Countdown to Pesach 16-Belzer Rebbe
The 24th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yitzchak Meyer of Alesk, originally from Belz: A woman came to the Belzer Rebbe entreating him to pray for her. The Rabbi said, “But have you a sufficient belief in the efficacy of my prayer?”
The woman answered, “We find that Israel at the Red Sea was first saved and then believed.”
The Rabbi smiled and offered prayer on her behalf. (Pe’eir HaKavod, Page 31b)
We are permitted to approach Pesach in the same manner as this woman approached the Rebbe: “first saved, then believe.” We can say to God, “Before You ask us to believe, we must first see Your miracles!
iPray-iPraise-Pesukei d’Zimrah-Hodu:
“Our soul longs for God; our help and our shield,” first, and then, “For in Him will our hearts be glad, for in His Holy Name we trusted.”
Haggadah: “And Israel saw the great hand that God inflicted upon Egypt and the people feared God, and they had faith in God and in Moshe, His servant.”