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Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of the books, Fascinating Insights and Incredible Insights. His writings inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes, and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
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Precious Proximity
We are taught that there is an unbelievable segula for a person to get his tefilla answered, and that is to stand next to a tzadik. This is why Chana stood and davened next to Eili Hakohen.[1]
With this we can explain the gemara that says one who has an ill person in his house, should go to a chochom, sage to daven on his behalf[2] — ילך אצל חכם ויבקש עליו רחמים.[3] Notice that it doesn’t say ילך לחכם but ratherילך אצל חכם . This is telling us that is a great segula to be influenced from the bounty of the tzadik by going to him and standing in his proximity.[4]
[1] Drashos Chassam Sofer, volume 2, p. 357a, s.v. oy ne’emar and the Chassam Sofer in his Hagahos on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 102. Also see Shu”t Radvaz, Volume 3, 472 and Drashos Ha’ran in Drush Ha’sheini.
[2] An interesting hint to this is found in והסיר ה’ ממך כל חלי, Hashem will remove from you every illness (Devarim 7:15), where the initials spell the word חכם while the end letters combine to spell the word ילך. This is alluding to this gemara that if someone has a sick person in his house, he should go to a chochom to daven on his behalf.
[3] Baba Basra 116a. The Meiri (s.v. l’olam) explains that one should go to a chochom to learn how to daven.
[4] Otzar Plaos Hatorah, Devarim, p. 134.
