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Vaeira: Two Types of Teffilah

When Hashem tells Moshe that he will redeem Bnei Yisroel, He lists two seemingly different reasons. First, the fact that he promised the Avos to redeem their children. Second, “and also I have accepted the cries of Bnei Yisroel that are being oppressed by Mitzrayim”. Is there any connection between these two things?

The R’ Yoel Teitelbaum explains that there are different types of teffilah. The highest type of teffilah is to daven for the sake of Shechina, to daven for peace and prosperity so that the world can recognize and connect to its Creator. But there are “lower” levels of teffilah as well, of Jews l praying for their own salvation.

Somebody who has reached the level of being able to daven for the Shechina is very likely to have their teffilos answered. But when the time of Geulah draws near, Hashem is willing to listen to “lower” levels of teffilah, of people crying out due to their own pain.

Since the time was quickly approaching that Hashem had promised the Avos that He would redeem Bnei Yisroel, Hashem accepted the teffilos that were only a result of the oppression they faced in Mitzrayim.

לע״נ דוד חיים בן ישראל דוב הכהן
לע״נ ר׳ חיים דוב בן ר׳ בןציון שלום