The Prayer’s Effect

by Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives

Rabbi Hillel “Paritcher” Malisov, at the directive of Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch, traveled from town to town, village to village, and city to city to fundraise to free Jewish prisoners and to assist Jewish men in the military with their observance of Judaism.

However, it was not only about raising funds. In each place he arrived, he would deliver a Chassidic discourse. To him, it made no difference whether the crowd understood or not – it was about the soul hearing as well.

What he did try to convey in an understandable manner was the need for intentional prayer. Speaking from the heart about the importance of prayer, he managed to affect even the simplest people in those communities.

In one community, many began to pray at length, contemplating each word, until it was said that the study hall itself became bright with spirituality.

On one of his return journeys, a man approached Rabbi Hillel and said that he had been inspired by him to pray with intention. Yet, as he understood it would, this inspiration had not affected his daily conduct.

Rabbi Hillel replied that intentional prayer had indeed accomplished much: “Now there is at least someone in front of whom” – referring to the man himself – “to be ashamed,” that his daily conduct is not as it should be.

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