RABBI BEN ZION SNEH
As Yaakov came closer to Eisav, his brother who had tried many times to hurt him – he was fearful. When he heard that 400 men were with him, he trembled, then he prepared. Tefillah assumed the leading role in his three-pronged approach. It was the key element of a well thought out strategy. Without tefillah, he knew nothing could succeed.
Yaakov pleaded to Hashem – “Save me from my brother, save us from death, lest he kill my wives and my children."
Looking to make his tefillos count, he beseeched Hashem. But Rav Yosef Dushinsky sees Yaakov mentioning a zechus that his brother Eisav did not have. They both had parents who were tzaddikim. But Yaakov had righteous wives – Eisav did not. This much is clear to us. Chazal say that everything good in our lives comes through the merit of our wives.
But in order for this Heavenly reward to really impact our lives, we must be sure to honor and love our wives properly. Our wives look to us for understanding and encouragement. We must not let them down. They need our praise, like a flower needs the sun. They need connection. Having a husband who cares, really cares about them, one who appreciates all they do for the family and cherishes them for being who they are – this is a home run.
Keep these facts in mind – but only if you want a life that is chock full of happiness and prosperity.
Adding to our list is the power of tefillah. Quite simply, asking Hashem for everything and anything that you need. In your own words... not only from the siddur. The Baal Shem Tov asked his student R’ Dovid Mikulov to make a superb wine from the magnificent grapes native to his homeland. R’ Dovid worked the better part of a year on this project. He succeeded in making the most amazing wine this region had ever produced.
Spending hundreds of hours tending to the vineyard and all the other processes, he set out to Medziboz. Upon crossing the border, the person in charge insisted on inspecting all that was being transported. The officer dipped his fingers into each barrel to “sample the goods” – rendering the wine undrinkable to any Jew. Tearfully, he later asked the Baal Shem Tov. Why did this happen? “You worked so hard, so many hours, on this wine? It is indeed the finest wine money can buy. You put all your efforts into this production... but did you daven to Hashem that the wine should turn out well?”
“I did not.” R’ Dovid replied.
So many times we put all our efforts into achieving success. We overwork, we agonize, worry and plan. We cannot sleep... Maybe this angle, this kneitch, will make it happen. But do we daven as strongly as we plan and strategize?
Yaakov Avinu laid the paths for all his generations to come. Prayer is the secret to success and happiness. It is our most powerful tool especially during this time of war.
B“H, we have achieved many miracles through tefillah, let us continue and redouble our efforts!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
