Inner Siddur Episode 4(2)(4)

This transcription emphasizes the profound concept of prayer (Tesila) as a vital connection between humans and Hashem. It highlights how prayer activates blessings and purpose in the world, drawing parallels to Adam and Rachel's prayers. The power of prayer is illustrated through the story of Rechamina Ben Dosa, showcasing the deep bond with Hashem that can shield believers from external fears. The text underscores prayer's significance as foundational and transformative, inviting individuals to start each day mindfully with prayer to infuse life with purpose and guidance. Imagine waking up ready to start your day, but somehow the world around you feels paused. The sunlight hasn't yet broken through, and there's a sense of stillness. Nothing has begun. I will come and teach that this was the very scene at the beginning of creation. Everything was prepared, yet held back, waiting for something vital. And what was it waiting for? Human prayer. In Galatians it says, And no shrub of the field had yet appeared on earth, for there was no man to work the soil. The world was created in potential, as if holding its breath, waiting for the first human, Adam, to activate it through Tesila. Only after Adam davened, prayed, did Hashem bring rain, allowing vegetation to grow and life to flourish. This teaches us that Hashem, in His kindness, designed the world to rely on our Tesila, on our prayer, my prayer, your prayer, as the key to unlock blessings and purpose. This concept is profound. Tesila isn't just about asking. It's the channel through which we activate the potential of creation itself, bringing Hashem's blessings into our lives and the world around us. The Noah Malimauch describes prayer as a way to bond with Hashem, to remove barriers, and to create deep attachment. Rabbi Weingarten explains that the word Tesila shares its essence with the phrase Rachel used when she turned to her son Naphtali. I have wrestled with divine bonds against my sister, in Gracious chapter 30 verse 8. The Hebrew word Naphtali comes from the root pe-tas-lamid, meaning to twist, struggle, or bind. Rachel's prayer wasn't just a request. It was an act of binding herself to Hashem in her yearning for a child. This connection is echoed in the word Tesila, which also means to connect, to reflect, and to bind ourselves with Hashem. In our Tesilos, we reach beyond our words, forming a connection that is as inseparable as a wick to its flame. This bond is about more than just speaking. It's about drawing ourselves close, knowing that Hashem is listening and ready to support us. Imagine if we approached Tesila as Rachel did, as Adam did, knowing that our prayers have the power to unlock blessings, to fill the world with life. How would it feel if each time we prayed, we remembered that Tesila is not just a request, but a means of bonding deeply with Hashem? What might change in the way we view our challenges and blessings? In Assechez Brehos, Yerushalmi Brehos, chapter 5, verse 5, we find the story of Rechamina Ben Dosa, a sage, known for his profound connection to Hashem in prayer. The Talmud recounts that while Rechamina was praying, a venomous creature bit him. His students watching this unfold were astonished Rechamina did not even flinch. When they asked him afterward how he could remain so focused, he replied that he was so absorbed in his prayer, so bonded with Hashem, that he simply didn't feel the bite. The Rechamina story teaches us that Tesila has the power to draw us into a state of closeness with Hashem, so deep that external fears and distractions lose their power over us. This is the level of connection that Tesila invites us to strive for, a space where our trust in Hashem becomes our shield. Our sages describe Tesila as one of the things that stand at the foundation of the world. In Brehos 6b it says, Ein lol ha-kadoshpo chub olamo elotavar echad, Tesila. The Holy One, blessed be He, has only one thing in His world, Tesila. It is even greater than good deeds or sacrifices. Prayer can atone, elevate, and in a way change nature itself. Through Tesila we participate in the unfolding of blessings, not just for ourselves, but for all creation. Mindfully starting our day with Tesila brings Hashem's light into every moment that follows. It is our way of activating the blessings, setting our lives into motion with purpose and guidance. As we close today's episode, let's carry with us the reminder that Tesila is not merely words. It is the bond that connects us to the very source of life. Each day our Tesila is an opportunity to clear away the barriers, to trust that Hashem is with us, sustaining us, with each breath we take. Let's meet each day with the mindset that this bond with Hashem through Tesila gives us strength, purpose, and the blessing we need to face anything.