Quick Thoughts - Tefillah: Consideration and Confidence

~ Quick Thoughts ~

Tefillah: Consideration and Confidence

By: Daniel Listhaus

      Last week we began asking for rain with the insertion of “v’sein tal u’matar” in the beracha of Bareich Aleinuin shemoneh esreh. We in galus (outside of Israel) do so a couple of months into the season in accordancewith the gemara in Ta’anis (10a). However in Eretz Yisroel itself we rule that v’sein tal u’matar is said starting from the 7th of Cheshvon. The gemara explains that the reason that Israel requires that rain be asked for earlier is because of its geography and altitude.However the earlier date of 7th of Cheshvon is not arbitrary. The Mishan in Ta’anis (ibid.) records the following machlokes (dispute) regarding when the people of Eretz Yisroel should begin asking for rain:

1. Tanna Kamma’s opinion is that we begin asking for rain on the 3rd of Cheshvon
2. Rabban Gamliel’s opinion is that we begin asking for rain on the 7th of Cheshvon which is 15 days after Succos

abban Gamliel explains his opinion and states that we should push off asking for rain for 15 days in order that all the travellers leaving Yerushalayim from after the chag could make it back before the rain starts. We pasken (rule) according to Rabban Gamliel and indeed begin saying v’sein tal u’matar in Eretz Yisroel on the 7th of Cheshvon.

We learn two important lessons regarding tefillah in general  from Rabban Gamliel’s opinion:

1. Consideration for other people. Really it is not so obvious that we should push off the request for rain. After all, although it is being nice to the travellers, why is it fair to the farmers of Eretz Yisroel to have to wait for everyone to make it back home before asking for rain? Perhaps this teaches us that when we daven we should not daven for our own good at the expense of others. Instead of davening for rain right away, we could be considerate of the travellers who came to be oleh regel and just daven for an even better rain at a later time.
   
2. The power of tefillah. Imagine the conversation that took place in our mishna. After the Tanna Kamma said that v’sein tal u’matar should be on the 3rd of Cheshvon it was obvious to Rabban Gamliel that if people would start davening for rain - that rain will come. He therefore argued and said that it should only be recited starting from the 7th of Cheshvon giving ample time for everyone to make it back before v’sein tal u’matar would be recited and therefore before the rain started.
   

We pasken like Rabban Gamliel in Eretz Yisroel with regard to saying v’sein tal u’matar; but really pasken like him conseptually with regard to tefillah. Our own tefillos should be asking for Hashem to provide us with blessings - but not at the expense of others - and we should daven with the belief that as soon as we start davening for our needs it is 100% possible that Hashem will answer us that moment.

I heard Rabbi Frand say over that when R’ Aharon Kotler passed away there was a drought in Israel. When he was buried in Israel, they decided to bury him with a wet cloth as a segulah for it to rain. Sure enough within a couple of days it rained! Talmidim went to R’ Yaakov Kamenetzky and exclaimed, “Rebbe! The segulah worked. A wet cloth was put into the burial place of R’ Aharon and behold it rained!” R’ Yakaov Kamentzky responded, “Perhaps. However it is also December 4th and all of b’nei chutz la’aretz began saying v’sein tal u’matar, that has to count for something.” R’ Kamenetzky was merely stating the opinion of Rabban Gamliel that should be our inherent approach to davening. We pray to a G-d who is the Creator and Controller of the world, when we ask for something we should ask with the understanding that if Hashem says yes to our request - there is no process time needed. It could happen immediately.

          May Hashem help us daven with consideration and confidence and may we be zocheh in turn to see our tefillos be answered immediately.