Drunkard Saves the Jews
There is a story about Rabbi Yisrael, the founder of the Hassidic movement, known as the" Baal Shem Tov". During his days, a harsh decree was enforced against the Jews. All the righteous people of that generation had unsuccessfully tried to cancel this decree. Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov asked him for advice; he sent them to a distant village where a certain drunkard lived. "If you can convince him to pray for the Jews' deliverance when he is sober, there is a good possibility the decree will be canceled." The disciples were perplexed about the Baal Shem Tov's request, but did his bidding.
When they arrived at their destination, the supposed savior was thoroughly intoxicated. The disciples waited until he had sobered up, and detailed their request. He mocked them and started a new round. This time the petitioners were smarter: they hid all the alcohol in the house. When their host had sobered up enough to ask for another drink, there was not one to be had. His guests now had a request?pray to save "Am Yisrael" (the people of Israel) -- which he did. As a direct result of his prayers, the decree was annulled.
His students came to the Baal Shem Tov and requested an explanation: Why was this drunkard's prayer answered? The Baal Shem Tov explained: This man has a lot of merits. A number of Jews were imprisoned and sentenced to death. He saved them from their impending fate. His reward: whenever he prays to rescue the Jews from similar situations, his request will be granted. For a while, his prayers saved Am Yisrael from one heavenly decree after another. Eventually these requests stopped the natural sequence of events - and something had to be done. So he was lured into becoming an alcoholic who is invariably too drunk to pray. That is why I told you to convince him to pray while sober.
Prayer is Granted on Purim
During Purim, the law is - whoever requests charity should receive something. The Hassidim add that a prayer should also" get something". This is the special time of year when Mordechai and Esther were granted their request to save Am Yisrael. Why must we get drunk on Purim? So we won't have a chance to pray and get what we ask for. We have to know how to ask. This month is for rejoicing and at this time our prayers should be answered. "Because you go out in joy". Through joy we leave all our troubles behind. We just hope that our happiness shall be complete, without any sacrifices on the part of our nation. It's written in the Talmud that whoever keeps the Shabbat, will receive all his hearts desires i.e., the wisdom of knowing what to ask for. Generally, we have no idea what to ask G-d.
A short while ago, during the terrible period of "negotiations" which were actually "giving-away-tions" someone came to me and said he was praying. "What are you praying for?" "That Arafat shouldn't accept these horrendous terms." I gave him my siddur (prayer book), and told him to search through it thoroughly. "You won't find that name in the siddur even once." This is emphatically not the way to pray. We have to request the building of the Holy Temple. We have to pray to G-d for the coming of the redemption. We have to beseech G-d to fulfill our most important requests, especially in these days of happiness.
Temple Rebuilt Through Prayer
In the days of Mordechai and Esther - King Koresh had promised to allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple, but building up the walls of Jerusalem was discontinued for eighteen years. As a direct result of the prayers that followed Haman's evil decree, the Second Temple was rebuilt and stood for 420 years. The third temple will stand forever.
Dear brethren, let us rejoice in the happiness of Purim. Out of joy, let us beseech G-d "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in compassion" as it says in the Amidah service. We cannot pin our hopes on any one man, only in our Creator. We hope that G-d shall help us build the Temple. Amen.
There is a story about Rabbi Yisrael, the founder of the Hassidic movement, known as the" Baal Shem Tov". During his days, a harsh decree was enforced against the Jews. All the righteous people of that generation had unsuccessfully tried to cancel this decree. Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov asked him for advice; he sent them to a distant village where a certain drunkard lived. "If you can convince him to pray for the Jews' deliverance when he is sober, there is a good possibility the decree will be canceled." The disciples were perplexed about the Baal Shem Tov's request, but did his bidding.
When they arrived at their destination, the supposed savior was thoroughly intoxicated. The disciples waited until he had sobered up, and detailed their request. He mocked them and started a new round. This time the petitioners were smarter: they hid all the alcohol in the house. When their host had sobered up enough to ask for another drink, there was not one to be had. His guests now had a request?pray to save "Am Yisrael" (the people of Israel) -- which he did. As a direct result of his prayers, the decree was annulled.
His students came to the Baal Shem Tov and requested an explanation: Why was this drunkard's prayer answered? The Baal Shem Tov explained: This man has a lot of merits. A number of Jews were imprisoned and sentenced to death. He saved them from their impending fate. His reward: whenever he prays to rescue the Jews from similar situations, his request will be granted. For a while, his prayers saved Am Yisrael from one heavenly decree after another. Eventually these requests stopped the natural sequence of events - and something had to be done. So he was lured into becoming an alcoholic who is invariably too drunk to pray. That is why I told you to convince him to pray while sober.
Prayer is Granted on Purim
During Purim, the law is - whoever requests charity should receive something. The Hassidim add that a prayer should also" get something". This is the special time of year when Mordechai and Esther were granted their request to save Am Yisrael. Why must we get drunk on Purim? So we won't have a chance to pray and get what we ask for. We have to know how to ask. This month is for rejoicing and at this time our prayers should be answered. "Because you go out in joy". Through joy we leave all our troubles behind. We just hope that our happiness shall be complete, without any sacrifices on the part of our nation. It's written in the Talmud that whoever keeps the Shabbat, will receive all his hearts desires i.e., the wisdom of knowing what to ask for. Generally, we have no idea what to ask G-d.
A short while ago, during the terrible period of "negotiations" which were actually "giving-away-tions" someone came to me and said he was praying. "What are you praying for?" "That Arafat shouldn't accept these horrendous terms." I gave him my siddur (prayer book), and told him to search through it thoroughly. "You won't find that name in the siddur even once." This is emphatically not the way to pray. We have to request the building of the Holy Temple. We have to pray to G-d for the coming of the redemption. We have to beseech G-d to fulfill our most important requests, especially in these days of happiness.
Temple Rebuilt Through Prayer
In the days of Mordechai and Esther - King Koresh had promised to allow the Jews to rebuild the Temple, but building up the walls of Jerusalem was discontinued for eighteen years. As a direct result of the prayers that followed Haman's evil decree, the Second Temple was rebuilt and stood for 420 years. The third temple will stand forever.
Dear brethren, let us rejoice in the happiness of Purim. Out of joy, let us beseech G-d "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in compassion" as it says in the Amidah service. We cannot pin our hopes on any one man, only in our Creator. We hope that G-d shall help us build the Temple. Amen.