Dear Rav Kornfeld, shlita:
Yasher Koach with your previous assistance with this Perek.
On 28b, the Talmidim of R' Eliezer asked him on his sick bed to teach them the "Ways of Life." The Sefer Sifsei Chochomim understands their intention was that through this instruction he would hopefully merit a Refuah Sheleimah, in line with the rule in Bava Kama 92b that one who is Mispallel for his friend--and he himself needs the same thing--the Mispallel is answered first. Only, in order that R' Eliezer not understand this intention and thereby be aggrieved even more over his illness, they said the reason for learning these ''Ways of Life'' was so that they themselves merit Olam Haba.
I want to understand here the comparison between the situation in Berochos and the famous rule quoted from Bava Kama. By instructing them, R' Eliezer would presumably, according to this rule, benefit first (?), even though this was in terms of Divrei Torah which they gained from their Rebbi, not that he davened for them. So it seems that this rule of ''Kol Hamevakeish Rachamim Al Chaveiro...'' also applies to other forms of Hishtadlus besides Tefilla which someone can make on behalf of another -- and the one doing it needs the same thing -- so he is said to receive it first? Is that what the Sifsei Chochomim seems to be saying here? (In practical terms, if someone needs parnassah, a shidduch, etc. and he makes efforts to assist another individual with the same need to attain that goal, the Gem. in Bava Kama is implying that the first person can expect to be attain the goal first?)
And additionally, is it appropriate for one to be Mispallel for someone else with an identical need with the intention that he (eg. the Mispallel) be answered first? Or is this rule only applicable, acc. to the Gemara, incidentally, as perhaps can be understood from the Loshon and the order of the wording in Bava Kama -- ''Anyone who requests (Mevakeish) for another.. and he needs the same thing . . . he is answered first" It doesn't say that if you need something . . and you know of someone else who also needs it. . so daven for him and you will be answered first.
Thank you
Y. Gesser
In brief, the explanation quoted from Sifsei Chachamim seems, l'aniyus da'ati, Rachok, both for the reasons advanced by the questioner and others. Let me make some observations as to
how I understood this Gemara in Bava Kama 92a (not b):
1) It only applies where the supplicant is in need of similar
assistance - ("vehu tzarich le'oso davar").
2) Even then it cannot be automatic for obvious reasons. Hash-m will
give it serious and sympathetic consideration. His answer might be no! There are so many other factors for Him to take into account. Thus he will certainly be "Ne'eneh" but not necessarily in the identical manner.
3) He will only achieve this Havtachah fully if he has no ulterior motive (such as having himself in mind). Of course praying for oneself with or without others is always effective but does not carry with it the particular Segulah of this Ma'amar. [In this context see however Machatzis ha'Shekel on Magen Avraham 130:2 contra Eliyahu Rabah Sham, and see Torah Temimah Bereishis 20:1:2. which accords more with my proposition.]
4) The underlying logic is that unselfish altruism cannot go unrewarded [cf. Bava Basra 11a, regarding the Ma'aseh of Binyamin ha'Tzadik]. This comes out more clearly from the parallel version in the Medrash Tanchuma Yashan. "The angels said... A. heals others; he himself needs healing..." etc. and there, "As long as you take pity on your friend, Hash-m will take pity on you. Avraham...".
5) See an even more restrictive interpretation in Pardes Yosef in the name of Reb Bunem of Passhischa that "vehu tzarich le'oso davar" means that it only applies where the supplicant would be better off if the other fellow was not healed (as with Avimelech, where Avraham would not then have been subjected to the slur that Sarah had conceived from the former yet nonetheless he prayed for him without reservation). In such a case of self sacrifice is one deserving of divine reward.