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PRAYERS & BLESSINGS

Is Prayer a Habit, or a Constant Practice?

Is Prayer a Habit, or a Constant Practice?

Part of Prayers & Blessings · 19:47

A chassidic reading of Rashi on the complaints in Mitzrayim versus prayer, asking whether tefillah risks becoming routine, and how to bring that constancy into bringing others closer to Yiddishkeit.

Audio Transcript
Intro: Exodus passage and Rashi's quote

It's a continuation of the story when the Yidden went out of ืžืฆืจื™ื, ื•ืจื“ืคื• ื”ืžืฆืจื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ื, and the Mitzrayim chased them. And then we're by Parshas Beshalach, so the parsha it says like this: ื•ึผืคึทืจึฐืขึนื” ื”ึดืงึฐืจึดื™ื‘, Paroh got close, ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึฐื‚ืื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืึถืช ืขึตื™ื ึตื™ื”ึถื, the Yidden picked up their eyes, ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึตึผื” ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื ึนืกึตืขึท ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ื”ึถื, they saw Mitzrayim running after them, ื•ึทื™ึดึผื™ืจึฐืื•ึผ ืžึฐืึนื“, they got scared, ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฆึฐืขึฒืงื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืึถืœ ื”', and the Yidden screamed to Hashem'. ื•ืžื™ื™ืชื™ ืจืฉ\"ื™ ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืชื™ื‘ื•ืช ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื•, so Rashi quotes the words ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื•, they screamed, ื•ืžืคืจืฉ, Rashi explains, ืชืคืกื• ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื, they grabbed the trade of their fathers. And Rashi will bring that we find by Avraham that he daven, by Yitzchak that he daven, by Yaakov that he daven, so memeila when the Yidden also daven, they took the trade of their fathers, it's Rashi. What does that mean, the trade? So we'll see. ื•ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ, we have to understand: ืžื” ืงืฉื” ื‘ืชื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘, what is hard to understand in this ืคืกื•ืง, ืฉื‘ื›ืœืœ ื–ื” ื”ื•ืฆืจืš ืจืฉ\"ื™ ืœืคืจืฉ ื™ืฉ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื”ื \"ืœ, that because of that he has to explain? We have a klal, Rashi only explains a pasuk if the pasuk needs explanation. A pasuk that's understood simply, Rashi says nothing. ื”ืจื™ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืคืฉื˜ื•ืช, ืคืฉื•ื˜'ืขืจ ืคืฉื˜ in the pasuk: ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื”ื™ื ื ื‘ืฆืจื”, the Yidden saw they're in trouble, ื›ื™ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื ื•ืกืข ืื—ืจื™ื”ื, ืžืฆืจื™ื chasing them, ืฆืขืงื• ื•ื”ืชืคืœืœื• ืœื”ืงื‘\"ื” ืฉื™ื•ืฉื™ืขื. So they screamed, they daven to Hashem', what's what's the big what's Rashi explain? Didn't they usually always screamed at Moshe? No, here it's not it's not. Even just before, like before they left. Okay, so let's let's go back one second. You are, what you said is 100% good. ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœืคืจืฉ, then the Rebbe you can't say, ืฉืจืฉ\"ื™ ื‘ื ืœืฉืœื•ืœ ื”ืคืฉื˜ ื“ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืชืจืขื•ืžืช, maybe Rashi is telling us that, if not for Rashi, we would have thought ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• means they're complaining. And that's what Rashi says, no, that ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• doesn't mean complaining. ื“ืœื›ืื•ืจื”, ืœืคื™ ื–ื” ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื”ื”ืžืฉืš, ื”ื”ืžืฉืš, because actually, if it meant complaining, then we understand the pasuk better. ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื•, says they screamed, and what do they say further? They said to ืžืฉื”, ืžื” ื–ืืช ืขืฉื™ืช ืœื ื•, what did you do to us? So it would make sense that it means complaining. So that's what Rashi tells us, no, it's not complaining. But the

Rebbe challenges Rashi: complaint vs prayer

Rebbe says, ื“ืื ื›ืŸ, if Rashi his main pshat is to tell you that it means to daven rather than complain, ha'ikar chaser, so Rashi is missing the main point! ื”ื•ื•ื” ืœื™ื” ืœืžื™ืžืจ, ืจืฉ\"ื™ should have said like this: ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• means ื•ื™ืชืคืœืœื•, that they davent, and then to continue that why did they daven, because ืชืคืกื• they took the trade of their fathers. But Rashi didn't say, if Rashi is trying to just translate to tell you ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• means daven, he should have said ื•ื™ืชืคืœืœื•. Since he doesn't say it, a siman that that's not what Rashi is telling us, Rashi is trying to tell us something else. Okay, what is it? ื•ืœืื™ื“ืš, on the other hand, ืื ื™ืฉ ืฆื•ืจืš ืœืคืจืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื•ืœื‘ืืจ ื˜ืขื ืฆืขืงืชื ื•ืชืคื™ืœืชื ืœื”ืงื‘\"ื”, on the other hand, if there is some need to explain why they davent, whatever, the Rebbe asks there's no reason to explain, you're in a ืฆืจื”, you daven, but Rashi does explain why they davent, because they followed the Avos. If Rashi needs to explain why they ื“ืื•ื•ืขื ื˜, ื”ืจื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœืจืฉ\"ื™ ืœืคืจืฉ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉื‘ื• ืžืกื•ืคืจ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืฆืขืงืชื ื•ืชืคื™ืœืชื ืฉืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื”' ื‘ืคืขื ืจืืฉื•ื ื”, ืจืฉ\"ื™ should have said it the first time it says that the Yidden davent. Where is that? ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืฉืžื•ืช ืฉื‘ื• ื ืืžืจ, it says in Shemot: ื•ึทื™ึดึผื–ึฐืขึฒืงื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื•ึทืชึทึผืขึทืœ ืฉึทืื•ึฐืขึธืชึธื ืึถืœ ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื, it says they screamed and their screamy came to the Eibershter. And it also means they daven. Maybe it doesn't mean they daven, maybe it means they screamed out of pain? ื›ื™ ืขืœ ื›ื•ืจื—ืš ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื•ืžืจ ื‘ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงืจื, you must say in ืคืฉื˜, ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ืฆืขืงื” ื•ืฉื•ื•ืขื” ืฉืœ ืชืคื™ืœื” ืœื”ืงื‘\"ื”, that that means davening to the Eibershter, why? ื•ืœื ื–ืขืงื” ืžื’ื•ื“ืœ ื”ื™ื™ืกื•ืจื™ื ื•ืงื•ืฉื™ ื”ืฉื™ืขื‘ื•ื“, it doesn't mean that they screamed out of suffering. Because ื”ืจื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื ืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ ื–ื”, it says a pasuk before: ื•ึทื™ึตึผืึธื ึฐื—ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืžึดืŸ ื”ึธืขึฒื‘ึนื“ึธื”, it says they sighed, they cried from the, so obviously here it means they felt bad and they cried, and then it says they screamed, it means to the Eibershter. And if there is a need to explain why the Yidden daven, why did Rashi explain it here? Why didn't he explain it the first time? Usually that's what Rashi does. If there is a word that you have to explain, he explains it the first time. Another she'eilah: ืื™ืš ืžืชืื™ื ื‘ื›ืœืœ ืœืชืืจ ืืช ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื” ื‘ืฉื ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื?

Is prayer considered a trade or habit?

How do you say davening is a trade? ื•ืžืœื‘ื“ ื–ื”, besides that, ื”ืจื™ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ื‘ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœ ืขื™ืกื•ืง ืงื‘ื•ืข ื‘ืื™ื–ื” ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื•ืžืœืื›ื” ืฉืœ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ื”ื™ื™ืชื”, ื‘ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงืจื, ืจืขื™ื™ืช ืฆืืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืกื•ืคืจ ื‘ืชื•ืจื”. Their trade was not davening. Their trade, their job, was shepherds! So first of all, how does davening become a job? And also, it's not true, that wasn't their job, and the Torah, Rashi says that they took the job of their fathers. Okay, ืœื”ืœืŸ ืžืžืฉื™ืš ืจืฉ\"ื™, then Rashi continues like this: Where do we find that this was the job of the Avot? ื‘ืื‘ืจื”ื ื ืืžืจ, by Avraham it says: ืึถืœ ื”ึทืžึธึผืงื•ึนื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืขึธืžึทื“ ืฉึธืื, it says after he spoke about Sedom, he came back to the place where he stood, and that means that he daven. Yitzchak it says: ืœึธืฉื‚ื•ึผื—ึท ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื”, it says: ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฆึตื ื™ึดืฆึฐื—ึธืง ืœึธืฉื‚ื•ึผื—ึท, ื™ืฆื—ืง went to the field, it meant he daven. Yaakov it says: ื•ึทื™ึดึผืคึฐื’ึทึผืข ื‘ึทึผืžึธึผืงื•ึนื, when he had the dream, it says he met up, it means he daven. ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื›ื™ ื”ืœืฉื•ื ื•ืช, these words ืขืžื“ and ืœืฉื•ื— and ื•ื™ืคื’ืข ืžืจื•ืžื–ื™ื ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”, they're ืžืจื•ืžื– for tefillah. So this what Rashi brings to show that the Avot daven. ืœื›ืื•ืจื” ืื™ื ื• ืžื•ื‘ืŸ, not understood. ืœืžื” ื”ื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืดื™ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืืœื• ืฉืชืคื™ืœื•ืชื™ื”ื ืฉืœ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ื ื–ื›ืจื•ืช ื‘ืชื•ื›ื ื‘ื“ืจืš ืจืžื–, why does Rashi bring these ืคืกื•ืงื™ื to prove that the ืื‘ื•ืช ื“ืื•ื•ื ื˜? ืคืกื•ืงื™ื where it doesn't say they ื“ืื•ื•ื ื˜. It's a ืจืžื–: ืขืžื“, ื•ื™ืคื’ืข, ืจืžื–. ื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื, instead of them he should have brought ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื, other ืคืกื•ืงื™ื, ืฉื‘ื”ื ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื–ื”, there it says clearly that they ื“ืื•ื•ื ื˜. By each one of the ืื‘ื•ืช we find ืคืกื•ืงื™ื where it says they ื“ืื•ื•ื ื˜. ื‘ืื‘ืจื”ื ื ืืžืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš, ืžืงื•ื“ื ืœื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉื”ื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืดื™. Rashi, in ื‘ืื‘ืจื”ื, in ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš, even a ืคืกื•ืง earlier before even the ืคืกื•ืง of Rashi, it says ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”' ื•ื™ืงืจื ื‘ืฉื ื”'. He built a ืžื–ื‘ื— and he called the name of ื”'. ืื™ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉืœืคื ื™ ื–ื”, an earlier ืคืกื•ืง, ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”' ื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ื•, he made a ืžื–ื‘ื—, and what did he do by the ืžื–ื‘ื—? This was a form of davenen to the Oybershter. ื•ื™ืชื™ืจื” ืžื–ื•, so why did he bring the ืคืกื•ืง ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื, why didn't he bring that ืคืกื•ืง? ื•ื‘ืขืฆื the kashya is stronger: ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื ื ืืžืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืกื“ื•ื ื•ืขืžื•ืจื”, this ืคืกื•ืง ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื talks about the story of ืกื“ื•ื, ืฉื‘ื• ื ืืžืจ ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื•ื‘ืืจื™ื›ื•ืช ื’ื“ื•ืœื”, in that same ืคืจืฉื”, earlier ืคืกื•ืงื™ื it says ื‘ืืจื™ื›ื•ืช ืฉืื‘ืจื”ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ื‘ื‘ืงืฉื•ืช ื•ื‘ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช ืขืœ ืกื“ื•ื ื•ืขืžื•ืจื”, it says clearly, ื”' he begged the Oybershter, please don't destroy them, so we see clear! Why do you bring that ืคืกื•ืง? ืืœื Rashi ืื™ื ื• ืžื‘ื™ื ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช ืืœื•, Rashi doesn't bring a raayah that he davent from what he said to ื”', please don't kill the, save ืกื“ื•ื, that's not what he brings, ืืœื ืžื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ืกื™ื•ื ืขื ื™ืŸ, and he brings the pasuk at the end, ืœืื—ืจ ื”ืคื™ื›ืช ืกื“ื•ื ื•ืขืžื•ืจื”, after He did turn over ืกื“ื•ื ื•ืขืžื•ืจื”, ื‘ืจืžื– ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื, the word ืขืžื“ ืฉื is a remez. Why didn't he bring pashut his ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช? ื•ืขื•ื“ ื–ืืช, it's even more, ื‘ืžื›ื™ืœืชื ืฉื”ื™ื ืœืคื™ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ืžื“ืคื™ืกื™ื ื”ืžืงื•ืจ ืœืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉืดื™ ื–ื”, the way the printers printed, the source of this Rashi is from Mekhilta, there ื”ื•ื‘ื ืืžื ื ื”ืคืกื•ืง ื”ื ืดืœ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš, ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื—, ื•ืœื ื”ืคืกื•ืง ืฉื”ื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืดื™. In the

Mekhilta source and Rashiโ€™s textual choice

Mekhilta it doesn't bring the same ืคืกื•ืง Rashi brings, ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื, he brings the pasuk from the earlier ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ he made a ืžื–ื‘ื—, so Rashi's source brings it and Rashi changes it! ืืžื ื ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ื›ืจื™ื— ืžืฉื™ื ื•ื™ ื–ื” ืฉืจืฉืดื™ ืžืฆื ื’ื™ืจืกื ื›ื–ื• ื‘ืžื›ื™ืœืชื, now lichorah you can prove that Rashi had another girsa in the Mekhilta, he quotes the Mekhilta and he changes it. ืืฃ ืฉ, ื”ื? ืก'ืื™ื– ืชื ืื™ื. ืืฃ ืฉื’ื ืื– ื™ืฉ ืžืงื•ื ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืœืžื” ื‘ื—ืจ ืจืฉืดื™ ื‘ื ื•ืกื—ื ื ื“ื™ืจื” ื•ืœื ื‘ื ื•ืกื—ื ื ืคื•ืฆื”, even then, you still have a she'eilah, why did Rashi if he had the other girsa, but this girsa is the more common one, why did he bring the girsa which is not so common instead of the girsa that's common? But besides that, it's no ืจืื™ื” ื‘ื›ืœืœ that he has another girsa there, ืžืื—ืจ ืฉืจืฉืดื™ ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ื ืืช ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื‘ืฉื ื”ืžื›ื™ืœืชื, see, if Rashi says, it says in Mekhilta, he cannot quote the Mekhilta and quote a lie and say something the Mekhilta didn't say. Rashi never said this, he said, we know it's the Mechilta, Rashi didn't quote it, ืืœื ื‘ืชื•ืจ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื‘ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงืจื, ืจืฉืดื™ uses that as a peshat in ืคืกื•ืง, ื”ืจื™ ื™ืฉ ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืฉื™ื ื” ื ื•ืกื— ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ืคื™ ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืžื›ื™ืœืชื, so Rashi could change the words of the way it says in ืžื›ื™ืœืชื, ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืฉื™ืชืื™ื ืœืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงืจื ื›ื“ืจื›ื• ืฉืœ ืจืฉืดื™ ื‘ื›ืžื” ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช, ืจืฉืดื™ a lot of times changes the words, but the bottom line is, the kashya is why does Rashi bring the word ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ ืฉื, which is not the time not the real davenen to prove they davent when there are better places? Yitzchak also, there is a ืœื’ื‘ื™ ื™ืฆื—ืง, ืฉื”ืจื™ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื‘ืจื™ืฉ ืคืจืฉืช ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื•ื™ืขืชืจ ื™ืฆื—ืง, it says when he didn't have a child, it says he davent, and Rashi says ืฉื”ืจื‘ื” ื•ื”ืคืฆื™ืจ ื‘ืชืคื™ืœื” ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืจื‘ืงื” ืืฉืชื•, he davent a lot for her, so it says clearly he davent. ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘, ืฉืชืคื™ืœืชื• ืžืคื•ืจืฉืช ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ืฉืœื—, ื•ื™ืฉืœื— it says that he davent, he said to the ืื•ื™ื‘ืขืจืฉื˜ืขืจ ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™ ื ื ืžื™ื“, save me, he davent to him. ื”ืจื™ ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืืœื• ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืชืคื™ืœืชื ืฉืœ ืื‘ื•ืช, there it's very clear that they ื“ืื•ื•ื ื˜, ื•ืœื ืจืง ื‘ื“ืจืš ืจืžื– ื›ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืฉื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉืดื™, not just a remez in the pesukim like Rashi brings. So we

Prayer as a constant practice and its lesson

have all these kashyos, we have a kashya: what does Rashi tell us that they that what does Rashi ื‘ื›ืœืœ have to tell us in the pasuk, what does Rashi mean that that was the job of the Avos, why is it their job, how is it their job, and then why does he bring the pesukim of these pesukim which is not the real davenen, not? And so the Rebbe says like this, the biur, the explanation is like this: ื”ืงื•ืฉื™ื ืฉื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื™ื‘ืช ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• ืฉืจืฉืดื™ ื‘ื ืœืชืจืฅ ื”ื•ื, ืจืฉืดื™ coming to answer a kashya. Like I said, Rashi does not say anything unless there's something not clear. There is something not clear in the pasuk. What is that? ืžื” ืžืงื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ื•ืœืฆืขื•ืง ืืœ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, why did the Yidden have to scream to the Oibershter? ื”ืจื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื‘ื˜ื™ื— ืœื”ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืœืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, the Eibershter told them already, so they knew that that they're going to be saved. ื•ืขื“ ื›ื“ื™ ื›ืš ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ื•ืฆืื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ ืจืžื”, they went out with a strong hand, ืืฃ ืฉื•ื™ืจื“ืฃ ืื—ืจื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, even though he chased them. ื•ืขืœ ืคื™ ื–ื” ืื™ื ื• ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ืžืžื ืคืฉืš, so I don't understand, mimah nafshach: ืื ื”ืืžื™ื ื• ื‘ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ืช ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื™ืŸ ืฆื•ืจืš ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ, if you trust the Eibershter, what's he have to daven? ื•ืื ืœื ื”ืืžื™ื ื•, and if they didn't believe, ื›ื™ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื–ื” ืฉืจืื• ืžืฆืจื™ื ื ื•ืกืข ืื—ืจื™ื”ื ื•ื”ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื”ื ื ืคืœื• ื‘ื”ื ืกืคื™ืงื•ืช, when they saw, they thought they were free, the Eibershter is taking them out, they saw Mitzrayim, so maybe they started getting ืกืคื™ืงื•ืช, ื ื•, ืžื” ืžืงื•ื ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืœื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื? Why daven to the Eibershter? If you can't trust the Eibershter, then why daven to him? So what was in your davening? Ela mai, they did trust. If they did trust, they didn't need to daven. Huh? Yeah, we're talking about the Yidden what the Torah tells us. No, but that's it's not like that. So Rashi says a better trust. I know, but here we're talking Klal Yisrael. Yeah, man, we're talking about the Torah is talking about the Yidden heraus von Mitzrayim. It's not a noch a ืžืคืจืฉ ืจืฉ\"ื™, that's what Rashi says, No, you don't have to daven. The Hashem said to you already. He answered you before you started. He told you already, \"I'm taking you to Eretz Yisrael.\" So Rashi explains, ืชืคืกื• ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื. He grabbed, they did what their Avos did. It's the same trade, the same job. ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉื–ื” ืฉืžืฆื™ื ื• ืชืคื™ืœืช ืืฆืœ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช, when we find by the Avos davening, ื”ื•ื ืœื ืจืง ืฉื”ืชืคืœืœื• ื‘ืขืช ืฆืจื”, not only they davened when they had a ืฆืจื”, ืืœื even a ืžืขืฉื” ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืžื‘ื™ื ืœื™ื“ื™ ืชืคื™ืœื” ืœื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, a situation that requires davening, ื›ื™ ืื ื–ื• ื”ื™ื” ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืฉืœื”ื. In other words, they didn't daven because they needed to daven, this was something that was their job. ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจืฉ\"ื™ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื‘ืœืขื. Like Rashi says regarding Yidden and Bilam where it says that ื›ื•ื—ื• ื‘ืคื”. ืฉื›ืŸ ื”ื ื”ื’ื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ื›ืœ ืขืช ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืœื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื. They always davened to the Eibershter. That's part of what any situation, they'd not because you have to make sure that you'll be saved. ื•ื›ืžื• ืฉืžื•ื›ื™ื— ื›ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ื›ื“ืœืงืžืŸ, and that's the re'aya is from the pasuk, from the pesukim. ืื•ืžื ื•ืช also means training, doesn't it? Isn't it a ืœืฉื•ืŸ to train? Yeah, it's something that you're trained to do. It's something that you're in a habit of doing. That's what it is. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ื”ื™ื• ืืฆืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื ื™ื ืœืื‘ื•ืชื, and therefore the Yidden who are the children of the Avos, same thing, ืฉื’ื ื”ื ื”ืชืคืœืœื• ืœื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, so here also they davened, ืืฃ ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื”ื ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืืœ ื”ืืจืฅ, even though they had a promise, so they davened anyway, like the Avos davened. In other words, any situation, you daven to the Eibershter. Yeah, ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืœืื”, yeah. Now, we daven so it will be faster, that could be. We daven so it will be faster, ื‘ืžื”ืจื”. But they davened just to be saved. Why daven to be saved? ื•ืžื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืœืื—ืจ ื–ื”, eidai the pesukim further it says, ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืžืจื• ืœืžืฉื”, they said to ืžืฉื”, ื”ืžื‘ืœื™ that no there're no graves in ืžืฆืจื™ื ืžื” ื–ืืช ืขืฉื™ืช ืœื ื•, what did you do to us? ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœื ื• ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืžืฆืจื™ื, better if it's in Mitzrayim. ื”ืจื™ ื–ื”ื• ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœ ื”' ื•ืขื ื™ื ื ื•, and they davened, and they davened not because But then they saw that nothing's changing, that's when that made them starting to have ืกืคื™ืงื•ืช or ื’ื ื™ืฉ ืœื•ืžืจ, or you could say ืฉื“ื™ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืืœื• ืœื ื‘ืื• ืžื—ืžืช ื”ืขื“ืจ ืืžื•ื ื” ื‘ื”'. It didn't come because they didn't believe ื•ื›ื•ื•ื ืชื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื”ืชืœื•ื ืŸ and they meant to complain. ืืœื ืฉื“ื™ื‘ืจื• ื›ืŸ ืžื—ืžืช ืžืฆื‘ื ื”ื“ื—ื•ืง. It's just you're in a situation you don't think what you're doing. ื›ื˜ื‘ืข ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื, as a nature, ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ื‘ืขืช ืฆืจื”, people in a ืฆืจื”, ืฉืžื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืคื ื™ ื”ืฆืขืจ ื‘ืœื ื›ื•ื•ื ื”, you speak of ืฆืขืจ ื‘ืœื ื›ื•ื•ื ื”. ื›ืžืืžืจ ื—ื–\"ืœ ืื™ืŸ ืื“ื ื ืชืคืก ืขืœ ื‘ืฉืขืช ืฆืขืจื•, you can't blame a person at a time when he has tzaar. ื›ื™ ืœื ื‘ืจืฉืข ื™ื“ื‘ืจ, ืืœื ืœื ื‘ื“ืขืช. It doesn't talk, a person says things sometimes against the Eibershter it is you don't mean bad, it's just out of tzaar a situation, right, man. ืื‘ืœ ื”ืืžื•ื ื” ื‘ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ืช ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ืชื•ืงืคื”. And they still believed fully. ื”ืจื™ ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉ\"ื™ ืœืื—ืจ ื–ื”, right after, Rashi says on the ืคืกื•ืง, ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”' ืืœ ืžืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ืกืขื•, when the Eibershter told Moshe, tell the Yidden to go, so Rashi says, ื›ื“ืื™ ื–ื›ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื•ื”ื ื•ื”ืืžื•ื ื” ืฉื”ืืžื™ื ื• ื‘ื™. If we're going to say that this meant that there's no more emunah, so why did the Eibershter say, \"The emunah that they believe in Me deserves them they deserve to cross the ื™ื\"? Obviously, they still had the emunah. ื”ืจื™ ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืืžื™ื ื• ื‘ื”' ื•ื‘ื–ื›ื•ืช ื–ื” ื™ืฆืื• ืœืงืจื™ืขืช ื™ื, they still believed. So, they believed. Those that then eidai said it, they said out of out of pain. And when they davened, Rashi tells you, you know why they davened? Not because they needed to daven, because it's an umanut. They followed their Avos. That's what Rashi answers. If they're in pain, you also come up to davening. No. Even though they didn't, they did it by habit. No, that No, davening means you're asking the Aibershter to help you. You don't have to ask the Aibershter, He's going to help you for sure. ืขืœ ืคื™ ื–ื” ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืžื” ืฉืจืฉ\"ื™ ืžื“ื™ื™ืง ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ื“ื•ื•ืงื ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืืœื• ื›ื”ื•ื›ื—ื” ืœืชืคื™ืœืชื ืฉืœ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช. This explains why Rashi brings ื“ื•ื•ืงื these pesukim to prove that the Avos davened. Why? The other pesukim that Rashi brought were all pesukim when they were in need. Yeah, that's Yitzchok didn't have a child, Yaakov was afraid, he was in need, he was asking for his We're trying to bring a ra'ayah that by the Avos, just like the Avos when it was not in need, ืกืชื ืื–ื™, they ืกืชื always davened, that's how we explain here. That's why Rashi could bring those pesukim. So, she shows an ืื•ืคืŸ of an umanut. He wants to bring his umanut. What's it? ืชืคื™ืœื” ืชืคื™ืœืช ืื‘ืจื”ื ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš, in ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš where it said by the ืžื–ื‘ื— where he brought, ื”ื™ืชื” ืžืฉื•ื ื˜ืขื ืžื™ื•ื—ื“, there was a special reason why he davent. ื›ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉืดื™ ืฉื, what Rashi says, ื ืชื ื‘ื ืฉืขืชื™ื“ื™ื, he had ื ื‘ื•ืื” that there they're gonna be in trouble, ื•ื™ืชืคืœืœ ืฉื ืขืœื™ื”ื, so he davent now for them. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉืœืคื ื™ ื–ื” ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ื›ืŸ ืชืคื™ืœืช ืชื•ื“ื”, the previous pasuk also he davent for a reason, he was thanking the Aibershter, ื›ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉืดื™, and Rashi says when the Aibershter told him, \"You're gonna give you ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ and you'll have children,\" ืขืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจืช ื”ื–ืจืข ื•ืขืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจืช ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, Rashi says, for having the ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” they'll have children, ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, he davent. ื›ืŸ ืชืคื™ืœืชื• ืขืœ ืื ืฉื™ ืกื“ื•ื ื•ืขืžื•ืจื”, the main kashya was, why doesn't Rashi bring the pesukim where he davent to the Oibershter for ืกื“ื•ื, ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืœืžืขืŸ ื”ืฆื™ืœื, ืคืฉื•ื˜ to save them ืžื”ืคื™ื›ืชื. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ืชืคื™ืœืช ื™ืฆื—ืง, the ืจื™ืฉ ืคืจืฉืช ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช, Yitzchak's tefillah in the beginning of ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช, ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืฆื•ืจืš ื‘ืงืฉื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ืช, he davent for something special, ืฉืชืคืงื“ ืจื‘ืงื”, so she should become pregnant. ื›ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืชืคื™ืœืช ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™ ื ื ืžื™ื“ ืื—ื™, save me from my brother. These pesukim wouldn't help us here, 'cause we're trying to show that when not because not because of the tzarah, that's why he davent. ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืžื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืดื™ ื“ื•ื•ืงื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“, he brings these three pesukim, the ืคืกื•ืง ืืฉืจ ืขืžื“ by Avraham, the ืคืกื•ืง ื•ื™ืฆื ื™ืฆื—ืง ืœืฉื•ื— ื‘ืฉื“ื” by Yitzchak, and the ืคืกื•ืง ื•ื™ืคื’ืข ื‘ืžืงื•ื by Yaakov. Why? ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืกื™ื‘ื•ืช ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ื•ืช ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื ื‘ืื• ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ. We don't see any special reason why they davent. ื•ืžื•ื›ื— ืžื–ื”, so that proves, ืฉืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื” ื”ื™ื” ืืฆืœื ื‘ื“ื•ื’ืžืช ืฉืœ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช, ืื•ืžื ื•ืช. So that shows that the davenen by them was similar to inyan of a ืื•ืžื ื•ืช, of a job, ืฉืœ ื”ืชืขืกืงื•ืช ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ื™, something that they always did, ื’ื ืžื‘ืœื™ ืกื™ื‘ื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ืช ืฉืชืขื•ืจืจ ืืฆืœื ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืœื”ืงื‘ืดื”, without any reason to daven. ื•ืขืœ ืคื™ ื–ื” ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืคืฉื˜ื•ืช, so now we'll understand the other ืงืฉื™ื, ืฉืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื–ื” ืœื’ื‘ื™ ืชืคื™ืœืชื ืฉืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืฉืžื•ืช. One of the kashyos was, if Rashi had to explain why they davent, so why here? He should have said it earlier in Shemos where they davent. Now we understand why over there Rashi doesn't fit. ืžืื—ืจ ืฉืชืคื™ืœืชื ื–ื• ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ื”ื™ืคืš, ื‘ืขื™ืงืจ ืฉืœ ื‘ืงืฉื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ืช, that was in trouble and they were asking for something, ื”ืชืคืœืœื• ืœื”ืฉื ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ืื ืžืฆืจืชื, to take them out of their tzarah. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ื, in Parshas Bo where it says ื•ื™ืงื•ื“ ื”ืขื, they bowed down, ืฉื˜ืขืžื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืœืชืคื™ืœื” ืœืชืคื™ืœื” ื–ื• ื›ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืฉืดื™ ืฉื, that there was a special reason, ืขืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจืช ื”ื’ืื•ืœื”, because he gave him the ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” for something. But we want to know yet that even if there's no special reason to daven, they still davened, that we bring from these ืคืกื•ืงื™ื of the ืื‘ื•ืช, and Rashi explains it here, because here there was here they were afraid for their life. There they weren't afraid for their life, okay, they had ืฆืจื•ืช. But here they were afraid for their life, that's a kashya, afraid for their life, how could you think you're gonna die when the Oibershter said he'll take you to ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ? So there's no need to daven. Ein hachi nami, but they davened anyway. ื•ื”ื”ื•ืจืื” ืžื–ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืื“ื, the lesson in ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” is: ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”, ื“ืื•ื•ืขื ืขืŸ like we're talking about here, ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ืœื™ืžื•ื“ ื”ืชื•ืจื”, so too learning, ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื“ื•ื’ืžืช ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช, has to become like, ื•ืื™ืคื›ื, like a trade, something that you're always involved in, ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉืœื™ืžื•ื“ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืฉืœื•, when you learn ืชื•ืจื”, ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื ืจืง ื›ื“ื™ ืœื™ื“ืข ืืช ื”ืžืขืฉื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฉื•ืŸ ื•ืืช ื”ืžืขืฉื” ืืฉืจ ืœื ืชืขืฉื™ื ื”, it's not only to learn for a reason, pashut you have to learn in order to know what to do, what you cannot do, ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื–ื”, ืืœื ืœืฉื ืœื™ืžื•ื“ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืขืฆืžื”. It has to be like like like a hobby. That's really what he means, is like a hobby. Hobby you do not because of any reason. You enjoy it, it's the right thing to, you want to do it, that's what you should do. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ื‘ืงื™ื•ื ื”ืžืฆื•ื•ืช ื•ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”, ืžืฆื•ื•ืช and ืชืคื™ืœื”, ืฉื”ื”ืชืขืกืงื•ืช ื‘ื”ื ืื™ื ื” ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœืฉื ืื™ื–ื” ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื•ืžื˜ืจื” ืคืจื˜ื™ืช, doing it should not be for a specific purpose, ืืœื ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืฉืœ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช, like like ืื•ืžื ื•ืช, ืฉื–ื”ื• ื›ืœ ืขื ื™ื ื• ื•ื›ืœ ืžืฆื™ืื•ืชื• ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืขื ื™ื ื™ื•. That should be your ืžืฆื™ืื•ืช. You always do this because this is how you

Working with Others to Bring Them Closer

serve the Oibershter. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื’ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืขื ื”ื–ื•ืœืช, same thing has to do you have to have when you have to work with other people, to be ืžืงืจื‘ other Yidden. ืœื ืœื”ืชื—ืฉื‘ ื‘ื–ื” ืฉื‘ื—ื™ืฆื•ื ื™ื•ืช ืื™ืŸ ื ืจืื” ืฉื”ื–ื•ืœืช ื™ืฉ ืœื• ืฉื™ื™ื›ื•ืช ืœืชื•ืจื” ื•ืชืคื™ืœื”. Don't care that you see this guy that you're trying to ืžืงืจื‘, this guy, he's not ืฉื™ื™ืš to daven, not ืฉื™ื™ืš to learn, he's not ืฉื™ื™ืš. So there's no purpose in bringing him to Torah and ืชืคื™ืœื”. No. ื›ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ื•ืœื“ืขืช you have to know ืฉื‘ื–ื” ื‘ืขืฆื ื‘ืคื ื™ืžื™ื•ืชื• ื–ื”ื• ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืฉืœ ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“ ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ, you see be'emet every Yid is shayach. Every Yid's hobby is learning and davenen. ื›ื™ ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ื“ืื‘ื•ืช ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“, this is the job of of the Avos, and the Avos are the Avos of all the ื™ื™ื“ืŸ, ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ื ื‘ื”ืขืœื, and that's why that guy is ื‘ื”ืขืœื, ื•ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื ื• ืœื’ืœื•ืชื ืžื”ืขืœื ืืœ ื”ื’ื™ืœื•ื™, you have to bring it out from ื”ืขืœื to ื’ื™ืœื•ื™. Craft is a A hobby is Craft, okay. You can take it or leave it, craft. Go to the hobby shop. Okay, Yasher koach, yasher koach. Not yotzei? If that's all they could do then it's enough, but if they could do more, of course!

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