Question

Hello Rabbi,
I just finished reading the part of the trilogy that discusses prayer. The claim that keeps recurring is that God changed His policy regarding intervention in the world and the acceptance of prayers. There is a rabbinic saying that says exactly what you are saying, that there was a policy change at the destruction of the First Temple: Berakhot 32b — “Rabbi Elazar said: From the day the Temple was destroyed, the gates of prayer were locked, as it is said, ‘Even when I cry out and plead, He shuts out my prayer.’ And although the gates of prayer were locked, the gates of tears were not locked, as it is said… From the day the Temple was destroyed, an iron wall intervenes between Israel and their Father in Heaven, as it is said…”
The first part says that prayers are no longer accepted (except for special ones, and maybe even that has already changed?), and the second part says that there is a disconnect between God and Israel, and that He no longer guides us.
My question is: why didn’t you bring this saying in the book or elsewhere?
It is really explicit support for your position: that from the end of the biblical period, with the destruction of the Temple, there is no more intervention and no more acceptance of prayers, aside from special tearful prayers whose gate was not locked (and apparently maybe even that has changed). The people who need to come up with excuses are the ones who think prayers are accepted! (I’ve seen the explanations, but in the end they all contradict the plain meaning of the saying to one degree or another).