What Can We Do?

As I read about the Supreme Court’s Decision, I felt like I was in the middle of a horror movie standing on the outskirts of Sodom and Gomorrah. Was this really happening? Had the Supreme Court just redefined the sacred union Hashem had created as a central building block of the world? Wasn’t it dangerous to take His building blocks and mix them together in ways that go against His instructions for use? Isn’t that a recipe for disaster?

Even more disturbing than the Court’s decision was the reaction of a few of my friends. It ranged from complete ambivalence, “hmmm…. Yeah… I guess that is probably going a little too far,” to another who was elated and celebrating. “People should be able to love and marry whomever they want and the government shouldn’t stop it,” she said. I felt sick to my stomach about the possible repercussions from this decision and all the celebrations and parades that followed. When I let her know I didn’t agree with the decision, my single sentence brought on an onslaught of texts and emails – the main message being that I should love and not hate.

But is it truly loving to put our stamp of approval on things that go against Hashem’s Torah and join the parade of whatever worldly philosophy is being shoved down our throats? If we join the parade, the world celebrates us. We could win a humanitarian award for being so loving. The only thing we have to do is toss out the Torah and remake it in our own image.  Can we really believe that we know better than the Creator of the Universe? Is the snake after us again, injecting it’s venom of doubt and confusion by saying to us, as he did to Eve, “Did Hashem really say…….?”

What if this love without rules and boundaries is actually encouraging those we love to go deeper into a pit?  What if this love is really cruelty? What if true love is actually saying, “Because I love you so much, I have to tell you that Hashem says this is not okay.” Things can look beautiful on the outside, especially as the media portrays it. It can seem like this beautiful lake that makes you want to jump in and swim. But what if the lake is full of toxic chemicals and there are warning signs all around? Do we join the parade and say to our friends, “Yes, go ahead and jump in because, you are right, it sure does look good. That warning sign surely doesn’t mean you shouldn’t swim here.”

A lot of times I have struggled with my emuna when coming up against this strong undercurrent that pulls so many people away with illusions, lies and false promises. At times the situation seems hopeless. We have all been sucked away to one degree or another.  Part of our teshuvah is getting the lies out of us and replacing them with Hashem’s truth. It is an ongoing process. But what about those who have been so blinded, they don’t even realize they have been pulled into dangerous territory? It hurts so much to watch. I want to jump in and save them from the strong undercurrent taking them out to a toxic sea. I want to do battle for them. But how?

A few weeks ago, I was reading a prayer in Likutei Tefillot. It jumped out at me, and renewed my energy. It seemed to contain exactly what was needed.

Excerpts from Likutei Tefillot, (Prayers of Rebbe Natan) Prayer 55: 

“With the aid of Your power and love, and with the aid of the strength and merits of the true Tzaddikim, may I rectify the 3 evil voices of the wicked when I pray: the foolish voice of those who have fallen prey to false beliefs, the contemptuous voice of the philosophers and the heretics, and the shaming voice of those who insult sincere, G-d fearing people.

With my prayers may I overcome and eliminate every type of false faith and superstition. And may I raise up all those people who have fallen prey to false beliefs and bring them to the true and holy faith, filling their hearts with conviction…

I come to You with the merit and strength of the true Tzaddikim. May I be blended together with them so that they will battle on my behalf, and so that with their great might, they will overcome these three voices and cast down all my enemies and persecutors – all those who oppose Your pure truth, who prevent me and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from doing Your will and walking on the straight and true path.”

I was so excited about this prayer, I asked my Rav, “Can this really work? Can even someone like me make this happen through my prayers?” He said, “Certainly. A simple, heartfelt prayer does wonders!” So if it can work for me, it will surely work for you. Ever since then, I have been praying Rebbe Natan’s prayers before I begin Shacharit (the morning prayers), Tehillim and personal prayer (hitbodedut). I also pray it before I study Torah by replacing the word “prayers” with “study your Torah.”

Rebbe Nachman says, “The main weapon of Mashiach is prayer.” We don’t have to wait until Mashiach gets here to do battle. We have in our hands the very same weapon he will use, and it is available to us 24 hours a day. And if it is good enough for Mashiach to run the world, it surely is the best tool for us in doing our part to bring about the complete redemption of our people. Please join me in regularly praying Rebbe Natan’s prayers. It’s a real way of loving people and bringing gratification to Hashem.

May we all be blessed with strength, determination, perseverance and belief in the power of our prayers!