Near the end of Slihot every night, the evocative piyut “Mi She’Ana” (“He Who Answered”) is recited. It recounts Biblical personalities whom God answered and helped in their times of crisis or distress, and turns to God to answer us as well.
King Hizkiyahu of Yehuda, was very different from his father, King Ahaz, who worshipped idols. Hizkiyahu uprooted idol worship and re-instated the Pesach sacrifice. Things were good - until they were not. The Assyrians, who had already sent the Northern Kingdom of Israel into exile, were mounting attacks on the Kingdom of Yehuda, who had been a vassal state of Assyria but rebelled. The Assyrian military destroyed many cities in Yehuda and demoralized the people of Jerusalem. Hizkiyahu mourned and fervently prayed. In a miraculous reversal, God saved Jerusalem and the Assyrians retreated. But they were still very powerful and threatening.
If that were not enough trouble, at the very same time Hizkiyahu fell seriously ill. The prophet Yeshayahu came to tell him that Hizkiyahu was to die from his illness. Immediately, Hizkiyahu turned to the wall and entreated God to let him live, begging God to remember how he had faithfully followed in God’s ways. Hizkiyahu wept. Would he really have to die now?
God spoke to Yeshayahu, telling him to convey that God had heard Hizkiyahu’s prayers and seen Hizkiyahu’s tears—and that he would give Hizkiyahu 15 more years to live, and detailed a sign that would emphasize that this would be so. Moreover, God also said that He would protect the city of Jerusalem. Hizkiyahu’s prayer of thanks to God vividly describes the suffering, fear, and sleepless nights, and the relief afterward.
Though Hizkiyahu was in excruciating pain, Yeshayahu’s terrible warning did not break him. Instead, Hizkiyahu grasped that he might still have hope – and so he tried for a second chance. He did not respond with anger, and did not succumb or resign himself to his fate. Hizkiyahu wept and turned toward God, in whom lies the power of life and death. We may not always receive the answer we want. God might not always say “yes”—but when we turn to God sincerely, our tears are seen and our prayers are heard.
At a certain point, words may escape us, and our prayers and agony, fears and supplications can be only expressed in a cry. During Elul and Rosh HaShana, the shofar exemplifies that cry.