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Rav Neventzal (Sichot L’Yom Hakippurim, pp. 95-104) asks a simple but insightful question. Hashem did challenge Noach’s neighbors to prevent Noach from entering the ark and the Egyptians from allowing Bnei Yisrael from leaving. Each was naturally capable of preventing the event. However, why would Bnei Yisrael think that they could prevent Moshe from dying?
One could answer based on the Midrash Tanchuma (Vaetchanan 6) that Hashem offered Moshe that he could enter the Land, but the price was that Bnei Yisrael would have to be destroyed, an offer Moshe rejected. Perhaps Bnei Yisrael would have taken a drastic step of agreeing to have a plague or the like to take responsibility for its shortcomings, thus forcing Hashem to allow Moshe to live.
In any case, Rav Neventzal cites a different answer in the name of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. Had Hashem allowed them to do so, Bnei Yisrael could have prayed in an extremely sincere, impassioned manner for Moshe’s survival, which would have kav’yachol forced Hashem to accept their prayers. We find a similar concept in the gemara in Ketubot (104a) regarding the death of Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi). He was suffering greatly as he was on the verge of death, as the righteous of his generation prayed beneath his home for his survival. Seeing his situation, his servant prayed that the heavenly beings who wanted Rebbi should overcome the people who wanted him to live, but the people were praying too strongly, and he thus did not die. The servant threw a jug near the crowd, with the explosion silencing the prayers for long enough for Rebbi to die.
We see from these sources how exceptionally strong the power of tefilla is. Of course, not every prayer is intense enough to be a formidable force for Hashem to reckon with. As Rav Neventzal points out briefly (and we, even more briefly) not every wish should be prayed for and not always does one get the response he desires. But every proper prayer is noticed and leaves some kind of mark in the Heavens and the earth.
When we say that "repentance, prayer, and charity can remove the harm of the decree" these words are literal and powerful beyond our natural expectations. Let us take them seriously and make the most of the powerful tools we were granted.
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
