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Beit Midrash
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Translated by Hillel Fendel
Question: We know that the Torah teaches us that there is Reward and Punishment in this world for our deeds. We see this in many places: The stories of the Forefathers, in Genesis and elsewhere; the second paragraph of Kriyat Shema (Deut. 11) which states that if we follow the Torah we will receive rain for our crops, and that if we stray, the land will not give forth crops and we will be exiled; Moshe's speeches to the Nation warning what will happen if we do not keep our covenant with G-d or do not observe the Shemitah year commandments; and more.
We also see the power of our prayer in this framework: Moshe succeeds in having Divine punishments voided; G-d asks Moshe to 'leave Me' and stop praying, so that He can punish Israel; Moshe's prayers for his sister Miriam; the promise that recitation of the 13 Attributes can abolish decrees; etc.
But on the other hand, we certainly cannot force G-d to change His mind, and we must accept what is decreed upon us. Rav Goren [ed. note: 3rd Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and founder of the IDF military Rabbinate] wrote a number of times in his work on Jewish Philosophy that there is specific Divine providence only for a nation or a public, but not for individuals.
My question therefore is: The prayers that I recite, and blessings that I receive – do they have influence
Answer: Your question is very important: How can we change, via our prayers or blessings, the will of G-d? The answer is that we do not – we only change ourselves. When a person does a mitzvah (Torah commandment), or studies Torah, or prays, or receives a blessing from a righteous person – he thus ascends to the next spiritual level. The more mitzvot and good deeds a person does, the more he ascends – and there is no limit! We can therefore say that when G-d decrees a punishment upon a person, it applies for when that person is on a particular level. But once the person ascends upward, he is no longer the same person; he is on a higher spiritual level and reality, and is thus deserving of more spiritual abundance. He has thus "changed" the decree with his prayers and good deeds!
Of course, this topic is very deep and profound, and our Torah luminaries have written profusely about it over the generations. But the above is the basic essence of the concept that prayers and blessings can effect a change.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Question: We know that the Torah teaches us that there is Reward and Punishment in this world for our deeds. We see this in many places: The stories of the Forefathers, in Genesis and elsewhere; the second paragraph of Kriyat Shema (Deut. 11) which states that if we follow the Torah we will receive rain for our crops, and that if we stray, the land will not give forth crops and we will be exiled; Moshe's speeches to the Nation warning what will happen if we do not keep our covenant with G-d or do not observe the Shemitah year commandments; and more.
We also see the power of our prayer in this framework: Moshe succeeds in having Divine punishments voided; G-d asks Moshe to 'leave Me' and stop praying, so that He can punish Israel; Moshe's prayers for his sister Miriam; the promise that recitation of the 13 Attributes can abolish decrees; etc.
But on the other hand, we certainly cannot force G-d to change His mind, and we must accept what is decreed upon us. Rav Goren [ed. note: 3rd Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and founder of the IDF military Rabbinate] wrote a number of times in his work on Jewish Philosophy that there is specific Divine providence only for a nation or a public, but not for individuals.
My question therefore is: The prayers that I recite, and blessings that I receive – do they have influence
Answer: Your question is very important: How can we change, via our prayers or blessings, the will of G-d? The answer is that we do not – we only change ourselves. When a person does a mitzvah (Torah commandment), or studies Torah, or prays, or receives a blessing from a righteous person – he thus ascends to the next spiritual level. The more mitzvot and good deeds a person does, the more he ascends – and there is no limit! We can therefore say that when G-d decrees a punishment upon a person, it applies for when that person is on a particular level. But once the person ascends upward, he is no longer the same person; he is on a higher spiritual level and reality, and is thus deserving of more spiritual abundance. He has thus "changed" the decree with his prayers and good deeds!
Of course, this topic is very deep and profound, and our Torah luminaries have written profusely about it over the generations. But the above is the basic essence of the concept that prayers and blessings can effect a change.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Rabbi Hagai Lerrer
A Rabbi in Beit El
G-d's leadership in the world Is G-d being "kind" if He's working toward a specific end goal?
Translated and edited by Hillel Fendel
The Torah Perspective The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook
part II
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
