Tefillah: Our Sword and Bow

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas Hatorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parashas Vayechi, Yaakov bequeaths a double portion to Yosef, to be divided among Ephraim and Menashe, his sons. Interestingly, Yaakov refers to this land as being taken by his “sword and bow.” The Gemara (Bava Basra 123a) and Onkelos explain that the “sword” was “prayer” and the “bow” was “my requests.” If that is the case, why did Yaakov chose such wording to describe prayer? What does tefillah (prayer) have to do with instruments of violence?

The Maharshah explains that the sword and bow are weaponry used by Yishmael and Esav, respectively. Regarding Esav the verse says, “By your sword you shall live” (Bereishis 27:40), and regarding Yishmael, the verse says, “He was an archer” (ibid. 21:20). This is how their power manifested itself. By translating “sword” and “bow” as expressions of prayer, we learn that Yaakov counteracted these weapons through his power: tefillah. “Prayer” and “requests” were Yaakov’s artillery.

A question still remains, though: why does the sword refer to prayer and the bow to requests?

My great-uncle, HaRav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (author of Meshech Chachmah and Ohr Same’ach), answers with a remarkable insight into tefillah. He says that the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) infused the Shemoneh Esrei prayer with incredible potency. Because the words and concepts are so holy and lofty, they have a special influence in the heavens that no other prayer has. It is comparable to a sword, which can be swiftly and effectively used to eliminate an enemy with minimal effort. Even if we are not as focused as we should be when we daven Shemoneh Esrei, it still has a tremendous effect. Personal requests, though, need a great deal of kavanah (focus) in order to be effective. This can be compared to the care an archer must take if he is to hit his target. Even bending a bow requires great strength and steadiness. Similarly, personal requests need meticulous kavanah and great strength of purpose in order to be accepted.

It is unfortunate that many Jews fail to appreciate the potential of their tefillos. They tell themselves that they are not worthy of Hashem listening to their prayer. What they do not realize, though, is that they have a blade capable of cutting through any barrier between them and Hashem. Moreover, when a Jew is experiencing acute difficulty and needs urgent assistance, that is the time to put as much kavanah as possible into the private requests he makes to Hashem.

What can strengthen our kavanah? The Zohar says that the tefillah of a poor person is accepted more often. Why? When he davens, he is truly seeking mercy. He knows that he is dependent on Hashem. We too need to feel that Hashem is the only One Who can help us.

If we want to be effective when davening for others, we need to understand and trust that Hashem is the only One Who can help them. This gives our davening tremendous power. We need to feel the same pain and desperation that they do when we cry to Hashem for mercy on their behalf.

Once, one of the grandchildren of Rav Moshe Mandel of Bnei Brak became severely ill. Reb Moshe Mendel’s son-in-law came to ask him to daven for the child. He was sure that the power of his tefillos would help. Unfortunately, the child’s situation worsened. Even the doctors didn’t know what to do. Reb Moshe’s son-in-law came running into his study that night to tell him that his son’s condition was critical. Reb Moshe and his wife stopped whatever they were doing and grabbed their Sifrei Tehillim. They davened intensely, with tears running down their cheeks. The next day, the doctors reported a miraculous turn of events: the boy was doing much better. Even the tefillos of Rav Moshe, as great as he was, became even more powerful when they were filled with tears and emotion.

We can also draw inspiration from Rebbetzin Kanievsky, who was known for her tefillos. Her tefillos were so powerful because she honestly cared about every person she davened for. Every day, many people would come to her to tell her their problems. She would encourage them and daven for them. To mention all these names in her tefillos sometimes took two hours. Her children noticed that she never wrote up lists of names or the problems they were experiencing. When asked about this, she replied, “A mother doesn’t need to write down her children’s problems.” Her example of motherly compassion is an example for us all.

May we be zocheh to utilize the powerful weapon of tefillah!

NEW! HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Rabbi Krieger’s “Gedolei Yisroel on the Parashah & Yamim Tovim” is now available from the Yeshiva office, Jewish bookstores worldwide and can be ordered online at https://www.feldheim.com/gedolei-yisroel-on-Parashah-yamim-tovim-2.