Telling Stories About Tzaddikim / Differentiating Between Light and Darkness / Rising to the World of Thought / Gaining Access to Divine Providence / The Land of Israel In order to properly tell stories of Tzaddikim, a person must possess the Godly power to discern the difference between light and darkness, or at least possess the faith that such a difference exists. This faith must be so complete and clear that when the person believes in something, it is as though he sees it before his eyes. Every story that tells how a Tzaddik performed a miracle can be matched by a story of how a wicked person performed a wonder. A person must be able to discern the difference between them — namely, that the Tzaddik performed a miracle with prayer, whereas the wicked person performed a wonder with trickery, magic or some other power derived from the Side of Evil. What does telling stories about Tzaddikim accomplish? When a person’s mind is confused and his awareness diminished, it is associated with judgments, and so he experiences troubles. But stories of Tzaddikim are associated with expanded awareness. And so when a person tells (or hears) these stories, his mind is cleansed and he is saved from his troubles. As one tells stories about Tzaddikim, he purifies his thought, which enables him to go beyond words and attain an internal silence. Every story about a Tzaddik is at first a constriction from the world of thought into the world of speech. But as a person tells a story, his speech rises and returns to the world of thought. One must know the proper way to tell these stories in order to clarify and purify his thoughts. He must also know about whom to tell. The Tzaddik whom he tells about must be greater than he, so that these stories can uplift him. Ultimately, to tell these stories properly, a person must gain access to Divine Providence — which is to say, he must leave his nature-bound state. Doing so constitutes the totality of holiness. He can attain this by connecting himself to the Land of Israel, which is also the totality of holiness, and which is therefore under Divine Providence. HaShem’s Wonders and His Wonder-Workers “Great are the deeds of HaShem, accessible to all those who desire them.” “How abundant are Your works, HaShem, You made all of them with wisdom; the world is filled with Your possessions.” “How great are Your deeds, HaShem; how very deep are Your thoughts.”
Master of the world, “You are the God Who does wonders” in every generation through Your true Tzaddikim. Our fathers have told us of all the awesome miracles that You performed through Your true Tzaddikim from the earliest days. In our generation as well, there certainly exist Tzaddikim who are true miracle workers.
Stories of True Tzaddikim God, help me tell stories about true Tzaddikim, their children and their followers. In particular, help me tell about the awesome signs and miracles that these Tzaddikim performed in ways both revealed and concealed, and about all of the holy revelations of Godliness that they drew into the world.
When I hear these stories, may I understand them in my heart and tell them always. May my mouth be filled with the praise and glorification of the Tzaddikim, for their praise is Your praise and their glorification is Your glorification.
Help me every day tell the stories of true Tzaddikim so that their holiness will be drawn onto me. In this way, may I purify my thoughts of all foreign and external influences, and of all evil musings and confusions derived from a constricted awareness.
May I go from smallness to greatness of mind. In this way, may I be rescued from all sufferings and judgments, which are derived from a confused and constricted awareness.
Transcending Nature Help me always yearn to come to the Land of Israel. May I always draw the holiness of the Land of Israel onto myself. In this way, may I attain complete faith in Your Providence.
Bring me out of the realm of nature entirely, so that I know and believe that there is no nature in the world at all, but that everything is under Your Providence. For nature also functions in accordance with Your Providence, and You change nature at every moment through the true, wonder-working Tzaddikim of every generation.
Differentiating Between Stories Help us emulate You by distinguishing light from darkness — particularly by differentiating between stories of Tzaddikim and stories of wicked people. May we know whom to tell stories about and how to tell them. And may telling these stories purify our thoughts.
You have taught us that opposing every story of a Tzaddik is a story of a wicked or dishonest person, or a story about a person on an intermediate level who appears to perform a miracle but is using trickery, magic or some other means. Only a person who knows how to differentiate between light and darkness can differentiate between such stories.
Seeing the Difference Between Tzaddikim and Wicked People Help us attain a faith so strong that we seem to see with our physical eyes that which we believe in.
May we believe that You, HaShem our God, gaze upon the world with individual providence at every moment, and that You constantly perform new and wondrous deeds in every generation through Your true Tzaddikim.
May we believe that there is a great difference between the wonders performed by the true Tzaddikim and the actions that appear to be wonders performed either by wicked people or by people who are a mixture of good and evil — neither of whom are fit to perform wonders, and who clothe themselves in a garment that is not their own.
May we recognize that the difference between the deeds of those people and the deeds and wonders of the true Tzaddikim is as stark as the difference between light and darkness. Consequently, may we always tell stories of true Tzaddikim, which have the power to purify our thoughts.
I have sinned a great deal, doing that which is evil in Your eyes. In particular, my careless thoughts have blemished the holy covenant and the drops of semen that originate in the brain.
God’s Compassion in the Merit of the True Tzaddikim Now, after all of the sins that I have committed and all of the hardships that I have experienced throughout the course of my life, my eyes yearn for complete salvation from You alone.
In the merit of the prayers of the true Tzaddikim, have compassion on me, save me, have pity and mercy on me. Incline Your ear and hear the voice of my outcry, the voice of my prayer.
Telling Holy Stories May the holiness of the Land of Israel, which comprises the totality of all ten types of holiness, be drawn onto me so that I will attain a complete faith that at every moment You gaze upon every detail of the universe and perform innumerable and awesome wonders for me and for the entire world — “He does great wonders alone; His kindness is eternal.”
Strengthen me to believe in You always with a holy faith that is drawn down by means of the holiness of the Land of Israel. May I then know who are the true Tzaddikim about whom I should tell stories, and may I know how to tell these stories.
As a result of telling these stories, may my thoughts be purified so that I will free myself of all confusions, evil musings, blemished ideas and foreign thoughts. May no foreign thought have the power to confuse my mind. Instead, may I attain holy, pure and proper thoughts about serving You. May I gain an appreciation for Your greatness and the greatness of the true Tzaddikim, and may I create new insights into Your holy Torah.
When I need to rise to the world of thought, may I be completely silent, without even speaking a word of holiness, because that, too, confuses thought.
Rebuke all of my foes who want to keep me from attaining holy thoughts. Give me the power to expel all confusion so that I will always cling to You and Your Torah with holy, pure and clear thoughts that are in accordance with Your beneficent will.
Rescue me from every type of suffering. Sweeten and nullify all of the judgments against me and against all of Your nation, the House of Israel.23If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone in need of salvation, add here, “and in particular, [name], son/daughter of [mother’s name].”
In the Merit of Telling Stories About Tzaddikim Bring me forth quickly from a constricted to an expanded awareness in the course of my telling stories about true Tzaddikim. May that purify my mind to the ultimate degree so that my thoughts will always be holy and pure.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. My spiritual needs are without measure, and my mind is too limited to enumerate the smallest part of them. My words do not suffice to describe how far I am from every level of holy thought and how much I need to plead to attain it. Therefore, please accept what I say as though I were enumerating all of my spiritual needs before You.
Save me so that I will return to You and live in accordance with Your beneficent will. As the verse states, “Before they call out, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” HaShem, redeem me at every time of difficulty and oppression. Blessed are You, Who answers Your nation, the Jewish people, at a time of trouble.
May Political Leaders Be Kind to Us When a new king comes to power, may he be a kind king who will have compassion on Your nation, the Jewish people. May he ease our yoke of servitude and nullify all of the evil decrees against us, and certainly not promulgate any new, anti-Jewish decrees.
Have mercy on us, Your impoverished sheep, and incline the hearts of kings and ministers to us for the good. The hearts of kings and ministers are in Your hand. As the verse states, “The heart of the king is in HaShem’s hand like streams of water; He inclines it wherever He wishes.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה רל"ד - סִּפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים]
גְּדוֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂי יְהֹוָה דְּרוּשִׁים לְכָל חֶפְצֵיהֶם. מָה רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יְהֹוָה כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִׂיתָ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ קִנְיָנֶךָ. מַה גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יְהֹוָה מְאֹד עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבוֹתֶיךָ.
Telling Stories About Tzaddikim / Differentiating Between Light and Darkness / Rising to the World of Thought / Gaining Access to Divine Providence / The Land of Israel
In order to properly tell stories of Tzaddikim, a person must possess the Godly power to discern the difference between light and darkness, or at least possess the faith that such a difference exists. This faith must be so complete and clear that when the person believes in something, it is as though he sees it before his eyes.
Every story that tells how a Tzaddik performed a miracle can be matched by a story of how a wicked person performed a wonder. A person must be able to discern the difference between them — namely, that the Tzaddik performed a miracle with prayer, whereas the wicked person performed a wonder with trickery, magic or some other power derived from the Side of Evil.
What does telling stories about Tzaddikim accomplish?
When a person’s mind is confused and his awareness diminished, it is associated with judgments, and so he experiences troubles. But stories of Tzaddikim are associated with expanded awareness. And so when a person tells (or hears) these stories, his mind is cleansed and he is saved from his troubles.
As one tells stories about Tzaddikim, he purifies his thought, which enables him to go beyond words and attain an internal silence. Every story about a Tzaddik is at first a constriction from the world of thought into the world of speech. But as a person tells a story, his speech rises and returns to the world of thought.
One must know the proper way to tell these stories in order to clarify and purify his thoughts. He must also know about whom to tell. The Tzaddik whom he tells about must be greater than he, so that these stories can uplift him.
Ultimately, to tell these stories properly, a person must gain access to Divine Providence — which is to say, he must leave his nature-bound state. Doing so constitutes the totality of holiness. He can attain this by connecting himself to the Land of Israel, which is also the totality of holiness, and which is therefore under Divine Providence.
HaShem’s Wonders and His Wonder-Workers
“Great are the deeds of HaShem, accessible to all those who desire them.” “How abundant are Your works, HaShem, You made all of them with wisdom; the world is filled with Your possessions.” “How great are Your deeds, HaShem; how very deep are Your thoughts.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה הָאֵל עֹשֵׂה פֶלֶא וְאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה נִפְלָאוֹת בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר, כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ לָנוּ אֶת כָּל הַגְּדוֹלוֹת וְהַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְהַנִּסִּים הַגְּדוֹלִים וְהַמּוֹפְתִים הַנּוֹרָאִים, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עַל־יְדֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים מִימוֹת עוֹלָם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, וְגַם בַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה בְּוַדַּאי נִמְצָאִים צַדִּיקִים בַּעֲלֵי מוֹפְתִים אֲמִתִּיִּים.
Master of the world, “You are the God Who does wonders” in every generation through Your true Tzaddikim. Our fathers have told us of all the awesome miracles that You performed through Your true Tzaddikim from the earliest days. In our generation as well, there certainly exist Tzaddikim who are true miracle workers.
וּבְכֵן זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְחַזְּקֵנִי וְאַמְּצֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְסַפֵּר סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁעָבַר עֲלֵיהֶם בִּימֵיהֶם, הֵן מַה שֶּׁעָבַר עֲלֵיהֶם בְּעַצְמָם, וְהֵן מַה שֶּׁעָבַר עַל בְּנֵיהֶם וְעַל כָּל הַנִּלְוִים אֲלֵיהֶם, וְכָל הָאוֹתוֹת וְהַמּוֹפְתִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים שֶׁעָשׂוּ בָּעוֹלָם בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא וּבְאִתְכַּסְּיָא, וְכָל הַדְּרָכִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהִתְגַּלּוּת אֱלָהוּת שֶׁהִמְשִׁיכוּ בָּעוֹלָם,
Stories of True Tzaddikim
God, help me tell stories about true Tzaddikim, their children and their followers. In particular, help me tell about the awesome signs and miracles that these Tzaddikim performed in ways both revealed and concealed, and about all of the holy revelations of Godliness that they drew into the world.
הַכֹּל אֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁמֹעַ הֵיטֵב בְּאָזְנַי וּבְלִבִּי וְלָשׂוּחַ וּלְסַפֵּר בָּהֶם תָּמִיד, יִמָּלֵא פִי תְהִלָּתָם כָּל הַיּוֹם תִּפְאַרְתָּם, כִּי תְהִלָּתָם הִיא תְהִלָּתֶךָ וְתִפְאַרְתָּם הִיא תִפְאַרְתֶּךָ.
When I hear these stories, may I understand them in my heart and tell them always. May my mouth be filled with the praise and glorification of the Tzaddikim, for their praise is Your praise and their glorification is Your glorification.
זַכֵּנִי לַעֲסֹק בָּזֶה בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם לְסַפֵּר סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ עָלַי קְדֻשָּׁתָם הָעֲצוּמָה. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְטַהֵר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי מִכָּל הַבִּלְבּוּלִים וְעִרְבּוּב הַדַּעַת, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת וְחִיצוֹנִיּוֹת, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַנִּמְשָׁכִין מִמּוֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת,
Help me every day tell the stories of true Tzaddikim so that their holiness will be drawn onto me. In this way, may I purify my thoughts of all foreign and external influences, and of all evil musings and confusions derived from a constricted awareness.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לָצֵאת מִמּוֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת לְמוֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַּצִּילֵנִי וְתִפְדֵּנִי מִכָּל הַצָּרוֹת וּמִכָּל הַיִּסוּרִים וּמִכָּל מִינֵי דִינִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁכֻּלָּם נִמְשָׁכִין מִבִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת מִמּוֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת,
May I go from smallness to greatness of mind. In this way, may I be rescued from all sufferings and judgments, which are derived from a confused and constricted awareness.
וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, תִפְדֵּנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִכֻּלָּם עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי וּתְסַיְּעֵנִי תָמִיד לַעֲסֹק בְּסִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינוֹת מוֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת:
Rescue me from all of these by helping me always tell stories of true Tzaddikim, who possess a great awareness.
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לִכְסֹף וּלְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק וּלְהִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ תָּמִיד לָבוֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּמִיד, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱמוּנָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, לְהַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ תָמִיד.
Transcending Nature
Help me always yearn to come to the Land of Israel. May I always draw the holiness of the Land of Israel onto myself. In this way, may I attain complete faith in Your Providence.
וְתוֹצִיאֵנִי מִטִּבְעִיּוּת לְגַמְרֵי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין שֶׁאֵין שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, רַק הַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ לְבַד, כִּי גַם הַטֶּבַע בְּעַצְמָהּ מִתְנַהֶגֶת בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ תָמִיד, וְאַתָּה מְשַׁנֶּה הַטֶּבַע בְּכָל־עֵת עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר שֶׁעוֹשִׂין חֲדָשׁוֹת וְנִפְלָאוֹת בְּכָל דּוֹר כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ:
Bring me out of the realm of nature entirely, so that I know and believe that there is no nature in the world at all, but that everything is under Your Providence. For nature also functions in accordance with Your Providence, and You change nature at every moment through the true, wonder-working Tzaddikim of every generation.
וְרַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְדַּמוֹת אֵלֶיךָ תִּתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ, עַד שֶׁנֵּדַע בֶּאֱמֶת לְהַבְחִין וּלְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וּבֵין סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, וְגַם לֵידַע וּלְהַבְחִין מִמִּי לְסַפֵּר וְאֵיךְ לְסַפֵּר, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְסַפֵּר מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים הַגְּדוֹלִים בְּמַעֲלָה, אֲשֶׁר הַסִּפּוּר וְהַדִּבּוּר מֵהֶם יִהְיֶה לוֹ כֹחַ לְטַהֵר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי.
Differentiating Between Stories
Help us emulate You by distinguishing light from darkness — particularly by differentiating between stories of Tzaddikim and stories of wicked people. May we know whom to tell stories about and how to tell them. And may telling these stories purify our thoughts.
כִּי אַתָּה הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ שֶׁכְּנֶגֶד כָּל מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים יֵשׁ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים וְשַׁקְרָנִים, וּמַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מְעֻרְבָּבִים שֶׁל הָעוֹשִׂים דְּבָרִים הַנִּרְאִים כְּמוֹפֵת עַל־יְדֵי כַּמָּה תַּחְבּוּלוֹת, עַל־יְדֵי כִּשּׁוּף אוֹ עַל־יְדֵי דָבָר אַחֵר, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַבְחִין וּלְהַבְדִּיל בֵּינֵיהֶם, כִּי אִם מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ, כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים.
You have taught us that opposing every story of a Tzaddik is a story of a wicked or dishonest person, or a story about a person on an intermediate level who appears to perform a miracle but is using trickery, magic or some other means. Only a person who knows how to differentiate between light and darkness can differentiate between such stories.
וּבְעֹצֶם חֲלִישׁוּתֵנוּ אֲשֶׁר נִתְרַחַקְנוּ מִמְּךָ מְאֹד, בְּוַדַּאי אֵין בְּיָדֵינוּ לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ.
Because of our weakness, we are very far from You, and so we lack the capacity to differentiate between light and darkness.
עַל כֵּן רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל כָּל פָּנִים לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְתִהְיֶה אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ חֲזָקָה כָּל כָּךְ כְּאִלּוּ אָנוּ רוֹאִין בְּעֵינֵינוּ מַמָּשׁ מַה שֶּׁאָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים בּוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Seeing the Difference Between Tzaddikim and Wicked People
Help us attain a faith so strong that we seem to see with our physical eyes that which we believe in.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁאַתָּה מַשְׁגִּיחַ בְּהַשְׁגָּחָה פְּרָטִיִּית בְּכָל־עֵת, וְאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת וְנִפְלָאוֹת בְּכָל־עֵת, בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, עַל־יְדֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר.
May we believe that You, HaShem our God, gaze upon the world with individual providence at every moment, and that You constantly perform new and wondrous deeds in every generation through Your true Tzaddikim.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין שֶׁיֵּשׁ הֶבְדֵּל וְהֶפְרֵשׁ גָּדוֹל בֵּין הַמּוֹפְתִים וְהַחִדּוּשִׁים הַנַּעֲשִׂים עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וּבֵין הַמַּעֲשִׂיּוֹת הַנִּדְמִים לְמּוֹפְתִים הַנַּעֲשִׂים עַל־יְדֵי הָרְשָׁעִים, אוֹ עַל־יְדֵי הַמְעֹרָבִים מִטּוֹב וָרָע, אֲשֶׁר עֲדַיִן אֵינָם רְאוּיִם לָזֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת מוֹפְתִים בָּעוֹלָם, וּמִתְלַבְּשִׁים בְּטַלִּית שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלָּהֶם,
May we believe that there is a great difference between the wonders performed by the true Tzaddikim and the actions that appear to be wonders performed either by wicked people or by people who are a mixture of good and evil — neither of whom are fit to perform wonders, and who clothe themselves in a garment that is not their own.
אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ הֶבְדֵּל וְהֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ, לְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וּמוֹפְתֵיהֶם שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, כְּמוֹ בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְסַפֵּר סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם כֹּחַ לְטַהֵר אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי:
May we recognize that the difference between the deeds of those people and the deeds and wonders of the true Tzaddikim is as stark as the difference between light and darkness. Consequently, may we always tell stories of true Tzaddikim, which have the power to purify our thoughts.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִטָּהֳרַת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה, כִּי פָּגַמְתִּי מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וּמִסְפָּר,
Controlling One’s Thoughts
Master of the world, I have caused innumerable blemishes with my thoughts, which I am still far from purifying.
וְחָטָאתִי עָוִיתִי וּפָשַׁעְתִּי הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי וְהִרְבֵּיתִי לִפְשֹׁעַ נֶגְדְּךָ מְאֹד, וּבִפְרָט מַה שֶּׁפָּגַמְתִּי בִּבְרִית קֹדֶשׁ וּבְטִפֵּי הַמֹּחַ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד,
I have sinned a great deal, doing that which is evil in Your eyes. In particular, my careless thoughts have blemished the holy covenant and the drops of semen that originate in the brain.
וְהַכֹּל עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה, אֲשֶׁר לֹא נִזְהַרְתִּי בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי כְּלָל, לִתְפֹּס אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לְבַל תֵּצֵא לַחוּץ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Help me control my thoughts so that they will never again stray beyond the proper boundary.
אַדְרַבָּא הוֹסַפְתִּי חֵטְא עַל פֶּשַׁע, וְנִכְנַסְתִּי בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לְתוֹךְ מַחְשְׁבוֹת חוּץ וְרַעְיוֹנִים וּבִלְבּוּלִים מְעֻרְבָּבִים וּלְהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, עַד שֶׁבָּאתִי לְמַה שֶּׁבָּאתִי וְקִלְקַלְתִּי מַה שֶּׁקִּלְקַלְתִּי, הַכֹּל עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה.
Until now, I have transgressed and sinned, injecting confused and wicked, foreign thoughts into my mind, which have caused ruin and devastation.
מָה אוֹמַר וּמָה אֲדַבֵּר, וּלְפָנֶיךָ נִגְלָה הַכֹּל, בּוֹחֵן לִבּוֹת וּכְלָיוֹת.
What can I say? How shall I speak? Before You Who investigate each person’s heart and inner being, everything is revealed.
וְעַתָּה עַתָּה, אַחֲרֵי כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתִי וּמַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה עִמִּי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, עוֹדֶנָּה תִּכְלֶינָה עֵינַי לִישׁוּעָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת מֵאִתְּךָ לְבַד,
God’s Compassion in the Merit of the True Tzaddikim
Now, after all of the sins that I have committed and all of the hardships that I have experienced throughout the course of my life, my eyes yearn for complete salvation from You alone.
בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת תְּפִלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים. רַחֵם עָלַי בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי נָּא בַּעַל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת, חוּס וְחָנֵּנִי וַחֲמֹל עָלַי בַּעַל הַחֶמְלָה וְהַחֲנִינָה, הַט אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמַע קוֹל צַעֲקָתִי קוֹל שַׁוְעָתִי קוֹל פְּגִיעָתִי קוֹל תְּפִלָּתִי.
In the merit of the prayers of the true Tzaddikim, have compassion on me, save me, have pity and mercy on me. Incline Your ear and hear the voice of my outcry, the voice of my prayer.
וְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ עָלַי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִיא כְּלָלִיּוּת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, כְּלָלִיּוּת כָּל הָעֶשֶׂר קְדֻשּׁוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ הַפְּרָטִיִּית, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מַשְׁגִּיחַ בִּפְרָטִיּוּת בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ, וְאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה עִמִּי וְעִם כָּל הָעוֹלָם בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וְנוֹרָאוֹת עַד אֵין חֵקֶר וְאֵין מִסְפָּר, כָּאָמוּר, לְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת לְבַדּוֹ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ,
Telling Holy Stories
May the holiness of the Land of Israel, which comprises the totality of all ten types of holiness, be drawn onto me so that I will attain a complete faith that at every moment You gaze upon every detail of the universe and perform innumerable and awesome wonders for me and for the entire world — “He does great wonders alone; His kindness is eternal.”
וְהַכֹּל בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר כָּל הָאוֹתוֹת וְהַמּוֹפְתִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים נַעֲשִׂים עַל־יְדֵיהֶם תָּמִיד.
You do all of this in the merit of the true Tzaddikim, through whom all miracles are performed.
סַיְּעֵנִי וְאַמְּצֵנִי וְחַזְּקֵנִי בֶּאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד הַנִּמְשֶׁכֶת עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע מִמִּי לְסַפֵּר וְאֵיךְ לְסַפֵּר סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים,
Strengthen me to believe in You always with a holy faith that is drawn down by means of the holiness of the Land of Israel. May I then know who are the true Tzaddikim about whom I should tell stories, and may I know how to tell these stories.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁתִּטָּהֵר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה. וְאֶזְכֶּה לָצֵאת מֵעַתָּה מִכָּל מִינֵי בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי עִרְבּוּב הַדַּעַת, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים רָעִים וְרַעְיוֹנִים פְּגוּמִים וּמַחְשְׁבוֹת חוּץ, לְטַהֵר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי מִכֻּלָּם, וְלִזְכּוֹת לְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת זַכּוֹת וּנְכוֹנוֹת. וּתְסַיְּעֵנִי וְתַעַזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל־עֵת לַעֲלוֹת לְעוֹלָם הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה דִקְדֻשָּׁה, לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת בְּתוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה, וּבִגְדֻלַּת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ, וּבִגְדֻלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וּלְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁין אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְאַל יְבַהֲלוּנִי רַעְיוֹנַי, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְשׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה זָרָה וְחִיצוֹנָה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם לְבַלְבֵּל אֶת דַּעְתִּי וּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי כְּלָל,
As a result of telling these stories, may my thoughts be purified so that I will free myself of all confusions, evil musings, blemished ideas and foreign thoughts. May no foreign thought have the power to confuse my mind. Instead, may I attain holy, pure and proper thoughts about serving You. May I gain an appreciation for Your greatness and the greatness of the true Tzaddikim, and may I create new insights into Your holy Torah.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁתֹּק אָז לְגַמְרֵי בְּעֵת שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לַעֲלוֹת לְעוֹלָם הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה, לַחֲרֹשׁ וְלִשְׁתֹּק לְגַמְרֵי לִבְלִי לְדַבֵּר אָז אֲפִלּוּ דִבּוּר דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, כִּי הוּא גַם כֵּן מְבַלְבֵּל אֶת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה.
When I need to rise to the world of thought, may I be completely silent, without even speaking a word of holiness, because that, too, confuses thought.
וְתִגְעוֹר בְּכָל הַמַּסְטִינִים וְהַמְּקַטְרֵגִים הַחֲפֵצִים לִמְנֹעַ אוֹתִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, מִלַּעֲלוֹת לְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת, וְתִתֶּן בִּי כֹחַ לְגָרֵשׁ כָּל הַבִּלְבּוּלִים מִמֶּנִּי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְדַּבֵּק בְּךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד, בְּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת וּטְהוֹרוֹת זַכּוֹת וְצַחוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
Rebuke all of my foes who want to keep me from attaining holy thoughts. Give me the power to expel all confusion so that I will always cling to You and Your Torah with holy, pure and clear thoughts that are in accordance with Your beneficent will.
וְתַצִּילֵנִי וְתִפְדֵּנִי מִכָּל הַצָּרוֹת וּמִכָּל מִינֵי יִסּוּרִין שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְתַמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל (וּבִפְרָט מִפְלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִית וְכוּ').
Rescue me from every type of suffering. Sweeten and nullify all of the judgments against me and against all of Your nation, the House of Israel.23If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone in need of salvation, add here, “and in particular, [name], son/daughter of [mother’s name].”
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים, וְהוֹצִיאֵנִי מְהֵרָה מִמֹּחִין דְּקַטְנוּת לְמֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת. וְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲסֹק הַרְבֵּה בְּסִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מִצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְטַהֵר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בְּתַכְלִית הַטָּהֳרָה, וְתִהְיֶה מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי קְדוֹשָׁה וּטְהוֹרָה תָמִיד.
In the Merit of Telling Stories About Tzaddikim
Bring me forth quickly from a constricted to an expanded awareness in the course of my telling stories about true Tzaddikim. May that purify my mind to the ultimate degree so that my thoughts will always be holy and pure.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, כִּי צְרָכַי מְרֻבִּים מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ, וְדַעְתִּי קְצָרָה מְאֹד לְבָאֵר וּלְפָרֵט חֵלֶק אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מֵהֶם, וּבְכָל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר לֹא יַסְפִּיקוּ כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם לְפָרֵט כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִכָּל בְּחִינָה וּבְחִינָה מִזֶּה, וְכַמָּה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לִפֹּל עַל פָּנַי לְבַקֵּשׁ וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן עַל זֶה, עַל כֵּן יִהְיוּ נָא בְּעֵינֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ הָיִיתִי פּוֹרֵט כָּל צְרָכַי לְפָנֶיךָ כָּרָאוּי.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. My spiritual needs are without measure, and my mind is too limited to enumerate the smallest part of them. My words do not suffice to describe how far I am from every level of holy thought and how much I need to plead to attain it. Therefore, please accept what I say as though I were enumerating all of my spiritual needs before You.
וְאַתָּה תִּמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלַי, וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מְהֵרָה בְּכָל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל כָּל פָּנִים מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ וְלִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וּתְקַיֵּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהָיָה טֶרֶם יִקְרָאוּ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱנֶה, עוֹד הֵם מְדַבְּרִים וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁמָע. כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הָעוֹנֶה בְּעֵת צָרָה, פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל בְכָל־עֵת צָרָה וְצוּקָה, בָּרוּךְ הָעוֹנֶה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֵת צָרָה.
Save me so that I will return to You and live in accordance with Your beneficent will. As the verse states, “Before they call out, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” HaShem, redeem me at every time of difficulty and oppression. Blessed are You, Who answers Your nation, the Jewish people, at a time of trouble.
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
וּתְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, בְּכָל־עֵת שֶׁתָּקִים עָלֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ חָדָשׁ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מֶלֶךְ שֶׁל חֶסֶד, שֶׁיְּרַחֵם עַל עַמְּךָ בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיָקֵל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם עֹל הַנְּתִינוּת, וִיבַטֵּל כָּל הַגְּזֵרוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם טוֹבוֹת מֵעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁלֹּא יְחַדֵּשׁ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם גְּזֵרוֹת חֲדָשׁוֹת עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל,
May Political Leaders Be Kind to Us
When a new king comes to power, may he be a kind king who will have compassion on Your nation, the Jewish people. May he ease our yoke of servitude and nullify all of the evil decrees against us, and certainly not promulgate any new, anti-Jewish decrees.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, לְמַעַן רַחֲמֶיךָ, כִּי אֵין לָנוּ עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ לְבַד, כִּי אֵין מִי יַעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנוּ, שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל יַעֲמֹד לָנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָה,
We have no one on whom to rely but You alone. No one else will take our side. May Your great Name stand by us at every time of trouble.
חֲמֹל עַל עֲנִיֵּי הַצֹּאן וְהַטֵּה לֵב הַמְּלָכִים וְהַשָּׂרִים עָלֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, פַּלְגֵּי מַיִם לֶב מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד יְהֹוָה, עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ. וּכְתִיב לֵב מֶלֶךְ וְשָׂרִים בְּיַד יְהֹוָה, אֶל כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ.
Have mercy on us, Your impoverished sheep, and incline the hearts of kings and ministers to us for the good. The hearts of kings and ministers are in Your hand. As the verse states, “The heart of the king is in HaShem’s hand like streams of water; He inclines it wherever He wishes.”
חֲמֹל עַל עַמֶּךָ רַחֵם עַל נַחֲלָתֶךָ, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים,
“Have mercy on Your nation, have compassion on Your inheritance, You Who are full of compassion.”
מְהַעְדֵּה מַלְכִין וּמְהָקֵים מַלְכִין.
“He removes kings and establishes kings.”
הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם
“Gaze down from Your holy habitation, from Heaven.”
וְהַטֵּה לֵב כָּל הַמְּלָכִים וְהַיּוֹעֲצִים וְהַשָּׂרִים עָלֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה, וְתָבִיא לָנוּ אֶת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, אָמֵן:
Incline the hearts of all kings, advisers and ministers to us for the good, and bring us our righteous Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen.