Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. We read in the parasha, Va'etchanan el Hashem (And I pleaded with Hashem): Chazal (the Sages) tell us that Moshe Rabbeinu prayed 515 times to be able to come into the land of Israel. And the Torah uses the word Va'etchanan to describe the prayer, which Rashi says means Matnat chinam, a gift for nothing. Even though Moshe Rabbeinu had a lot of Zechuyot (merits), the proper way to pray for something is to understand that everything is a gift. Let us understand for a minute: Moshe Rabbeinu knew that Hashem had already decreed that he would never enter the land. So why did he pray? And not only did he pray, but he kept asking over and over. We see from here the power of Tefillah (prayer). Moshe knew that Tefillah could annul even a Gezerah (decree) that was sealed by Hashem. And if Hashem didn't tell him to stop, it would have broken the decree. Tefillah works, especially a heartfelt Tefillah.
Rabbi Pincus quoted a Midrash (rabbinic exposition), which is also a Zohar in Parashat Balak, which says: “We find in Tehillim (Psalms) three kinds of Tefillot: Tefillah to Moshe, Tefillah to David, and Tefillah to Ani (poor person).” There was never a Nabi (prophet) as great as Moshe Rabbeinu, and there was never a king who was as close to Hashem as David HaMelech. But which Tefillah of the three is the most beautiful? Tefillah to Ani. When a regular person turns to Hashem with a broken heart as a broken heart, it says, “It's even more powerful than Tefillah to Moshe.”
And what is the power of Moshe Rabbeinu's Tefillah? Chazal tell us that when Moshe was praying to get into Israel, the heavens were shaking. Hashem told the angels, “Go down in a hurry.” Now angels aren't slow. The Gemara in Berachot says that Michael could jump from the Kisei HaKavod (Throne of Glory) to earth in one jump, and Gabriel could do it in two. But that was too slow. He had to hurry to close the heavenly gates because the Tefillah of Moshe was chotech ka'cherev. It was cutting like a sword, and nothing was able to hold it back. It had power like the Shem HaMephorash (Explicit Name), and Hashem had to make a special shaliach (emissary) to prevent this Tefillah. And what is more powerful than that? Tefillah to Ani. When a simple Jew cries out to Hashem when he has a problem, people say, “I don't have time,” but this is ridiculous. You are standing in front of a fountain of blessing.
The Sefer HaChinuch brings down that even according to the Rishonim (early authorities) who hold that praying is rabbinical, everyone agrees that if you have a problem and you call out to Hashem for help, it's a mitzvah to... As the Pasuk (verse) says... And the Ra'avad says, although there's an argument about whether Tefillah could be said in other languages, that applies only to the regular text. But if someone's praying out of pain or is in need, for sure they could pray in any language they want because Hashem is right next to them. This is unbelievable. If someone has a problem and they say, “Please, Hashem, I need your help,” they fulfill a positive commandment from the Torah. Hashem is so kind; He rewards us for asking for help for something that we need. And the Midrash is telling us in the Zohar that this type of Tefillah, the Tefillah to Ani, is so full; it pierces the heavens. Let us take advantage of this wonderful mitzvah that can be fulfilled countless times a day. Tefillah is not limited to three times. Whenever you think about your problem, or whenever you need anything, make a personal Tefillah to Hashem, and may we see all our Tefillah answered speedily. Shabbat Shalom.