Parshat Balak: The Power Of Prayer

Every morning, the first prayer that we recite upon entering the synagogue is Mah Tovu. It is a beautiful yet overall strange prayer that emanates from a very contaminated and wicked source - the rasha Bilam, an evil man, who was not even Jewish. However, this t'filah that is included in our prayer services is almost universally accepted. How come? Instead, should we recite a prayer from a holier personality? What is going on here?

My father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer, shlit"a incredibly relates in the name of the Lev Simcha, the sixth Rebbe of Ger, that at the very moment that the wicked, depraved, and evil Bilam pronounced the words of Mah Tovu, he was sincere. With genuine feeling and conviction, Bilam turned to Hashem and uttered the words of the prayer we say each morning. We discern a fundamental and pivotal lesson in Yiddishkeit and growth from this episode. When one genuinely turns toward their Father in heaven out of sheer love, conviction, and sincerity, Hashem adores our passion. Every morning, Mah Tovu stands as a daily reminder of this affection. By providing a nest of warmth, the Almighty makes known that no matter who one is or what their past might include, when a person engrosses themselves in prayer to His glory, Hashem finds love in that moment! Hashem yearns to hear from each and every one of His children, notwithstanding previous sins. It is for this exact reason that our Shacharit service, the first of each day, begins with a lesson of the effectiveness of our t'filot.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlit"a once presented a class to a room full of physicians. Afterwards, a doctor approached the gadol clutching onto a child's siddur, a little prayer book, for dear life. Obviously very precious to the medical professional, the scene was strange - a grown man, a noted practioner, gripping a youth's first siddur with such emotion. Upon inquiring, the devout sage was moved by a powerful, touching tale. The doctor and his wife were married for over 15 years, and rachmana l’tzlan suffered from infertility. The couple was informed that it was biologically impossible for them to bear a child; they were despondent. As the years passed, they gave up on becoming pregnant and opted to adopt a sweet little newborn. Their son grew up day by day and when he was five years old had a siddur party in yeshivah where he and his classmates were each awarded their very first siddur. Grasping his very own prayer book, the youngster gleamed with pride turning to his father, “Daddy, I am so excited to have a siddur.” The reasoning that the child gave his father for making such a pointed declaration caused the role model to burst into tears. “I am so excited because now I can daven for a baby brother. I always wanted a little brother.” What the boy said broke his father’s heart, because the boy had no idea that he was adopted; the five year old did not know that they could not have their own children. The father did not have the heart to shatter his son'is dream that he would not have a brother. The boy continued, "I am going to pray and beg Hashem for a baby brother." Now, the doctor with his face full of tears, turned to Rav Zilberstein and said, “Rabbi, the reason why I'm holding this siddur with such emotion is because it is the holiest prayer book in the world. Yesterday, I made a brit milah, circumcision, for my newborn son! Defying all odds, my wife and I had a baby boy!” The most unbelievable detail of this episode was when the baby entered this world. Miraculously, nine months after their adopted son received his life-changing siddur, precisely the exact moment that the talmid began davening to Hashem for a brother, the boy's innocent wish was granted in Heaven! His heartfelt prayers are the reason why that bewildered child was gifted with a little brother by our Creator! Wow, what a story, and what an awe-inspiring lesson - the power of sincere prayer is bountiful!

By Aryeh Fingerer