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By Rabbi Naftoly Bier
The Ramban in שמות ג:י”ד (Nachmanides, Exodus 3:14) teaches us an amazing concept. Moshe Rabeinu asked Hashem, in what manner can he relate to the Jewish people an identification of the Almighty that will be the definitive proof of His existence and providential interaction with all?
Hashem answered, “Why do you ask for a name?”- an intellectual definition of who I am? There is a dynamic that surpasses any possible proof that I exist and I care- that is the dynamic of תפילה, of prayer. Whenever you are in a state of pain and anguish, or dealing with hardships, talk to Me and I will answer. That is the biggest proof that Hashem is with us, for whenever we seek Him we truly feel Him. And if we genuinely convey our requests to Him from the depths of our heartfelt clarity of His caring for us, mortal beings; He will answer us now, in ten years, or even thirty years!
The Ramban teaches us that the most compelling idea in the universe that talks of G-d’s relationship with humanity and especially כלל ישראל is the gift that we can at all times speak to Him, cry to Him, plead with Him, and He will listen … and answer.
We can ask ourselves; how do we really know He listens? After all, there are billions of people in the world. The Almighty is busy conducting His universe!
Of course, this question doesn’t start, for Hashem is infinite, He is beyond any human comprehension but intellectually it is difficult for the human mind to grasp and nevertheless we pray to Hashem readily.
The Ramban is teaching us that the most intuitive, inherent, instinctive reaction to pain is prayer, turning to G-d. Even the most intelligent die-hard athiest feels the closeness of G-d when they tear away the facade of eluding G-d, denying His existence, for Hashem has inculcated and ingrained in the human soul the inseparable loving, caring and intuitive connection that we have with our Creator that is expressed through the medium of prayer.
When we daven, pray, speak to G-d properly, we feel His absolute closeness and vested interest in us. “כי מי גוי גדול אשר לו אלוקים קרובים אליו כה’ אלקינו בכל קראינו אליו” (ספר דברים ד:ז) “For which is a great nation that has a G-d who is close to it , as is Hashem, our G-d, whenever we call to Him” (Deuteronomy 3:7)
The nations of the world proclaim the uniqueness of the Jewish people. The Almighty allows them to speak to Him and He answers them, either by helping, blessing, or caring for them or by feeling their pain.” עמו אנכי בצרה””. When we are in a state of distress, He carries us through the crisis with mercy, pity, and compassion.
In the מסילת ישרים, Paths of the Just (Chapter 19), the רמח”ל, Rav Luzzato writes that one who prays to the Almighty, should create for oneself a dynamic- that one’s conversation is no different than communicating with one’s dear friend.
The Talmud in ברכות ו: teaches us that if we as a community establish a time for prayer and there isn’t a מנין, a quorum of ten that comes on time, Hashem becomes angry and proclaims: מדוע באתי ואין איש קראתי ואין עונה – Why did I come and there is no person present…. for Hashem loves us, He comes to meet us, He allows us to invite Him, He wants to be invited, He wants to hear us articulate our feelings, our struggles, our goals and aspirations! This insensitivity, the lack of acknowledgement of His infinite love for us is the cause of Hashem’s anger, for we have “separated” from Him.
What does our prayer achieve?
- We now know that the world did not materialize by chance.
- We know that Hashem is intimately involved with His universe, which He renews daily.
- We know that we are not alone, but rather Hashem is with us.
- We realize that life is not about self-centered me, but rather I am on His stage with billions of others.
- Prayer is transformative, it is the ultimate transcendental exercise, which dispels all feelings of loneliness and invests in us a sense of importance and validation.
- It engenders in us a clarity, that if Hashem created us, we have been instructed by Him, how to live a life of constant awareness of our unrelenting obligation to develop the inherent potential He adoringly grants each and every person.
