Faith Throughout One’s Limbs Sometimes a person’s faith resides in his heart. But that is not enough. A person should possess so much faith that it spreads throughout all of his limbs. For instance, the Ari teaches that when a person washes his hands, he should lift them up to his head to receive holiness from above. For this act to be meaningful, the person needs faith that raising his hands to his head will bring down an influx of holiness. In that sense, his faith resides even in his hands. When a person has such faith, it is eventually transformed into clear knowledge. Then he rises to a higher level of faith — and this process continues to repeat itself. Higher Levels of Faith “All of Your commandments are faithful. When falsehood pursues me, help me, HaShem!”
Faithful God, for the sake of Your Name, help me constantly rise to higher levels of faith. As I do so, may I understand matters that I had not previously understood, at which time I needed to strengthen myself with faith alone.
May I finally reach the acme of faith and holy mindfulness when I come to recognize You. May I know all that it is possible for human intellect to understand, as well as that which the mind cannot understand.
May I attain ultimate faith in accordance with Your will and the will of Your true Tzaddikim, who attained the highest levels of faith and knowledge. May I attain a faith so perfect and strong that it spreads throughout all of my limbs.
In particular, the holy Jewish people are experiencing such challenges. The Jewish people are all believers and children of believers. However, there are tens of thousands of levels of faith. At present, all of the troubles and exiles that the Jewish people are experiencing result from a blemish in their faith, which is the foundation of the entire Torah, as You revealed to us through Your holy sages.
(In particular, at present, You have sent forth Your wrath, so that a number of evil, anti-Jewish decrees have been passed into law, including the conscription of young Jews who are sent into battle. We are broken, and our wounds fester!
(What has happened to us? Who will stand at our side at this troubled and bitter time? To where will we flee for help? And now we hear that even harsher decrees against the Jewish religion are being contemplated. All of these troubles have resulted from a blemish in our faith.)
Sin and a lack of faith are dependent on each other. Because we have sinned so much, our faith is not whole; and because of our lack of faith, we have sinned.
Keeping Our Hearts Pure Master of the world, You lovingly chose Your nation, the Jewish people, and graciously gave us Your Torah through Moses, Your faithful servant.
Following that, in every generation, You have sent us holy and awesome Tzaddikim — pious, wise men who have understood the depths of the Torah and have revealed wondrous and elevated insights.
No tongue can describe the holiness and ability of these people. They proclaim Your praises, telling of Your might and the wonders that You have performed. They draw down and reveal holy faith so that all people may experience it.
But even worse, there are a number of Jews whose minds and hearts have grown so twisted as a result of their bitter troubles that they have lost their faith.
What can we say? Only You know all that we are experiencing in these generations before the coming of the Mashiach. And who knows what more will occur?
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אוֹי, מִי יָקוּם יַעֲקֹב כִּי קָטֹן הוּא.
Who will rise up on behalf of the weak Jewish people?
“HaShem, hear my prayer, listen to my supplications; in Your faithfulness, answer me, in Your righteousness.” “HaShem, Your kindness is in the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the heavens.”
Unique Master, full of compassion, Who has pity on the poor, strengthen us so that we will know and believe all of this. May this awareness keep us from committing sins, indulging in evil thoughts, and falling prey to confusion — particularly from every type of crookedness in the heart, from every type of thinking that opposes Your holy faith.
Tzaddikim Throughout History Master of the universe, You alone know Who You are. We fully believe that You exist, that Your existence is necessary, that You are Unique, Primal, Eternal, without beginning or end, that You created the world out of absolute nothingness over five thousand years ago, and so forth.
In Your compassion, You shone Your holy faith onto us through our patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who began to reveal Your Godliness in the world.
Afterward, You gave us Your holy Torah through Moses, Your faithful servant. By means of the great and awesome wonders that he performed on our behalf to give us life to this day, he illuminated our eyes and opened the light of knowledge so that we may know that You are HaShem our God, and that there is no one else besides You.
And then, in every generation, You sent us true Tzaddikim — elders and prophets, Rishonim and Acharonim, Tannaim, Amora’im and Rabbanan Savorei, Geonim, Rabbanim and Chassidim, and other holy people in every generation — until You sent us awesome Tzaddikim like those in our generations.
Help us draw onto ourselves their faith, kindness, goodness and righteousness. They toiled to help all Jews for all generations. They worked to draw down and reveal holy faith to all people — particularly to the holy Jewish people, who are special and close to You.
Save us at this time of trouble for the sake of their unfathomable merit. Save us, God, because the waters have risen and threaten to drown us. Help us attain complete faith until we will come to knowledge and our holy faith will spread throughout all of our limbs.
May we always communicate our holy faith clearly and with all our hearts. As the verse states, “I will sing the kindness of HaShem forever; for all generations, I will make Your faithfulness known with my mouth.”
“Your faith is in every generation; You have set up the earth and it stands.” “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set Your laws before me.” “The word of HaShem is straight, and all of His deeds are faithful.” “The Tzaddik will live by his faith.”
“My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My Name, his might shall be elevated.” “HaShem is good, His kindness is forever, His faithfulness is in every generation.”
“I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me with righteousness and with justice, with kindness and with compassion. I will betroth you to Me with faith, and you will know HaShem.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה צ"א - וַיְהִי יָדָיו אֱמוּנָה עַד בֹּא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ]
כָּל מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי.
Faith Throughout One’s Limbs
Sometimes a person’s faith resides in his heart. But that is not enough. A person should possess so much faith that it spreads throughout all of his limbs.
For instance, the Ari teaches that when a person washes his hands, he should lift them up to his head to receive holiness from above. For this act to be meaningful, the person needs faith that raising his hands to his head will bring down an influx of holiness. In that sense, his faith resides even in his hands.
When a person has such faith, it is eventually transformed into clear knowledge. Then he rises to a higher level of faith — and this process continues to repeat itself.
Higher Levels of Faith
“All of Your commandments are faithful. When falsehood pursues me, help me, HaShem!”
אֵל אֱמוּנָה, רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְזַכֵּנִי לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶתְחַזֵּק בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת. עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶתְחַזֵּק בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּכָל־עֵת, וְאַכְנִיס אֶת עַצְמִי בְּתוֹךְ הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכָל פַּעַם יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲלוֹת בְּכָל פַּעַם לֶאֱמוּנָה גְּבוֹהָה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָבוֹא אֶל הַשֵּׂכֶל עַל־יְדֵי הָאֱמוּנָה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְהִתְחַזְּקוּת הָאֱמוּנָה בֶּאֱמֶת וּלְהָבִין וּלְהַשִּׂיג בְּשִׂכְלִי אֶת הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁלֹּא הָיִיתִי מְבִינָם בַּתְּחִילָה וְהָיִיתִי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק בָּהֶם בֶּאֱמוּנָה לְבַד.
Faithful God, for the sake of Your Name, help me constantly rise to higher levels of faith. As I do so, may I understand matters that I had not previously understood, at which time I needed to strengthen myself with faith alone.
וְעַתָּה אֶזְכֶּה לְהָבִינָם וּלְהַשִּׂיגָם בְּדַעְתִּי וְשִׂכְלִי, רַק בִּדְבָרִים גְּבוֹהִים וְנֶעְלָמִים יוֹתֵר שֶׁלֹּא אָבִינָם עֲדַיִן אֶתְחַזֵּק בָּהֶם בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְכֵן אֶתְחַזֵּק בֶּאֱמוּנָה גְּדוֹלָה בְּתוֹסֶפֶת קְדֻשָּׁה בְּכָל פַּעַם, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל פַּעַם לְהָבִין וּלְהַשִּׂיג בְּשִׂכְלִי וְדַעְתִּי גַם אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים הַגְּבוֹהִים וְנֶעְלָמִים יוֹתֵר.
As for higher and more hidden matters that I do not yet comprehend, may I believe in them with holy faith until I come to understand them as well.
וְכֵן בְּכָל־עֵת וָעֵת אֶתְחַזֵּק בֶּאֱמוּנָה גְּדוֹלָה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַשֵּׂכֶל וְהַדַּעַת עַל־יְדֵי הָאֱמוּנָה, לָבוֹא אֶל הַשֵּׂכֶל שֶׁל הַדָּבָר שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה הָיָה נֶעְלָם מִמֶּנִּי וְהָיִיתִי צָרִיךְ לְהַאֲמִין בּוֹ בֶּאֱמוּנָה לְבַד, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָבוֹא לְרֹאשׁ אֱמוּנָה וּלְדַעַת שָׁלֵם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה לָדַעַת וּלְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. וְאֶזְכֶּה לָדַעַת וּלְהָבִין כָּל מַה שֶּׁאֶפְשַׁר בְּשֵׂכֶל אֱנוֹשִׁי לְהָבִין בֶּאֱמֶת. וּמַה שֶּׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהָבִין בְּהַדַּעַת,
May I finally reach the acme of faith and holy mindfulness when I come to recognize You. May I know all that it is possible for human intellect to understand, as well as that which the mind cannot understand.
אֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, בְּתַכְלִית הַמַּעֲלָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ וְכִרְצוֹן צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים אֲשֶׁר זָכוּ לֶאֱמוּנָה וּלְדַעַת בְּתַכְלִית הַמַּעֲלָה שֶׁאֵין מַעֲלָה אַחֲרָיו, וְאֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה וַחֲזָקָה כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁתִּתְפַּשֵּׁט הָאֱמוּנָה בְּכָל הָאֵבָרִים:
May I attain ultimate faith in accordance with Your will and the will of Your true Tzaddikim, who attained the highest levels of faith and knowledge. May I attain a faith so perfect and strong that it spreads throughout all of my limbs.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, יְהֹוָה עֵינֶיךָ הֲלוֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה, תֶּן לִי אֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת,
Blemishes in Our Faith
Master of the world, grant me complete faith.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם בְּעִנְיַן הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁהוּא יְסוֹד הַכֹּל,
You know the challenges that the entire world is experiencing in regard to faith, which is the foundation of everything.
וּבִפְרָט מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קָדוֹשׁ שֶׁהֵם כֻּלָּם מַאֲמִינִים בְּנֵי מַאֲמִינִים, אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, יֵשׁ אֲלָפִים וּרְבָבוֹת מַדְרֵגוֹת בְּעִנְיַן הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְכָל הַצָּרוֹת וְכָל הַגָּלוּיוֹת שֶׁעוֹבְרִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַכֹּל עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם הָאֱמוּנָה שֶׁהוּא יְסוֹד כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר גִּלִּיתָ אָזְנֵנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.
In particular, the holy Jewish people are experiencing such challenges. The Jewish people are all believers and children of believers. However, there are tens of thousands of levels of faith. At present, all of the troubles and exiles that the Jewish people are experiencing result from a blemish in their faith, which is the foundation of the entire Torah, as You revealed to us through Your holy sages.
(וּבִפְרָט מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַתָּה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצָא הַקֶּצֶף מֵאִתְּךָ וְנִגְזְרוּ כַּמָּה גְזֵרוֹת רָעוֹת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, [וְנִגְזְרָה הַגְּזֵרָה רָעָה, לִיקָח בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנֵי חָיִל לַמִּלְחָמָה], אוֹי לָנוּ עַל שִׁבְרֵנוּ נַחְלָה מַכּוֹתֵינוּ,
(In particular, at present, You have sent forth Your wrath, so that a number of evil, anti-Jewish decrees have been passed into law, including the conscription of young Jews who are sent into battle. We are broken, and our wounds fester!
אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ, אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ, אוֹי, מִי יַעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָה מָרָה כָזֹאת, אוֹי, מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ, אוֹי, אוֹי, לְהֵיכָן נִבְרַח לְהֵיכָן נָנוּס לְעֶזְרָה. וּבִפְרָט שֶׁנִּשְׁמַע שֶׁרוֹצִים לְהוֹצִיא עוֹד חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת וְרָעוֹת מְאֹד רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, וְכֻלָּם כְּנֶגֶד דַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אוֹי, אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, אוֹי וָמַר, אוֹי וָמַר, וְכָל אֵלּוּ הַצָּרוֹת כֻּלָּם בָּאִים עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם אֱמוּנָה).
(What has happened to us? Who will stand at our side at this troubled and bitter time? To where will we flee for help? And now we hear that even harsher decrees against the Jewish religion are being contemplated. All of these troubles have resulted from a blemish in our faith.)
וְעַתָּה מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה לְתַקֵּן זֹאת, וּבִפְרָט אָנֹכִי אֲשֶׁר הִרְבֵּיתִי לִפְשֹׁעַ נֶגְדְּךָ,
What can we do to rectify this — particularly myself, for I have sinned against You so much?
וּבְוַדַּאי הַכֹּל בָּא עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם אֱמוּנָה שֶׁהִיא יְסוֹד כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ.
Certainly this is all a result of a flaw in faith, which is the foundation of the entire Torah.
וּבֶאֱמֶת כָּל אֶחָד תָּלוּי בַּחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁמֵּחֲמַת רִבּוּי הָעֲוֹנוֹת אֵין הָאֱמוּנָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת וּמֵחֲמַת חֶסְרוֹן הָאֱמוּנָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת בָּאוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן מֵעַתָּה,
Sin and a lack of faith are dependent on each other. Because we have sinned so much, our faith is not whole; and because of our lack of faith, we have sinned.
אֲבָל אֵיךְ מְתַקְּנִים זֹאת וּמֵהֵיכָן מַתְחִילִים לְתַקֵּן,
How do we begin to rectify this?
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה, אַתָּה חוֹנַנְתָּנוּ לְמַדַּע תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וַתִּתֶּן לָנוּ תוֹרַת אֱמֶת בִּכְתָב וּבְעַל פֶּה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה נְבִיאֶךָ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתֶךָ.
Keeping Our Hearts Pure
Master of the world, You lovingly chose Your nation, the Jewish people, and graciously gave us Your Torah through Moses, Your faithful servant.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ וְחֶמְלָתְךָ שָׁלַחְתָּ לָנוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר צַדִּיקִים וַחֲסִידִים אֲמִתִּיִּים קְדוֹשִׁים וְנוֹרָאִים חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר זָכוּ לְהַשִּׂיג תְּבוּנוֹת הַתּוֹרָה לְעוֹמְקָהּ, וְגִלּוּ לָנוּ חִדּוּשִׁים נִפְלָאִים וְנוֹרָאִים וְנִשְׂגָּבִים מְאֹד מְאֹד,
Following that, in every generation, You have sent us holy and awesome Tzaddikim — pious, wise men who have understood the depths of the Torah and have revealed wondrous and elevated insights.
אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָשׁוֹן בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁיּוּכַל לְסַפֵּר תֹּקֶף רוּם נִשְׂגְּבוֹת מַעֲלָתָם וְגוֹבְהָם וּקְדֻשָּׁתָם וְכֹחָם, וְכֻלָּם מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהֹוָה וְעֵזּוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וּמַמְשִׁיכִים וּמְגַלִּים הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַיִן בְּעַיִן לְכָל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם.
No tongue can describe the holiness and ability of these people. They proclaim Your praises, telling of Your might and the wonders that You have performed. They draw down and reveal holy faith so that all people may experience it.
וְאַחֲרֵי כָּל אֵלֶּה עֲדַיִן לֹא שַׁבְנוּ מִטָּעוּתֵנוּ, וּבְכָל הַצָּרוֹת אֲשֶׁר עוֹבְרִים עָלֵינוּ, בִּפְרָט עַתָּה בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, לֹא דַי שֶׁלֹּא זָכִינוּ לְהִתְעוֹרֵר לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר רַק בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה שָׁלַחְתָּ עָלֵינוּ כָּל הַצָּרוֹת הָאֵלֶּה,
Yet even so, we have not been inspired to return to You, and we have not repented of our errors. As a result, You have sent us many troubles.
אַף גַּם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים נִתְרַחַקְנוּ מִמְּךָ יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָאִים כַּמָּה אֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר נִתְעַקֵּם דַּעְתָּם וּלְבָבָם וְנָפְלוּ מֵאֱמוּנָתָם עַל־יְדֵי מְרִירוּת הַצָּרוֹת הָאֵלֶּה.
But even worse, there are a number of Jews whose minds and hearts have grown so twisted as a result of their bitter troubles that they have lost their faith.
אוֹי, מַה נֹּאמַר וּמַה נְּדַבֵּר, רַק אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עָלֵינוּ עַתָּה בַּדּוֹרוֹת הָאֵלֶּה בְּעִקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא, וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה יִּהְיֶה עוֹד חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
What can we say? Only You know all that we are experiencing in these generations before the coming of the Mashiach. And who knows what more will occur?
אוֹי, מִי יָקוּם יַעֲקֹב כִּי קָטֹן הוּא.
Who will rise up on behalf of the weak Jewish people?
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, כִּי בְצָרָה גְּדוֹלָה אֲנַחְנוּ בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט. רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ אֵל אֱמוּנָה, רַחֵם רַחֵם, הוֹשִׁיעָה הוֹשִׁיעָה,
Have compassion on us, God of faith, for we are in great distress — as a nation and as individuals. Save us!
יְהֹוָה שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֶל תַּחֲנוּנַי בֶּאֱמוּנָתְךָ עֲנֵנִי בְּצִדְקָתֶךָ. יְהֹוָה בְּהַשָּׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ אֱמוּנָתְךָ עַד שְׁחָקִים.
“HaShem, hear my prayer, listen to my supplications; in Your faithfulness, answer me, in Your righteousness.” “HaShem, Your kindness is in the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the heavens.”
עָזְרֵנוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ וְזַכֵּנוּ לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל־עֵת, עַד אֲשֶׁר יָבוֹא עָלַי אֵימָה וְיִרְאָה וּפַחַד גָּדוֹל מֵאִתְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אֲשֶׁר מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ,
For the sake of Your Name, help us attain perfect faith until we feel awe before You Who fill the entire world with Your glory.
וְאַתָּה עוֹמֵד עָלֵינוּ בְּכָל־עֵת וְרוֹאֶה בְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ וְיוֹדֵעַ מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ וּבוֹחֵן לְבָבֵנוּ.
You stand over us constantly and look at our deeds. You know our thoughts and investigate our hearts.
אָדוֹן יָחִיד, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, חַזְּקֵנוּ וְאַמְּצֵנוּ לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין בְּכָל זֶה בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מִכָּל מִינֵי חֲטָאִים וַעֲוֹנוֹת וּפְשָׁעִים, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת וְהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי בִּלְבּוּלִים, וּבִפְרָט מִכָּל מִינֵי עַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבַּלֵּב, מִכָּל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת וְהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים שֶׁהֵם כְּנֶגֶד אֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה:
Unique Master, full of compassion, Who has pity on the poor, strengthen us so that we will know and believe all of this. May this awareness keep us from committing sins, indulging in evil thoughts, and falling prey to confusion — particularly from every type of crookedness in the heart, from every type of thinking that opposes Your holy faith.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֲדוֹן כֹּל, אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עַצְמְךָ, וְאֵין מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ אוֹתְךָ כְּלָל, רַק אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁאַתָּה נִמְצָא הַמְחֻיָּב יָחִיד קַדְמוֹן נִצְחִי בְּלִי רֵאשִׁית בְּלִי תַכְלִית, וְאַתָּה בָּרָאתָ הָעוֹלָם יֵשׁ מֵאַיִן הַמֻּחְלָט זֶה חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וְכוּ'.
Tzaddikim Throughout History
Master of the universe, You alone know Who You are. We fully believe that You exist, that Your existence is necessary, that You are Unique, Primal, Eternal, without beginning or end, that You created the world out of absolute nothingness over five thousand years ago, and so forth.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים הִתְחַלְתָּ לְהָאִיר בָּנוּ אֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־יְדֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, אֲשֶׁר הֵם הִתְחִילוּ לְגַלּוֹת אֱלָהוּתְךָ בָּעוֹלָם,
In Your compassion, You shone Your holy faith onto us through our patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who began to reveal Your Godliness in the world.
וְאַחַר כָּךְ נָתַתָּ לָנוּ תוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בִּכְתָב וּבְעַל פֶּה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה נְבִיאֶךָ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוּא הֵאִיר עֵינֵינוּ וּפָתַח לָנוּ אוֹר הַדַּעַת לֵידַע וּלְהוֹדִיעַ וּלְהִוָּדַע, כִּי אַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדֶּךָ,
Afterward, You gave us Your holy Torah through Moses, Your faithful servant. By means of the great and awesome wonders that he performed on our behalf to give us life to this day, he illuminated our eyes and opened the light of knowledge so that we may know that You are HaShem our God, and that there is no one else besides You.
עַל־יְדֵי כָּל הַגְּדוֹלוֹת וְהַנּוֹרָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמָּנוּ לְחַיּוֹתֵינוּ כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. וּבְחֶמְלָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה הוֹסַפְתָּ חֶסֶד וָטוֹב, וְשָׁלַחְתָּ לָנוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר צַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, זְקֵנִים וּנְבִיאִים, רִאשׁוֹנִים וְאַחֲרוֹנִים, תַּנָּאִים וַאֲמוֹרָאִים וְרַבָּנָן סַבוֹרָאֵי, וּגְאוֹנִים וְרַבָּנִים וַחֲסִידִים, צַדִּיקִים וּקְדוֹשִׁים שֶׁהָיוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, עַד שֶׁזִכִּיתָנוּ גַּם בַּדּוֹרוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְשָׁלַחְתָּ לָנוּ צַדִּיקִים נוֹרָאִים כָּאֵלֶּה.
And then, in every generation, You sent us true Tzaddikim — elders and prophets, Rishonim and Acharonim, Tannaim, Amora’im and Rabbanan Savorei, Geonim, Rabbanim and Chassidim, and other holy people in every generation — until You sent us awesome Tzaddikim like those in our generations.
עַל כֵּן זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם וּלְצַיֵּת אוֹתָם בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוּוּ אוֹתָנוּ וְלִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנָם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל־עֵת.
Walking in the Ways of the Tzaddikim
Help us always walk in the ways of these Tzaddikim, obey their directives and live in accordance with their will.
לַמְּדֵנוּ וְהוֹרֵנוּ אֵיךְ לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, שֶׁהִמְשִׁיכוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהִמְשִׁיכוּ עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשָּׁתָם הָעֲצוּמָה, עַד שֶׁזָּכוּ לְמַה שֶּׁזָּכוּ.
Teach us how to internalize the holy faith that our holy fathers and rabbis, the Tzaddikim, drew down to us in their great holiness.
זַכֵּנוּ לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ אֱמוּנָתָם וְחַסְדָּם וְטוּבָם וְצִדְקָתָם, אֲשֶׁר יָגְעוּ וְטָרְחוּ בִּמְסִירוּת נֶפֶשׁ בִּיגִיעוֹת וְטִרְחוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת מְאֹד, לְהֵטִיב לְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְדוֹרוֹת עוֹלָם. וְהָעִקָּר לְהַמְשִׁיךְ וּלְגַלּוֹת הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְכָל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם, וּבִפְרָט לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קָדוֹשׁ, עַם קְרוֹבוֹ, עַם סְגֻלָּה.
Help us draw onto ourselves their faith, kindness, goodness and righteousness. They toiled to help all Jews for all generations. They worked to draw down and reveal holy faith to all people — particularly to the holy Jewish people, who are special and close to You.
עָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָה הַזֹּאת לְמַעַן כֹּחָם וּזְכוּתָם הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ, הַנּוֹרָא וְהַנִּשְׂגָּב מְאֹד עַד אֵין חֵקֶר. הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ אֱלֹהִים כִּי בָאוּ מַיִם עַד נָפֶשׁ. זַכֵּנוּ לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בְּכָל פַּעַם לָבוֹא עַל־יְדֵי הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה אֶל הַדַּעַת, וְתִתְפַּשֵּׁט הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּכָל הָאֵבָרִים.
Save us at this time of trouble for the sake of their unfathomable merit. Save us, God, because the waters have risen and threaten to drown us. Help us attain complete faith until we will come to knowledge and our holy faith will spread throughout all of our limbs.
וְנִזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְדַבֵּר הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּפֶה מָלֵא וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם בֶּאֱמֶת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, חַסְדֵּי יְהֹוָה עוֹלָם אָשִׁירָה לְדוֹר וָדוֹר אוֹדִיעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ בְּפִי.
May we always communicate our holy faith clearly and with all our hearts. As the verse states, “I will sing the kindness of HaShem forever; for all generations, I will make Your faithfulness known with my mouth.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וְיוֹדוּ שָׁמַיִם פִּלְאֲךָ יְהֹוָה אַף אֱמוּנָתְךָ בִּקְהַל קְדוֹשִׁים.
“The heavens will praise Your wonders, HaShem, even Your faithfulness amid the holy congregation.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, לְדוֹר וָדוֹר אֱמוּנָתֶךָ כּוֹנַנְתָּ אֶרֶץ וַתַּעֲמֹד. וְנֶאֱמַר, דֶּרֶךְ אֱמוּנָה בָחָרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ שִׁוִּיתִי. וְנֶאֱמַר, כִּי יָשָׁר דְּבַר יְהֹוָה וְכָל מַעֲשֵׂהוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָה. וְנֶאֱמַר, וְצַדִּיק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ יִחְיֶה.
“Your faith is in every generation; You have set up the earth and it stands.” “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set Your laws before me.” “The word of HaShem is straight, and all of His deeds are faithful.” “The Tzaddik will live by his faith.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וֶאֱמוּנָתִי וְחַסְדִּי עִמּוֹ וּבִשְׁמִי תָּרוּם קַרְנוֹ. וְנֶאֱמַר, כִּי טוֹב יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וְעַד דּוֹר וָדוֹר אֱמוּנָתוֹ.
“My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My Name, his might shall be elevated.” “HaShem is good, His kindness is forever, His faithfulness is in every generation.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי לְעוֹלָם וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי בְּצֶדֶק וּבְמִשְׁפָּט וּבְחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים. וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי בֶּאֱמוּנָה וְיָדַעְתְּ אֶת יְהֹוָה.
“I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me with righteousness and with justice, with kindness and with compassion. I will betroth you to Me with faith, and you will know HaShem.”
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
Blessed is HaShem forever. Amen and amen.