Unlocking the Gates of Heaven: Rabbi Edelstein's Timeless Guidance

1. A Prayer for Heavenly Support: Rabbi Edelstein always began by seeking heavenly assistance before addressing any inquiry. He would recite the verse: "Hashem save the king, He will answer us on the day we call," before giving his advice.

2. Small but Consistent Commitments: After his passing, many shared the "small commitments" he encouraged to inspire personal growth. One young secular man recalled the rabbi's advice, "Don’t smoke in public on Shabbat." A single Orthodox woman was advised to add a new Shabbat tradition that didn’t stress her out, like buying special Shabbat shoes.

3. Consistency in Practice: Rabbi Edelstein explained the importance of committing to these practices: "Those seeking blessings try to add personal merit. I believe the salvation stems from the improvements people commit to. When someone accepts a commitment and sticks with it, it opens the gates of heaven for them."

4. Praying for Good Outcomes: Rabbi Edelstein noted, "People ask me to pray for donors and their requests. While praying for the needy, it's customary to recite Psalm 119 according to the patient's name, but I can't do it for everyone. So I read the entire Psalm and ask angels to align names for those who need aid, that Hashem will do what’s best. I also pray that if someone’s request isn’t beneficial for them, Hashem will provide what’s truly good."

5. Lighting a Candle for a Righteous Soul: Rabbi Edelstein recommended saying some Psalms and lighting a candle in memory of a revered figure. He clarified that praying at the grave of a great person isn't about asking for miracles but reminding Hashem of the individual's merit for advocacy in the world of truth.

6. Commitments for Salvation: Tovi Zeitlin, who spent years awaiting her match, asked the rabbi in tears, "What more can I do for salvation?" He advised, "Show Hashem it’s worth granting you a miracle. Promise that your future home will always have a guest bed," and suggested other commitments she could make.

Rabbi Yaakov Edelstein (April 22, 1924 - February 23, 2017) served as Rabbi of Ramat HaSharon for nearly 70 years and was a senior dayan in Rabbi Nissim Karelitz's court in Bnei Brak. He was also the Rabbi of the "Neot Yosef" neighborhood and led several yeshivas, deeply involved with Kabbalah.