Yesterday, we mentioned the Or HaChaim HaKadosh that talks about the power of Bitachon versus Tefila , and how Bitachon works in a supernatural way that doesn't follow the regular systems. We explained the concept of a father-son relationship versus a king-servant relationship. This is beautifully illustrated in a Gemara in Masechet Taanit , 19A, which tells the famous story of Honi HaMa’agel and how he prayed to bring rain. Now what's interesting is he didn't just tell the people to pray , we can see that it wasn't a regular prayer. It was a prayer with a tremendous reliance . The Gemara tells us that, “Before he went into pray, he said, ‘ Everybody bring in the ovens (that they used to cook the Pesach with) .” The ovens were made out of earthenware and a lot of rain would make them melt, and therefore he was warning them. This is not a regular prayer. This is similar to another famous story, of Rabbi Galante from Sfat. When there was a drought, an the Arab Sheik said, “ You Jews know how to bring rain.” So Rabbi Galante told the people, “ Let's go pray.” But he told everybody to go out with their raincoats and boots on, because if they were to go out without raincoats and boots, it would mean they didn’t really believe it would rain. If you really believe it's going to rain, you take your raincoat and boots. That too, was not regular Tefila. That was, I'm relying on You, because it has to happen. And that's how Honi prayed. It was more than just Tefila. There was conviction. What did he do? He drew a circle on the ground, stood in it and said, “ Hashem, Your children put their eyes on Me. Why ? I am like someone that lives in Your house. I swear in Your great name, I'm not leaving this spot until You have mercy on Your children.” I'm not budging, I'm not leaving. It has to rain. That's relying, that's really coming with a conviction that's it going to happen. “Bring in the ovens,” he said. And then the rain started coming down in drips. Honi said, “ That's not what I asked for. I didn't ask for drips, I asked for rain to fill up the pits.” So, it came down in a torrential downpour. He said again, “That's not what I asked for. I want I want Gishmeh Ratzon/ rain of will and blessing and graciousness. And then the rain came down properly. Eventually, he said, “ Just like I prayed that it should come down. I'm praying that it should stop.” This might seem a little bit like hutzpah or audacity, to talk to God that way, saying, “ This is not what I asked for… That's what I asked for.” And actually, Shimon Ben Shetach, a great Tanna of the time, sent him a message, “ If not for the fact that you were Honi, I would get upset at you. But you pray to God like a son begs his father, and that's why He gives you.” So, we see this concept of a connection between Bitachon and the father- son relationship. The Gemara adds, “And on him it said, ‘ Your father is happy with you. Your mother, that gave birth to you, is rejoicing’.” Normally, Tefila is called Avoda Sh’b’Lev/ Prayer is a service with all your heart. We are servants. Like it says, the servants have their eyes on their masters, so too, we look towards You. That's one approach. But the Sefer Pri Sadik (Parashat Ki Tavo, letter six) written by a great Chassidic Rebbe, says that Honi Hama’agal had a different approach. Honi’s approach was that of a father/ child relationship. And that's what Bitachon is. And it's like the child whom the mother or father has a special spot in their hearts for. He says, “I want an ice cream, I wanted this, I want that .” It's a whole different approach, a whole different relationship. And that B’Ezrat Hashem, is what a person has, when he is focusing on Hashem with a bitachon outlook. Have a wonderful day.