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Question
With Yom Kippur fast approaching, everyone is thinking of how they can take advantage of this awesome day. How can they ensure that this day is successful? A day which is the holy of holies, a day in which prayer is ripe to be answered, a day in which forgiveness and a new, fresh start is right there for the taking, how can we all make sure that we are successful on this awesome day?
And, of course, we know that this day is a day for davening, for prayer to Hashem. This is the key to ensuring this day is as successful as possible. This does, however, just focus our question- how can we make sure that our prayer is successful? What is the key to good prayer? To put it more pointedly- what is the difference between a prayer which is answered and a prayer which is not answered?
Story of Chulda the Prophetess
The Gemara (Megillah 14b) tells us that the Chachamim (great Torah sages) at the time of the end of the First Beis Hamikdash went to Chuldah the Prophetess for her to prophesize. The Gemara questions- why would the Chachamim go to Chuldah when Yirmiyahu was still alive!? Yirmiyahu was a greater prophet and he was older and the established 'Gadol Hador' (Great one of the Generation).
Why would the Chachamim go to Chuldah instead of Yirmiyahu?
The Gemara answers that since Chuldah was a woman and women are more naturally 'rachmaniyos' (merciful, have deeper feeling and emotion) than men, and the Chachamim sense that this prophesy would be dire, Chuldah would therefore daven that Hashem should have mercy on the Jewish people.
R' Henoch Leibowitz za"tzal asked- how does that answer the question!? Yirmiyahu was a greater prophet, he had more merit, he was a great Talmud Chacham (Torah sage) he was greater, period. If they need someone to daven on their behalf, one would think that there would be no one better than the Gadol Hador!?
So the question still needs to be answered- why would they go to Chuldah and not to Yirmiyahu?
R' Leibowitz answered that the Gemara over here is teaching us the fundamental secret about prayer- the more emotion, the deeper level of feeling, the 'hotter' one's tears are when they turn to Hashem, the more their prayers will be answered.
And even though Yirmiyahu was an amazing person, and even though he was a greater Torah sage, and even though when he would pray for the Jewish nation he would undoubtedly pray with tremendous feeling and tears for his people- Chuldah's prayer, however, would be a bit more heartfelt. Her prayer would be said with more meaning. And when it comes to prayer, the 'avodah sh'belev' (service of the heart) more feeling makes a world of a difference.
'As impoverished, poor people...'
Throughout the past few weeks of selichos we have read that we turn to Hashem as impoverished, poor people. R' Naftoli Trop za''tzal taught that this is the secret to our prayers being answered and the manner in which we should turn to Hashem during this time of year- as people who are, completely and utterly, lacking and needy.
Our wealth, our health, our family, our spirituality, everything that we hold near and dear and that we need, is on the line in the judgement of Yom Kippur- and ripe for the taking if we ask Hashem the right way. One does not need to look far to see people who, over the course of the last year, had a major change of fate in a profound area of their lives. That is what is at stake on Yom Kippur. That is what we are davening for.
The more that we can realize this and take it to heart, and the more we can appreciate that we are standing before the Merciful, all-powerful, King of the world- who is also our 'Father in Heaven'- and pour out our hearts to Him, the more successful our prayers will be.
Wishing you a successful Yom Kippur
and G'mar Chasim Tova.
Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer
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