SUNDAY November, 7th 2010 - The Annual Auction - "Illuminating the World with Joy"

R. Yitzchak stated: Our [fore]father Yitzchak was barren; for it is said, “And Yitzchak entreated H-shem opposite  his wife.  It does not say `for his wife` but opposite. This teaches that both were barren.  If so, “And H-shem let Himself be entreated of him”  should have been written as, “And H-shem let Himself be entreated of them!”  — Because the prayer of a righteous man the son of a righteous man is not like the prayer of a righteous man the son of a wicked man. [The prayer of the son of a righteous man is more effective. Yitzchak’s father was the Patriarch , Avraham (Abraham) while Rivka (Rebecca)’s father was the wicked Bethuel]

R. Yitzchak [further] stated: Why were our ancestors barren? — Because the Holy One, blessed be He, longs to hear the prayer of the righteous.

This teaches us the sublime level our ancestors achieved; that they had no qualms with G-d. Through heir ironclad faith they accepted everything that H-shem did with love and they had no complaints whatsoever. For Yitzchak knew that if H-shem created him incapable of conceiving, it was the Will of H-shem. What concerned Yitzchok was that his wife was infertile and that she was troubled that she was unable to conceive. Although for himself , he was content with H-shem’s will, but for another, he couldn’t rely on faith, he had to do something to ease his wife’s pain; so “And Yitzchak entreated H-shem opposite his wife” – on behalf of his wife. And as Rashi explains, “[He] prayed. [Meaning:] he [Yitzchok] did much praying and entreating.”

This is also the reason why Yitzchak’s prayer was answered as the verse concludes, “H-shem granted his prayer and his wife, Rivkah, conceived.”; his prayer; not her prayer.

This may be the reason why Yitzcok was answered [and not Rivkah], as our Rabbis in the Talmud (Bava Kammah 92a) taught that “one who solicits mercy for his fellow while he himself is in need of the same thing, [will be answered first]” Since Yitzchak was not concerned for himself but for his wife, his prayer was answered – “and his wife, Rivkah, conceived.”

The Tehillim Hotline was the brainchild of an alumnus of our Yeshiva, Yeshiva Derech Chaim. He saw all tzuras, difficulties in all areas of life, people were having and suggested that we establish a hotline for people to find relief and solace through prayer; and the Tehilim Hotline was born. It was his, and continues to be our concern as we are living in such difficult times that there is no way to find relief, except through prayer.

We are holding our annual Chinese auction this Sunday, November 7th, and we ask each of you to join us and participate in this once a year appeal. Click here to participate in Illuminating the World with Joy.