For the source text click/tap here: Sukkah 14
To download, click/tap here: PDF
Rebbi Elazar says that the reason why the prayer of a Tzadik ("Atirah," as by Yitzchok Avinu in Bereishis 25:21) is compared to a pitchfork ("Atar") is to teach that just as a pitchfork is used to turn over bushels of grain and move them from place to place, the prayer of a Tzadik "turns over" the attributes of Hash-m from the attribute of strict justice to the attribute of kindness. (Although the word "Atar" is an Aramaic word that does not appear in Tanach, the root of "Atar" is found in Tanach to connote turning over or reversing).
Usually, when the Talmud describes God’s attribute of anger, it refers to midat ha-din, whose connotation is that God demands justice – the letter of the law – rather than offering compassion. The commentaries note the use of the term ahzariyut in our Gemara, which is unusual, as it implies a level of cruelty and mercilessness that goes well beyond justice.
The Midrash explains the word vaye’atar as related to the word chater—to dig. This model of prayer was used by Menashe, one of the most wicked Jewish kings, when he prayed to Hashem to save his life as he was placed in a metal box with a fire lit underneath. (Divrei Hayamim II 33:13). As he was roasting inside, he called out to every avodah zarah (idol) in the world with no response. So, he prayed to Hashem and entreated in a vaye’atar fashion. The angels felt it would be disgraceful for Hashem to answer the prayers of the wicked Menashe, so they blocked all the paths in which tefillos travel to reach Hashem. Still, Hashem wanted to answer his prayers, so He figuratively dug a tunnel under His throne to allow the prayer of Menashe to ascend. The Almighty wanted to show us the awesome power of prayer.
We explore with Rav Itamar Eldad the approaches to prayer of the Degel and the Noam Elimelech as well as Rebbe Nachman and Rav Kook....in teasing out the difference between 'siach" and "Atar".