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“A person’s prayer is not heard unless he places his soul in his counsel understanding and might….” He attained this due to “He Who Graciously Gives Knowledge”
hand” (ibid. 8a). Here too, “soul” means “will.” the fact that he pleaded a great deal before the Holy One,
blessed be He, for knowledge, and he focused deeply on the
“His Hands Were Faithful” (Exodus 17:12) Shemoneh Esrei’s blessing of “You graciously give…” (from To Fulfill Everything that Is Lacking
Binyan Olam, Chapter 11).
As you have learned, what determines the quality and value of a When we strengthen ourselves to do the work of the will during
person’s prayer is the quantity and quality of his will that he inserts By means of prayer, the Chazon Ish attained all of his awesome prayer, we enliven our prayer. It rises, it is effective, and it draws
into his recital of the words of prayer. That is the essence of his achievements, although he had been average as a youth. This is down abundance. Therefore, we must learn and understand how
a tangible example of the power of prayer. There are no errors
intent. Only in accordance with that is a person’s prayer effective to enliven our words of prayer. I will now present a practical and
and answered. in this world. Hashem graciously gives knowledge to anyone who detailed example in order to help you understand and implement
wants it and brings vessels to receive it. The Chazon Ish was not a the topic of intention and longing in prayer. I will focus on the first
You must be aware of a very important principle: the factor gifted youth, but he wanted knowledge and brought many vessels. of the middle blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei, the blessing of “He
that determines how much intent you insert into your prayer is Therefore, he received infinite Divine abundance and wonderful Who graciously gives knowledge.”
the completeness of your faith. This is because (cf. In the Garden knowledge from Hashem’s Torah. And everyone who prepares
of Faith) faith that Hashem created the world is a weak and very such vessels can attain all of the higher levels, literally in the exact Before explaining how to recite the blessing as part of the work of
incomplete faith. Complete faith consists of the following. It is the same way. the will, I will first clarify our tremendous need for this blessing, in
faith that Hashem created the world, gives it life, guides it and Therefore, recite and repeat the words of prayer with intention order to help inspire you to desire to receive knowledge.
supervises it in the greatest detail, that He pours abundance upon and with deep feeling. Do not be indifferent to this, because with
every thought, word and deed, small and great, in the life of a The Hebrew word used in this blessing, da’at, means “knowledge”
person and in the life of the entire world. It is the faith that there your every prayer and request you receive Divine abundance and or “awareness.” Know clearly that a person needs knowledge
holy knowledge that will illuminate your entire life!
is none other than He and that He and only He is able to help and more than anything else in the world. What is knowledge?
save a person in every single detail. It is the faith that anyone can Knowledge means knowing Hashem! If a person does not know
turn to the Creator regarding every matter, join with Him and take There Is Only One Problem in Life Hashem, what knowledge does he have? You must know that the
counsel with Him in all of his troubles. It is the faith that a person’s purpose for whose sake a person came to this world is to know
every deficiency is sent to him by the Creator for his own good, so Since “knowledge” is relevant to all of life and to all of the requests Hashem and recognize Him. “A person’s principal purpose is only
that he will thank Him, pray to Him and come close to Him. It is that we make in the Shemoneh Esrei, I recommend to students to serve Hashem and go in His ways for the sake of His name,
the faith that all of the powers of nature are in Hashem’s hand, that who need to rectify a specific problem to spend half an hour a may He be blessed, in order to recognize Him, may He be
He can change nature without any limitation at all, and that prayer day on the blessing, “He Who graciously gives knowledge,” and to blessed, and know Him, may He be blessed. That is a
changes nature. It is the faith that Hashem determines and judges have the intention to gain knowledge about their problem, because person’s essential purpose. And that is His will, may He be
everything in existence, and that the hearts of all people are in His “all of a person’s problems, sufferings and exile correspond blessed: that we will recognize Him, may He be blessed” (Likutei
hand. It is the faith that Hashem is close to all Who call out to Him, to his lack of knowledge. But when a person’s knowledge is Moharan I 21). Thus, knowledge is the purpose of life. And when a
that He loves every created being—and that He wants to help and perfected, then all that he lacks is fulfilled” (Likutei Moharan I 21). person knows Hashem, that influences all areas of his life, because
save every created being, even a transgressor and sinner, even the “all of a person’s failings result from a lack of knowledge” (ibid.).
most wicked person. It is the faith that the Creator’s compassion I will bring a few examples:
is infinite and boundless, and that He created the entire universe Peace in the home is an outcome of knowledge, because a man
in order to reveal His compassion and in order to help those who If a person has a problem achieving peace in the home, I tell him who knows Hashem sees Hashem in all that he undergoes. If his
pray to Him regarding every situation, even if they do not deserve to spend half an hour reciting “He Who graciously gives knowledge” wife hurts him, he sees Hashem. Thus, he does not blame her and
anything. It is the faith that Hashem does not desire anyone’s death and to have in mind that he wishes to receive the knowledge that he does not fight with her. According to this principle, success in
nor any imperfection, but only people’s repentance and prayer (as everything that happens between him and his wife comes only raising one’s children is also an outcome of knowledge. Earning a