In the Gemara, Ta’anit 23a, the Rabbis describe the qualities a person must possess for their Tefilot (prayers) to be answered.
Around the year 100 of the Common Era, there lived in Israel a very special man named Abba Hilqiya, the grandson of the celebrated Honi ha-Me’agel. His grandfather was famous for drawing a circle on the ground and declaring that he would not leave it until HaShem answered his prayer for rain — a powerful example of unwavering faith. Abba Hilqiya inherited not only his grandfather’s legacy but also his rare ability to be heard by Heaven.
Abba Hilqiya was renowned for the “power” of his prayers — that is, for his ability to have his Tefilot accepted by HaShem.
During a year of severe drought, the prestigious Sages of Israel — the Tannaim — sent a delegation of two Rabbis to find Abba Hilqiya and ask him to pray for rain. At the time, Abba Hilqiya, who was an extremely poor man, was working in the fields. When the Rabbis arrived, they greeted him, but he did not respond and continued working without interruption. Only after finishing his labor did he acknowledge them. He gathered his tools and began walking home, carrying his cloak on one shoulder and his tools on the other.
As he transitioned from the pasture to a thorny path, he lifted his garments to avoid damage. Upon arriving home, his wife came out to greet him, dressed with notable elegance. When they sat down to eat, he took out a small piece of bread and divided it among his wife, himself, and their two sons.
After the meal, Abba Hilqiya told his wife that he knew the Sages had come to ask him to pray for rain — but he preferred they not realize that the rain would be granted through his merit. Quietly, the couple ascended to the attic, each to a different corner, and began to pray. Almost immediately, a rain cloud appeared — notably, on the side where his wife was praying — and it began to rain.
At that point, Abba Hilqiya approached the two Sages and said: “It has begun to rain. I don’t believe you need me anymore.” The Rabbis replied: “We know that you have already prayed and that it is in your merit that HaShem has sent the rain. But before we go, we would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Of course,” said Abba Hilqiya.
Question: Why did you not respond when we greeted you?
Answer: “I work by the hour,” he explained, “and it would not be fair to my employer to interrupt my labor, even briefly, to engage in conversation.”
Question: Why did you carry your tools on your shoulder instead of placing them on your cloak?
Answer: “Because the cloak is borrowed,” he said. “It was lent to me to protect myself from the elements. If I carried tools on it, I might damage it.”
Question: Why did you lift your garments when passing through the thorns?
Answer: “If my body is scratched, it heals. But if my garments are torn, I would not be able to repair them.”
Question: Why was your wife so well-dressed when she came out to greet you?
Answer: “Because she reserves her beauty exclusively for me. And I, in turn, keep my eyes exclusively for her.”
Question: Why did you not invite us to share your meal?
Answer: “I had only that one piece of bread,” he replied. “I didn’t want to offer what I knew you would decline out of politeness, and then claim the merit of having extended hospitality I could not truly provide.”
Question: Why did you go up to the attic in secret?
Answer: “So you wouldn’t know that the rain came due to our prayers.”
Question: And why did the rain cloud appear first on your wife’s side?
Answer: “Because she is better than I am. When a poor person comes to our home asking for help, I give him a coin to buy food. But she gives him cooked food, ready to eat immediately.”
Another version of the story adds a different explanation:
“There is a violent gang in our neighborhood — thieves and murderers. I once prayed that HaShem would take them away from this world. But my wife prayed that HaShem would inspire them to repent (Teshuba) and change their ways.”
This, in brief, is the story of Abba Hilqiya and his wife.
We learn that there are indeed people who possess true segulot — spiritual virtues that make their Tefilot heard by HaShem. But this power is not transferable. It cannot be bought. It does not depend on superstition, astrology, or amulets.
So, what was the segula of Abba Hilqiya? According to our Gemara, HaShem responded to the prayers of Abba Hilqiya (and to his wife first!) because they were profoundly honest and righteous. They were loyal to each other and careful to maintain an exclusive and respectful relationship. They lived with simplicity and humility, devoid of vanity. And in the case of his wife, she showed extraordinary material and emotional generosity.
As the Gemara puts it:
“אִינִישׁ בְּזָכוּתֵיהּ מַיְתֵי מִטְרָא” – “A person can bring rain through his merit.” (Ta’anit 23a)
The story emphasizes these core middot (virtues):
– Yosher (integrity)
– Anava (humility)
– Zerizut (diligence)
– Tzniut (modesty)
– Chesed (kindness)
– Emet (truthfulness)
The Gemara teaches us a profound lesson — one consistent with the message we constantly read in the book of Yesha’ayahu: there are no tricks or shortcuts to get HaShem to listen to our Tefilot. The only segula that truly matters to HaShem — the one that earns us the merit to be heard — is our integrity, humility, and good conduct.
