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changes a person. Further on in this chapter, you will learn that in every word of the Shemoneh Esrei constitutes a unit of wonderful from Hashem. As Rabbi Nachman taught: “In accordance with the
addition to the work of the will that you engage in every day in intent that a person needs. If you recite the words but they do not increase of knowledge, peace is increased, because peace depends
your half hour meeting with the Creator, at the time of the three express your will, the principal factor is missing and your prayer upon knowledge” (Likutei Moharan I 56). All arguments between
daily prayers it is also possible—and indeed necessary—to do the cannot rise. In the words of Rabbi Nachman, prayer without will husband and wife are due to a lack of knowledge. If a man knows
work of the will, because that is the essence of prayer. With the and longing “do not have any movement and effect.” That is not that everything that happens comes from Hashem, he has no reason
help of heaven, I will tell how to do the work of the will in practical prayer. It is reading. That is not service of the heart, but service of to fight with his wife. If he wants to argue with someone, he should,
terms during the set prayers, so that you can utilize the time of the mouth. heaven forbid, argue with Hashem, because it is Hashem Who is
prayer to engage in the work of the will, in order to change and doing everything to him. This person should learn In the Garden
progress. After a person passes away and he comes to the heavenly court, of Peace, and understand and know clearly that peace in the home
it will tell him: “Dear Jew, you did not pray during your entire corresponds directly with his knowledge.
lifetime.” He will reply: “How can you say that? I prayed three
times a day, every day.” They will tell him: “No such prayer If a person has a problem with anger, I tell him to spend half
Higher than the Angels reached us here. Throughout your entire lifetime, you only read an hour reciting “He Who graciously give knowledge.” As Rabbi
from the siddur. We can give you a good mark for reading—in Nachman teaches: “Anger and cruelty are nullified by knowledge,
There is nothing higher than prayer. When a Jew recites prayers particular, because it was quick and smooth. You pronounced the because anger and cruelty are a lack of knowledge. As the verse
with intent and deep feeling, they reach high places that no angel words well. That was excellent reading. But where was your prayer? states: ‘Anger rests in the bosom of fools’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9)” (ibid.). If
and seraph can reach, as the Gemara and holy Zohar relate. The Where was your heart? Where was your soul? The entire character this person knew that everything comes from Hashem and is for his
Gemara tells of an angel named Sandalfon, who is in charge of the of prayer is the will. Where were your intentions when you prayed? good, he would not grow angry. What would he grow angry about?
prayers of Israel. This angel is tremendous and higher than all of the The words that you recited were lacking will, and so they cannot be About the good that Hashem does for him?
angels by “500 years,” which corresponds to millions of parasangs. considered prayer. They had no soul and vitality at all. Therefore, And if a person is financially needy or in debt, I tell him to spend
He receives the prayers of Israel and makes them into crowns for they did not rise to heaven.”
the Holy One, blessed be He. But even this mighty angel cannot time reciting “He Who graciously give knowledge,” and not the
blessing for income. As Rabbi Nachman teaches:
himself bring that crown to the Holy One, blessed be He. Thus, the
angels say: “Blessed is the glory of Hashem from His place” (Ezekiel In accordance with the greatness of knowledge, so is income easy,
3:12). Even the greatest angel cannot come to His place, as it were. because effortless income depends on knowledge. As the verse
Therefore, he adjures the crown to rise to the head of the King, and states: “The people went about and gathered [the manna]” (Numbers
the crown does so of its own accord. 11:8)—meaning, foolishly [because the Hebrew for “went about,”
shatu, is similar to the Hebrew for “fool,” shoteh] (Zohar). That
Our understanding of an ordinary angel is like a drop from the
sea. How much more have we no understanding of this awesome is because a person who lacks knowledge must toil and struggle a
and tremendous angel. But we see from here that our prayers reach great deal to attain an income…. But when a person’s knowledge
increases, so do [heavenly] compassion and peace. Therefore, his
the highest places in order to be placed as a crown on the head income comes easily, as in the verse: “Within your borders He
of the King of the universe. According to the kabbalists, the will
is related to the sefirah of keter (“crown”), which is the highest makes peace; He will satiate you with the fat of wheat kernels”
(Psalms 147:14) (Likutei Moharan I 56).
sefirah. Therefore, it is clear that it is our will that raises prayer to
keter.
Do Not Be Afraid of Fear
In the light of this, we may not recite the Shemoneh Esrei insipidly
and hastily, and then hurry ahead with the prayers! Recall well that Clearly, the basic solution for anyone suffering from psychological