Vayeitzei
