Attaining the Secrets of the Torah The Zohar teaches that if an unworthy person attempts to learn the secrets of the Torah, “snakes and scorpions” confuse his thoughts. But if he becomes worthy, then these accusers turn into defenders that bring him to the hidden good, which proclaims that he should be allowed to enter through the gate of love. The “hidden good” refers to the secrets of the Torah. When a person wants to contemplate these secrets, unholy thoughts initially come to disturb his mind. But when he yearns deeply enough, the gate of love is opened for him so that all of these foreign thoughts that confused his mind become pure, “as white as silver.” Then he sees and attains the secrets of the Torah that pertain to each day, and so he experiences every day as being very broad. To Be Like Abraham Master of the world, for the sake of Your Name, help me live a long life filled with holiness and purity — filled, in particular, with holy thoughts.
May I not be angry or stingy — two traits that blur a person’s mind. Instead, help me be good, kind and generous until I am absorbed into the “right side,” the trait of Abraham, the man of kindness. As a result, may my mind be as white as silver — meaning to say, pure, clear and lucid.
May I live a long life filled with holiness. May I contemplate Your Torah at every moment and not indulge in any external, foreign thoughts. Help me quickly expel the “snakes and scorpions” — which is to say, all types of confusion and foreign thoughts that lay siege to a person’s mind every day.
May I break all of the boundaries, iron walls and curtains that conceal the good hidden within every day, and that do not allow an unworthy person to approach that hidden good.
Pure Thoughts of Torah Do not treat me in keeping with my transgressions, but only in accordance with Your kindness. Help me attain the goodness that is hidden within every day. May my inclination to do evil not separate me from that goodness.
Arouse Your compassion on my behalf and command the gates of wisdom to open for me, so that I will gain true insights into Your holy Torah every day, from the goodness that is hidden within that day.
As a result of these Torah insights, may I come close to You in truth, now and forever. May every day of my life be lengthened and enhanced with great holiness and purity, and may I live a good, true life both in this world and in the World to Come.
“I will satisfy him with length of days and show him My salvation.” “My commandments will give you added length of days and years of life and peace.” “Your days will be increased in Me and you will gain years of life.”
“Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand, wealth and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all of her paths are peace. She is a tree of life for those who grasp her, and those who support her are happy.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה פ"ד - בַּמֶּה הֶאֱרַכְתָּ יָמִים]
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַאֲרִיךְ אֶת יָמַי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה.
Attaining the Secrets of the Torah
The Zohar teaches that if an unworthy person attempts to learn the secrets of the Torah, “snakes and scorpions” confuse his thoughts. But if he becomes worthy, then these accusers turn into defenders that bring him to the hidden good, which proclaims that he should be allowed to enter through the gate of love.
The “hidden good” refers to the secrets of the Torah. When a person wants to contemplate these secrets, unholy thoughts initially come to disturb his mind. But when he yearns deeply enough, the gate of love is opened for him so that all of these foreign thoughts that confused his mind become pure, “as white as silver.” Then he sees and attains the secrets of the Torah that pertain to each day, and so he experiences every day as being very broad.
To Be Like Abraham
Master of the world, for the sake of Your Name, help me live a long life filled with holiness and purity — filled, in particular, with holy thoughts.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי לֶאֱחֹז בְּמִדָּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אִישׁ הַחֶסֶד, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת וַתְּרָן בְּמָמוֹנִי, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹב וָחֶסֶד בֶּאֱמֶת, עִם כָּל מִי שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהֵטִיב עִמָּהֶם וְלִגְמֹל לָהֶם חֶסֶד כְּפִי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת,
Help me emulate Abraham our patriarch, the man of kindness, by being kind and generous with my money, using it to help people in need.
וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִקְּפֵּדוֹת וְקִמּוּץ שֶׁהֵם מְבַלְבְּלִין אֶת הַדַּעַת וְהַמֹּחַ מְאֹד, וְלֹא אֶהְיֶה קַפְּדָן וְקַמְצָן כְּלָל, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ טוֹב, אִישׁ חֶסֶד, וַתְּרָן בְּמָמוֹנִי, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִכָּלֵל בְּסִטְרָא דִימִינָא בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּמִדָּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אִישׁ הַחֶסֶד. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְּזַכֵּנִי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שִׂכְלִי וּמֹחִי חִוָּרָא כְּכַסְפָּא, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מֹחִי זַךְ וָצַח וְצָלוּל.
May I not be angry or stingy — two traits that blur a person’s mind. Instead, help me be good, kind and generous until I am absorbed into the “right side,” the trait of Abraham, the man of kindness. As a result, may my mind be as white as silver — meaning to say, pure, clear and lucid.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַאֲרִיךְ אֶת יָמַי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַהֲגוֹת וְלַחְשֹׁב בְּתוֹרָתְךָ בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, וְלֹא אַנִּיחַ אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לַחְשֹׁב שׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה חִיצוֹנָה וְזָרָה כְּלָל. וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, לְגָרֵשׁ וּלְסַלֵּק וּלְבַטֵּל מְהֵרָה מִמַּחֲשַׁבְתִּי כָּל הַנְּחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים שֶׁהֵם כָּל מִינֵי בִּלְבּוּלִים וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת הַמְּסַבְּבִין אֶת הַמֹּחַ בְּכָל יוֹם,
May I live a long life filled with holiness. May I contemplate Your Torah at every moment and not indulge in any external, foreign thoughts. Help me quickly expel the “snakes and scorpions” — which is to say, all types of confusion and foreign thoughts that lay siege to a person’s mind every day.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר אֶת כָּל הַגְּדָרִים וְהַמְּחִיצוֹת בַּרְזֶל וְהַמָּסַכִּים הַמַּבְדִּילִין וְחוֹצְצִין לִפְנֵי טוֹב הַגָּנוּז שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, וְאֵינָם מַנִּיחִים לִכְנֹס אֵלָיו אֶת מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן וְרָאוּי אֵלָיו.
May I break all of the boundaries, iron walls and curtains that conceal the good hidden within every day, and that do not allow an unworthy person to approach that hidden good.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רַחֵם עָלַי, וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לִי כַּחֲטָאַי, וְלֹא תִגְמֹל לִי כַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי, רַק תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמִּי כְּחַסְדְּךָ וּכְנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב. וְתִגְמְלֵנִי חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים וּתְגַדֵּל חַסְדְּךָ עָלַי בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם. וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ בַּחֲסָדִים חֲדָשִׁים וְנִפְלָאִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁגַּם אָנֹכִי אֶזְכֶּה לְהַטּוֹב הַגָּנוּז שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְהָרַע שֶׁלִּי לַחֲצֹץ וּלְהַפְסִיק חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בִּפְנֵי הַטּוֹב הַגָּנוּז שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם,
Pure Thoughts of Torah
Do not treat me in keeping with my transgressions, but only in accordance with Your kindness. Help me attain the goodness that is hidden within every day. May my inclination to do evil not separate me from that goodness.
רַק תִּתֶּן לִי כֹחַ וְהִתְחַזְּקוּת וְהִתְאַמְּצוּת בְּלִבִּי וּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת וְלַהֲגוֹת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה חֲזָקָה וּנְכוֹנָה, בְּהִתְגַּבְּרוּת גָּדוֹל בְּכָל עֹז וְתַעֲצוּמוֹת, וּבְהִשְׁתּוֹקְקוּת נִמְרָץ אֶל הַטּוֹב הָאֲמִתִּי בֶּאֱמֶת,
Give me the strength and firmness of heart to contemplate and study Your holy Torah with proper thoughts and yearning for true goodness.
וְלֹא אַנִּיחַ לְשׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה זָרָה וְחִיצוֹנָה וּלְשׁוּם בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת לִכְנֹס בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי וּלְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק אֶהְיֶה חָזָק בְּדַעְתִּי וְלֶאֱחֹז אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לַחְשֹׁב בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל־עֵת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
May I never allow any foreign or external thoughts or confusions to enter my mind. May I be strong in my mind and think only of Your holy Torah.
עַד שֶׁיֵּעוֹרְרוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים עָלַי. וּתְצַוֶּה לִפְתֹּחַ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי הַחָכְמָה וְהַשֵּׂכֶל, עַד שֶׁיִּתְגַּלּוּ לִי מֵאִתְּךָ חִדּוּשִׁין אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, מֵהַטּוֹב הַגָּנוּז שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם,
Arouse Your compassion on my behalf and command the gates of wisdom to open for me, so that I will gain true insights into Your holy Torah every day, from the goodness that is hidden within that day.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. וְאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל יוֹם וָיוֹם מִימֵי חַיַּי אָרוֹךְ וְגָדוֹל בֶּאֱמֶת בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, עַל־יְדֵי הַחִדּוּשִׁין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁתְּחָנֵּנִי בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מֵהַטּוֹב הַגָּנוּז שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַאֲרִיכַת יָמִים וְשָׁנִים בֶּאֱמֶת, לִחְיוֹת חַיִּים אֲרֻכִּים, חַיִּים טוֹבִים, חַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּעַלְמָא דֵין וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי לְעוֹלְמֵי עַד וּלְנֵצַח נְצָחִים.
As a result of these Torah insights, may I come close to You in truth, now and forever. May every day of my life be lengthened and enhanced with great holiness and purity, and may I live a good, true life both in this world and in the World to Come.
וִיקֻיַּם בִּי מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, אֹרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ וְאַרְאֵהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי. וְנֶאֱמַר, כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ. וְנֶאֱמַר, כִּי בִי יִרְבּוּ יָמֶיךָ וְיוֹסִיפוּ לְךָ שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים.
“I will satisfy him with length of days and show him My salvation.” “My commandments will give you added length of days and years of life and peace.” “Your days will be increased in Me and you will gain years of life.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד. דְּרָכֶיהּ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם. עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתוֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר.
“Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand, wealth and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all of her paths are peace. She is a tree of life for those who grasp her, and those who support her are happy.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. אָמֵן:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen.