Parshat Toldot shows the power of our tefillot. Hashem is always listening to our tefillot and wants to agree to our prayers. The word prayer (התפלל) comes from the root פל”ל, which means to believe possible. Part of prayer is believing that what we ask for is possible with Hashem’s help. However, that is not the word used in this week’s parsha to describe Yitzchak’s prayer to Hashem.
In Parshat Toldot it says וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר, which has the root word עתר. This word has two different meanings, one being to petition. This means that the pasuk was saying “and Yitzchak petitioned Hashem”. Yitzchak recognized that tefillah was not only a prayer but was a time to talk, thank, praise and ask from Hashem. After Yitzchak petitioned for years, Hashem responded by saying וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לוֹ֙, which uses the second meaning and means that Hashem will accede, and agree to do for him what he asked.
It is strange that in the same pasuk, the root word of עת״ר is used twice and that it was used to describe both Yitzchak and Hashem’s actions. The reason that both Yitzchak and Hashem’s actions are described with the same root word is to tell us that Hashem wants to comply when we petition. Like every parent, Hashem wants to give His children what they want and doesn’t want to see them sad. So, when Hashem can give into our requests, He does. Hashem does everything measure for measure and when we act with עתר, then He will too.
Hashem gives us what we deserve and also what we need. Sometimes we don’t deserve Hashem to say yes when we plead and sometimes we need Him to say no because it will benefit us. We must understand that it isn’t that He isn’t listening, rather He knows we aren’t ready for what we want or that it is bad for us.
May we all merit the blessing of deserving Hashem to agree to our petitions that are good for us right now and may we merit to have a connection to Hashem where our prayers and petitions are answered speedily for good. May our petitions that all of our soldiers and all of Am Yisrael be blessed, comforted and safe with their families be accepted speedily with goodness.
Shira Sedek is a passionate educator currently working toward a master’s degree at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.
