Torah 209 · תורה ר״ט

“Tefilot kneged tmidin tiknoom (Daily prayers, paralleling the daily sacrifices, they instituted).” (Berakhot 26b)

It is known that everybody has bad prayers. As our Sages, of blessed memory, said: [Even] a thief poised at the breach calls out to God. <Then> afterwards, when someone readies himself to pray a prayer that ought to be prayed, the bad prayer comes and confuses him. This is the aspect of: Daily prayers kNeGeD (paralleling)—It mitNaGeDet (opposes) him.

The rectification for this is hosting a Torah scholar. For our Sages have said: The oraiach (guest) blesses (Berakhot 46a), and an ORaiaCh is the aspect of (Proverbs 4:18), “The ORaCh (path) of the tzaddikim is like a radiant light.” And it is written (ibid. 10:6), “Blessings on the tzaddik’s head,” which is the aspect of the Eighteen Blessings of prayer (Zohar III, 244b ; Tikkuney Zohar #47, p.84b). Thus it is that [hosting a Torah scholar] brings a TiKkuN (rectification) of prayer.

This is: the daily sacrifices, TiKNoom (they instituted)—This is the aspect of hosting a Torah scholar. As our Sages, of blessed memory, said: Someone who hosts Torah scholars in his home, it is as if he offers the daily sacrifices (Berakhot 10b).