Rav Berland: Prayer Creates Protective Shoes for the Shechinah

In a profound lesson on the mystical nature of prayer, Rav Berland explains the deep spiritual connection between our daily prayers, the selling of Joseph, and the protection of the Divine Presence (Shechinah).

The Mystery of the Selling of Joseph

The Rav begins by discussing the Ten Martyrs (*Asara Harugei Malchut*) and the decree against them, which is rooted in the selling of Joseph by his brothers. The verse in Amos (2:6) states, "Because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes."

Rav Berland asks: What is the significance of these shoes? He explains that the "shoes" refer to the shoes of the Shechinah. The selling of Joseph was an event beyond human comprehension, but the reference to shoes alludes to a deep spiritual necessity: we must sew shoes for the Shechinah.

Prayer as Spiritual Shoes

"What are these shoes?" the Rav asks. "They are the prayers."

Every moment we pray, we are essentially sewing shoes for the Shechinah. The three daily prayers—Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv—correspond to this concept. The Rav explains that without these spiritual shoes, the Divine Presence cannot descend into the lower worlds to walk among us.

"This is the meaning of the shoes of the Shechinah," Rav Berland teaches. "Through the three prayers, Hashem can walk here in the world. We bring the Shechinah down below."

The Spiritual Cobbler

The Rav draws a parallel to Chanoch ben Yered (Enoch), who is described in our tradition as a cobbler. However, he was not merely working with physical leather.

"Chanoch ben Yered was a cobbler. With every stitch and stitch, he would say: 'Blessed is the Name of the honor of His Kingdom forever and ever.'"

The Tzaddikim, the Rav explains, were all "cobblers" in this spiritual sense. Whether they were physically carpenters or tailors does not matter; their essence was creating these spiritual vessels. Rebbe Nachman’s stories often allude to this—the profession is a metaphor for the spiritual work of prayer and unification.

Protection Through Prayer

The practical outcome of this spiritual work is protection. "Then we are protected by the Shechinah," says Rav Berland.

If we do not pray, there is no shield. By praying the three daily prayers, we create the shoes that allow the Shechinah to descend and protect us. This is why we have the times of Mincha and Maariv, to renew the day and maintain this protection.

The Necessity of Torah and Effort

Rav Berland emphasizes that prayer must be grounded in Torah study. Quoting Proverbs (28:9), he warns, "He who turns away his ear from hearing the law (Torah), even his prayer shall be an abomination." It is through the merit of Torah that all prayers and requests are accepted.

Finally, the Rav offers encouragement to those who find prayer difficult. Even if a person feels they cannot speak or does not know how to pray properly, they should not give up.

"Listen, pray, sway," the Rav advises. "Move your lips." He references the Gemara (Megillah 18a) regarding those who are "deaf and mute," explaining that even the simple movement of the lips in an attempt to connect with Hashem is significant. The main thing is to participate and make the effort to pray.