Q&A: Priority Order in Prayer for a Speedy Recovery
Priority Order in Prayer for a Speedy Recovery
Question
Happy holidays,
Following the coronavirus striking rebbes from all communities, among them Kretshnif, Karlin, Chaim K., Pittsburgh, Kalmanovitch, etc. … I saw that the Haredim are publishing calls to pray for their wellbeing. That raises the question: why don’t they publish calls for prayer regarding ordinary Haredim, and only for the more distinguished ones? Is the issue a lack of space in the bulletin, or is there some special importance to praying for the speedy recovery of those elevated above the people as opposed to others?
Best regards, Benjamin
Answer
From time immemorial, people have prayed more for Torah greats and leaders. Even the prime minister is included in this. And the reason is very simple. For an ordinary person, those who pray for him are his relatives and friends, and there is no need to call on them to do so. When it comes to the great figures of the generation, they are the relatives of the entire public, which needs them, and therefore the public is called upon to pray for them. Similarly, when a great leader of the generation dies, the whole generation mourns him (“and all Israel wept for Moses”), whereas when a Torah scholar dies, his students mourn, etc.
It’s not very complicated for someone who looks at it with unbiased eyes. I recommend you try that, Benjamin.
I didn’t understand the answer. The Rabbi is saying that without an explicit call, people won’t pray for them even though they are “relatives of the entire public”? Is a public that doesn’t need them exempt from praying for them? As for heads of state, such as the prime minister—since everyone needs him, is everyone obligated to pray for him?