Chaired by Dr. Ellier Russ. This committee coordinates programs and classes to engage members in lifelong learning. Events include our yearly Scholar in Residence program, Talmud Study, and more. Guest speakers, online webinars and Shabbat morning discussions additionally provide congregants with opportunities to expand their knowledge of Judaism and living a Jewish life.

vayera 5786: livin' on a prayer

Shabbat Shalom Weeklyby Rabbi Yitzchak Zweig NOVEMBER 8, 2025
GENESIS  VAYERA (18:1-33) Triennial 1

GOOD MORNING! Seeing as we are once again in the throes of another election season I decided to devote this week’s column to clarifying what prayer is all about.

There is grave concern – obviously, and for many reasons – that Zohran Mamdani might become the next mayor of New York City. In a typical “off year” 75% of NYC residents don’t bother to vote. So instead of praying that he loses, perhaps consider casting a vote and getting others to do the same.

Regarding prayer, many people look at it as God being the universe’s janitorial service – simply there to clean up everyone else’s mess. However, God isn’t going to respond to prayers because you couldn’t be bothered to use the tools you were given like common sense, a calendar, or a watch. Praying shouldn’t be seen as a divine VIP pass to cancel out the consequences of one’s poor choices.

Of course, you also have the competing prayers – South Florida real estate developers would undoubtedly welcome a Mamdani mayorship as it will likely lead to another huge influx of New Yorkers looking for a new home. I have even seen homes listed in the last few months with the tag line “pre-Mamdani pricing.” Florida residents, on the other hand, may not welcome another huge influx of New Yorkers and are praying that he loses.

Here’s the typical Competing Prayer: “I pray every morning for the light to turn green faster.” That’s nice, but what about the people going in the other direction praying for the exact opposite thing, essentially creating a theological gridlock by asking the Creator to adjudicate a very boring traffic conflict. Maybe just leave ten minutes earlier.

The Passive Aggressive Behavior Prayer: “My mother-in-law called me, ‘I’m praying for you, dear.’ I replied, ‘For what?’ And she says, ‘Oh, you know, for your patience. And your career. And that you find a better way to dress and accessorize.’” Another example: “Lord, we know Janet’s rebellious spirit has led her down some questionable paths, but we ask that you heal her anyway.”

The Not My Problem Prayer: Bob was going through a tough time and called his aunt for help. “I’m sending you my thoughts and prayers.” Bob replied, “Thanks, but can you send me the $500 I need for rent instead? My landlord doesn’t accept thoughts and prayers.”

The Self-Serving Prayer: “My boss told me he was praying for me after I botched a big project. At first, I was touched. Then I heard him pray, ‘Lord, help my employee not mess up again and cost me so much money.’ It wasn’t a prayer for me; it was a prayer for his bottom line.”

The Misguided Prayer: I overheard someone praying fervently for a specific outcome in a sports game. When his team lost anyway, he shrugged and said, “Well, I guess God had a bigger plan.” I thought, “Or maybe, just maybe, the other team practiced more and their offensive coordinator had a better game plan.”

Let us begin with a basic question about prayer: Why is it necessary for us to pray at all? After all, the Almighty does not need us to inform Him of our needs. He is well aware of all of the requirements of our lives – health, sustenance, and any number of other things. Seeing as God is our Father in Heaven, it seems reasonable to presume that He would behave like any parent and take care of His children. A loving parent does not stand on ceremony when he knows that his child has a need – he will just provide for it without waiting to be asked. Why would God be any different?

One of the most meaningful parts of our lives are the relationships that we build, and relationships are built on communication. Prayer is how we give context and substance to our relationship with the Almighty, whether it is for a specific need, to express gratitude, or simply to include Him in our lives. In the story of creation, we find:

“All the wild shrubs did not yet exist on the land for none of the plants had sprouted for God had not brought rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground” (Genesis 2:5).

The sages explain that because man had not yet been created there was no one to pray for rain. Once Adam came along and recognized the need for rain in order for things to grow, he prayed, the rains came, and everything began to grow (see Rashi ad loc). In this week’s Torah reading we find the first instance the Torah uses the word “tefillah – prayer” and the context is rather extraordinary.

After the destruction of Sodom Abraham decided to relocate his family to an area near Gerar – the land of the Philistines. Abraham’s wife Sarah was renowned for her beauty and sure enough she was “taken” from Abraham by the Philistines to be a concubine for their king Avimelech (to prevent himself from being killed, Abraham had told everyone that she was his sister instead of his wife).

That night an angel prevented Avimelech from violating Sarah, and he and his entire household were struck with a mysterious malady; the inability to expel anything from their bodies. The Almighty then appeared to Avimelech and told him to return Sarah to Abraham or else he would die. He also informed him that Abraham was a prophet and would pray for his immediate recovery. Sure enough, the next day a wholly penitent Avimelech begged Abraham and Sarah for their forgiveness and gave them many gifts in apology. Abraham prayed for Avimelech and his household and they were immediately healed – and they were quite relieved (pun intended). See Genesis 20:1-18 with Rashi’s commentary for the complete story.

Immediately after this we find:

“God had granted Sarah special providence (she became fertile) as He said He would. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, exactly at the time God had promised it would be” (Genesis 21:1-2).

The sages of the Talmud (Bava Kama 92a) derive a remarkable lesson from this story. The sages wonder why the Torah states Sarah being cured in the past tense (“God had granted Sarah”). Because this story immediately follows the story of Abraham praying for Avimelech and his household, Rava, one of the most prominent sages of the Talmud, infers a rather remarkable principle: “Anyone who asks for compassion from the Almighty on behalf of another, and he himself requires compassion concerning the same matter, he is answered first. In this case, once Abraham prayed for Avimelech and his household, Sarah was immediately cured, which is why the Torah says it in the past tense.”

Some of the great sages of the Middle Ages explain the reason for this. Sincere prayer for another unites two souls in one need and because the person praying initiated this link, his needs are addressed first – a spiritual law of causality of sorts (see Maharal Netivot Olam Netiv Gemilut Chassadim). Another explanation given is that one who prays opens a spring of mercy. The one who opens the well is the first to drink from its waters (Vilna Gaon in Aderet Eliyahu).

The bottom line is that Avraham’s prayer for Avimelech models an eternal law: praying selflessly for another aligns one with Divine mercy. Such prayer – particularly in the case of Abraham who had every reason to be furious – removes ego, expands the heart, and opens the heavenly channels causing the intercessor to be answered first.

For many years the founder of this column, my beloved friend Rabbi Kalman Packouz of blessed memory, an extraordinarily selfless and compassionate man, also ran what he called the “Refuah List” – a list of those requiring Divine providence for healing.

When I assumed responsibility there were some 5,000 people who had signed up to receive a weekly Refuah List email to pray for others. Much to my dismay, I was unable to undertake both the Shabbat Shalom and the ongoing responsibility for the Refuah List, which required daily monitoring, and sadly I had to let it lapse.

Well, after many years of wanting to relaunch this very special initiative, the Almighty sent us the wherewithal (mainly in the form of human capital) to build and maintain a site with the Refuah List mission in mind. This week, in memory of Rabbi Kalman Packouz OBM, we are launching www.prayerforprayer.org and it has a wide range of capabilities – you can add names for people to be prayed for, you can pray for others, and you can browse through a whole menu of things you may want to pray for in your own life. Check it out! (You may notice that there’s no link for praying for traffic jams or your sports team.)

As a side note, the first name that I added to the site for prayer is Chaim Aryeh Leib ben Anna in who’s merit for his complete recovery we have launched The Living Torah giveaway initiative. In short, we are giving away 1,000 volumes of this very special English translation of the Torah for free – an over $40 value! This project has been so successful that the publisher had to print another 500 copies for us. Get yours here today before supplies run out!

TORAH PORTION:VAYERA
NOVEMBER 8,  2025   17 HESHVAN 5785 Torah   GENESIS 18:1) Triennial  1
  Haftorah: 
We believe that in times of great strife, words of Torah can provide stability and comfort in our lives.
We know that you join us in praying for the safety of our soldiers and citizens, and that together we mourn the terrible losses already suffered.
We stand together for a strong and secure Israel.

TALMUD CLASS IS HELD MOST THURSDAYS FROM 1:00 PM - 2PM

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE  TALMUD STUDY WILL BE  ON ZOOM