Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

פָּרָשַׁת וָאֶתְחַנַּן –

Moshe’s 515 Prayers and What They Teach Us About Never Giving Up

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Introduction

This week’s parsha, Va’etchanan, is filled with foundational texts—Shema, the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments), and Moshe Rabbeinu’s personal plea to enter Eretz Yisrael. It’s a portion that’s well known, but one message often gets overlooked in practice:

> Tefillah is not about convenience. It’s about relentless effort.

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Moshe’s Plea: 515 Prayers

Moshe didn’t offer a quick prayer and walk away. He begged Hashem with 515 separate prayers—the gematria of “וָאֶתְחַנַּן”—hoping to reverse a Divine decree.
And had Hashem not stopped him directly, he would have continued.

> This isn’t just storytelling. It’s a blueprint: when something is truly important and spiritually permissible, you don’t stop praying.

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Pray with Direction, Not Just Emotion

Not every desire is good for you.
People pray for wealth—and when they receive it, they disappear from shul. Mitzvos fall by the wayside. The wealth becomes their downfall.

So what should we daven for?

Not for more luxury—but for clarity.

Not for popularity—but for strength to withstand challenges.

Not for a different life—but for the tools to fulfill Hashem’s will in this one.

> Sometimes Hashem holds back what you want because you’re not ready. But with growth and sustained tefillah, you may become someone who is worthy of that gift.

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Don’t Assume Silence Means No

Just because Hashem hasn’t answered yet doesn’t mean He said no.
If the request is good, aligned with Torah values, and not rooted in sin or selfishness, keep davening. Ask a Rav, get clarity—but don’t give up.

Moshe Rabbeinu, who spoke to Hashem panim el panim, still had to fight to be heard. That’s your model.

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Tefillah Is Work. Do It Right.

We all say we pray.
But how many of us pray with focus, with persistence, and with a plan?

If you want to change your circumstances for the better—not in fantasy, but in alignment with what Hashem wants for you—then take tefillah seriously.

> Don’t pray to escape your life.
Pray to elevate within it.