Some time ago I wrote a post about how prayer can work retroactively (see Praying For Yesterday).
In this post I’d like to discuss how prayer actually works.
The Jewish view is that during the period from Rosh Hashana (New Year) to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) the fortunes of the entire world (and ALL its inhabitants) are determined for the upcoming year. If that’s the case how does prayer have any effect? Since it’s already been decided what’s going to happen, what’s the point of praying?
Kabbalah talks about four worlds:
Aziluth is the most spiritual while Asiyah is the physical, mundane world of action. The decrees of Rosh Hashana are stored in the world of Aziluth and require prayer to bring them into the mundane world. While to riches prepared for us are never lost we need prayer to make them manifest.
Here’s a story to illustrate.
It’s told about the Baal Shem Tov, an 18th century Jewish mystic, rabbi and founder of the Chaddisic movement.
One day the Baal Shem Tov (Besht) gathered his closest followers and took them on a journey. After travelling for some time they came to a very run down house in an isolated area. The Besht asked of his followers that they not reveal who he was.
Coming out to greet them was a Jewish man (Yaacov) who was clearly impoverished. He welcomed them and inquired where they were from. When they replied that they were from Medzhybizh (the home of the Besht) he became very excited and began to ask if they knew the Besht.
Not wanting the conversation to continue along this line the Besht informed him that they had travelled a long way and were tired and hungry. At this he offered to provide whatever they needed.
In order to feed his guests Yaacov used up all the food in his house. After eating, the Besht informed Yaacov that they would all be staying over the Sabbath and would need a number of meals. He provided Yaacov with a list of requirements which was clearly beyond his ability to provide. As well as this group of 11 guests, Yaacov had his wife and their 6 children who would also need to eat.
In order to provide everything on the list Yaacov sold his house and all his possessions.
After the Sabbath the group of visitors departed and as he was leaving the Besht revealed to Yaacov who he was and left without another word.
The followers of the Besht were distraught. They’d seen him do many miracles but in this case they didn’t understand – “We’ve left him destitute and with absolutely nothing. For what purpose?” But they got no answer.
Yaacov was also devastated. He had had the famous holy man and miracle worker in his house but had been completely ruined by the event. He’d sold his house and so he and his wife and children would have to leave in a few days. They had nowhere to go and no money. What was he to do?
He went out into the forest and cried out to G-d. In his questioning of G-d he asked “Is it too hard for you to provide me with the means to help and support myself and others?” During this time he imagined what it would be like to have plenty of money and a nice house. He imagined having many guests and being able to support others in his community.
While he was sitting there a Boris came by – a man Yaacov was well acquainted with. Boris was well known as a drunk but Yaacov had always treated him with kindness and respect.
When Boris saw Yaacov he became very excited, greeted him and said “I’ve been looking for you. I have a secret I want to share with you.”
“You’ve been the only person who hasn’t treated me with disgust. My children hate me and think I’m nothing but an old drunk. I know I drink too much but event when I’ve too much you’ve still been kind to me.”
Boris took him to a place in the forest and said, “This is a secret I’m sharing only with you. I’m actually very wealthy and I keep all my money hidden in this secret place. When I die, I want you to have it.”
As luck would have it Boris died the next day, and so Yaacov was suddenly very rich.
With his new wealth, Yaacov did all the things he’d imagined when he had poured out his heart to G-d.
After a while he decided he should go and she the Besht and tell him what had transpired. He took his wife and children and went to visit the holy man.
When he arrived the followers were astounded. They remembered Yaacov in rags and with no money or home and now he appeared before them well dressed, his wife and children all looking very fine, healthy and happy.
Yaacov told them what had happened after they visited and everyone was very pleased with the result.
The Besht then explained to Yaacov that this was the reason he had done what he did. He said, “There was great wealth stored up for you in Heaven but because of your humility you never asked for it and so it stayed in the upper realms.”
“It was only when you were completely impoverished and had nowhere else to turn that you prayed for what you needed. As a result of your prayers this has now come to you.”
What this story illustrates (whether it actually happened is irrelevant) is that the power of prayer is that it draws down into the material world the riches, both material and spiritual, that are available to us.