The story of the birth of the righteous Yitzchok (our forefather, Isaac) and his wicked brother, Esav (Esau) that opens this week’s Torah Portion is well known.

The verse states, “The children clashed inside her, and [when this happened] she said, "If this is so, why did I desire this?" She [then] went to inquire of H-shem.” Rashi comments, “She went to inquire. To the house of study of Sheim.To inquire of H-shem. To tell her what would happen in the end.”

Rav Gamliel Rabinovich shlita (a Rosh Yeshiva at the Shaar Hashamayim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, a recognized leader in the worldwide Jewish community, and recognized as an expert in Jewish Law and Kabbalah) writes in his Tiv Hatorah, that we see the stark difference between our revered forefathers and ourselves. When something was troubling our forefathers and matriarchs they immediately went “to inquire of H-shem” while we go to doctors and professionals in the hope that they can help us. Only after the “experts” tell us they can’t help us, do we seek out H-shem.

The great commentator, Rashi, understands the implication of "She went to inquire. To the house of study of Sheim”, for Sheim was the contemporary sage at that time. We learn from this that even when petitioning a Tzadik, righteous sage, we must know that the Tzadik has no influence of himself, it is all from H-shem. The Tzadik is merely an agent by which H-shem “communicates” and send His blessings to people since as a spiritual person the Tzadik is closest to H-shem.

The Kotzker Rebbe`s sister was once sick and nothing helped her. She went to her brother, the Rebbe, and asked that he pray for her. He looked at her and said, "There is nothing I can do for you." The Kotzker closed his door and sent her off without a solution to her problem. His sister then started crying, "Master of the Universe, my own brother won`t help me. You must help me!" The Kotzker Rebbe then opened the door and said, "This is what I wanted to hear. It is not the Kotzker Rebbe who can help you or the doctors who can help you; it is only the Almighty that can help you. I just wanted to bring you to that realization. Once you have come to that realization, then you will be fine.”

Those who call the Tehilim Hotline are seeking H-shem. We can only hope that

H-shem will find us worthy of serving as His agents through our prayers.

*********ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT*********THIS SUNDAY*******NOV. 7TH***

At this time, we are asking you to consider our role in your life and what we try to do for you through our prayer hotline.

We need your cooperation and support. Once a year we hold a fundraising event, our Annual Chinese Auction; this year the Chinese Auction will be held this Sunday, November 7th. We ask that you click on the banner and participate in this once-ayear event in a most generous way.

The Tehilim Hotline thanks you and all the people we have helped and, with H-shem`s help, all the people that we will help. May you be blessed with good health, success and the answer to your (and our) prayers.