The Power of Praying for Faith: How the Baal Shem Tov Saved a Tzaddik's Soul

In the book Shomer Emunim, it is told about one of the great tzaddikim (righteous men) of the generation, who illuminated the world with his righteousness and holiness. Yet, at the beginning of his spiritual journey, he was plagued by doubts of faith. The Baal Shem Tov foresaw this with his divine spirit, and recognizing the immense spiritual heights that this tzaddik was capable of reaching, the Baal Shem Tov made a special trip to his town. He approached him and said, "Even regarding this, you must pray to Hashem, blessed be He..."—meaning, even for faith itself, one must ask God to merit pure faith, to attain strong and steadfast trust in Him. That tzaddik later said that the Baal Shem Tov saved his soul with that guidance.

Even for Faith, One Must Pray

There are those who mistakenly assume that only someone who already has strong faith should pray, but they fail to understand that someone who feels weak in faith must pray that his emunah (faith) will be strengthened. Especially in our times, when the only way we can endure is through emunah.

When we deeply contemplate our great sages of previous generations — how emunah and bitachon (trust) were deeply embedded in their hearts, how purity in their service of God was their path in every life event — we see that despite their immense wisdom and intellectual depth (so profound that their simplest thought surpasses our greatest intellect), they made themselves simple and innocent before Hashem. In doing so, they merited true wisdom, which is knowing that man knows nothing of Hashem's ways. When we reflect upon this, we too will yearn and pray daily that this trait of emunah and simplicity in Hashem will be established in our hearts, and in the hearts of our children and descendants forever.

Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky in Siberia

When the great Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky was exiled to Siberia, he arrived there clothed in nothing but thin garments covering his body. Additionally, every morning he needed to run barefoot on the snow, even when the temperature at times reached minus forty degrees Celsius. Many people froze to death under such conditions.

Rabbi Abramsky lifted his eyes to the heavens and said: “Master of the Universe, indeed 'frost and traps are in the hand of man' (it is within man's power to protect himself from them), but in my current situation, this reasoning no longer applies, because these wicked people do not allow me to warm my body. Therefore, the obligation of protection returns to You. I beseech You: 'Preserve me, O God, for I have sought refuge in You.’”

And behold, this same Rabbi, whose mother used to wrap his body in layers of soft cotton because of his frailty as a child, and who would catch cold from the slightest breeze — did not fall ill even once during his entire time in Siberia!