What should a truly religious person, a chasid, pray for?

"עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ, לְעֵת מְצֹא. (תהילים ל"ב:ו)

"Every chasid should pray to You for this — at a time of Metzoh." (Psalm 32:6)

The Hebrew word Metzoh is not clear. It may mean 'finding' or 'leaving' or 'results.'

This "time of finding" or "time of leaving" must be something that is very important to the pious chasid. Something that may not be within his power to control. The Talmud mentions no fewer than five opinions as to what a chasid should pray for:

1. "A good wife". This is a 'time of finding', as a good wife is a 'good find' or 'good catch'. Rav Kook adds that finding an appropriate wife is an occasion which determines the 'results' and lot of his life. The right partner in life can be the critical factor in determining one's spiritual and material success, while the wrong partner may lead to mental and emotional instability.

2. "Torah enlightenment". Maimonides wrote that revelations of Truth are similar to one who walks in the dark, and lightning suddenly lights up the way for him. For some, these illuminating bolts of lightning are constant; for others, they occur frequently; and for others, only rarely. It is fitting to pray to merit these illuminations of Truth on a constant basis, so that one may successfully find the path of Truth and arrive at the highest level of human perfection.

3. Death. Death is the ultimate 'hour of departure'. It is also the ultimate barometer of life and the direction one takes in life. For the wicked, death is a time of pure darkness, as his whole life was solely for the sake of material pleasures. But for the Chasid, who stressed spiritual pursuits, and whose life was guided by righteousness and the fear of Heaven, the day of death is not so tragic. "And she will laugh at the final day." (Pr. 31) His soul was not overly immersed in physical pleasures, and love for spiritual life and its pleasantness are deeply ingrained in his soul.

4. Burial. Also, a time of departure, and a time for results. One should strive to achieve an impact on others that will cause good even after one's death. One should desire an honorable burial — not as a platform for honor and self-aggrandizement — but as sign of one's stature as an inspiration and positive influence on future generations.

The final opinion is the most surprising, yet the preferred opinion among the Talmudic sages in the Land of Israel:

5. "A bathroom". We often discuss the great, momentous occasions of life. Yet one must also be concerned also with the smallest, most technical aspects of life. We are constantly dependent upon the mercy of Heaven; for even the smallest, most banal matters may become the insurmountable obstacles to spiritual perfection. A clean body, a clean location, and properly running bodily functions may seem to be of little importance. But without these basic pre-requisites, one lacks the necessary peace of mind to advance spiritually. Thus one must not ignore the need for Divine help, even in the most physical, trite aspects of life.

(adapted from Ein Eyah I:39-40, on Berachot 8)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison