If We Pray, the Shechina Protects Us – Daily Chizzuk with Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlit”a

THE DAILY CHIZZUK OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A All the Tzaddikim need to enter into the fire, like Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol, who was behind the “partition” [so he could hear what was decreed from Heaven about the Ten Martyrs]. They told Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol, “About this, you have been ensnared…”  Because there are Ten Martyrs, parallel to the ten drops which came out of Yosef (Sha’ar HaGilgulim 26) – so ten Tzaddikim had to die for the sanctification of God’s Name. This is Rabbi Akiva, who is opposite the Shechina (Divine Presence), because also the Shechina was in “excommunication” at the sale of Yosef.  The sale of Yosef is something that’s impossible to understand; they sold Yosef for shoes. What are “shoes”?  Shoes are the “shoes” of the Shechina, because we sew shoes for the Shechina.  Every moment, we are sewing shoes for the Shechina through prayer, through three prayers a day. This was mamash a [new] creation, making shoes with three edges [as brought in Sippurey Ma’asiyot -- Rabbi Nachman’s Stories, the story of the Sophisticate and the Simpleton]. The meaning of this is the three prayers that we pray every day; these are the shoes of the Shechina. Because Rebbe Nachman didn’t bring a story about a tailor, rather about a shoemaker.  A person needs to be a shoemaker.  Chanoch ben Yered was a shoemaker, and over every single stitch he would meditate [on Kabbalistic intentions] and say, “Baruch Shem Kivod Malchuto Le’olam Vaed.” The Tzaddikim were all shoemakers.  Rabbeinu related in Sippurey Ma’asiyot about the Simpleton who was a shoemaker.  He didn’t say that he was a tailor or a carpenter.  What difference does it make if he was a tailor or carpenter?  What difference does it make? No!  Specifically one who sews shoes!  Because the shoes [with three edges] are the three prayers, which are the shoes of the Shechina. Because through the three prayers, Hashem can “walk” here in this world. We bring down the Shechina [here] below.  Then we are protected through the prayer; but if we do not pray, then there is nothing to protect us. If we pray the three prayers, then we make shoes for the Shechina.  In this way, the Shechina can come down and protect us.  Therefore, there are the Mincha and Ma’ariv prayers, which are before the new day. The Rebbe says: “If one turns aside his ear from hearing the Torah, his prayer, too, will be [considered] an abomination” (Mishlei 28:9).  It is impossible to pray without learning Torah, “because through the Torah, all prayers and requests are accepted” (Likutey Moharan 1). It’s impossible to pray without studying all of Shas.  A person can pray a day or two.  A Ba’al Teshuva [returnee to Judaism] can pray a month, because he never prayed in his life.  After a month, he already cannot pray; he’ll already be habituated.  He cannot say a word. People come to pray and cannot pray.  So fine, at least pay attention, sing, hum a bit.  The main thing is to take part in the prayers of everyone. Whoever cannot pray, it makes no difference – pay attention, pray, sway, move your lips.  Like it’s written “deaf and mute” (Megilah 3a), like Eldad and Medad would do with their lips. If you can’t speak, move your lips.  Then they would move their lips even at the revival of the dead.