One Small Prayer Can Save a Life

In this week’s Torah portion, we read the verse, “And he shall call out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’” The Gemara in Tractate Shabbat explains that when someone was afflicted with tzara’at (a spiritual skin disease), they had to announce their condition so that others would know and pray for them.

Rabbi Shimshon Pincus, of blessed memory, explained that we learn from this how powerful one Jew’s prayer for another can be. When someone is going through hardship, we are not only allowed to pray for them we are obligated to do so.

Rabbi Pincus gave a simple example. He said that when a decent person sees someone bleeding, of course he will run to help. If he hears that a friend is struggling financially, and he has a way to help, he will do whatever he can. So too, even when we can’t offer material help, we can always help in one very real way, with a sincere prayer from the heart. A heartfelt prayer, even a short one, has the power to pierce the heavens and awaken great mercy.

The Chafetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, was known for the many prayers he said on behalf of students or friends who were suffering. At times, he would even fast for days for someone who was ill.

One particularly moving story happened during the Communist era, when Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky was arrested and sent to Siberia. The entire Torah world followed the case with great concern, and many people worked to try to have him released. The Chafetz Chaim also joined in those efforts. But more than anything, he prayed. Each day, he would say four chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) with great intensity, asking Hashem to free Rabbi Abramsky.

Eventually, the prayers worked. Just before Yom Kippur, a guard came into Rabbi Abramsky’s cell and announced that he was being released. He even handed him a train ticket home.

When Rabbi Abramsky arrived at the station, something unexpected happened. The commander of the detention camp, a Jewish man known for being cruel, was there waiting. He approached Rabbi Abramsky and asked, “Are you traveling by train?”

“Yes,” replied Rabbi Abramsky.

“Are you a rabbi?”

“Yes,” he answered again.

“Show me your ticket.”

Rabbi Abramsky was afraid. He thought the commander might tear up the ticket or do something to send him back to the prison. But he had no choice and handed it over.

The commander looked at the ticket and said, “This is for an unheated car. If you travel in this car, you won’t survive the cold. You’ll freeze before reaching home.”

He looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then quietly handed Rabbi Abramsky a new ticket for a heated car.

The commander, who until now had treated him harshly, not only helped him but also asked for forgiveness. He explained that he had only been following government orders and that deep down, he regretted his actions.

It wasn’t until Rabbi Abramsky was already on the journey home, sitting in the heated car, that he realized how great the commander’s kindness had been. From the other cars,those without heat, bodies were being removed. People had frozen to death on the train. The commander’s small act had saved his life.

Since it was already the eve of Yom Kippur, Rabbi Abramsky got off the train at a small town to spend the holy day there. The next day, he continued his journey. On the way, while traveling from a town in Lithuania to Warsaw, he met Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman on the train.

The two rabbis were surprised and overjoyed to see each other. Rabbi Elchanan said, “Is it true that you were released from Siberia on the eve of Yom Kippur?”

“Yes,” replied Rabbi Yechezkel. “But how did you know? I haven’t even been able to send a message to my family yet!”

Rabbi Elchanan explained, “That morning, as I was walking with the Chafetz Chaim from the yeshiva, the Chafetz Chaim suddenly said, ‘The Bolsheviks failed. They released Rabbi Yechezkel, the Rabbi of Slutsk, from Siberia.’”

These words are both chilling and full of hope. The Chafetz Chaim had no access to government news. But he was so connected to the pain of another Jew that it was as if he knew. His heart, his mind, and his prayers had never left Rabbi Abramsky.

The Chafetz Chaim could not physically get him out of Siberia. But his tefillah, his prayer, opened the gates of heaven and helped bring Rabbi Abramsky home.

Have you heard of someone who is suffering? Whether you know them personally or not, whether they are nearby or far away, don’t think you can’t do anything. You can. Stop for a moment. Pray for them. Speak from your heart. Even a short, simple prayer in your own words can bring salvation.

Just say, “Hashem, please help this person. Please heal them. Please comfort them.”

And trust that your prayer is never lost.

Every heartfelt prayer moves something in the world above.

Courtesy of the Dirshu website