By Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

Hashem Desires the Tefillos of Tzaddikim

The Gemara says that the reason our forefathers were barren was that Hashem desires the tefillos of tzaddikim.

Our forefathers had not sinned, yet they were held back from having children because Hashem wanted their tefillos. How do we understand this? Tzaddikim daven all day, and the Avos even established the three daily tefillos. What, then, does it mean that Hashem desires their tefillos?

Hashem’s True Desire

Although Hashem desires the tefillos of tzaddikim, this does not mean that they are consigned to a life of misery. In most cases, tzaddikim are quite happy in this world. They live wisely and are more capable of enjoying Olam Hazeh than others. Hashem bestows blessing upon them.

However, even good people sometimes experience distress, which causes them to grow in emunah. The pain they undergo ultimately brings them the greatest benefit.

Becoming more and more aware of Hashem in this world is the highest achievement. This is what Hashem desires for His righteous ones.

Some commentators explain that Hashem desires the tefillos of tzaddikim because they are accustomed to davening for Klal Yisrael rather than for themselves, since they are happy with what they have.

As mentioned previously, the main purpose of tefillah is not for Hashem’s benefit but for our own. We daven to ensure that we are adequately prepared to receive Hashem’s bounty. If Yitzchak Avinu and Yaakov Avinu wanted children, they had to prepare themselves to receive this gift from Hashem, especially on their lofty spiritual level. When the Gemara says that Hashem desires the tefillos of tzaddikim, it does not mean that He has a desire for the prayers themselves. Rather, the intention is that the tzaddik should daven so that he can grow spiritually and become ready to receive Hashem’s bounty. In addition, the sadness of being childless caused these tzaddikim to engage in more prayer, which enabled them to strengthen their emunah in Hashem.

This is comparable to pressing grapes.

Pressing a good grape produces excellent grape juice. However, when more juice is desired than can be extracted by hand, the grapes are placed in a machine so that every last drop can be extracted.

The Avos prayed even without pressure, but Hashem placed them in a difficult situation to encourage them to pray with even greater fervor. This allowed them to reach higher levels of emunah and receive Hashem’s blessing.

The Tefillos of the Imahos

The Kedushas Levi explains that Leah was not barren, even though our other Imahos were. Leah had already davened extensively so that she would not have to marry Esav. Since she had already engaged in so much prayer, there was no need to make her barren to encourage her to daven more.

The Shach explains that the reason our Imahos were barren was to encourage them to daven and transform themselves spiritually. Rivkah, for example, needed to become a different person through her tefillos, no longer defined by her origins as the daughter of Besuel. This was necessary so that the children of Klal Yisrael would be born without spiritual defects.

This also explains why Avraham and Sarah’s names were changed. The name changes demonstrated that they were no longer the same Avraham and Sarah who had been barren and, according to the laws of nature, unable to have children.

The Imahos were barren because they came from wicked families and therefore needed to daven so that they could transform themselves. Avraham was also barren because he came from Terach. Yitzchak and Yaakov, however, were not barren because they did not come from wicked parents.

Once the Imahos and Avraham had davened and transformed themselves spiritually, they were able to give birth to Klal Yisrael.