Parshas Vaeschanan (Nachamu) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
ואתחנן אל ה' בעת ההוא לאמר ... (ג-כג)
Rashi brings down the Maamar Chazal that Moshe davened 515 tefillos, hinted to in the gematria of the word "ואתחנן" that he should merit to enter Eretz Yisroel. Chazal further relate that Hashem is compelled to tell him to stop his prayers, for if he davens just one more tefillah, his tefillos will be answered. R’ Aharon Leib Steinman zt”l derives from here that when one davens for some tzorech, and his tefillos aren’t answered, it can simply be because he hasn’t davened enough. Or, it can be that the time for the yeshuah he davens for has not yet arrived. Regardless, when it comes to tefillah, perseverance is key.
The Chida zt”l relates a humorous anecdote to bring this point home. A maggid delivers a fiery address in shul, describing the great reward for those who daven betzibur. A simple villager sits spellbound by the maggid’s words. Hearing that davening with a minyan brings much shefa and beracha, he decides then and there to daven every tefillah with a minyan. His wife agrees to his plan - anything to escape the tremendous poverty they live in. Sure enough, the villager goes to shul for Mincha and Maariv. He nearly floats back home from happiness, already counting the coins he will be granted. But when he gets home, his wife greets him with a mournful expression. “Yankel,” she cries, “while you were away davening, our old donkey, upon which we rely for our daily sustenance, collapsed out of the blue and died!” The two mourn their loss, wondering where their beracha has gone. That night, the cow in their barn begins mooing loudly, keeping them both awake. Sighing heavily, the villager puts on his robe and goes out to the barn. He approaches the cow and whispers urgently into its ear, “You better be careful, because if you don’t stop, I’m going to daven Shacharis with a minyan, and then let’s see what happens to you!”
This is the message of Vaeschanan and Shabbos Nachamu. We wait so long for the Redemption, davening for the geulah day after day, year after year, with no end in sight. But Hashem tells us, "דברו על לב ירושלים וקראו אליה" - keep on davening and keep on yearning - don’t give up! Again and again and again. For soon, b’ezras Hashem, very soon - it will come.