Introduction to:

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

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

Before sending Joshua as a spy. Moses prayed, "May God protect you from the advice of the other spies."[1] When Caleb saw that Moses did not pray for him, he made a point of throwing himself on the grave of the Patriarchs to pray that he would not be tempted to follow the other spies.[2]

After the rebellion of Korach, the Torah states that "Aaron took the fire pan" (Numbers 17:12). At that time Aaron offered many prayers to God to forgive the Israelites. We thus say, "May He who answered Aaron with the fire pan also answer us."[3]

Similarly, when Pinchas stood up before the congregation (Numbers 25:7), he prayed, as it is written, "Pinchas stood up and prayed" (Psalms 106:30).

When the Israelites were defeated at Ai, "Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the Ark and said, 'Alas, 0 Lord God . . .'" Joshua 7:6.7).

In the days of the judges, whenever the Israelites sinned, God was angry with them and placed them in the hands of their enemies. Israel's response was to cry out to God,[4] until God had mercy on them, and raised up a judge to deliver them. This was true of each of the judges.

When the Philistines had put out Samson's eyes and bound him with brass fetters, Samson called out to God, "0 God, Lord, remember me, I pray. Strengthen me this one more time!" (Judges 16-28).

When Hannah realized that God had sealed her womb, she wept and prayed to God at great length (I Samuel 1:12). The Talmud states that from there we see that whoever prays at great length is answered.[5] It is also taught that whenever the righteous pray at length, they are answered.[6] Hannah said, "I have poured out my soul before God" (I Samuel 1:15). She later said of Samuel, "This is the child for whom I prayed" (I Samuel 1:27). Scripture records, "Hannah prayed and said. . ." (I Samuel 2:1), upon which the Midrash comments, "She began to pray and confess."[7]

Later, when the Philistines had overpowered Israel, Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mitzpah, and I will pray to God for you" (I Samuel 7:5). Scripture says, "They went to Mitzpah and drew water, pouring it out before God" (I Samuel 7:6). The commentaries note that they spilled out their hearts before God like water. It is then recorded, "Samuel cried out to God for Israel and God answered him" (I Samuel 7:9).

All the prophets also were constantly involved with praying. Elijah thus said, "God, Lord of Israel, before whom I stand, is life" (I Kings 17:1). The commentaries note that he was saying that he was accustomed to standing before God in prayer.

When the son of the woman of Tzarephat died, Elijah called out to God and said, "God, my Lord, let this child's soul come back to him," and Scripture records that "G-d listened to Elijah's prayer" (I Kings 17:21, 22).

Similarly, at Mount Carmel, when he gathered all Israel along with the Baal's prophets to reveal that there is a God in Israel, Elijah approached God and said, "God, Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel… Answer me, God, answer me!" (I Kings 19:36, 37).

Although Elisha performed many miracles, the Talmud states, "Whatever Elisha accomplished, he did through prayer."[8]

When Jonah was swallowed by the giant fish, Scripture records that "Jonah prayed from the fish's belly" (Jonah 2:2). Scripture also records the "Prayer of Habakkuk" (Habakkuk 3:1).

It is written, "[God] hears the prayers of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29). The Midrash comments that this is speaking of the prayers of the prophets of Israel."[9]

It is written, "If they are prophets let them pray to the Lord of Hosts" (Jeremiah 27:18). King David spent his entire life engaged in prayers, supplication, and entreaty to God, expressing his thoughts to God until he was worthy of composing the Book of Psalms. It is thus taught that the verse, "[Noah] sent out the raven" (Genesis 8:7) refers to David, who cried out to God like a raven. David would go out to the mountains like a raven to meditate, as it is written, "David climbed the ascent to the Mount of Olives, and he wept as he climbed, with his head covered" (II Samuel 15:30).[10]

After King Solomon built the Holy Temple. he, too, prayed to God, as it is written, "Solomon stood before God's altar in the presence of the entire Israelite community. and he spread his hands [in prayer] to heaven" (I Kings 8:22).

When King Hezekiah was sick, it is recorded that "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God" (Isaiah 38:2). His prayer is then recorded at length.

When Daniel was asked to interpret King Nebuchadnezar's dream, it is recorded, "Daniel went to his house and informed Chanania, Mishael and Azariah, his companions, so that they would pray to God in heaven concerning this secret" (Daniel 2:17, 18).

Later, Darius made a law "that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man for the next thirty days... shall be cast into the lion's den" (Daniel 6:8). Daniel's response is recorded: "Daniel knew that the decree was signed, but he went to his house, and although the windows of his upstairs room were open to Jerusalem, he kneeled three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had always done" (Daniel 6:11).

When Daniel was then cast into the lions' den, he prayed with great intensity. We thus say, "May He who answered Daniel in the lions' den also answer  us."[11]

Daniel also cried out to God regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, as he recorded: "I set my face to God, seeking Him with prayer, supplication, fasting, sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to God my Lord and confessed, saying, '0 Lord, great and awesome God... Turn your ear, my God, and listen…' I thus spoke in prayer…" (Daniel 9:3).

When Chanania, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown into the fiery furnace, they were delivered only because they prayed to God, as discussed in the Zohar.[12] We thus say, "May He who answered Chanania, Mishael, and Azariah in the fiery furnace also answer us."[13]

Ezra similarly records: "I proclaimed a fast there at the Ahavah River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God, and seek Him in a straight way... So we fasted and prayed to God... and He heard our prayer" (Ezra 8:21-23).

When he discovered that the Israelites had married gentile women, Ezra cried out bitterly and said, "I am ashamed and humiliated to lift my face to You, 0 God" (Ezra 9:6). His entire prayer is then recorded.

When there was a decree against the Jews in Shushan, Mordecai and Esther prayed to God a great deal, as we see in the Book of Esther.[14] Shortly after this, the Great Assembly ordained all the formal prayers that a person must address to God each day.

During the Talmudic period, all the sages would constantly engage in personal prayer. The Talmud thus records the prayers that many of the sages recited after the formal Amidah.[15] The sages also composed many prayers for special occasions, such as the Traveler's Prayer (Tefilat HaDerech).

They also ordained that before a person measures his grain, he should say, "May it be Your will, 0 God my Lord, that You send Your blessing in this pile of grain."[16] Similarly, before entering a city, one should say, "May it be Your will that You bring me into this city in peace."[17] After composing all these prayers, they finally said, "If only a person would pray all day long!"[18]

In later times. many holy men composed prayers and poems (piyutim). Thus, the Ari[19] and his disciples composed a arge number of prayers, such as those found in Sha'arey Tzion.[20]

The Baal Shem Tov also engaged constantly in meditation and revealed the importance of prayer, as we find in the works based on his teachings.

Rabbi Tzvi of Zidichov[21] writes:

"The best time to meditate is after midnight. One should rise and pray for his soul, which because of its sins is so far from the Fountain of Life. At that time, he should review all that has passed and speak out his heart, like a slave lying prostrate before his master.

"He should express his prayers like a child addressing his father. The language should be that which he usually speaks, so that his words will be fluent, and he will be able to express the pain in his heart for all the sins that he has committed, begging for forgiveness and atonement.

"The Zohar thus teaches, 'Since the Holy Temple has been destroyed, the only thing left for us is prayer.'[22] One should ask God to help him to worship, and to be in awe of the Divine with a perfect heart. One should pray in this manner at length. This is obviously more precious to God than any fast."

He then quotes a manuscript of Bet Middot[23] attributed to the Ari, which states, "One must meditate (yitboded), secluding himself with God… He must speak to God with quiet trepidation, as a slave speaks to his master, or a child to his father."

All the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov followed this path. Finally, the Baal Shem Tov's great-grandson. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, renewed this ancient path which our ancestors had always followed, and he exceeded in prayer, supplication and meditation, in the fields and forests. It was he who enlightened us and taught us the proper way to follow this path. He told his followers, "Give me your hearts, and I will take you on a new path, which is really the old path upon which our fathers always walked."

 

© 1980 Breslov Research Institute

With minor revisions for the Breslov Center website