The power of prayer is so great

ANT KATZ

In: “Musings on the teachings of Kotzk – MUST IT ALWAYS MATTER?” – Rabbi Gavin Michal gives inspiring answers from the sages of old and shows that this is by no means a new world question.

Before we continue, writes Rabbi Michal, imagine yourself a great rebbe and having someone pose such a question put to you. If you were worth your salt you would probably advise your student to study more about the prayers, or to try contemplate with greater intensity upon the meaning behind them (or something to that effect).

“Not so the Kotzker,” says Michal…

His response was; “Do not worry about it at all. The power of prayer is so great that if, at some later stage, you happen to pray that prayer with even just a little fervour – it will draw all the previous imperfect prayers towards it and elevate them all together.” (Emet ve Emunah p5, par 1.)

The question was a serious question. The question is interesting. But how can one trivialise prayers by saying; “Do not worry about it at all”?

There was another rebbe who made a similar, but possibly even more astounding statement:

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said that; “…even if someone committed a transgression, he should not be concerned.” (Hishtapchut HaNefesh)

This, he explains is because the purpose of the evil inclination is not, as is commonly assumed, to physically get us to sin. It has no real interest in the act of the sin itself. Rather its purpose is to make us miserable and depressed after we have sinned. That sense of worthlessness and spiritual despair leads us right to where the evil inclination wants us to be – in a state of depression.

Click here to read it all: MUST IT ALWAYS MATTER?

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