אות - קמה

Likutey Moharan II, 25 states that one should make every lesson he hears into a prayer. When the Rebbe revealed this lesson to me, he said, “It would be good to write the prayers for yourself.”

From his gestures and the way he said it, I understood what a wonderful and awesome thing this was. The Rebbe said that it was responsible for great delight on High.

Another time, the Rebbe was speaking to someone who expressed his great desire regarding this. He said, “I very much want my lessons made into prayers, but I do not know to whom to entrust the task.”

On another occasion, the Rebbe showed me a recently published book called Yad Ketanah . 232 "Small Hand,” by Rabbi Ber ben Yaakov of Sieniava, published anonymously in Lemberg, 1800. The twelfth chapter of this book (p. 90 f.) is called Shir Emunah ("Song of Faith"), and discusses many basic principles in the form of prayers. At the end of this book, several concepts are explained in the form of prayers, each one beginning with the words, “O my God.” The Rebbe showed me the book and told me to read it. He was showing me, “See how this author makes many scholarly concepts into prayers.” He hinted that he would like the same done with his lessons.

As in the case of many other important things, the Rebbe never came out explicitly, but only hinted at what he wanted. He would hint at the weightiest matters in the most trivial manner. There are accusing forces on high that can set up many barriers. It was for this and other reasons that the Rebbe found it difficult to reveal his wishes directly.

Therefore, he made use of wondrous allusions that a person could understand if he wanted to. This explains many of the Rebbe’s dealings with me, but this cannot be explained.

The Rebbe said, “When you take a lesson and make it into a prayer, it causes great delight on high. Such delights have never ascended before God since the day of creation.” This is also quoted in the introduction to the prayers. 233 Likutey Tefilot ("Collected Prayers"), written by Reb Noson in accordance with the present lesson and first published by him in 5584/1824.

The Rebbe gave me further encouragement in a discussion following his lesson, “In the beginning … to the eyes of all Israel.” 234 Likutey Moharan II, 67. These words are the first and last words of the Torah. See “ His Wisdom ” #196.