Praying Without Immediate Salvation?

Rabbi Binyamin Birenzweig, who teaches at the Imrei Moshe Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is the chief editor of the Dirshu edition of the Mishnah Berurah, addresses those yearning and waiting for salvation. He says, "People pray, wanting to see immediate salvation, and if they do not see it, they despair. It is important to know that a true prayer from the heart is accepted and effective, and if not now, then for our children and descendants in the future. Hashem knows what is good for us and when it is best for the prayer of every Jew to take effect."

The Talmud states that there is no prayer that does not have an effect and causes changes in heaven. "Rabbi Chanina said: 'Anyone who prolongs their prayer will not have their prayer return empty'" (Berachot 32b). Sometimes we are fortunate to see its realization in a very short time, and sometimes only after a long period. Sometimes the prayer is fully fulfilled, and sometimes only partially, as stated in the Midrash "Great is the prayer before Hashem. Rabbi Elazar said: If you wish to know the power of prayer - if it does not fulfill entirely, it fulfills partially" (Devarim Rabbah 8:1).

Sometimes the prayer is accepted, but its blessing reveals itself differently than we expected, for our ultimate benefit. Therefore, even if we haven't yet seen the salvation in front of our eyes, we need to know that Hashem hears prayers, and surely they are effective, even if we do not know how or when.

"I Can Do Worse Things Than the Police!" He Threatened

In the book "Maaseh Ish," about the life and conduct of the Chazon Ish, a remarkable story illustrates the power of prayer. Once, there was a young yeshiva boy from Bnei Brak who joined the army. During his military service, he befriended a secular boy from one of the kibbutzim. Once, when they both got a leave for Shabbat, since their base was in central Israel, the religious boy suggested, "Why travel so far up north? Spend Shabbat with me," and the friend agreed.

On the Shabbat morning, the religious boy invited his kibbutz friend, "I'm going to pray, come with me to the service," to which his friend responded, "Honestly, I don't know what prayer is, but I'll come with you." On another Shabbat, he returned to spend Shabbat with him, and this time he himself expressed the desire to pray, gradually strengthening in his observance.

The secular boy's father, seeing his son's growing religiosity, was alarmed. He came from a religious home himself and had studied with the Chazon Ish in his youth. In his anger over his son's turn to religion, he approached the Chazon Ish, exclaiming, "Your people have stolen my son!" The Chazon Ish replied, "When a child is stolen, you go to the police," to which the father responded with threats, saying, "I know how to do worse things than the police!" The Chazon Ish replied, "Then do so."

The father, in anger and rage, said, "Do you know how many tears my father shed for me to stay religious, and it didn't help? It won't help you either!" At this, the Chazon Ish interrupted, stating, "Tears never go to waste; if it didn't help the son, it will help the grandson."

After some time, that son became a baal teshuva, got engaged to a baalat teshuva, and built a home of Torah.

On this story, Rabbi Birenzweig says, "This is what the Chazon Ish wrote in his letters: 'Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of every person.' Not a single prayer returns empty, not a single word of plea and request spoken by a Jew goes without effect, whether today or tomorrow, this year or years hence, affecting either the person praying or their descendants. Every prayer is heard and effective. This must be ingrained in the consciousness of every Jew."

"People seek some remedy for salvation and also pray. But often people are disappointed." Rabbi Zamir Cohen offers a particularly strengthening message: