The King Awaits His Son’s Return

Every G-d-fearing Jew ponders the question, “What should I be davening for?” The powerful and deep query was once answered by the Maggid of Dubno, Rabbi Yaakov Krantz, with a moshol worth putting to memory.

When a certain king’s son was misbehaving, the monarch gave the child a solitary chance to improve. When this failed, the ruler gave his beloved child another opportunity. Still unrelenting on his rebellious path, and after ignoring three consecutive warnings, the royal father king was left with no choice but to evict his adored son from the palace grounds.

Now separated from his regal confines, the prince fell into a downward spiral sinking lower each progressive week. The prince got involved with a bad crowd and associated with its lowly elements distancing himself further from his royal upbringing and true imperial identity. Over time, the lad completely forgot his royal title of prince of the kingdom. His actions, dress, and behavior were far befitting for a child of the empire's king. A few short years later, the once dignified young man was wholly indistinguishable from his heritage.

One day, an announcement declared the arrival of the king to a small town where his son now lived. The statement read that the king, who loved his subjects, was offering each resident a one in a lifetime opportunity to speak face-to-face when the subject could make a single request of the sovereign that would be subsequently granted. Hearing of this great fortune, the once proclaimed prince added his own name to the list. Although he recalled the king as his father, the man saw the monarch’s visit as a rare chance to be granted needs that he currently lacked.

On the big day of the king’s arrival, a long line of subordinates formed, each awaiting their chance to make a request of the king. When the prince’s turn came, immediately notwithstanding his drastic changes in appearance, the king recognized the person standing before him as his own flesh and blood.

The subject, however, did not distinguish the king as his father even for a mere moment. As duly ordered, the wayward child stated his request to the king for a new shirt and pair of pants as suitable replacements for his torn and tattered garments.

With deep pain, the king stared into his child’s eyes and said, “My son, why are you asking me for such minor items? Why don’t you ask me for permission to return to the palace? If you return, all your needs will be met, and you will never need to ask me for anything again. In the palace, you will be clothed, fed, and fully taken care of. That is what you should be asking for!”

The great gaon, Rav Yaakov ben Wolf Krantz of Dubno, the Dubner Maggid explained that we must awaken and take note of our true appearance. Over the year, we daven for parnassah, nachat, health, shalom bayit, etc. Each of these are vitally important, still our main tefillot should be for the bigger picture. Each of us should instead focus on praying for the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash. Once Hashem’s palace stands tall, we, as His children, will find our home there, and thereafter every minute problem will automatically be addressed.

When Hashem sees that this is our sole concern and desire, He will hear our plea. When the Almighty sees that our tefillot are directed at the reformation of His dwelling, it will be reconstructed. As the Yaavetz relates, If the priority of our prayers and the yearning in our hearts would be for the recreation of the Beit Hamikdash, then we would have already seen it happen. It is up to us to really pray to see its rebuilding during our time!

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Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi has created a storm in the Jewish world bringing back many unaffiliated young men and women to the pathways of Hashem. He has been involved in the Chazaq and Torah Anytime organizations, among others including NCSY, BJX, and Partners in Torah. He has since returned to his hometown of Lakewood, N.J. Rabbi Rahimi is a graduate of Deal Yeshiva, and learned in Beth Medrash Govoha becoming a very close talmid of Rabbis Yeruchem Olshin shlit"a, and Yitzchok Sorotzkin shlit"a. Rabbi Rahimi partook in the Sephardic halachic project Mishnah Berurah Tiferet. He can be reached at, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..