Introduction to:

"Outpouring of the Soul" Part I
(Hishtapchut HaNefesh: Hakdama)

By Rabbi Alter of Teplik (Moshe Yehoshua Bezhilianski)
Translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Who is the person who desires life?[1] Who is truly concerned about his soul? Who is the one who wishes to be worthy of serving God through prayer, which is a person's main source of life, as it is written, "Prayer to God is my life" (Psalms 42:9). Through prayer, one also can bring life-force to all the spiritual universes.[2]

Let such a person pay close attention to the lessons gathered in this book, which speaks of the importance of prayer and meditation, especially regarding "pouring out one's soul and heart like water before God's Presence."[3] He will learn how to ask God for all that he needs, both materially and spiritually. This is the only way that one can receive divine help at all times.

This holy path is an ancient one that has been walked by our patriarchs, prophets, and sages.

Before Adam was created, the Torah states, "All the bushes of the field had not yet grown, and the plants of the field had not yet sprung up, because God had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the soil" (Genesis 2:5). This is speaking of the sixth day of creation, and Rashi notes that this seems to contradict the verse which says that on the third day, "the earth brought forth plants" (Genesis 1:12). Rashi explains that the plants only emerged as far as the surface of the ground, and there they remained until Adam prayed for rain. The rain then fell, and all the plants and trees began to grow from the ground.

It is also taught that when Noah left the ark and saw the terrible destruction all around, he began to weep, and he cried out, "Lord of the Universe! You should have had mercy on Your creatures!''

God replied to him, "Foolish shepherd! Now you are complaining! Earlier I told you, 'I have seen that you are righteous in this generation' (Genesis 7:1). I warned you, 'I am about to bring a killer flood upon the earth to destroy all life' (Genesis 6:17). I told you all that so you would pray for the world. Now that the world is destroyed, you are opening your mouth before Me with prayers and supplications?"

When Noah realized his mistake, he offered sacrifice and prayed to God for the future. The "appeasing fragrance" (Genesis 8:21) that God smelled was the fragrance of Noah's prayers.[4]

We also find many examples of Abraham's prayers. When God told Abraham, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is very great" (Genesis 18:20) and threatened to destroy the cities, Abraham immediately "drew near" (Genesis 18:23) and began to pray and plead to God that He spare the cities if fifty, or, finally even if ten righteous were to be found within their borders.

Our sages also comment on the verse, "Abraham got up early in the morning, and went to the place where he had stood before God" (Genesis 19:27). They say that this alludes to the fact that Abraham instituted a daily morning prayer.[5]

We also find that God said to Abimelech, "Return this man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you" (Genesis 20:7). The Torah then relates, "Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech" (Genesis 20:17). The Midrash notes that when Abraham offered this prayer, the "knot was unbound."[6]

When Abraham's servant, Eliezer, went to find a bride for Isaac, he expressed his thoughts to God in prayer, and said, "God, Lord of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and do kindness to my master, Abraham" (Genesis 24:12). The Midrash states that he said, "Lord of the Universe! We are trying to finish what Abraham accomplished with his prayer when You granted him Isaac. Now complete that act of kindness and grant a wife for his son!"[7]

Regarding Isaac, the Torah says, "Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening" (Genesis 24:63). The Talmud notes that this alludes to the fact that Isaac instituted a regular daily afternoon prayer.[8]

The Midrash states that Isaac was totally involved in prayer, and Rebecca said, "This is certainly a great man!" She therefore asked. "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?" (Genesis 24:65).[9]

Later when Isaac married Rebecca and found her to be barren, the Torah states, "Isaac prayed for the sake of his wife" (Genesis 25:21). The Midrash states[10] that according to one opinion, he offered a wealth of prayer,[11] while others say that he prayed so much that he was able to overturn the decree with his prayer.[12]

The Torah says of Jacob, "He worshiped in that location" (Genesis 28:11). The Talmud states that from this we see that Jacob instituted a regular daily evening prayer.[13]

Jacob also prayed at length to God, and said, "If God will be with me and watch me... giving me bread to eat and clothes to wear..." (Genesis 28:20). The Midrash states that God took the meditation of the Patriarchs and made it into the key for their descendants' redemption.[14]

The Midrash also notes that during the twenty years that Jacob was with Laban, he did not sleep nights, but recited the fifteen "songs of ascent" in the Psalms (120-134).[15] Jacob would spend entire nights meditating and praying to God.

When Jacob was returning to the Holy Land. he sent emissaries to Esau. However, his main weapon was prayer, and he said, "0 God... Deliver me, I beg You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau" (Genesis 32:12).

We also find that all the Matriarchs were constantly involved in prayer. The Midrash says that God made the Matriarchs barren because He desires the prayers of the righteous.[16]

The Midrash also says that when Sarah was taken to Abimelech's palace, she spent the entire night prostate on her face, crying, "Lord of the Universe…"[17]

When Isaac was praying for Rebecca, the Torah says that he prayed "opposite his wife" (Genesis 25:21).[18] The Midrash states that Isaac stood in one corner and prayed, while Rebecca stood in the other corner and prayed."[19]

The Torah notes that Rachel said, "God has judged me and has heard my prayer" (Genesis 30:6). She then said, "I have been twisted around with my sister through all of God's roundabout ways" (Genesis 30:8). Rashi explains that Rachel did so with prayers that were precious to God.

When Rachel finally gave birth, the Torah says, "God heard Rachel's [prayer] and He opened her womb" (Genesis 30:22). Scripture later speaks of "Rachel weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15).

In describing Leah, the Torah says, "Leah's eyes were tender" (Genesis 29:17). The Talmud teaches that they were tender because she had wept and prayed so much that she would not become Esau's wife.[20]

Jacob's sons were also involved in prayer. Thus, when Jacob sent Benjamin with them to Egypt (Genesis 43:13), he told his sons, "Here is the money, here are the tribute gifts, and here is your brother."

"But it is your prayers that we need!" replied the sons.

"Then here is my prayer," said Jacob. "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man (Genesis 43:14). May He Who eventually will say 'enough' to all suffering now say 'enough' to my suffering!"[21]

When Joseph was in prison in Egypt (Genesis 39:20), he also spent his time in prayer. We thus say the prayer, "May He who answered Joseph in prison also answer us!"[22]

When Joseph took Benjamin, the Torah says, "Judah approached" (Genesis 44:18). The Midrash comments that Judah approached God in prayer [23]

When our ancestors were in Egypt, the Torah tells us, "The Israelites groaned because of their work, and they cried out, and their cry came up to God" (Exodus 2:23). It is similarly written that at the Red Sea, "Israel cried out to God" (Exodus 14:10).

Commenting on the verse, "My dove in the clefts of the rock.... let me hear your voice" (Song of Songs 2:14), the Midrash states that God is speaking to Israel, saying: "Let Me hear the same voice with which you cried out to Me in Egypt." From here we see that God desires the Israelites' prayers.[24]

Throughout the Torah and the works of our sages we find Moses constantly engaged in prayer and supplication to God, both for himself and for Israel. When Israel sinned with the Golden Calf, "Moses entreated God" (Exodus 32:11). Moses later described his prayer: "I threw myself down in prayer before God for forty days and forty nights…" (Deuteronomy 9:18).

The Midrash states that God taught Moses how to pray. At Marah God told Moses to say, "Make the bitter into the sweet." Later, when the Israelites sinned with the Golden Calf, Moses said to God, "Just as you told me at Marah to pray that You make the bitter into the sweet, take the bitterness of Israel's sin and make it sweet again."[25]

When Moses was praying for God to forgive the sin of the Golden Calf, he kept praying until all his strength was exhausted. He was willing to give up both this world and the next for his people, as he said, "If you do not forgive them, please obliterate me" (Exodus 32:32).[26]

When the Israelites sinned by listening to the spies, Moses prayed for them (Numbers 14:13). When the people grumbled against God, Moses prayed for them (Numbers 11:2). When Miriam was stricken with leprosy, Moses cried out, "0 God, please heal her!" (Numbers 12:13).

When it was decreed that Moses not enter the promised land, Moses describes his response: "I supplicated (va-etchanan) before God" (Deuteronomy 3:23). The Midrash states that he offered 515 prayers, the numerical value of va-etchanan.[27] The Midrash concludes that if Moses had offered one more prayer, he would have been answered. The Midrash also speaks of the many prayers that Moses said on the day that he died.[28]