My Prayers Can’t Go Up
February 5, 2023
This unforgettable experience is cause for reflection. At least it was for me. So I called up Rabbi Pesach Krohn and shared the following story with him. He was inspired and told me he would incorporate it into one of his lectures on Tefillah.
One morning, I happened to wind up davening Shacris in one of the large prominent Shuls in Brooklyn. Unfortunately it looked more like a marketplace then a Shul, begging for מורא מקדש. Found it difficult to concentrate, let alone hear the Chazan.
A loud commotion suddenly arose from the center of the Shul. An elderly man had gotten up from his seat and started screaming loudly, “quiet, quiet, quiet. My wife is in the hospital dying and your commotion and disrespect, is not allowing my Tefillos to go up to Hashem. I will hold you all responsible for anything that happens to her”.
Everyone stopped cold in their tracks and were taken aback by his heart wrenching words. That unexpected outburst quieted things down and allowed davening to resume. Rest assured, things were not the same after that.
Personally, I was gratified to have witnessed a real Jew in action. Not intimidated and afraid of no one, but Hashem. In the depths of his heart, he truly felt, that his prayers to Hashem, had the power to make a difference. He was so connected to Hashem and convinced, that his wife’s recovery actually depended on his prayers. He hadn’t come to Shul that morning just to daven, pay his respects, mumble some words, speak to some friends and take off. He was earnest and sincere about in who’s presence he stood and felt violated by those who were treating his Shul disrespectfuly, like a club house.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we always thought that way? Do we believe, that every prayer we say is precious and heard? Do we sincerely feel our prayers have the power to create change? That our prayers go up and are accepted, when presented properly, with sincere intent. That they must be said in a respectful way, in a respectful place. After all, we are speaking to the King, directly, with no intermediary. What an honor, to have this opportunity bestowed upon us. Do we appreciate it? Then how can we tolerate noise and disturbance, while having a one on one conversation, with the One and only. The only One that has the real power to make a difference in our lives, the lives of our family and in the lives of all those we are praying with.
How lucky to have been there that particular morning and to have the opportunity to be taught this important lesson. You want Hashem to pay attention to you, you best pay attention to Him. When you are aware of Hashem’s presence while in His Presence, then does Hashem take notice of you to. That morning will always be etched in my memory. Whenever I am in Shul, amongst people who forgot why they came to Shul in the first place, I hear that old Jew screaming, “quiet, quiet, quiet”.
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