When Prayer Seems Impossible: A Powerful Lesson from Parashat Toldot

In Parashat Toldot, the Torah tells us: “Isaac prayed to Hashem on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and Hashem answered his prayer, and Rivkah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21).

Rashi explains that the Hebrew word vaye’etar, meaning “he prayed,” conveys persistent supplication and repeated prayer. The Midrash connects this word to vayachtor, meaning “he dug” or “he tunneled.” Similarly, the Zohar teaches that Isaac’s prayers metaphorically carved a passageway into the heavens, and that Hashem responded by creating a passageway through which his prayers could be accepted.

The Netivot Shalom asks: What does this imagery of digging a tunnel mean, and why was it necessary?

When Prayer Encounters an Impenetrable Barrier

The Netivot Shalom explains that Hashem hears every prayer. As we say in our prayers, “For You hear the prayer of every mouth.” Our Sages teach that even a simple sigh uttered by a Jew is never lost.

However, spiritual shortcomings can create barriers between a person and Hashem. Some are like curtains that can be torn away, while others form what the Netivot Shalom describes as an iron wall, seemingly impossible to penetrate.

What can a person do when such a barrier stands between him and his Father in Heaven?

According to the Netivot Shalom, Hashem has provided a remarkable solution: the ability to dig a tunnel beneath the barrier. Even when an iron wall cannot be broken through, a passageway can still be created underneath it. This spiritual tunnel represents a path back to Hashem when every ordinary avenue appears blocked.

The Extraordinary Repentance of King Menashe

The Netivot Shalom illustrates this principle through the story of King Menashe, whose grave sins created seemingly insurmountable obstacles to his repentance.

Our Sages teach that when Menashe sought to return to Hashem, the Attribute of Divine Judgment opposed the acceptance of his repentance. According to Rashi, Hashem responded by creating a passageway in the heavens, extending His hand, and accepting Menashe without the knowledge of the Attribute of Judgment.

The Jerusalem Talmud offers a similar account. When the ministering angels attempted to block Menashe’s prayers from reaching Hashem, He dug a tunnel beneath His Throne of Glory and listened to his supplications.

What enabled Menashe to overcome these extraordinary barriers? The Netivot Shalom points to the verse describing how he “humbled himself greatly” before Hashem.

Menashe recognized the severity of his wrongdoing and approached Hashem with complete humility, without attempting to justify his actions. Although his sins seemingly made him unworthy of forgiveness, his sincere repentance opened a path beyond the ordinary boundaries of Divine Judgment.

Hashem does not desire that anyone be permanently rejected. Even when a person has fallen to the lowest spiritual depths, genuine humility and repentance can create a path back to Him.

Why Isaac’s Prayer Required a Supernatural Opening

The Netivot Shalom returns to Isaac’s prayer for Rivkah. According to the teaching he cites, Rivkah did not merely experience difficulty conceiving; she lacked the natural capacity to bear children. For her to become a mother, the natural order itself would have to change.

This explains why Isaac’s prayer is described as digging a tunnel. What he sought could not be accomplished within the ordinary framework of nature. His prayers therefore reached beyond those limitations, opening a spiritual passageway through which a supernatural transformation could occur.

As the Netivot Shalom explains, the words “because she was barren” reveal why such a passageway was necessary. Isaac needed to reach a level beyond the natural order, and Hashem responded by creating an opening through which Rivkah could conceive.

The verse’s unusual wording thus describes not only Isaac’s persistent prayer but also Hashem’s extraordinary response. Isaac metaphorically dug a passageway through his supplication, and Hashem opened a corresponding passageway from Above.

When There Seems to Be No Way Forward

The Netivot Shalom concludes: “Even when a person's request cannot be fulfilled according to the natural order, a Jew has a path that transcends nature through the spiritual act of digging a passageway, by virtue of the opening created by our holy Patriarchs.” Isaac’s prayers established a spiritual pathway for future generations, demonstrating that Divine assistance is not limited by the boundaries of nature.

The imagery of digging a tunnel offers a powerful perspective on seemingly impossible circumstances. Sometimes we encounter obstacles that cannot be removed, overcome, or broken through. Yet the absence of a visible opening does not necessarily mean that no path exists.

The stories of Menashe and Isaac reveal two dimensions of this teaching. Menashe demonstrates that even the most serious spiritual failures need not prevent a person from returning to Hashem, while Isaac shows that heartfelt prayer can reach beyond the limitations of the natural world. Neither story guarantees that every prayer will be answered in the way we hope. Rather, both remind us that the possibilities available to Hashem extend far beyond what we can perceive.

The message of Parashat Toldot is that even when every familiar path appears closed, we need not abandon hope. Through sincere prayer and humility, we can turn to Hashem with the knowledge that He can open a passageway where none appears to exist.