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Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
We know that Hashem (God) is everywhere, so why do people go to special places to pray, such as the Kotel (Western Wall) or the grave of a great tzaddik (righteous individual)? Can’t He hear us from anywhere?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
Hashem Is Everywhere—So Why Pray in Special Places?
Hashem is everywhere at all times, and in no place is He more present than anywhere else. The difference lies with us; we do not experience the same level of His presence in all places. The physical nature of this world, along with our sins, conceals Hashem from us and makes it difficult to sense and connect to Him.
But there are places where Hashem removes some of the barriers that normally conceal Him. This enables His presence to be felt more clearly, allowing us to connect to Him more deeply. While He hears us wherever we pray, in places where our connection to Hashem is strongest, our prayers are heightened and more likely to be accepted. Just as a face-to-face conversation is more personal and therefore more effective than a phone call, a prayer offered in a place where we feel closer to Hashem is more intimate and powerful.
Why Praying at the Western Wall Is So Powerful
The ultimate manifestation of this concept is the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), as the pasuk (verse) states, “וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם — Make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them (Shemot 25:8).” This does not mean that Hashem suddenly became present in this spot; rather, in this place, Hashem revealed His presence most fully, and therefore, our connection to Him was at its strongest. And this is why King Shlomo proclaimed at the inauguration of the Beit HaMikdash that in this place, all prayers — of Jews and non-Jews alike — are more readily accepted by Hashem (Melachim I 8:22-53). Even today, although the Beit HaMikdash no longer stands, His presence can still be felt there, which is why praying at the Kotel — the closest we can get to the site of the Beit HaMikdash — is so powerful.
Why People Pray at a Tzaddik’s Grave
Another auspicious place for prayer is at the grave of a righteous person. Hashem is especially close to a tzaddik during his lifetime, and this closeness endures at his grave even after his passing, enabling a deeper connection during davening.
Special Times Can Strengthen Our Prayers Too
Just as there are certain places where Hashem reveals Himself more, there are also certain times that are more “favorable” — known as et ratzon — when He is more accessible to us. For example, the navi (prophet) [Yeshayahu 55:6] says, “Call out to Hashem when He is near.” The Sages (Rosh Hashanah 18a) explain that this is a reference to the ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, a period when Hashem is “closer” — more revealed — making our prayers during this time more potent and likely to be accepted.
Bringing That Closeness into Everyday Life
But you don’t have to wait for special days, or travel the world to find auspicious places to pray. You yourself can create this closeness to Hashem through performing mitzvot (Torah commandments), which draws us nearer to Him. Certain mitzvot create especially powerful opportunities to pray. For example, at a brit milah (ritual circumcision), we forge a bond with, and become servants of, Hashem. At a wedding, Hashem comes especially close to the bride and groom. This closeness is reflected in the chuppah: its white canopy recalls the Clouds of Glory in the Wilderness, where Hashem’s presence was keenly felt. Just as His closeness was experienced there, He draws near to the couple under the chuppah, making it an auspicious time for them — and all those assembled — to pray.
In Short
Although Hashem is everywhere, His presence is often hidden, making it difficult to connect to Him. At specific places and times, He reveals Himself more, allowing us to connect more deeply, thereby strengthening our prayers and making them more likely to be accepted.
Written by Rabbi Aaron Shapiro
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