Maharal suggests that when the Gemara states that the Jews would assemble at the graveyard in order that the deceased ask Hashem for mercy on their behalf, it does not mean that the Jews would pray to the deceased for this, but rather, that the sight of the Jews' plight would naturally arouse within the deceased the desire to pray to Hashem on their behalf.
Does this imply that the deceased possess free will? If so, shouldn't it be permitted to directly pray to the deceased, just as it is permitted to pray to those who are alive and possess free will? If not, what does attendance at the graveyard accomplish, and how does it arouse the deceased to pray to Hashem on our behalf?
"If (the deceased possess free will), shouldn't it be permitted to directly pray to the deceased, just as it is permitted to pray to those who are alive and possess free will?"
ReplyDeleteI'd like to answer: "permitted, yes; proper, no." I envision the deceased answering back to the person: "You shouldn't be asking me to pray for you; you should be praying to God directly. However, seeing how desperate you look, I'll pray for you anyway."