All Troubles are for the Good / The Darkness of Exile / Shedding Tears in the Service of God All the troubles and misadventures that the Jews undergo — as a people and as individuals — are for the good. But the darkness of the exile makes it impossible for people to understand that. Instead, it appears to them as though there is an entity called Nature, to which they attribute everything. As a result, they feel the bitterness of the exile — and consequently, the exile grows longer. If people were to know that everything is under God’s supervision, they would not feel any of the suffering of the exile, and they would emerge from exile to freedom. Until then, when a person sheds tears in his service of God, he draws providence onto himself, and God then has compassion on all Jews. God Does Everything for the Good God, You are Unique. You supervise and guide the world with great kindness and compassion. Everything that You do with us, in general and in every detail, is for the good. Even all the exiles, troubles and misadventures that we undergo, as a people and as individuals, are all for great good. Your holy intent is always for the good.
Lack of Awareness But because of our many sins, because of the intense darkness of our exile, immersed among the gentiles, our intellect has grown confused, to the point that we lack the awareness to understand and know that everything we undergo is due to Your individual providence and for our good. As a result, we feel intense, multiplied pain due to our troubles and exile.
The Suffering of the Exile The essence of the bitter exile, trouble and suffering that we experience is all due to the removal of awareness, such that we do not understand and know that everything is under Your providence for our eternal good, to put an end to the evil person and to sins, and to bring eternal righteousness.
If we were whole in our intellect, always knowing with complete awareness that everything is under Your supervision, we would not feel any of the suffering of the exile. Then we would return to You and hurry to emerge from exile to freedom.
But because of the darkness of the exile, many Jews have been trapped, and it appears to them as though there is an entity called Nature, Heaven forbid, and they attribute everything to nature. Because of this, they feel the bitterness of the exile, and consequently, the exile grows longer.
Now what shall we do, our Father in Heaven? The exile has grown long and caused us to be subjugated more and more. Every day we say, “What will our end be? How long, how long until the unknown end?”
When will You rule in Zion? When will the House of David regain its sovereignty? When will Israel return to You? When will we return to our Land and our holy Temple? How long will there be weeping in Zion and mourning in Jerusalem? When will You have compassion for all the troubles of our soul and our bitterness?
(And particularly now, at the time of this harsh and bitter suffering that has been decreed against us, so that Jews must go to war: Woe! Who can withstand this? Who can communicate this bitter and evil trouble that touches upon the soul?)
Master of the world, Master of the world, Helper of our forefathers, You exist from the beginning. You are a shield, saving them and their children in every generation. You have been their salvation forever, and their hope in every generation.
Have pity, mercy and compassion on us even now, at this time of great trouble. Break and nullify this harsh decree that has been passed against us, as well as all the harsh decrees that the gentiles want to pass against us, Heaven forbid.
Woe! What shall we do? Where will we flee? To where will we run for help? Woe! Woe! Woe! Would that our head were water and our eyes a source of tears! We would weep day and night for the bitterness of our suffering that has come upon us at this end of days, when death is better than life.
In the morning we say, “If only it were evening,” and in the evening we say, “If only it were day,” because of the fear in our hearts. Woe! Woe! Woe, what has come of us? What shall we say? How will we speak? How will we justify ourselves? God has discovered our sin.
“You are righteous, HaShem, and Your judgments are straight.” But where is Your great compassion and kindness, and where is the merit and might of our forefathers and holy rabbis of earlier generations?
Teach us and instruct us how to draw awareness upon ourselves even now, to know and believe that everything is under Your supervision for the good (since it seems that, according to our limited intellect, the gentiles want to force so many souls to leave the religion of Israel, which is our life and all of our hope and our trust in all the troubles and sufferings that we undergo, may the Compassionate One protect us from now on).
The Suffering of the Russian Exile You Who are filled with compassion, look upon our suffering. Our pains and the troubles of our heart are so many. Look and see to whom You have done this. Look and see that we lack the power and awareness even to arrange our prayers before You properly, because we are impoverished and empty, poor in awareness and good deeds, and filled with transgression and sin.
(Nevertheless, we are happy to die and be killed in sanctification of Your Name every day, rather than have one Jew nullify just one commandment of our holy Torah.
(Woe to the mouth that must eat forbidden foods. Woe to the holy feet of a Jew that must travel beyond the permissible border on the holy Shabbat and on festivals.
(Woe to the holy hands of Israel that must work on the Shabbat to polish their weapons, Heaven forbid, and perform other forbidden labors and sins, Heaven forbid.
(And who knows if these Jews can withstand the test and remain within the holy faith, the faith of Israel, and at any rate continue to keep what they presently keep? Woe, who can withstand this?
(Woe to us for our souls, woe for these our days and years. Woe to us, for we have been destroyed. Woe! Woe! Woe! We will beat our heads against the walls, and sackcloth and ashes will be laid out for the masses. We will put our mouths to the dust. Perhaps there is hope. Perhaps there is hope.)
HaShem, Recall Your Compassion Master of the world, Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, “Recall Your compassion, HaShem, and Your lovingkindness, because they are eternal.” Remember all of Your promises to us since the days of Abraham until now.
Recall all of the Tzaddikim in all the earlier generations until now. Remember all of the holy martyrs who were killed in sanctification of Your Name with harsh and bitter sufferings.
Remember Your children who are immersed in exile among the gentiles. Extend Your complete providence over us and take us out of the ways of nature entirely. And may all of us, Your nation, the House of Israel, know, understand and believe with complete faith that everything is under Your providence alone.
Be filled with compassion for us. Bring us out and redeem us from all troubles and exiles. Extend Your providence from the end of the world and from the final end.
In doing so, make a complete end and destruction of all the wicked gentiles who torment us. Break and nullify all the harsh decrees against us — those that have already been enacted and those that they still want to enact (particularly this intense suffering from the decree to draft Jews to be soldiers in their wars, Heaven forbid).
Have compassion on Your nation, the Jewish people, and nullify these decrees quickly, for You are great to save and no one can stop You from saving, even after the decree has been passed in Heaven and on earth.
Just as You had pity on us and saved us in the days of Mordechai and Esther, transforming grief to joy and mourning to celebration, have mercy on us now at this bitter time and nullify this trouble and decree.
Frustrate the Schemes of Our Enemies Completely uproot, break and nullify all the troubles and decrees that the gentiles want to enact, Heaven forbid. Transform everything to good and bend (the hearts of the government, its officials and advisers,) the heart of the Kaiser, may his honor be elevated, and his officials and advisers, toward us for the good, to enact good decrees, materially and spiritually, on our behalf.
Master of the world, King, Guide, Ruler and Overseer, see how downtrodden is Your nation, the Jewish people. You alone know the status and situation of the Jewish people at this time.
Look down from Heaven and see that we are an object of mockery and scorn among the nations. “They have taken counsel with one accord; they form a pact against You.” The entire essence of their intent in all their evil decrees, may the Compassionate One protect us, is to distance Israel, Heaven forbid, from the religion of our holy Torah, as You know their hidden intent.
You alone know how far their evil thought and counsels reach. “God, do not be silent, do not be still. God, do not stay quiet. Your enemies roar and Your foes lift their heads. They scheme and conspire against Your nation. They plot against the people whom You protect. They say, ‘Let us go and destroy them so that they will no longer be a nation, so that the name of Israel will never be mentioned again.’”
You Who are filled with compassion, great in counsel and vast in action, frustrate the counsel of our enemies. Do not grant them success. As the verse states, “He eradicates the thoughts of the scheming so that their hands will not act with cunning.”
“HaShem has eradicated the counsel of the peoples, thwarted the thoughts of the nations.” “Fill their faces with shame, so they will seek Your Name, HaShem.” Quickly frustrate the counsel and spoil the thoughts of all who rise against us to do evil.
May we pray and plead to You always. May we partner ourselves with the sufferings of the Jewish people, and pray and appeal a great deal always, every day, over the sufferings of Israel with a broken and oppressed heart. May we pour out our hearts like water before Your countenance, HaShem, until we weep many tears before You in truth. “With crying and with pleading, I will come before You.”
By means of these tears, may we draw Your providence onto ourselves. In response to that, have compassion on us from Heaven. Be compassionate to us in Your providence, and nullify all the troubles and all the decrees, both those that were already enacted against us and those that the gentiles wish to enact, Heaven forbid. May such a thing not occur to the Jewish people.
Have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name, because we have no one on whom to rely except You, our Father in Heaven. You do what is good in Your eyes with us. “We do not know what to do — our eyes are upon You alone.”
Inspire our hearts to return to You in truth, quickly, easily and swiftly. “God, create within me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ר"נ - הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא זוֹכֵר אֶת בָּנָיו וְמוֹרִיד שְׁנֵי דְּמָעוֹת]
יָ'חִיד הַ'מַּשְׁגִּיחַ וּ'מַנְהִיג הָ'עוֹלָם בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה עִמָּנוּ בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט, הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ כָּל הַגָּלֻיּוֹת וְהַצָּרוֹת וְכָל הַהַרְפַּתְקָאוֹת הָעוֹבְרִים עָלֵינוּ בִּכְלָלִיּוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִפְרָטִיּוּת עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה גְּדוֹלָה, כִּי כַוָּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְטוֹבָה תָמִיד.
All Troubles are for the Good / The Darkness of Exile / Shedding Tears in the Service of God
All the troubles and misadventures that the Jews undergo — as a people and as individuals — are for the good.
But the darkness of the exile makes it impossible for people to understand that. Instead, it appears to them as though there is an entity called Nature, to which they attribute everything. As a result, they feel the bitterness of the exile — and consequently, the exile grows longer.
If people were to know that everything is under God’s supervision, they would not feel any of the suffering of the exile, and they would emerge from exile to freedom.
Until then, when a person sheds tears in his service of God, he draws providence onto himself, and God then has compassion on all Jews.
God Does Everything for the Good
God, You are Unique. You supervise and guide the world with great kindness and compassion. Everything that You do with us, in general and in every detail, is for the good. Even all the exiles, troubles and misadventures that we undergo, as a people and as individuals, are all for great good. Your holy intent is always for the good.
אֲבָל בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, מֵעֹצֶם חֶשְׁכַת הַגָּלוּת, אֲשֶׁר אָנוּ שְׁרוּיִם בֵּין הָעֲכּוּ"ם, נִתְעַרְבֵּב וְנִתְבַּלְבֵּל דַּעְתֵּנוּ, עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵין בָּנוּ דַעַת לְהָבִין וְלֵידַע שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עָלֵינוּ, הַכֹּל בָּא בְּהַשְׁגָּחָה פְּרָטִיִּית מֵאִתְּךָ לְטוֹבָתֵנוּ, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אָנוּ מַרְגִּישִׁין מְאֹד כְּאֵב וּמַכְאוֹב עֹצֶם רִבּוּי צָרוֹתֵינוּ וְגָלוּתֵנוּ,
Lack of Awareness
But because of our many sins, because of the intense darkness of our exile, immersed among the gentiles, our intellect has grown confused, to the point that we lack the awareness to understand and know that everything we undergo is due to Your individual providence and for our good. As a result, we feel intense, multiplied pain due to our troubles and exile.
וּמַה נַּעֲשֶׂה, מָרָא דְּעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, כִּי אֶחָד תָּלוּי בַּחֲבֵרוֹ, כִּי הַגָּלוּת גּוֹרֵם הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַדַּעַת, וְהִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַדַּעַת גּוֹרֵם הַגָּלוּת,
What shall we do, Master of the entire world, since each one depends on the other? Exile removes awareness, and the removal of awareness causes exile.
כִּי עִקָּר הַגָּלוּת וְעִקָּר הַצָּרוֹת וְהַצַּעַר שֶׁמַּרְגִּישִׁין מְרִירוּת הַגָּלוּת, הַכֹּל הוּא מֵחֲמַת הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַדַּעַת, מַה שֶּׁאֵין אָנוּ מְבִינִין וְיוֹדְעִין שֶׁהַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ לְבַד לְטוֹבוֹתֵינוּ הַנִּצְחִיוֹת, וּלְכַלֵּא הָרֶשַׁע וּלְהָתֵם חַטָּאוֹת וּלְהָבִיא צֶדֶק עוֹלָמִים,
The Suffering of the Exile
The essence of the bitter exile, trouble and suffering that we experience is all due to the removal of awareness, such that we do not understand and know that everything is under Your providence for our eternal good, to put an end to the evil person and to sins, and to bring eternal righteousness.
כִּי אִם הָיִינוּ שְׁלֵמִים בְּדַעְתֵּנוּ לָדַעַת תָּמִיד בְּדַעַת שָׁלֵם שֶׁהַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ מֵאִתְּךָ, לֹא הָיִינוּ מַרְגִּישִׁים כְּלָל צַעַר הַגָּלוּת, וְאָז הָיִינוּ שָׁבִים אֵלֶיךָ וְהָיִינוּ מְמַהֲרִים לָצֵאת לְחֵרוּת מֵהַגָּלוּת,
If we were whole in our intellect, always knowing with complete awareness that everything is under Your supervision, we would not feel any of the suffering of the exile. Then we would return to You and hurry to emerge from exile to freedom.
אֲבָל מֵחֲמַת חֶשְׁכַת הַגָּלוּת נִלְכְּדוּ כַּמָּה מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ, שֶׁנִּדְמֶה לָהֶם כְּאִלּוּ יֵשׁ טֶבַע חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְתוֹלִין בַּטֶּבַע, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה מַרְגִּישִׁין מְרִירוּת הַגָּלוּת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מִתְאָרֵךְ הַגָּלוּת כָּל כָּךְ.
But because of the darkness of the exile, many Jews have been trapped, and it appears to them as though there is an entity called Nature, Heaven forbid, and they attribute everything to nature. Because of this, they feel the bitterness of the exile, and consequently, the exile grows longer.
וְעַתָּה מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, כִּי אָרַךְ עָלֵינוּ הַגָּלוּת וּמָשַׁךְ עָלֵינוּ הַשִּׁעְבּוּד מְאֹד מְאֹד, יוֹם יוֹם נֹאמַר מַה יִּהְיֶה בְּסוֹפֵנוּ, וְעַד מָתַי, וְעַד מָתַי קֵץ הַפְּלָאוֹת.
Now what shall we do, our Father in Heaven? The exile has grown long and caused us to be subjugated more and more. Every day we say, “What will our end be? How long, how long until the unknown end?”
מָתַי תִּמְלֹךְ בְּצִיּוֹן. מָתַי תָּשׁוּב הַמְּלוּכָה לְבֵית דָּוִד. מָתַי תָּשִׁיב יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלֶיךָ. מָתַי תָּשׁוּב לְאַרְצֵנוּ וּלְבֵית מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ. עַד אָנָה בְּכִיָּה בְּצִיּוֹן וּמִסְפֵּד בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם. מָתַי תְּרַחֵם עַל כָּל צָרוֹת נַפְשֵׁנוּ וּמְרִירוּתֵנוּ,
When will You rule in Zion? When will the House of David regain its sovereignty? When will Israel return to You? When will we return to our Land and our holy Temple? How long will there be weeping in Zion and mourning in Jerusalem? When will You have compassion for all the troubles of our soul and our bitterness?
(וּבִפְרָט עַתָּה בְּעֵת צָרָה הַקָּשָׁה וְהַמָּרָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר נִגְזְרָה עָלֵינוּ, לִהְיוֹת יְהוּדִי יַעֲלֶה לְמִלְחָמָה אוֹי מִי יָקוּם בָּזֶה. מִי יָכוֹל לְסַפֵּר צָרָה הַמָּרָה הַזֹּאת, כִּי רַע וָמָר, כִּי נָגַע עַד הַנֶּפֶשׁ):
(And particularly now, at the time of this harsh and bitter suffering that has been decreed against us, so that Jews must go to war: Woe! Who can withstand this? Who can communicate this bitter and evil trouble that touches upon the soul?)
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עֶזְרַת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַתָּה הוּא מֵעוֹלָם, מָגֵן וּמוֹשִׁיעַ לָהֶם וְלִבְנֵיהֶם אַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר. תְּשׁוּעָתָם הָיִיתָ לָנֶצַח וְתִקְוָתָם בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
Master of the world, Master of the world, Helper of our forefathers, You exist from the beginning. You are a shield, saving them and their children in every generation. You have been their salvation forever, and their hope in every generation.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ גַּם עַתָּה בְּעֵת צָרָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת, וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְבַטֵּל אֶת כָּל הַגְּזֵרָה הַקָּשָׁה הַזֹּאת שֶׁנִּגְזְרָה עָלֵינוּ, וְכָל הַגְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁרוֹצִים לִגְזֹר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Have pity, mercy and compassion on us even now, at this time of great trouble. Break and nullify this harsh decree that has been passed against us, as well as all the harsh decrees that the gentiles want to pass against us, Heaven forbid.
כִּי מִי יוּכַל לִסְבֹּל צָרוֹת כָּאֵלֶּה רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, כִּי כֻלָּם נוֹגְעִים בְּדַת תּוֹרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּדוֹשָׁה.
Who can bear troubles such as these? May the Compassionate One protect us, because they all affect the religion of the holy Torah of Israel.
אוֹי, מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה, לְהֵיכָן נִבְרַח, לְהֵיכָן נָנוּס לְעֶזְרָה, אוֹי, אוֹי, אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, מִי יִתֵּן רֹאשֵׁנוּ מַיִם וְעֵינֵינוּ מְקוֹר דִּמְעָה וְנִבְכֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה עַל מְרִירוּת צָרוֹתֵינוּ, אֲשֶׁר הִגִּיעָנוּ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה, אֲשֶׁר טוֹב מָוֶת מֵחַיִּים.
Woe! What shall we do? Where will we flee? To where will we run for help? Woe! Woe! Woe! Would that our head were water and our eyes a source of tears! We would weep day and night for the bitterness of our suffering that has come upon us at this end of days, when death is better than life.
בַּבֹּקֶר נֹאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עֶרֶב, וּבַעֶרֶב נֹאמַר מִי יִתֵּן בֹּקֶר מִפַּחַד לְבָבֵנוּ. אוֹי, אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ. מַה נֹּאמַר מַה נְּדַבֵּר וּמַה נִּצְטַדָּק הָאֱלֹהִים מָצָא אֶת עֲוֹנֵינוּ.
In the morning we say, “If only it were evening,” and in the evening we say, “If only it were day,” because of the fear in our hearts. Woe! Woe! Woe, what has come of us? What shall we say? How will we speak? How will we justify ourselves? God has discovered our sin.
צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהֹוָה וְיָשָׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, אֲבָל אַיֵּה רַחֲמָנוּתְךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, וְאַיֵּה זְכוּת וְכֹחַ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה.
“You are righteous, HaShem, and Your judgments are straight.” But where is Your great compassion and kindness, and where is the merit and might of our forefathers and holy rabbis of earlier generations?
לַמְּדֵנוּ וְהוֹרֵנוּ, אֵיךְ לְהַמְּשִׁיךְ הַדַּעַת עָלֵינוּ גַּם עַתָּה לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין שֶׁהַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ לְטוֹבָה, (מֵאַחַר שֶׁלְּפִי קָט שִׂכְלֵנוּ נִרְאָה שֶׁרוֹצִים לְהַעֲבִיר כָּל כָּךְ נְפָשׁוֹת עַל דָת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר הוּא חַיֵּינוּ וְכָל תִקְוָתֵנוּ וּמִבְטָחֵנוּ בְּכָל הַצָּרוֹת וְהַיִּסּוּרִים שֶׁעוֹבְרִים עָלֵינוּ רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן מֵעָתָּה):
Teach us and instruct us how to draw awareness upon ourselves even now, to know and believe that everything is under Your supervision for the good (since it seems that, according to our limited intellect, the gentiles want to force so many souls to leave the religion of Israel, which is our life and all of our hope and our trust in all the troubles and sufferings that we undergo, may the Compassionate One protect us from now on).
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַבִּיטָה בְעָנְיֵנוּ, כִּי רַבּוּ מַכְאוֹבֵינוּ וְצָרוֹת לְבָבֵינוּ. הַבִּיטָה וּרְאֵה לְמִי עוֹלַלְתָּ כֹּה. הַבִּיטָה וּרְאֵה כִּי אֵין בָּנוּ כֹחַ וָדַעַת אֲפִלּוּ לְסַדֵּר תְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ כָּרָאוּי, כִּי דַלִּים וְרֵקִים אֲנַחְנוּ, דַּלִּים מִדַּעַת וּמִמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, וּמְלֵאִים חֵטְא וְעָוֹן.
The Suffering of the Russian Exile
You Who are filled with compassion, look upon our suffering. Our pains and the troubles of our heart are so many. Look and see to whom You have done this. Look and see that we lack the power and awareness even to arrange our prayers before You properly, because we are impoverished and empty, poor in awareness and good deeds, and filled with transgression and sin.
(אֲבָל אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אָנוּ מְרוּצִים לָמוּת וּלֵהַרֵג עַל קִדּוּשׁ שְׁמֶךָ בְּכָל יוֹם וְלֹא לְבַטֵּל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל מִדַּת תּוֹרָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
(Nevertheless, we are happy to die and be killed in sanctification of Your Name every day, rather than have one Jew nullify just one commandment of our holy Torah.
אוֹי לְעֵינֵינוּ שֶׁיִּרְאוּ שֶׁמְּגַלְּחִין לְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ פֵּאוֹת רֹאשׁוֹ וּזְקָנוֹ, וּמֻכְרָח אַחַר זֶה בְּעַצְמוֹ לְגַלֵּחַ אוֹתָם בְּכָל עֵת,
(Woe to our eyes that see how they shave a Jew’s sidelocks and beard against his will, and after that he is forced to shave himself.
אוֹי לַפֶּה שֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לֶאֱכוֹל מַאֲכָלוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, אוֹי לְרַגְלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶּׁיִּצְטָרְכוּ לֵילֵךְ בְּשַׁבָּת וְיוֹם טוֹב קוֹדֶשׁ חוּץ לַתְּחוּם,
(Woe to the mouth that must eat forbidden foods. Woe to the holy feet of a Jew that must travel beyond the permissible border on the holy Shabbat and on festivals.
אוֹי לִידֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶּׁיִּצְטָרְכוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה בְּשַׁבָּת לְצַחְצֵחַ כְּלֵי זֵינָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּשְׁאָרֵי מְלָאכוֹת וּשְׁאָרֵי עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מֻכְרָחִים לַעֲשׂוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
(Woe to the holy hands of Israel that must work on the Shabbat to polish their weapons, Heaven forbid, and perform other forbidden labors and sins, Heaven forbid.
וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם יוּכְלוּ לַעֲמוֹד בְּנִסָּיוֹן לְהִשָּׁאֵר בְּהָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁהִיא אֱמוּנַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְקַיֵּם עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים מַה שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְקַיֵּם, אוֹי מִי יוּכַל לַעֲמוֹד בָּזֶה,
(And who knows if these Jews can withstand the test and remain within the holy faith, the faith of Israel, and at any rate continue to keep what they presently keep? Woe, who can withstand this?
אוֹי עַל נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ, אוֹי עַל יָמֵינוּ וּשְׁנוֹתֵינוּ אֵלֶּה, אוֹי לָנוּ כִּי שֻׁדָּדְנוּ, אוֹי, אוֹי, אוֹי, נִבְטוֹשׁ רֵישָׁא בְּכוֹתְלֵי דְּבֵיתָא, וְשַׂק וָאֵפֶר יֻצַּע לָרַבִּים, נִתַן בֶּעָפָר פִּינוּ אוּלַי יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה, אוּלַי יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה):
(Woe to us for our souls, woe for these our days and years. Woe to us, for we have been destroyed. Woe! Woe! Woe! We will beat our heads against the walls, and sackcloth and ashes will be laid out for the masses. We will put our mouths to the dust. Perhaps there is hope. Perhaps there is hope.)
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים זְכֹר רַחֲמֶיךָ יְהֹוָה וַחֲסָדֶיךָ כִּי מֵעוֹלָם הֵמָּה. זְכֹר אֶת כָּל הַהַבְטָחוֹת שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ מִימוֹת אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עַד הֵנָּה.
HaShem, Recall Your Compassion
Master of the world, Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, “Recall Your compassion, HaShem, and Your lovingkindness, because they are eternal.” Remember all of Your promises to us since the days of Abraham until now.
זְכֹר אֶת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁהָיוּ בְּכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת מֵאָז וְעַד עָתָּה. זְכֹר אֶת כָּל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ עַל קְדֻשַּׁת שְׁמֶךָ בְּיִסּוּרִים קָשִׁים וּמָרִים.
Recall all of the Tzaddikim in all the earlier generations until now. Remember all of the holy martyrs who were killed in sanctification of Your Name with harsh and bitter sufferings.
זְכֹר וּרְאֵה אֶת כָּל הַדְּמָעוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁפְּכוּ עַל צָרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאָז וְעַד עָתָּה.
Remember and see all of the tears that were spilled over the troubles of the Jewish people from then until now.
זְכֹר אֶת בָּנֶיךָ הַשְּׁרוּיִם בְּגָלוּת בֵּין הָעֲכּוּ"ם, וְהַמְשֵׁךְ עָלֵינוּ הַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ הַשְּׁלֵמָה וְהוֹצֵא אוֹתָנוּ מִדֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע לְגַמְרֵי. וְנִזְכֶּה כֻלָּנוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין וּלְהַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁהַכֹּל בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ לְבַד.
Remember Your children who are immersed in exile among the gentiles. Extend Your complete providence over us and take us out of the ways of nature entirely. And may all of us, Your nation, the House of Israel, know, understand and believe with complete faith that everything is under Your providence alone.
וְתִמָּלֵא עָלֵינוּ רַחֲמִים, וְתוֹצִיאֵנוּ וְתִפְדֵּנוּ וְתִגְאָלֵנוּ מִכָּל הַצָּרוֹת וּמִכָּל הַגָּלֻיּוֹת, וְתַמְשִׁיךְ הַהַשְׁגָּחָה מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וּמִקֵּץ הָאַחֲרוֹן.
Be filled with compassion for us. Bring us out and redeem us from all troubles and exiles. Extend Your providence from the end of the world and from the final end.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַּעֲשֶׂה סוֹף וָקֵץ וּגְמַר וְכִלָּיוֹן מִכָּל הָעֲכּוּ"ם הָרְשָׁעִים הַמְּצֵרִים לָנוּ, וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַגְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת מֵעָלֵינוּ, הֵן אוֹתָן שֶׁכְּבָר נִגְזְרוּ, הֵן אוֹתָן שֶׁרוֹצִים לִגְזֹר, (בִּפְרָט עוֹצֶם הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁכְּבָר נִגְזְרָה, לִיקָח בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאַנְשֵׁי חָיִל לְמִלְחַמְתָּם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם):
In doing so, make a complete end and destruction of all the wicked gentiles who torment us. Break and nullify all the harsh decrees against us — those that have already been enacted and those that they still want to enact (particularly this intense suffering from the decree to draft Jews to be soldiers in their wars, Heaven forbid).
רַחֵם רַחֵם עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבַטֵּל אוֹתָם מֵעָלֵינוּ מְהֵרָה, כִּי אַתָּה רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ, וְאֵין מַעְצוֹר לַיהֹוָה לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֲפִלּוּ אַחַר גְּזַר דִּין לְמַעְלָה וּלְמַטָּה.
Have compassion on Your nation, the Jewish people, and nullify these decrees quickly, for You are great to save and no one can stop You from saving, even after the decree has been passed in Heaven and on earth.
וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁחָמַלְתָּ עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ אוֹתָנוּ בִּימֵי מָרְדְּכַי וְאֶסְתֵּר וְהָפַכְתָּ מִיָּגוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה וּמֵאֵבֶל לְיוֹם טוֹב, כֵּן תַּחְמֹל עָלֵינוּ גַּם בָּעֵת הַמָּרָה הַזֹּאת, וּתְבַטֵּל הַצָּרָה וְהַגְּזֵרָה הַזֹּאת מֵעָלֵינוּ.
Just as You had pity on us and saved us in the days of Mordechai and Esther, transforming grief to joy and mourning to celebration, have mercy on us now at this bitter time and nullify this trouble and decree.
וְכָל הַצָּרוֹת וְהַגְּזֵרוֹת שֶׁרוֹצִים לִגְזֹר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כֻּלָּם תַּעַקְרֵם וּתְשַׁבְּרֵם וּתְבַטְּלֵם בְּבִטּוּל גָּמוּר, וְתַהֲפֹךְ הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה וְתַטֵּה לֵב הַמַּלְכוּת שָׂרָיו וְיוֹעֲצָיו (לֵב הַקֵּיסָר יָרוּם הוֹדוֹ וְהַשָּׂרִים וְהַיּוֹעֲצִים) עָלֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה, וְתִגְזֹר עָלֵינוּ גְּזֵרוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת:
Frustrate the Schemes of Our Enemies
Completely uproot, break and nullify all the troubles and decrees that the gentiles want to enact, Heaven forbid. Transform everything to good and bend (the hearts of the government, its officials and advisers,) the heart of the Kaiser, may his honor be elevated, and his officials and advisers, toward us for the good, to enact good decrees, materially and spiritually, on our behalf.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מֶלֶךְ מַנְהִיג מוֹשֵׁל וּמַשְׁגִּיחַ, רְאֵה אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְרוּדִים מְאֹד. אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲמָד וּמַצָּב שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת,
Master of the world, King, Guide, Ruler and Overseer, see how downtrodden is Your nation, the Jewish people. You alone know the status and situation of the Jewish people at this time.
הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה כִּי הָיִינוּ לַעַג וָקֶלֶס בַּגּוֹיִם, כִּי נוֹעֲצוּ לֵב יַחְדָּו עָלֶיךָ בְּרִית יִכְרוֹתוּ, כִּי כָל פְּנִימִיּוּת כַּוָּנָתָם בְּכָל גְּזֵרוֹתֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, הַכֹּל כְּדֵי לְהַרְחִיק יִשְׂרָאֵל חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מִדַּת תּוֹרָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ צְפוּן לִבָּם.
Look down from Heaven and see that we are an object of mockery and scorn among the nations. “They have taken counsel with one accord; they form a pact against You.” The entire essence of their intent in all their evil decrees, may the Compassionate One protect us, is to distance Israel, Heaven forbid, from the religion of our holy Torah, as You know their hidden intent.
אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ עַד הֵיכָן מַגִּיעַ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָם וַעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת. אֱלֹהִים אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ אַל תֶּחֱרַשׁ וְאַל תִּשְׁקֹט אֵל. כִּי הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ יֶהֱמָיוּן וּמְשַׂנְאֶיךָ נָשְׂאוּ רֹאשׁ. עַל עַמְּךָ יַעֲרִימוּ סוֹד וְיִתְיָעֲצוּ עַל צְפוּנֶיךָ. אָמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַכְחִידֵם מִגּוֹי וְלֹא יִזָּכֵר שֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹד.
You alone know how far their evil thought and counsels reach. “God, do not be silent, do not be still. God, do not stay quiet. Your enemies roar and Your foes lift their heads. They scheme and conspire against Your nation. They plot against the people whom You protect. They say, ‘Let us go and destroy them so that they will no longer be a nation, so that the name of Israel will never be mentioned again.’”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, גְּדוֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה, סַכֶּל נָא עֲצַת שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ, וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂינָה יְדֵיהֶם תֻּשִׁיָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, מֵפֵר מַחְשְׁבוֹת עֲרוּמִים וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂינָה יְדֵיהֶם תֻּשִׁיָּה.
You Who are filled with compassion, great in counsel and vast in action, frustrate the counsel of our enemies. Do not grant them success. As the verse states, “He eradicates the thoughts of the scheming so that their hands will not act with cunning.”
וּכְתִיב, יְהֹוָה הֵפִיר עֲצַת גּוֹיִם הֵנִיא מַחְשְׁבוֹת עַמִּים. מַלֵּא פְנֵיהֶם קָלוֹן וִיבַקְשׁוּ שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה. וְכָל הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ לְרָעָה מְהֵרָה הָפֵר עֲצָתָם וְקַלְקֵל מַחֲשַׁבְתָּם.
“HaShem has eradicated the counsel of the peoples, thwarted the thoughts of the nations.” “Fill their faces with shame, so they will seek Your Name, HaShem.” Quickly frustrate the counsel and spoil the thoughts of all who rise against us to do evil.
וְתֵן בְּלִבֵּנוּ חָכְמָה בִּינָה וָדַעַת, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין תָּמִיד בְּהַשְׁגָּחָה הַפְּרָטִית, שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְנַהֵג בְּהַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ הַפְּרָטִית לְבַד.
Place wisdom, understanding and knowledge in our hearts so that we will always believe that everything occurs under Your individual providence alone.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ תָמִיד, וְנִשְׁתַּתֵּף עַצְמֵנוּ בְּצָרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִתְפַּלֵּל וְנַעְתִּיר הַרְבֵּה תָמִיד בְּכָל יוֹם עַל צָרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּלֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה. וְנִשְׁפֹּךְ לִבֵּנוּ כַמַּיִם נוֹכַח פָּנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה, עַד אֲשֶׁר נוֹרִיד דְּמָעוֹת הַרְבֵּה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. בִּבְכִי וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים אָבוֹא לְפָנֶיךָ.
May we pray and plead to You always. May we partner ourselves with the sufferings of the Jewish people, and pray and appeal a great deal always, every day, over the sufferings of Israel with a broken and oppressed heart. May we pour out our hearts like water before Your countenance, HaShem, until we weep many tears before You in truth. “With crying and with pleading, I will come before You.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עַל־יְדֵי הַדְּמָעוֹת הַשְׁגָּחָתְךָ עָלֵינוּ, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְתַשְׁגִּיחַ עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים וּתְבַטֵּל מֵעָלֵינוּ כָּל הַצָּרוֹת וְכָל הַגְּזֵרוֹת, הֵן אוֹתָם שֶׁכְּבָר נִגְזְרוּ עָלֵינוּ, וְהֵן אוֹתָם שֶׁחֲפֵצִים לִגְזֹר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לֹא תְהֵא כָזֹאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
By means of these tears, may we draw Your providence onto ourselves. In response to that, have compassion on us from Heaven. Be compassionate to us in Your providence, and nullify all the troubles and all the decrees, both those that were already enacted against us and those that the gentiles wish to enact, Heaven forbid. May such a thing not occur to the Jewish people.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, כִּי אֵין לָנוּ עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. אַתָּה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ, וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נֵדַע מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי עָלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ.
Have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name, because we have no one on whom to rely except You, our Father in Heaven. You do what is good in Your eyes with us. “We do not know what to do — our eyes are upon You alone.”
וְתֵן בְּלִבֵּנוּ שֶׁנָּשׁוּב כֻּלָּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה. לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי.
Inspire our hearts to return to You in truth, quickly, easily and swiftly. “God, create within me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
וּתְמַהֵר וְתָחִישׁ לְגָאֳלֵינוּ גְאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה וְתָבִיא לָנוּ אֶת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
Hurry to redeem us completely and bring us our righteous Mashiach quickly, in our days. Amen, selah.