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means that heaven is not pleased with a person’s work, because prayed and was answered, and the other prayed and was are absolutely true. Nevertheless, they weaken a person’s prayer.
he is not doing what is required of him. Therefore, heaven sends not answered. Why was one answered and the other not He knows that he deserves punishment, that he has still not done
him sufferings in various areas of his life in order to awaken him. answered? One prayed with a perfect prayer, and he was teshuvah, and that Hashem is just in all that He does. Nevertheless,
But when he works on one goal in a fundamental manner, there is answered. The other did not pray with a perfect prayer, the absolute truth is that Hashem wants each person to live. Period.
no judgment against him—even though he sets aside other worthy and he was not answered.
goals—because heaven knows that he has a great deal to rectify, Similarly, as we learned before, Rabbi Meir teaches us that even
and he cannot rectify everything at once. Heaven is happy that We would all like to know the great secret: what does having if heaven has decreed and sealed a death sentence against a person, 6
he has chosen one area to rectify, and heaven is patient with him our prayers answered depend on? All of us pray and all of us want with wholeness of faith he can nullify the decree. That means that
regarding all of the other issues that he is not working on. But to see results from our prayers. Is there a way of praying that is even though heaven’s judgment is certainly true and correct, with
if a person does not choose one issue to work on, heaven sees guaranteed to work and that will be accepted in every situation? perfect prayer we can abrogate it and live. Thus, after the prophet
that he will never actually rectify anything. Therefore, it sends him The Gemara reports that the sages already answered this question. told King Hezekiah that the heavenly judgment against him was
suffering in order to awaken him. Thus, when a person engages in Rabbi Meir tells about two people who were seriously ill. They both sealed, he prayed from the depths of his heart, and the decree was
fundamental work on one issue, that shields and guards him, and had the exact same illness to the exact same extent, and they both nullified immediately. That was because he believed that although
sweetens all of the judgments against him. prayed. One was healed, and the other passed away. Rabbi Meir the prophet had told him that he would die, Hashem wanted him
also tells about two defendants (in a gentile court) accused of the to live.
No normal father expects his son to do things that are beyond his same capital offense. Both prayed. One was acquitted and set free,
abilities and powers. Similarly, Hashem does not unfairly demand and the other was convicted and executed. Rabbi Meir’s intent is Similarly, even if a person knows that he is wicked, unworthy
that a person must work on all of his issues immediately, because to explain the difference. Certainly, they all sensed the great danger and sinful, and this is all true, Hashem wants to save him, because
that is not in his power. When a normal father sees that his son is they were in, as though a sharp sword was hanging over their necks, Hashem wants to save and rescue everyone. That is because the
applying himself as best he can, he has no complaints about his son— and certainly they all wanted to live. It was clear that they had no purpose of the world is that we live, recognize the Creator and
on the contrary, he is very pleased with him. So too the Holy One, alternative but one counsel only: to pray. They all believed that believe in Him. “I will not die, but I will live, and I will tell the
blessed be He, is very pleased with everyone who applies himself as Hashem, only Hashem, could help them, and so they all prayed to deeds of God” (Psalms 118:17). “Not the dead will praise God and
best he can. He has no complaints against him, no accusations and Him. That being the case, it is hard to understand why one of each not all of those who descend to silence” (Psalms 115:17).
no judgment. If the trait of judgment will argue that this person is pair was saved and the other was not saved.
not doing so-and-so, immediately it will be rebuked, “What do you Hashem wants to rescue everyone, even the greatest wrongdoer
want from him? Overall, he is working and progressing regarding The Gemara and the commentaries explain that Rabbi Meir and sinner. In fact, Hashem especially wants to save such a person,
such-and-such an issue. With time, he will achieve success, and then presumes that the heavenly court had already decreed and sealed because Hashem certainly wants him to live and repair his deeds.
he will go on to work on mastering other areas in his life.” When the judgment of death against all four men. Nevertheless, for two Hashem does not want the death of the evil person, but wants him
a person has no judgments against him, his life is good and sweet. of them prayer helped and nullified the decree, but for the other to return from his evil ways so that he will live. Therefore, when we
two it did not help. Why? Rabbi Meir answers that the two who pray, we must believe with a wholeness of faith that Hashem wants
Patience were saved prayed a perfect prayer, whereas the two who died us to live: both in the physical sense and in the spiritual sense of
did not. Rashi explains succinctly that “a perfect prayer” means doing complete teshuvah.
We must review and recall this simple truth: It is impossible to “having intent.” When I learned this Gemara, I was very puzzled. Therefore, cry out to Hashem with one thought only: “I need to
rectify everything at once. The evil inclination loves to make a What does it mean that the two who died lacked intent? Didn’t be saved immediately, and You want to save me! Rescue me! Give
person forget this simple truth in order to torment and break him. they want to live? I thought a very great deal about the words of me what I need! Save me! All other truths must step aside. First
But we must know this most important principle regarding all of a the Gemara. Certainly, they wanted to live. So why was one of of all, give me life. Then, after that, help me rectify what I must
person’s work in this world. each pair answered and the other not? I made a few conjectures, rectify, do teshuvah, change, and so forth. But now there is no
but none of them satisfied me and seemed adequate. I did not feel place for any such thoughts—only for being saved here and now,
The Holy One, blessed be He, made man finite, and it is His will because that is Your true will.”