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“As you see me, everything that I toiled and then begin to perceive his cravings as death. And in accordance No One Is Born Perfect
worked hard for and brought about through my with his visualization of his danger he cries out to Hashem.
service from when I started until today—I could It is crucial to be aware that all of the tzaddikim had cravings and
now bring all of that about in a single day.” A person will cry out to Hashem in keeping with how intensely evil traits. A well-known story (from Tiferet Yisrael on Kiddushin 4:14)
Afterwards, on another occasion, he told him that now and vividly he visualizes in his heart how every sin, craving and relates that a king sent an artist to paint Moses’ portrait and then
addiction is a burning fire, a gaping abyss. If his perception is not
he could bring all of that about in a single hour. And living and vivid, his outcry will be weak. Even if he engages in showed it to a physiognomist. The physiognomist said that this was
afterwards he said that now he could bring all of that prayer with full intent, that is not the complete prayer that has the portray of an evil man who possessed the worst traits. When
about in a single minute. the power to tear up and nullify every decree. But if he perceives Moses learned of this, he explained that by his nature he had been
filled with evil traits and a terrible craving to murder, but he had
in his heart the full gravity of the situation, a terrible outcry will worked on himself for 60 years until he was entirely purified, and 8
Understand clearly the meaning of these words. At well up from within him, and he will be able to swiftly bring about he became truly great. Similarly, Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest
the time that he said this to R. Shimon, he had already salvations and great changes. Torah figures of all generations, began learning Torah at an adult
attained a great deal. And he had already said a number age after long years in which he had been an ignoramus who hated
of times that all of his previous work and attainments The Ignited Heart the sages.
were nothing compared to what he attained now, even
though they too had been extraordinarily mighty and In Kokhavei Ohr, Rabbi Avraham ben Nachman Halevi Chazzan When we truly appreciate the nature of the dangers to which we
elevated. This occurred a number of times, because even relates that Rabbi Natan once spoke about the tremendous fire that are exposed, our prayers and outcries become entirely different.
before he went to the land of Israel, his attainments were burned in the heart of the patriarch Abraham, who was the first Caleb, one of the 12 spies sent into the land of Israel, risked his life
extremely high, without measure. And afterwards, when person to serve the Creator day and night with utter devotion in to go to the most dangerous place in the land of Israel—the city of
he returned from the land of Israel, all of his attainments order to make His name known in the world. In the midst of Rabbi Hebron—in order to pray at the gravesites of the patriarchs. This
was because of the great distress he was in. On the one hand, ten
from before he had gone were literally like nothing in his Natan’s holy talk, one of the listeners sadly exclaimed, “Where of the other spies were pressuring him relentlessly to acquiesce to
eyes, and he was ashamed of them. Afterwards as well, could we find a person with such a heart today?” Rabbi Natan their defamation of the land of Israel. On the other hand, he felt
he constantly rose higher and higher without measure, rebuked him, “You too have such a heart, but you don’t ignite that disparaging the Holy Land and disagreeing with Moses would
it!” Rabbi Avraham adds: “That is because every person, even the
beyond what the mouth can speak and the heart think, lowest of the low, possesses free choice. Everyone can attain the be worse than death. In his adversity, he resolved not to pay any
etc., etc. (as may be understood in part from the stories related highest levels. As our sages state, every person must say, ‘When attention to any external factors (Zohar: Shelach). Instead, he was
earlier). And afterwards, he said that which was related will my deeds reach the deeds of my forefathers?’ (Tana Devei Eliyahu determined to do the right thing, even at the cost of the greatest self-
above. See, look and understand the earlier stories, and Rabbah 25).” We must follow in the footsteps of our forefathers sacrifice. And in keeping with his sense of the imminent presence
then understand a little of the immense greatness of and arouse our hearts so that we will stand in prayer with the same of death, he prayed alongside the graves of the holy patriarchs
these matters. feeling of terrible danger that our forefathers felt when they prayed. with total dedication. He cried out with all his might, as a person
does when he is in mortal peril. Therefore, he attained greatness,
Also, I heard that he said: “When people attain Therefore, before I discuss the high level of crying out to Hashem, extraordinary levels and tremendous rewards.
complete knowledge, in a quarter hour they can which brings about salvations swiftly, it is important to note that the
achieve in their service of Hashem, may He be first stage in the work of the will is to arouse the heart to experience Endangered As I Am
blessed, what another person must toil to achieve a sense of danger. And a person accomplishes that by means of his
visualizations in his heart. When a person who requires salvation
in 70 years.” immediately feels that without it he is in terrible danger, his prayer In light of this, I came to an understanding of Rabbi Natan’s
will be an outcry for immediate salvation, and Hashem will answer Likutei Tefillot (Collected Prayers). Likutei Tefillot is more
than just a book of prayers. It is a book of learning how to pray. Pay
it immediately. But if he does not feel danger, that means that he attention to Rabbi Natan’s words as he prays for his life (Prayer 18):