The Midrash on Shir HaShirim (5:2) says: “The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “My sons, open for Me an opening of t’shuvah like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you openings big enough for wagons and carriages to pass through [or like the gates of the sanctuary].”
What this means is that for every bit of effort a person makes in an attempt to come closer to Hashem, Hashem responds with favor and assistance that is exponentially greater. As it says in the Gemara (Yoma 39a): “The one who sanctifies himself a little, Heaven helps to sanctify him a lot.”
However, the Michtav MeiEliyahu explains that there is one condition. Despite its minute size, this opening needs to be sincere and total, burst open from one end to the other. This opening should reflect an honest and stable wish to come close to Hashem and not just a whimsical, wishy-washy, hesitating, and half-hearted whim, lacking in commitment. The verse “Whoever wishes to purify himself deserves heavenly help” only applies if a man sincerely aspires to become pure.
Often, it’s that first small step, the choice to let go or to step back ever so slightly, that can set in motion further steps, openings, and clarity, resulting in an awesome upward journey. As Chazal say, “One mitzvah leads to another mitzvah… [for] the reward for a mitzvah [is the opportunity to do another] mitzvah” (Pirkei Avos 4:2).
(Material was previously published on ShiratMiriam.com.)
List of People Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Shimshon Shimon ben Mazal
Aharon Mordechai ben Sharon
Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah
Yisachar Dov ben Chayah Brachah
Tinok ben Chanah
Azriel ShemTov ben Brachah Esther
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Ronny Tzalach ben Simchah
Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel
Moshe ben Devorah
Yehoshua ben Miriam
Yosef ben Leah
Nisan ben Yael
Efrayim Gavriel ben Esther
Chaim Yehudah HaLevi ben Sarah
Refael Meir HaLevi ben Esther
Mordechai ben Evelyn
David Chaim ben Rivkah
Moshe Leib ben Chanah Breindel
Eynav ben Tziporah
Yair ben Sarah
Moshe ben Zlata
Yishai Shimon ben Sigal
Shmuel ben Nazima
Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah
Nissim ben Miriam
Evon bas Sally
Luna bas Rachel
Malkah bas Miriam
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah
bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Ronit bas Rivkah
Mahnaz bas Nosrat
Sylia bas Rachel
Karen bas Rachel
Shoshanah Shurah bas Zina
Sonia bas Raya Rachel
Tinok bas Chanah Moriyah
Brachah Chanah bas Sarah
Devorah bas Esther
Batya bas Moonavar
Sarah bas Alizah
Chavah bas Bayla
Bella Berta bas Raya Rachel
Taliah Tanya bas Nina Nekadam
Raya Rachel bas Esther
Alizah Sima bas Sheina Brachah
Rivkah bas Sarah
Rachel bas Yaffah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.