וְעַתָּ֗ה הָשֵׁ֤ב אֵֽשֶׁת־הָאִישׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָבִ֣יא ה֔וּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל בַּֽעַדְךָ֖ וֶֽחְיֵ֑ה וְאִם־אֵֽינְךָ֣ מֵשִׁ֗יב דַּ֚ע כִּי־מ֣וֹת תָּמ֔וּת אַתָּ֖ה וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
און אַצונד, קער אום די װײַב פֿון דעם מאַן, װאָרום ער איז אַ נביא, און ער װעט מתפּלל זײַן פֿאַר דיר, און װעסט בלײַבן לעבן; אױב אָבער דו קערסט זי ניט אום, זײַ װיסן אַז שטאַרבן װעסטו שטאַרבן, דו און אַלע װאָס געהערן צו דיר.
Olat Reiyah
They said of R’ Chanina ben Dosa that he would pray for the sick, and would say ‘this one will live and this one will die.’ They said to him ‘how do you know?’ He said to them - if my prayer is fluent in my mouth I know that it is accepted and if not, I know that it is torn up88Rashi on this Mishna says in one explanation that this is about the sick man not the prayer (Rashi 34b:12 in Sefaria).’…From where do we learn this? R’ Hiyya bar Abba said in the name of R’ Yehoshua ben Levi in the name of Rabbi Yochanan, as the Scripture says “I will create new expressions of the lips89See Rashi on Nechemiah 6:7 connecting this verse to the prophets. The whole discussion in the Talmud from the mishna to the end of the chapter casts important light on the relationship between prayer and prophecy. Also note that the first usages of the word prophet and the verb to pray appear simultaneously in Bereshit 20:7: peace, peace both for far and near says the Lord.” (Isaiah 57:19) [Berachot 34b]
The relationship between a person and their fellow reveals itself through speech, and the acceptance of one’s prayer for their friend is certainly due to the truth of the relationship which exists between them. Therefore, the extent of its acceptance is also revealed in the form of the speech through which it is expressed. And at the right hour, according to the extent of the relationship found between the one who requests and the one for whom they plead, this acceptance reveals itself in actuality “the expressions of the lips.” This is because true peace is the joining together of people in relationship, to act and be acted upon in a good way.90Recall that ‘good’ can be used in a sense which is not moral, but rather essential. In this sense a good deed becomes an action which moves creation toward the complete expression of the Creator’s initial intention for creation. In which case this phrase would mean ‘to act and be acted upon in a way which brings them toward the wholeness which was the Divine intention of their creation.’ See footnote 11. The ‘expression of the lips’ works ‘peace, peace for far and near,’ creating relationship and connection even between people who are far from one another, and bringing about the acceptance of our prayers for one another. Our prayers are tested through the paths of speech as well, because even after all the preparation, and the ability, and further preparation complete expression requires the help of G–d. “The thoughts of the heart are man’s, but the utterance of the tongue comes from G–d.” (Mishle 16:1) “I will create new expressions of the lips…”
The relationship between a person and their fellow reveals itself through speech, and the acceptance of one’s prayer for their friend is certainly due to the truth of the relationship which exists between them. Therefore, the extent of its acceptance is also revealed in the form of the speech through which it is expressed. And at the right hour, according to the extent of the relationship found between the one who requests and the one for whom they plead, this acceptance reveals itself in actuality “the expressions of the lips.” This is because true peace is the joining together of people in relationship, to act and be acted upon in a good way.90Recall that ‘good’ can be used in a sense which is not moral, but rather essential. In this sense a good deed becomes an action which moves creation toward the complete expression of the Creator’s initial intention for creation. In which case this phrase would mean ‘to act and be acted upon in a way which brings them toward the wholeness which was the Divine intention of their creation.’ See footnote 11. The ‘expression of the lips’ works ‘peace, peace for far and near,’ creating relationship and connection even between people who are far from one another, and bringing about the acceptance of our prayers for one another. Our prayers are tested through the paths of speech as well, because even after all the preparation, and the ability, and further preparation complete expression requires the help of G–d. “The thoughts of the heart are man’s, but the utterance of the tongue comes from G–d.” (Mishle 16:1) “I will create new expressions of the lips…”