By Rabbi Yosef Shemtov
In this week’s portion, we learn a powerful lesson about the importance of praying for other people. Yitzchak and Rivka were childless for many years. The pasuk says: “Yitzchak pleaded with Hashem on behalf of his wife because she was barren. And Hashem responded to his plea, and his wife Rivka conceived.”
Rashi points out that his prayer was accepted, not her prayer.
The Rabbis teach us that when someone prays for another person while he himself needs the same thing, his own prayer is answered first.
Yitzchak and Rivka were both praying for children. However, Rivka was praying for herself, while Yitzchak was praying on behalf of his wife. Therefore, Yitzchak’s prayer was answered. I once heard a story from Rabbi Paysach Krohn that illustrates this idea beautifully. One time, Rabbi Krohn was invited to perform a Brit Milah in someone’s home. When he finished the ceremony, he noticed a woman sitting on the couch who looked very depressed. He asked her, “My daughter, what’s going on? Why are you so depressed? Today is supposed to be a day of great happiness.”
She said, “Rabbi, I’m very, very sad. The mother of this newborn baby and I got engaged at the same time. We got married at the same time. But she has four children, and I don’t have any children yet. That’s why I’m so sad.” She then asked the rabbi, “Can you please give me a blessing?” Rabbi Krohn, remembering the Gemara that teaches that when someone prays for another person, his own prayer is answered first, told her, “Find another woman who is also childless. You should pray for her, and she should pray for you.”
A year later, the phone rang. It was the same woman. Rabbi Krohn asked her, “What’s going on?” She said, “I just called to thank you for your advice. I found a woman who was also childless, and we both committed to pray for each other. I prayed for her, and she prayed for me. We both became pregnant, and yesterday we both gave birth on the same day—to boys! And I want you to come to the Brit Milah.” Rabbi Krohn told her, “You made my day!” She replied, “Rabbi, you made my life!”
From this story, we see the importance of caring about other people and praying for them. Sometimes, when we put someone else’s needs before our own, Hashem answers our prayers in a special way.
The lesson is clear: Don’t only pray for yourself. Pray for other people as well. When we care about others and ask Hashem to help them, our own prayers can also be answered.