In several places throughout the Torah, Hashem refers to the Jewish People as an am s’gulah. In this context, it means that they possess certain traits that supersede the rules of creation. For instance, according to Chazal, if a Jew intends to perform a mitzvah and is prevented from doing so, he receives a reward as if he performed it. If, on the other hand, he is prevented from performing a transgression, this same principle will not apply. He is not held accountable.
This is not how Hashem deals with the other nations of the world. In the case of a non-Jew, he is held accountable for the negative deeds that he intends to perform but receives no reward for the good deeds that he did not manage to carry out.
In his discourse, the Or HaChayim also puts an emphasis on a Jew’s ability to do t’shuvah does not follow even the spiritual rules of creation; it completely supersedes the whole system.
Rav Chaim of Volozhin, in his sefer Nefesh HaChayim, says that the Jewish People merit such “supernatural” abilities on account of the Torah and mitzvos that they perform, which enable their prayers to be answered in a special way.
Going to a tzadik or a talmid chacham to request a brachah or a t’filah is a well-known, widespread custom. It doesn’t matter if the tzadik is alive or has passed on from this world. In fact, according to many sources, a tzadik’s power is greater after death.
While it is forbidden to pray to a tzadik directly and ask him for your needs, you can request that a tzadik be a meilitz yosher and a shaliach to daven to Hashem on your behalf. There are many sources for this practice:
The Gemara states: “If there is someone ill in your house, go to the wise man of the city and ask that he should pray for him.”
Aharon HaKohen asked Moshe Rabbeinu to daven for Miriam’s recovery.
Kaleiv ben Y’funeh went to Chevron, beseeching the Avos to pray on his behalf that he should be saved from the wicked counsel of the spies.
(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.
Yonasan Chaim ben Yocheved
Nisan ben Shoshanah
Eliyahu Igor ben Rachel Raya
Hillel ben Orah Brachah
Gavriel ben Frida
Ben-Tzion Yoel ben Blume
Yitzchak Meir ben Chanah Kresel
Shmuel ben Etta Ettel
Ilan ben Sarah
Rafael Chayim Meir ben Sima Chasha
Yaakov ben Esther
Mindel Esther Malkah bas Elka
Sarah bas Miriam
Avigayil bas Chavivah
Malkah Marina bas Miriam Bertha
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Mitali Naomi bas Gilah Farcha
Miriam Chayah bas Sarah
Orah bas Devorah Chayah
Adinah Rivkah bas Sharon
Blume bas Ethel Rivkah
Perel Rachel bas Chanah Mindel
Esther bas Sima
Avivah bas Tziporah
Jaleh Sarah bas Victoria Devorah
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.