The Torah relates that “Moshe was greatly distressed, and he said to Hashem, ‘Do not turn to their (Korach and his followers) offering’” (16:15). The Ramban explains that prayer is sometimes referred to as an "offering," and Moshe begged Hashem not to accept the prayers of Korach and his followers.

The Ba'yam Derech raises the obvious question: why did Moshe have to ask Hashem to reject Korach's prayer? The Talmud Yerushalmi comments that Korach opposed not only the authority of Moshe Rabbeinu, but the authority of the entire Torah as well. Why did Moshe even consider the possibility that Hashem would accept Korach's prayers?

In Parshas Va’eira, Hashem instructed Moshe to meet Pharaoh early in the morning by the river to warn him about the impending plague of Wild Beasts (8:16). The Midrash Rabbah explains what was going on behind the scenes. Pharaoh understood that he was in troubl, and he was going to the water that morning to pray with all of his heart to Hashem to be saved from the plagues. Therefore, Hashem told Moshe to meet Pharaoh there early, before he had the opportunity to pray, as otherwise, Pharaoh's prayers would have been answered (ibid Parsha Yud Alef, Alef. See commentaries there).

How are we to understand these two episodes? Why in the world would Hashem accept the prayers of Korach, who desired to challenge the authority of Moshe, as well as the Torah that he taught? Furthermore, why would Hashem accept the prayers of the evil Pharaoh, who had enslaved and tortured the Jewish nation for over 200 years, and was about to receive his well-deserved punishment?

The Alter of Kelm (1824-1898) answers with a mind-boggling and eye-opening insight. He explains that our question is based on a fundamental lack of truly understanding the power of heartfelt prayer: Hashem NEVER ignores a sincere prayer. Ever. Even the cruel, wicked Pharaoh could have his prayers answered, if they were from the bottom of his heart. Furthermore, the Ba'yam Derech cites the Saba of Kelm who explains that prayer is so powerful that even somebody who rejects the Torah can have his prayers answered if he prays properly - and even if his purpose is to challenge the Torah, as illustrated by this very episode with Korach.

The implications of this are simply mind-boggling. A person can have no merits whatsoever, and even be evil and praying for an evil cause, yet still he can have his desires fulfilled through the power of tefillah. The only condition, as the Michtav Me'Eliyahu writes, is that the prayer must be sincere. This means that one must pray from the bottom of his heart, and truly believe that Hashem is the only One who could help him. The more sincere the prayer, the infinitely stronger it becomes, regardless of the spiritual level of the one who is praying.

The Sefer HaChinuch writes that prayer is one of the greatest gifts that Hashem ever gave to mankind. Although Hashem usually treats every person according to their actions, when sincere prayer is involved, everything changes. He explains that Hashem wants even those who do not have any merits, to still receive His blessing. Therefore, He created the concept of heartfelt prayer. Sincere prayer, for all intents and purposes, is life’s “shortcut” to get even what we don’t deserve, so long as it is done with absolute sincerity and is the result of truly relying on our Father in Heaven (Mitzvah 433) *.

It is noteworthy that the Midrash (Tehillim 17) comments that Hashem urges us to take advantage of the opportunity of prayer while we can, while we are still alive, "because I take bribes in This World." Tefillah, the Midrash teaches us, is called "bribery." Like a bribe, it enables a person who deserves nothing to receive everything. Tefillah can help a person even AFTER a decree from Heaven has already been issued. The Gemara in Brachos states, “even if ‘the master of dreams’ tells a person that he will die the next day (which can be considered like a prophecy), he should still pray for his life to be spared, because prayer can override any decree” (10b).

Living Inspired

3 times a day in Ashrei, we articulate the words that Dovid HaMelech (King David) wrote in Tehillim “Hashem is close to all of those who call out to Him genuinely” (Psalms 145:18). Dovid is pointing out that Hashem doesn’t differentiate between the righteous and the wicked; just the opposite, Hashem is close to everybody who prays to Him sincerely. Moshe knew that with their lives on the line, Korach and his followers, heretics that they were, would pray for the acceptance of their incense offerings with tremendous fervor and intent, and had no choice but to counter their powerful prayers with an even more potent one of his own. Moshe understood that it doesn’t matter what the subject of the prayer is. Heartfelt prayer about whatever is important to a person, whether it be for trivial matters or even the deposition of Hashem’s hand-picked prophet and leader, brings him close to Hashem, who is likely to answer such prayers. If this is true for the likes of Pharoah and Korach, how much more so for ourselves? May we remember this very lesson the next time we open a siddur (prayer book).

The next time that we open a siddur, let us ask ourselves: if Hashem would heed the prayers of even the evil Pharoah and Korach, so long as it would be with all of their heart, how much more so is He willing to accept our prayers when they are offered with true sincerity? **

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*- It is important to note that even with sincere prayer, Hashem will only give us what is good for us. Imagine if a multi-billionaire’s 7-year old son asked him for $10,000. If the father is a responsible parent, he would not grant him his wish. It’s not because his father doesn't love him, nor because he didn’t hear his request. Rather, just because he wants it and thinks it is good, does not mean that it’s beneficial for him to receive it. Similarly, life is like a gym; Our purpose in this world is to grow, and that can only be accomplished through constantly being challenged and tested. Often, what we ask Hashem for will impede the journey for spiritual perfection that He has charted out for us, and therefore we don’t always see our prayers answered the way that we would like them to be. However, although Hashem won’t always grant us “easy street” and everything we ask for if it is detrimental for us, He will always soften the challenge when we pray to Him.

**- Based off of a beautiful Dvar Torah by the famous R’ Ashear, of Daily Emunah, and R’ Ozer Alport.