Humility, the Festivals, and Connecting Oneself to Tzaddikim Moses, the paradigmatic Tzaddik, reached the forty-ninth gate, the sefirah of Binah (Understanding), which is characterized by humility. Thus, Moses became the most humble of men. When an ordinary person benefits from the light of the Tzaddik, he, too, gains humility. The holiness of the festivals is dependent on the Tzaddikim. Thus, the festivals also correspond to Binah. A person who is connected to a Tzaddik can sense the holiness of the festivals and, when he celebrates properly, he attains understanding and humility. Throughout the year, God’s holy sovereignty is trapped within the realm of the four kings of the Side of Evil. On the festivals, these four kings are cut away, thus liberating God’s sovereignty. This cutting away of the four kings of the Side of Evil also has the effect of “cutting open” the birth canal of women who have been experiencing a difficult childbirth. Love for Tzaddikim HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me come close to true Tzaddikim. May I connect to them with a willing heart and spirit, with a fierce love that comes from the depths of my heart.
May my love for them grow more powerful than romantic love, to the point that romantic love and the desire for sexuality cease to interest me (besides my marital responsibilities).
Greeting the Festivals with the Tzaddikim HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, may I celebrate all of the festivals with holiness and purity; with joy, delight, and breadth of heart — perfectly and in accordance with Your beneficent will.
May I greet the face of my spiritual teacher on the festival, even when I am far from him. More generally, may I greet the faces of all of the true Tzaddikim. May I recognize them, love them and draw their holiness onto me as a result of celebrating the holy festival. This is because the festivals are derived from them.
In that way, may I attain the forty-nine gates of understanding that are revealed and shine on each festival. Open for me the light of holy intellect so that I will attain great and wondrous insight into Your Torah and into understanding how to serve You.
As a result, may all of the foolishness of my egotism, coarseness and haughtiness be nullified. May I attain ultimate humility, in accordance with Your beneficent will.
Draw onto me and onto all Israel the holiness of Moses, who attained the forty-nine gates of understanding and thereby gained true humility. As the verse states, “The man Moses was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”
As a result of our celebrating the festivals — “the festivals of HaShem, holy convocations” — may we draw onto ourselves the holiness of Moses, as well as the holiness of all of the true Tzaddikim.
Through them, may we receive the holy awareness that is drawn down on each festival. May we thereby eradicate all of our egotism, coarseness and improper motives, until we attain the humility of Moses.
Eliminating Coarseness and Ego Master of the world, You know how far I am from humility. “I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.” Due to my many sins, I do not know the meaning of true humility, which is greater than everything.
Master of compassion, help me attain the holiness of each festival, and as a result, may I recognize the greatness of the true Tzaddikim and make myself as nothing before them.
Then may every trace of egotism, coarseness and improper motive within me, that the mouth may describe and the heart may contemplate, be erased, until I will attain true humility in accordance with Your beneficent will.
You know everything that is hidden in my heart. You know how far I am from everything that I have requested in my prayers to You, and how much I need Your salvation and compassion to attain that.
Because of my many sins, the ways of prayer are hidden from me, so that I do not even know how to ask You to help me reach the ways of holiness, which constitute my life and the length of my days.
You understand what is hidden in my heart. You know that I have no one on whom to rely except for You, as well as the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim.
For Your sake and their sake, kindly help me return to You and walk in Your holy ways, doing Your will and fulfilling Your good intent, for which purpose I was created.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה קל"ה - כִּי אֶקַּח מוֹעֵד]
לִכְלָלִיּוּת יוֹם־טוֹב יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְהִתְקָרֵב בֶּאֱמֶת לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וּלְהִתְקַשֵּׁר בָּהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּלֵב וְנֶפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה, בְּאַהֲבָה רַבָּה וְעַזָּה מִנְּקֻדָּה שֶׁבַּלֵּב בֶּאֱמֶת.
Humility, the Festivals, and Connecting Oneself to Tzaddikim
Moses, the paradigmatic Tzaddik, reached the forty-ninth gate, the sefirah of Binah (Understanding), which is characterized by humility. Thus, Moses became the most humble of men. When an ordinary person benefits from the light of the Tzaddik, he, too, gains humility.
The holiness of the festivals is dependent on the Tzaddikim. Thus, the festivals also correspond to Binah. A person who is connected to a Tzaddik can sense the holiness of the festivals and, when he celebrates properly, he attains understanding and humility.
Throughout the year, God’s holy sovereignty is trapped within the realm of the four kings of the Side of Evil. On the festivals, these four kings are cut away, thus liberating God’s sovereignty. This cutting away of the four kings of the Side of Evil also has the effect of “cutting open” the birth canal of women who have been experiencing a difficult childbirth.
Love for Tzaddikim
HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me come close to true Tzaddikim. May I connect to them with a willing heart and spirit, with a fierce love that comes from the depths of my heart.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱהֹב אוֹתָם בְּאַהֲבָה גְּדוֹלָה כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁתִּגְדַּל וְתִתְפַּלֵּא אַהֲבָתָם אֶצְלִי מֵאַהֲבַת נָשִׁים, עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל מִמֶּנִּי אַהֲבַת נָשִׁים וְתַאֲוַת הַמִּשְׁגָּל עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּבְּרוּת אַהֲבַת הַצַּדִּיקִים.
May my love for them grow more powerful than romantic love, to the point that romantic love and the desire for sexuality cease to interest me (besides my marital responsibilities).
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי, וְזַכֵּנִי לְאַהֲבַת הַצַּדִּיקִים בֶּאֱמֶת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקַשֵּׁר בָּהֶם בְּהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת גָּדוֹל וְחָזָק, וְתִהְיֶה נַפְשִׁי קְשׁוּרָה בְּנַפְשָׁם בְּקֶשֶׁר אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, לְעוֹלְמֵי עַד וּלְנֵצַח נְצָחִים:
May I love the Tzaddikim until my spirit is firmly connected to their spirits forever.
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, לְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְחֶדְוָה רַבָּה וּבְהַרְחָבַת הַלֵּב, בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
Greeting the Festivals with the Tzaddikim
HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, may I celebrate all of the festivals with holiness and purity; with joy, delight, and breadth of heart — perfectly and in accordance with Your beneficent will.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי רַבִּי בָּרֶגֶל, אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי רָחוֹק מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל פְּנֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וּלְהַכִּירָם וּלְאוֹהֲבָם, וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי קְדֻשָּׁתָם עַל־יְדֵי קַבָּלַת יוֹם טוֹב קֹדֶשׁ הַנִּמְשָׁךְ מֵהֶם.
May I greet the face of my spiritual teacher on the festival, even when I am far from him. More generally, may I greet the faces of all of the true Tzaddikim. May I recognize them, love them and draw their holiness onto me as a result of celebrating the holy festival. This is because the festivals are derived from them.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה למ"ט שַׁעֲרֵי בִּינָה הַמִּתְגַּלִים וּמְאִירִים בְּיוֹם טוֹב קֹדֶשׁ. וְתִפְתַּח לִי אוֹר הַשֵּׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְבּוֹנְנוּת גָּדוֹל וְנִפְלָא בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
In that way, may I attain the forty-nine gates of understanding that are revealed and shine on each festival. Open for me the light of holy intellect so that I will attain great and wondrous insight into Your Torah and into understanding how to serve You.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְבַּטֵּל מִמֶּנִּי כָּל הַשְּׁטוּתִים שֶׁל כָּל מִינֵי גַדְלוּת וְגַסּוּת וְרָמוּת רוּחָא, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְתַכְלִית הָעֲנָוָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
As a result, may all of the foolishness of my egotism, coarseness and haughtiness be nullified. May I attain ultimate humility, in accordance with Your beneficent will.
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּמִיד קְדֻשַּׁת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁזָּכָה למ"ט שַׁעֲרֵי בִּינָה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זָכָה לַעֲנָוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָו מְאֹד מִכֹּל הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה.
Draw onto me and onto all Israel the holiness of Moses, who attained the forty-nine gates of understanding and thereby gained true humility. As the verse states, “The man Moses was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שֶׁנִזְכֶּה בְּכֹחַ קַבָּלַת הַיָּמִים טוֹבִים מוֹעֲדֵי יְהֹוָה מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ, לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ קְדֻשַּׁת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, וּקְדֻשַּׁת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים.
As a result of our celebrating the festivals — “the festivals of HaShem, holy convocations” — may we draw onto ourselves the holiness of Moses, as well as the holiness of all of the true Tzaddikim.
וְיֻמְשְׁכוּ עָלֵינוּ עַל־יָדָם כָּל הַמֹּחִין וְהַשִּׂכְלִיּוּת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הַנִּמְשָׁכִין בְּיוֹם טוֹב, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְבַטֵּל וּלְהָסִיר מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל מִינֵי גַדְלוּת וְגַסּוּת וּפְנִיּוֹת, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, לַעֲנָוָה שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם:
Through them, may we receive the holy awareness that is drawn down on each festival. May we thereby eradicate all of our egotism, coarseness and improper motives, until we attain the humility of Moses.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ גֹּדֶל רִחוּקִי מֵעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ וְלֹא בִינַת אָדָם לִי. וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים, אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל מַהוּ עֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, כִּי עֲנָוָה גְּדוֹלָה מֵהַכֹּל.
Eliminating Coarseness and Ego
Master of the world, You know how far I am from humility. “I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.” Due to my many sins, I do not know the meaning of true humility, which is greater than everything.
רַחֵם עָלַי בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, וְזַכֵּנִי לִקְדֻשַּׁת יוֹם טוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לֵידַע וּלְהַכִּיר הֵיטֵב מַעֲלַת גְּדֻלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, עַד שֶׁאֶתְבַּטֵּל נֶגְדָּם בְּתַכְלִית הַבִּטּוּל,
Master of compassion, help me attain the holiness of each festival, and as a result, may I recognize the greatness of the true Tzaddikim and make myself as nothing before them.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְבַּטֵּל מִמֵּילָא מִמֶּנִּי כָּל מִינֵי גֵאוּת וְגַבְהוּת וְגַדְלוּת וְגַסּוּת וּפְנִיּוֹת מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁהַפֶּה יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר וְהַלֵּב לַחְשֹׁב, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
Then may every trace of egotism, coarseness and improper motive within me, that the mouth may describe and the heart may contemplate, be erased, until I will attain true humility in accordance with Your beneficent will.
רַחֲמָן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתַי לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים,
Praying Correctly
Compassionate God, fulfill my requests for the good.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת לֵב, וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁהִזְכַּרְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לִזְכּוֹת לְכָל זֶה,
You know everything that is hidden in my heart. You know how far I am from everything that I have requested in my prayers to You, and how much I need Your salvation and compassion to attain that.
וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים נֶעְלַם מִמֶּנִּי דַרְכֵי הַתְּפִלָּה וְהַתְּחִנָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה אֵיךְ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וּלְפַיֵּס וּלְרַצּוֹת אוֹתְךָ, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי לְהַגִּיעַ לְכָל דַּרְכֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֵינוּ לָנֶצַח.
Because of my many sins, the ways of prayer are hidden from me, so that I do not even know how to ask You to help me reach the ways of holiness, which constitute my life and the length of my days.
אַךְ עִם כָּל זֶה, אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר תְּחָנֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ, אֶתְחַזֵּק בְּכָל עֹז לְדַבֵּר וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ, וְאַתָּה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי,
Graciously help me express myself to You and plead before You. And then, respond as You see fit.
כִּי אַתָּה מֵבִין תַּעֲלוּמוֹת לֵב, וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי אֵין לִי עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְעַל כֹּחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים.
You understand what is hidden in my heart. You know that I have no one on whom to rely except for You, as well as the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim.
לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעֲנָם עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל כָּל פָּנִים מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וְלֵילֵךְ בִּדְרָכֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַשְׁלִים רְצוֹנְךָ וּלְמַלְּאוֹת כַּוָּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁבִילָהּ נִבְרֵאתִי.
For Your sake and their sake, kindly help me return to You and walk in Your holy ways, doing Your will and fulfilling Your good intent, for which purpose I was created.
יְהֹוָה יִגְמֹר בַּעֲדִי יְהֹוָה חַסְדְּךָ לְעוֹלָם מַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶיךָ אַל תֶּרֶף.
“HaShem will act on my behalf. HaShem, Your kindness is forever; do not forsake the work of Your hands.”
אֲמָרַי הַאֲזִינָה יְהֹוָה בִּינָה הֲגִיגִי.
“HaShem, take heed of my words, consider my thoughts.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen and amen.