R. Gedaliah Linitzer always prayed for poverty. The Barditchover Rabbi asked him: “Why? It is written: ‘Poverty causes [a person to] transgress [ma’avirah al; lit. “pass over”] the will [da’at; lit. “knowledge”] of his Maker’ [b.T. Eruvin, 41b].” 

R. Gedaliah replied: “If it was to be interpreted as you do, then it should have said “’ Poverty  causes [a person] to pass from the will [me-da’at] of his Maker.’ But since it says ‘over the will of his Maker’ – I interpret it as follows: ‘causes [a person to] pass over [al] the will of his Maker,’ poverty elevates [a person’s] knowledge of his Maker.” 

I.F.

Pinchas Landau