Eikev: Rav Levi Yitzchak’s Teffilah

Rabbi Silber's Parshas Eikev thought draws on Rav Levi Yitzchak's teaching on tefillah to unpack the Gemara's statement that everything is in the hands of Heaven except fear of Heaven. He shows that while our looks, intellect, and wealth are largely preordained, our ruchniyus is entirely our own to build — so life's real task is redirecting effort away from what we can't control and toward what we can. He teaches that among all our prayers, only one is guaranteed a yes: a tefillah for closeness to Hashem, however small or hard-won, is always answered.

• Focus your energy on what you can control — most of life is preordained, but your spirituality is entirely yours to shape.
• A prayer for closeness to Hashem is never turned away; other requests may be answered no, but tefillah for ruchniyus is always answered yes.
• Don't spend your strength lamenting what you can't change — redirect it toward growing your middos and your connection to Hashem.
• When you feel distant or uninspired, the response isn't despair — it's to daven for it, and it will come.
• Even Hashem's no to other requests comes from love and knowing what's best, not indifference.