אות-פג

Prayer at the very least acts as a protest which dispels the evil's assertion of ownership Regarding protest ('machu-u'), what is explained in the law of asserting possession of ('chezkas') land (Choshen Mishpat 140:7), that as long as he (-the original owner) protests, then the holding ('chazaka') of the occupier ('machzik') has no import at all (t.n. if three years of occupation transpire without protest, a claim from the occupier that he bought the property will be accepted) – it is very well understood how a person needs to strengthen every time in prayer, and entreaty, and hisbodidus, and screaming to Hashem Yisburach, be what may (be), no matter what transpires over him. For even if he sees that he is not accomplishing Heaven forbid with his prayers, and on the contrary, the evil is overbearing upon him even more, even still he should know and believe that he is achieving plenty with his prayer and his screaming, for at any rate his screaming and his prayer is the aspect of protest mentioned above, because the holiness of each one of Israel is the aspect of the holiness of the Land of Israel, and when the evil overbears upon a person with desires and bad meedoas (-character traits), and this is the aspect that they want to banish him, Heaven forbid, from living indigenous in the heritage of Hashem (Samuel I:26:19), which is the Land of Israel, and all that he tunnels to return to his holiness, they do not let up on him from the utter pressure assaulting him, (and) he doesn't strengthen himself against them accordingly. Therefore when he exploits even still, with prayer and screaming to Hashem Yisburach, then they cannot banish and conquer his portion in the Land of Israel, Heaven forbid, in any way, for his prayer and screaming is the device of protest ('mechu-u'), through which the Other Side (-realm of evil, Satan) cannot have a holding ('lihachzik') on his estate Heaven forbid, in any way, for a chazaka (-a holding and claim by means of occupation) does not avail when it was contested with a protest (mechu-u). (Likutay Halachos, Laws of Holdings On Moveable Property, law 5).