World Kabbalah Convention, October 2025 - ״In One Prayer".

Lesson #1 ״The Power of Prayer״

Selected Excerpts from the Sources

1. Baal HaSulam, Letter No. 57

"Everything, small or great, is obtained only by the power of prayer. All the labor and work to which we are obliged are only to discover our lack of strength and our lowliness—that we are unfit for anything by our own strength—for then we can pour out a wholehearted prayer before Him."

2. RABASH, Letter No. 34

"The essence of the work is prayer, since only by prayer can one exit the public domain and enter the domain of the Single one. This is so because when it comes to prayers, great and small are equal. Moreover, one who feels one’s lowness can offer a more genuine prayer from the bottom of the heart, for he knows about himself that he cannot deliver himself from the strait on his own. Then, he can say that actually, those who were created with special talents and qualities of subtlety can do something on their own, whereas those without the special gifts and good qualities need heaven’s mercy. Thus, only this person can offer an honest prayer."

3. RABASH, Article No. 37 (1991), "What Is the 'Torah' and What Is 'The Statute of the Torah,' in the Work?"

"A person sees that it is unrealistic that he will have the strength to go against nature.

At that time, one has no choice but to turn to the Creator and say, “Now I have come to a state where I see that unless You help me, I am lost. I will never have the strength to overcome the will to receive, as this is my nature. Rather, only the Creator can give another nature.”"

 4. RABASH, Article No. 246, "Concerning Shekalim – 2"

"When a person wants to make a move in order to bestow, if he begins to weigh its benefits, the body objects to him because it does not see what it can gain if he acts in order to bestow.

At that time, his only counsel is prayer. This is the meaning of what our sages said, “A prayer makes half.” It was said about this, “The Lord helps us,” which our sages explained, “Were it not for the Creator’s help, he would not overcome it.” It follows that a person can only give half, which is a prayer, and the other half the Creator gives." 

5. RABASH, Article No. 208, "The Meaning of Dust"

"The correction is to take upon himself once more the quality of bestowal. However, it is not within man’s power to do so, as it is against his nature. For this reason, we say, “Hear, O Lord, and pardon me.”

“Pardoning” means as our sages said, “Although he is unworthy or deserving,” which is called “And I will pardon that which I will pardon.” That is, we ask the Creator to give us this power although we cannot make this power.

This is the meaning of the verse, “Lord, be my helper,” as our sages said, “Were it not for the help of the Creator, he would not overcome it.”

And all we can give is prayer." 

6. Baal HaSulam, Shamati, Article No. 57, “Will Bring Him Closer to His Will”

"We must know that the prayer corrects a person even more than punishment. Thus, when prayer appears instead of punishment, the affliction is lifted and the prayer is placed in its place in order to correct the body.

This is the meaning of what our sages said, “Rewarded—through Torah; was not rewarded—through suffering.” We must know that the path of Torah is a more successful way and yields more benefits than the path of suffering. This is because the Kelim [vessels] that will be fit to receive the upper light are broader and can yield Dvekut [adhesion] with Him.

This is the meaning of “He is coerced until he says, ‘I want.’” It means that the Creator says, “I want the deeds of the lower ones.”

The meaning of prayer is what our sages said, “The Creator craved the prayer of the righteous,” for by the prayer, the Kelim are made fit for the Creator to later give the abundance, since there is a fit Kli to receive the abundance." 

7. RABASH, Article No. 19 (1985), "Come unto Pharaoh – 1"

"We should pay attention [...] and believe through the worst possible states, and not escape the campaign, but rather always trust that the Creator can help a person and give him, whether one needs a little help or a lot of help.

In truth, one who understands that he needs the Creator to give him a lot of help, because he is worse than the rest of the people, is more suitable for his prayer to be answered, as it is written, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.”" 

8. RABASH, Article No. 10 (1986), "Concerning Prayer"

"Our sages said, “‘And you shall work’ is prayer, the work in the heart.” By this we will understand why they refer to prayer as “work in the heart.” It is because one must work a lot on himself to cancel self-love and assume the work of obtaining vessels of bestowal. It follows that on the desire to have vessels of bestowal he must work with himself to want to pray, to be given the force of bestowal."

9. Baal HaSulam, Letter No. 56

"A person should brace himself with prayer, “May He grant, etc., that we will not labor in vain,” for it requires great success in that matter.

You should also know that the labor and exertion that appear in one’s heart during the prayer is the most reliable and most guaranteed to reach its goal than any other matter in reality."

10. Zohar for All, Shemot [Exodus], "Sigh, Cry, and Outcry", Items 356-357

"One who prays and cries and cries out until he can no longer move his lips, this is a complete prayer that is in the heart. It is never returned empty, but is accepted. Great is the cry for it tears a man’s sentence from all his days."