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Zera Kodesh

Ropshitz · Toldot, Zera Kodesh · 1 min

Why Yitzchak's prayer for children was answered first

Drawing on the Zohar's teaching that the Shechinah stands opposite one who prays and says each word after him, the author reads Yitzchak's prayer for Rivkah as a prayer offered for the repair of the Shechinah, so that she would not suffer. He then draws on the rabbinic idea that one who prays for his fellow is answered first, arguing that Yitzchak's prayer on G-d's behalf is what brought about Rivkah's conception.AI summary · anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5

Another interpretation: "And Yitzchak entreated," etc. It is written in the books that when a person prays, the Shechinah (the Divine Presence) stands opposite him and says after him every single word, literally. Certainly this is so only when he prays properly, without extraneous thoughts or ulterior motives. This is the meaning of "And Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife": the Shechinah is called a woman (wife). When Yitzchak prayed, he prayed opposite the Shechinah, who prayed every word together with him.

א"י ויעתר כו' כי כתוב בספרים שכשהאדם מתפלל השכינה עומדת כנגדו ואומרת אחריו כל תיבה ותיבה ממש ובוודאי זהו רק כשמתפלל כראוי בלי מחשבות ופניות וז"ש ויעתר יצחק לה' לנוכח אשתו השכינה נקראת אשה וכשהתפלל יצחק התפלל לנוכח השכינה שהיתה מתפללה כל תיבה עמו.

Another interpretation, in the manner of the above: Yitzchak prayed not for his own need but for the tikkun (repair) of the Shechinah, that she should have no suffering, as above. "And Yitzchak entreated Hashem" means that there should be no suffering for Him, may He be blessed. Now, they said: "From where do we know that HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He) prays?" etc. And He prayed on Yitzchak's behalf, for Yitzchak's need, that he beget children. This is the meaning of "And Hashem was entreated by him": He, may He be blessed, prayed for him. "And Rivkah his wife conceived," etc. Also in line with what our Sages, of blessed memory, said: "One who prays for his fellow is answered first." All the more so one who prays for Him, may He be blessed, as above, for Yitzchak prayed for His need. Therefore Yitzchak was answered regarding his own need, "and Rivkah his wife conceived," etc.

א"י ע"ד הנ"ל שיצחק התפלל שלא לצורך עצמו רק לצורך תיקון השכינה שלא יהי' לה צער כנ"ל ויעתר יצחק לה' שלא יהי' לו ית' צער והנה אמרו מנין שהקב"ה מתפלל כו' והתפלל בשביל יצחק לצורך יצחק להוליד בנים וז"ש ויעתר לו ה' שית' התפלל בשבילו ותהר כו' גם ע"ד שאחז"ל המתפלל על חבירו הוא נענה תחילה מכש"כ מי שמתפלל בשבילו ית' כנ"ל שהתפלל יצחק לצורכו י"ת ולכן נענה יצחק בצורכו ותהר כו'.

Translation: translated by AI (anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5)

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