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prayed and was answered, and the other prayed and was are absolutely true. Nevertheless, they weaken a person’s prayer. One may confidently say that his will to change is extremely weak.
not answered. Why was one answered and the other not He knows that he deserves punishment, that he has still not done He wants to achieve great things and rectify himself, yet without
answered? One prayed with a perfect prayer, and he was teshuvah, and that Hashem is just in all that He does. Nevertheless, effort, dedication and self-sacrifice! Does he truly expect to bypass
answered. The other did not pray with a perfect prayer, the absolute truth is that Hashem wants each person to live. Period. the spiritual rules?
and he was not answered. Similarly, as we learned before, Rabbi Meir teaches us that even To Be Effective and to Change

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
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 No prayer and no good intent are ever lost. As the holy Zohar
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 writes, “No good will is lost” (Terumah 150b). A minute of prayer
guaranteed to work and that will be accepted in every situation? perfect prayer we can abrogate it and live. Thus, after the prophet or a word of prayer, even only raising one’s eyes to heaven—these
The Gemara reports that the sages already answered this question. told King Hezekiah that the heavenly judgment against him was are very important and precious. But in order for a person to
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 transform himself, he must engage in a minimum of a focused half
had the exact same illness to the exact same extent, and they both nullified immediately. That was because he believed that although hour every day. Then he is called “a master of will.” Then he is
prayed. One was healed, and the other passed away. Rabbi Meir the prophet had told him that he would die, Hashem wanted him said to “open for Me an opening.” And the more that such work
also tells about two defendants (in a gentile court) accused of the to live. that a person engages in, the more he is given, the more blessing
same capital offense. Both prayed. One was acquitted and set free, Similarly, even if a person knows that he is wicked, unworthy he receives. In general, when we understand this and we engage in
and the other was convicted and executed. Rabbi Meir’s intent is and sinful, and this is all true, Hashem wants to save him, because half an hour every day, then from time to time we are inspired and
to explain the difference. Certainly, they all sensed the great danger Hashem wants to save and rescue everyone. That is because the Hashem helps us engage in the work of intention for an entire hour,
they were in, as though a sharp sword was hanging over their necks, purpose of the world is that we live, recognize the Creator and two hours, or even more. But the main thing is to engage in no less
and certainly they all wanted to live. It was clear that they had no believe in Him. “I will not die, but I will live, and I will tell the than half an hour. We must not allow the day to pass without this
alternative but one counsel only: to pray. They all believed that deeds of God” (Psalms 118:17). “Not the dead will praise God and daily work, this daily investment.
Hashem, only Hashem, could help them, and so they all prayed to not all of those who descend to silence” (Psalms 115:17).
Him. That being the case, it is hard to understand why one of each One time, a Jew was inspired by my words regarding the
pair was saved and the other was not saved. Hashem wants to rescue everyone, even the greatest wrongdoer rectification of the covenant, and he understood that this
and sinner. In fact, Hashem especially wants to save such a person, constitutes a person’s central rectification and purpose. Therefore,
The Gemara and the commentaries explain that Rabbi Meir because Hashem certainly wants him to live and repair his deeds. for a period, of time he devoted a few hours every day only to
presumes that the heavenly court had already decreed and sealed Hashem does not want the death of the evil person, but wants him this. He reported to me that he could not have predicted how, in
the judgment of death against all four men. Nevertheless, for two to return from his evil ways so that he will live. Therefore, when we such a short period he literally saw a change of nature in himself
of them prayer helped and nullified the decree, but for the other pray, we must believe with a wholeness of faith that Hashem wants so that he grew entirely cleansed of cravings that in the past had
two it did not help. Why? Rabbi Meir answers that the two who us to live: both in the physical sense and in the spiritual sense of engrossed and enthralled him. A person can also reach this level if
were saved prayed a perfect prayer, whereas the two who died doing complete teshuvah. he does half an hour every day. The difference is that what took
did not. Rashi explains succinctly that “a perfect prayer” means this Jew several weeks will take someone who works half an hour
“having intent.” When I learned this Gemara, I was very puzzled. Therefore, cry out to Hashem with one thought only: “I need to a day several months. But what do you care how much time it will
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 take? Just do your part!
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
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 You Set the Pace
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, All of this means that this half hour is the absolute minimum. If a
because that is Your true will.” person is in a great rush to uproot some bad element within himself,