A Person’s Greatest Obstacles are Those of His Mind / The Obstacles Contain God Himself Every Jew serves God with devotion and self-sacrifice every day of his life, and even at every moment. For instance, a person’s money is related to his soul, in that he dedicates so much effort and risks so much danger to earn it. Yet, having done so, he surrenders it to God when he gives charity. That act is analogous to giving up his soul. Prayer, too, is an act of self-sacrifice, because a person must invest so much effort in his struggle with distracting thoughts, implementing different stratagems so that he will be able to concentrate. Every person thinks that his obstacles to serving God — such as traveling to a true Tzaddik — are greater than anyone else’s. And he thinks that they are overwhelming. But a person only has obstacles that he can deal with. In fact, there are no obstacles at all, because the obstacles themselves contain God. A person’s greatest obstacle is that generated by his own mind, which is divided from God or from the Tzaddik. For instance, he may overcome the practical obstacles that had kept him from traveling to the true Tzaddik. But if his mind remains unpersuaded and he entertains doubts and suspicions about the Tzaddik, that keeps him away from the Tzaddik more than anything else could. In prayer as well a person has to overcome a number of obstacles before he can engage in the act of prayer. But if his heart is wrestling with God, if he is filled with questions and doubts about God, that is the greatest obstacle to prayer. In such a situation, a person must cry out to his Father in Heaven from the depths of his heart. Then God listens to his voice, and that is his salvation. The Baal Shem Tov tells of a king who had a great treasury that he surrounded with a series of concentric walls whose existence was an illusion. A few people who came to gain the treasure turned back immediately. Some broke through one wall but couldn’t breach the second. Some broke more walls but couldn’t break them all. Then the king’s son came and said, “I know that all of these walls are an illusion, that there is no wall at all.” He walked forward confidently and passed through all of them. All of a person’s obstacles, distractions and enticements are walls around the treasury of the fear of Heaven. They are really nothing. The principal factor in overcoming them is a strong heart. Then there are no obstacles, such as concerns about money or the objections raised by one’s wife, children, parents or in-laws. All of these obstacles are nullified before a person whose heart is strong for God, just as the might of the greatest warrior is due only to his eagerness to leap into battle. Passing by and Leaping over All Obstacles “My soul yearns to exhaustion for the courtyards of HaShem. My heart and flesh sing to the God of my life.”
“I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, what should you tell him? That I am lovesick.” “I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, why should you awaken and why should you arouse love before it is ripe?”
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who love Your nation, the Jewish people, You are “great in counsel and mighty in deed.” You know the myriad obstacles that keep us from the path of life.
These obstacles stand against every one of us like walls of iron, like rushing rivers and streams of fire. They surround us, they encompass us all around. “They surrounded me like water the entire day; they have all encircled me.”
Because of the multitude of these obstacles, we have been distanced from You tremendously. But in Your vast compassion, You have informed us that You are hidden in the obstacles themselves, due to Your great love for all of the children of Israel, Your nation.
Whoever possesses awareness can enter into the darkness of the cloud and mist — that is, into the very core of the obstacles — and find You there, HaShem, because You, HaShem, are concealed and hidden in the obstacles themselves.
But what shall I do? My lack of awareness is so great that I stand far away from You for so long, unable to overcome the many obstacles that stand in my way like walls and draw close to You.
In truth, I know to some degree and believe with complete faith that I can break and nullify these obstacles — because, in truth, they are not obstacles at all.
Nevertheless, they grow in strength against me and spread out before me, so that I do not know how to break them and nullify them. Therefore, I come to You Who are filled with compassion, Who grant awareness to every human being, to guide me, teach me and give me awareness, understanding, wisdom, true intelligence and true counsel at every moment.
May I truly know and understand that all of these obstacles are but an illusion, a mirage, and that when a person bolsters his heart and strengthens himself against them by summoning great yearning and a powerful desire for You, HaShem, they are completely nullified before him.
May I nullify and break all obstacles in the world — whether those caused by others, or by the desires of my own coarse body, or any other type of obstacle — that hold a person back from the way of holiness and truth.
As a result of Your placing power and might in my heart to conquer my evil inclination and strengthen my heart with tremendous encouragement to withstand these obstacles, may I break, nullify and remove them all entirely. May I not be afraid of them at all. May I be victorious in the war and unharmed.
Overcoming Obstacles of the Mind Have compassion on me. Save me and rescue me from the obstacles of my mind — all of the doubts and confusions in my mind that cause me to question the Tzaddikim and worthy people of the generation, or to question Your traits, Heaven forbid.
The obstacles of the mind are greater than any other obstacle in the world. When a person’s mind and heart possess a strong, complete faith in You, HaShem, and in the true Tzaddikim, no obstacle can stop him.
But when, Heaven forbid, one’s mind and heart are divided from You, HaShem, and from the Tzaddikim, and questions about them arise in his heart, these obstacles are more overwhelming than all others.
Therefore, I have come to cry out and call out to You, because my only hope to be saved from these questions is to call out to You. “To You, HaShem, I call, and to HaShem, I plead.” “HaShem, hear my voice when I call out; be gracious to me and answer me.”
Help me, save me, rescue me. Extricate me and deliver me from every type of question, doubt, confusion and obstacle in my mind, so that I will pay them no heed, and they will no longer arise and enter my heart, mind and consciousness at all.
May I always possess knowledge and understanding together with complete, robust and proper faith, without any doubt or confusion, and may I never go the least bit astray.
Relying on God Alone May I strengthen myself to overcome the obstacles and physical barriers erected by other human beings, or those created by the desires of my own body. May I empower myself and grow stronger to withstand them all.
May I truly enter into Your ways, HaShem. May I come close to You, to the Tzaddikim, and to truly worthy people. May I truly serve You with fear and love, turning away from evil and doing good. May I truly begin and complete all holy matters in accordance with Your will — quickly, swiftly and speedily.
Should any questions or doubts about the truth enter my heart, Heaven forbid, have compassion on me. May I immediately cry out and call out to You with a strong voice from the depths of my heart. And may You, in Your vast compassion, answer me immediately.
I cry out, “Here I am!” For I have no one on whom to rely to withstand all obstacles — in particular, the obstacles in my mind — except You, my Father in Heaven.
I rely on You alone. I trust in Your great lovingkindness: that You will guide me and teach me how to prevail, how to enter the essence of the obstacles in order to come close to You — specifically, by means of those obstacles themselves.
HaShem, You Yourself are hidden in the obstacles. There is no end to Your greatness, and Your thoughts are extremely deep. “You are elevated forever, HaShem.”
All that You make a person experience — even that which appears to consist of obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of holiness — is for the good and for wondrous salvation.
Have compassion on us. Teach us, guide us, strengthen us and fortify us. Send me and all Jews power and might in our heart from Heaven, so that from now on I will no longer fear anything in the world.
Instead, at every moment may I be like a warrior ready for battle, not fearing any worldly desire, thought or confusion, and not fearing anyone or anything in the world.
May I be rescued and delivered from everything that I need to be rescued and delivered from. May I no longer return to my foolishness. May I not incur any blemishes at all in thought, speech or deed, in eyesight or in any of the other senses.
Strengthen me and support me so that I can leap over all of the barriers and break and nullify them all, and truly enter into holiness. From now on may I begin to truly come close to You, in accordance with Your good will.
My Father in Heaven, have compassion on me. Fulfill my requests with compassion, because my only hope is in prayer and beseeching You, and in the great power of the true Tzaddikim. Treat me in the way that is good in Your eyes.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Do not reject or abandon me. You Who are filled with compassion, help me, save me. “Bring about salvations in the midst of the earth.” Help me follow Your laws. May I guard Your commandments from now and forever.
Answer us, HaShem, for we are in great difficulty in the midst of this bitter exile — which is principally the exile of the soul. The desires of the body, confused consciousness, and the multitude of obstacles created by other people have all multiplied and risen to our necks, threatening to keep us from the way of life, Heaven forbid.
Graciously grant us wisdom, understanding and true awareness so that we will withstand all of these and pay them no mind, but truly come close to holiness.
May we always find You in the midst of the multiplying obstacles, because You are hidden and concealed in them in Your vast compassion and great love for us, Your nation, the House of Israel.
Help us always find You within the concealments and obstacles themselves. “Do not hide Your face from me on my day of trouble; incline Your ear to me; on the day that I call, quickly answer me.” “Approach my soul, redeem it against my enemies, deliver me.”
“And now my head will be raised over my enemies around me, and in His tent I will offer sacrifices with joyous song. I will sing and chant praises to HaShem. HaShem, hear my voice when I call out; be gracious to me and answer me.”
“Turn to me and be gracious to me. Grant Your might to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant. Send me a sign for the good; let my enemies see it and be ashamed, for You, HaShem, help me and console me.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה מ"ו - מְסִירַת־נֶפֶשׁ יֵשׁ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל]
נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי לְחַצְרוֹת יְהֹוָה, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.
A Person’s Greatest Obstacles are Those of His Mind / The Obstacles Contain God Himself
Every Jew serves God with devotion and self-sacrifice every day of his life, and even at every moment. For instance, a person’s money is related to his soul, in that he dedicates so much effort and risks so much danger to earn it. Yet, having done so, he surrenders it to God when he gives charity. That act is analogous to giving up his soul.
Prayer, too, is an act of self-sacrifice, because a person must invest so much effort in his struggle with distracting thoughts, implementing different stratagems so that he will be able to concentrate.
Every person thinks that his obstacles to serving God — such as traveling to a true Tzaddik — are greater than anyone else’s. And he thinks that they are overwhelming. But a person only has obstacles that he can deal with. In fact, there are no obstacles at all, because the obstacles themselves contain God.
A person’s greatest obstacle is that generated by his own mind, which is divided from God or from the Tzaddik.
For instance, he may overcome the practical obstacles that had kept him from traveling to the true Tzaddik. But if his mind remains unpersuaded and he entertains doubts and suspicions about the Tzaddik, that keeps him away from the Tzaddik more than anything else could.
In prayer as well a person has to overcome a number of obstacles before he can engage in the act of prayer. But if his heart is wrestling with God, if he is filled with questions and doubts about God, that is the greatest obstacle to prayer.
In such a situation, a person must cry out to his Father in Heaven from the depths of his heart. Then God listens to his voice, and that is his salvation.
The Baal Shem Tov tells of a king who had a great treasury that he surrounded with a series of concentric walls whose existence was an illusion. A few people who came to gain the treasure turned back immediately. Some broke through one wall but couldn’t breach the second. Some broke more walls but couldn’t break them all. Then the king’s son came and said, “I know that all of these walls are an illusion, that there is no wall at all.” He walked forward confidently and passed through all of them.
All of a person’s obstacles, distractions and enticements are walls around the treasury of the fear of Heaven. They are really nothing. The principal factor in overcoming them is a strong heart. Then there are no obstacles, such as concerns about money or the objections raised by one’s wife, children, parents or in-laws. All of these obstacles are nullified before a person whose heart is strong for God, just as the might of the greatest warrior is due only to his eagerness to leap into battle.
Passing by and Leaping over All Obstacles
“My soul yearns to exhaustion for the courtyards of HaShem. My heart and flesh sing to the God of my life.”
כָּלָה שְׁאֵרִי וּלְבָבִי, צוּר לְבָבִי וְחֶלְקִי אֱלֹהִים לְעוֹלָם.
“My flesh and heart have all but expired, Rock of my heart. My portion is God forever.”
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי מָתַי אָבוֹא וְאֵרָאֶה פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים.
“My spirit thirsts for God, for the Living God. When will I come and see the face of God?”
הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אִם תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת דּוֹדִי מַה תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, מַה תָּעִירוּ וּמַה תְּעוֹרְרוּ אֶת הָאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ:
“I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, what should you tell him? That I am lovesick.” “I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, why should you awaken and why should you arouse love before it is ripe?”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל. גְּדֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת הַמּוֹנְעִין אוֹתָנוּ מִדֶּרֶךְ הַחַיִּים,
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who love Your nation, the Jewish people, You are “great in counsel and mighty in deed.” You know the myriad obstacles that keep us from the path of life.
אֲשֶׁר עָמְדוּ כְּנֶגְדֵּנוּ, כְּנֶגֶד כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּפְרָטִיּוּת, כְּחוֹמוֹת בַּרְזֶל וְכִנְחָלִים שׁוֹטְפִים וְנַהֲרֵי אֵשׁ, סַבּוּנוּ גַּם סְבָבוּנוּ מִכָּל צַד. סַבּוּנִי כַמַּיִם כָּל הַיּוֹם הִקִּיפוּ עָלַי יָחַד,
These obstacles stand against every one of us like walls of iron, like rushing rivers and streams of fire. They surround us, they encompass us all around. “They surrounded me like water the entire day; they have all encircled me.”
וּמֵרִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת נִתְרַחַקְנוּ מִמְּךָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְרַחַקְנוּ. אֲבָל אַתָּה הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁגַּם בְּהַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּעַצְמָן אַתָּה בְּעַצְמְךָ נִסְתָּר בָּהֶם מֵרֹב אַהֲבָתְךָ אֶת כָּל זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ.
Because of the multitude of these obstacles, we have been distanced from You tremendously. But in Your vast compassion, You have informed us that You are hidden in the obstacles themselves, due to Your great love for all of the children of Israel, Your nation.
וּמִי שֶׁהוּא בַּר דַּעַת יָכוֹל לָגֶשֶׁת לְתוֹךְ חֶשְׁכַּת הֶעָנָן וְהָעֲרָפֶל, דְּהַיְּנוּ לְתוֹךְ תֹּקֶף הִתְגַּבְּרוּת הַמְּנִיעוֹת, וְלִמְצֹא שָׁם אֶת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי שָׁם בְּהַמְּנִיעָה בְּעַצְמָהּ נִסְתָּר וְנֶעְלָם הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.
Whoever possesses awareness can enter into the darkness of the cloud and mist — that is, into the very core of the obstacles — and find You there, HaShem, because You, HaShem, are concealed and hidden in the obstacles themselves.
אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה אָנֹכִי הַחֲסַר דֵּעָה, אֲשֶׁר מֵעֹצֶם חֶסְרוֹן דַּעְתִּי אֲנִי עוֹמֵד מֵרָחוֹק זֶה כַּמָּה זְמַנִּים, שֶׁאֵינִי מִתְגַּבֵּר לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ מֵחֲמַת רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת הַמַּפְסִיקִים לְפָנַי כְּחוֹמוֹת מַמָּשׁ.
But what shall I do? My lack of awareness is so great that I stand far away from You for so long, unable to overcome the many obstacles that stand in my way like walls and draw close to You.
וּבֶאֱמֶת אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ קְצָת, וַאֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדִי לְשַׁבְּרָם וּלְבַטְּלָם, כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֵינָם מְנִיעוֹת כְּלָל.
In truth, I know to some degree and believe with complete faith that I can break and nullify these obstacles — because, in truth, they are not obstacles at all.
אֲבָל אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים כְּנֶגְדִּי וּמִשְׁתַּטְּחִים לְפָנַי כָּל כָּךְ, שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ לְשַׁבְּרָם וּלְבַטְּלָם. עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַחוֹנֵן לְאָדָם דַּעַת, שֶׁתּוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי וְתוֹדִיעֵנִי דַעַת וּתְבוּנָה וְחָכְמָה וְשֵׂכֶל אֲמִתִּי וְעֵצוֹת אֲמִתִּיּוֹת בְּכָל עֵת,
Nevertheless, they grow in strength against me and spread out before me, so that I do not know how to break them and nullify them. Therefore, I come to You Who are filled with compassion, Who grant awareness to every human being, to guide me, teach me and give me awareness, understanding, wisdom, true intelligence and true counsel at every moment.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁאֲנִי שָׁם עַתָּה, וְלַעֲבֹר וּלְדַלֵּג עַל כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת הַמִּשְׁתַּטְּחִים לְפָנַי,
May I truly come close to You from where I am now. May I pass by and leap over all of the obstacles that are spread out before me.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמֶת שֶׁכָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת הֵם רַק בַּאֲחִיזַת עֵינַיִם וּבְדִמְיוֹן בְּעַלְמָא, וּמִי שֶׁמְּחַזֵּק לִבּוֹ וּמִתְגַּבֵּר כְּנֶגְדָּם בִּתְשׁוּקָה גְּדוֹלָה וְרָצוֹן חָזָק לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, הֵם מִתְבַּטְּלִים כְּנֶגְדָּם לְגַמְרֵי,
May I truly know and understand that all of these obstacles are but an illusion, a mirage, and that when a person bolsters his heart and strengthens himself against them by summoning great yearning and a powerful desire for You, HaShem, they are completely nullified before him.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְבַטֵּל וּלְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, הֵן הַמְּנִיעוֹת מֵאֲחֵרִים, הֵן הַמְּנִיעוֹת מִתַּאֲווֹת גּוּפִי הַמְגֻשָּׁם, הֵן כָּל מִינֵי מְנִיעוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹנְעִים מִדֶּרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, מִדֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת,
May I nullify and break all obstacles in the world — whether those caused by others, or by the desires of my own coarse body, or any other type of obstacle — that hold a person back from the way of holiness and truth.
כֻּלָּם אֶזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל וּלְסַלֵּק לְגַמְרֵי עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁתִּתֵּן בְּלִבִּי כֹחַ וּגְבוּרָה לִכְבֹּשׁ אֶת יִצְרִי, וּלְהִתְחַזֵּק בְּלִבִּי בִּגְבוּרָה גְּדוֹלָה וּבְהִתְחַזְּקוּת גָּדוֹל לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגְדָּם, וְלִבְלִי לִירָא וְלִפְחֹד מֵהֶם כְּלָל, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְנַצֵּחַ הַמִּלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלוֹם:
As a result of Your placing power and might in my heart to conquer my evil inclination and strengthen my heart with tremendous encouragement to withstand these obstacles, may I break, nullify and remove them all entirely. May I not be afraid of them at all. May I be victorious in the war and unharmed.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִמְּנִיעוֹת הַמֹּחַ, שֶׁהֵם כָּל הַקֻּשְׁיוֹת וְהַסְּפֵקוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים הַבָּאִים עַל הַמֹּחַ לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, אוֹ לְהַרְהֵר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אַחֲרֵי מִדּוֹתֶיךָ,
Overcoming Obstacles of the Mind
Have compassion on me. Save me and rescue me from the obstacles of my mind — all of the doubts and confusions in my mind that cause me to question the Tzaddikim and worthy people of the generation, or to question Your traits, Heaven forbid.
שֶׁאֵלּוּ הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁל הַמֹּחַ הֵם גְּדוֹלִים מִכָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כִּי מִי שֶׁמֹּחוֹ וְלִבּוֹ חָזָק בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וּבְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, אֵין שׁוּם מְנִיעָה שֶׁתִּמְנָעֵהוּ.
The obstacles of the mind are greater than any other obstacle in the world. When a person’s mind and heart possess a strong, complete faith in You, HaShem, and in the true Tzaddikim, no obstacle can stop him.
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁחַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֹחוֹ וְלִבּוֹ חֲלוּקִים מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וּמֵהַצַּדִּיקִים, וְנוֹפְלִים בַּלֵּב קֻשְׁיוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם, אֵלּוּ הַמְּנִיעוֹת קָשִׁים מִכֻּלָּם.
But when, Heaven forbid, one’s mind and heart are divided from You, HaShem, and from the Tzaddikim, and questions about them arise in his heart, these obstacles are more overwhelming than all others.
וְעַל־זֶה בָּאתִי לִצְעֹק וְלִזְעֹק וְלִקְרֹא אֵלֶיךָ, כִּי אֵין לִי שׁוּם תִּקְוָה לְהִנָּצֵל מֵהֶם כִּי אִם לִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ. אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא וְאֶל יְהֹוָה אֶתְחַנָּן. שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי:
Therefore, I have come to cry out and call out to You, because my only hope to be saved from these questions is to call out to You. “To You, HaShem, I call, and to HaShem, I plead.” “HaShem, hear my voice when I call out; be gracious to me and answer me.”
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי וּמַלְּטֵנִי וּפְדֵנִי מִכָּל מִינֵי קֻשְׁיוֹת וּסְפֵיקוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים וּמְנִיעוֹת הַמֹּחַ, לְבַל אֶסְתַּכֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם כְּלָל, וְלֹא יַעֲלוּ וְלֹא יָבוֹאוּ עוֹד עַל לִבִּי וְדַעְתִּי וּמֹחִי כְּלָל,
Help me, save me, rescue me. Extricate me and deliver me from every type of question, doubt, confusion and obstacle in my mind, so that I will pay them no heed, and they will no longer arise and enter my heart, mind and consciousness at all.
רַק אֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין בְּהָאֱמֶת, בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה וַחֲזָקָה ונְכוֹנָה בְּלִי שׁוּם סָפֵק וּבִלְבּוּל וּנְטִיָּה אֶל הַצַּד כְּלָל,
May I always possess knowledge and understanding together with complete, robust and proper faith, without any doubt or confusion, and may I never go the least bit astray.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר גַּם עַל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַמָּסָכִים הַגַּשְׁמִיִּים מִבְּנֵי אָדָם אֲחֵרִים, אוֹ מִתַּאֲווֹת גּוּפִי, לְהִתְחַזֵּק וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, וְ
Relying on God Alone
May I strengthen myself to overcome the obstacles and physical barriers erected by other human beings, or those created by the desires of my own body. May I empower myself and grow stronger to withstand them all.
לִכְנֹס בְּדַרְכֵי יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהַצַּדִּיקִים וּכְשֵׁרִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וּלְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּיִרְאָה וּבְאַהֲבָה, לָסוּר מֵרָע וְלַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹב, וּלְהַתְחִיל וְלִגְמֹר כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהֵם רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה.
May I truly enter into Your ways, HaShem. May I come close to You, to the Tzaddikim, and to truly worthy people. May I truly serve You with fear and love, turning away from evil and doing good. May I truly begin and complete all holy matters in accordance with Your will — quickly, swiftly and speedily.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ עַל לִבִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, קֻשְׁיוֹת וּסְפֵקוֹת לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר הָאֱמֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁתֵּכֶף אֶזְעַק וְאֶצְעַק וְאֶקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ בְּקוֹל חָזָק מֵעִמְקֵי הַלֵּב, וְאַתָּה תַעֲנֵנִי מִיָּד בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים,
Should any questions or doubts about the truth enter my heart, Heaven forbid, have compassion on me. May I immediately cry out and call out to You with a strong voice from the depths of my heart. And may You, in Your vast compassion, answer me immediately.
אֲשַׁוֵּעַ וְתֹאמַר הִנֵּנִי, כִּי אֵין לִי עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת, בִּפְרָט כְּנֶגֶד מְנִיעוֹת הַמֹּחַ, כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם,
I cry out, “Here I am!” For I have no one on whom to rely to withstand all obstacles — in particular, the obstacles in my mind — except You, my Father in Heaven.
עָלֶיךָ לְבַד אֲנִי נִשְׁעָן וְעַל חַסְדְּךָ הַגָּדוֹל אֲנִי בּוֹטֵחַ, שֶׁתּוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי אֵיךְ לְהִתְגַּבֵּר לִכְנֹס לְתוֹךְ תֹּקֶף הִתְגַּבְּרוּת הַמְּנִיעוֹת וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ עַל־יְדֵי הַמְּנִיעוֹת דַּיְקָא,
I rely on You alone. I trust in Your great lovingkindness: that You will guide me and teach me how to prevail, how to enter the essence of the obstacles in order to come close to You — specifically, by means of those obstacles themselves.
כִּי גַּם בָּהֶם עַצְמָן נִסְתָּר הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּעַצְמוֹ, כִּי לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר, וּמְאֹד עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבוֹתֶיךָ, וְאַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעוֹלָם יְהֹוָה .
HaShem, You Yourself are hidden in the obstacles. There is no end to Your greatness, and Your thoughts are extremely deep. “You are elevated forever, HaShem.”
וְכָל מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה מְסַבֵּב עִם הָאָדָם, אֲפִלּוּ מַה שֶּׁנִּדְמֶה לִמְנִיעוֹת וְעִכּוּבִים מִדֶּרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה וִישׁוּעָה נִפְלָאָה.
All that You make a person experience — even that which appears to consist of obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of holiness — is for the good and for wondrous salvation.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְלַמְּדֵנוּ וְהוֹרֵנוּ וְחַזְּקֵנוּ וְאַמְּצֵנוּ, וְתֵן לִי וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה בַּלֵּב מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁמֵּעַתָּה לֹא אִירָא וְלֹא אֶפְחַד עוֹד מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,
Have compassion on us. Teach us, guide us, strengthen us and fortify us. Send me and all Jews power and might in our heart from Heaven, so that from now on I will no longer fear anything in the world.
רַק אֶהְיֶה בְּכָל עֵת, כְּגִבּוֹר עָרוּךְ מִלְחָמָה, בְּלִי שׁוּם פַּחַד מִשּׁוּם תַּאֲוָה וּמִשּׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה וּבִלְבּוּל, וּמִשּׁוּם אָדָם, וּמִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל,
Instead, at every moment may I be like a warrior ready for battle, not fearing any worldly desire, thought or confusion, and not fearing anyone or anything in the world.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל וּלְהִמָּלֵט מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִנָּצֵל וּלְהִמָּלֵט, וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה, וְלֹא אֶפְגֹּם שׁוּם פְּגָם כְּלָל, לֹא בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה דִבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה, וְלֹא בִּרְאִיַּת עֵינַיִם וּבִשְׁאָר חוּשִׁים.
May I be rescued and delivered from everything that I need to be rescued and delivered from. May I no longer return to my foolishness. May I not incur any blemishes at all in thought, speech or deed, in eyesight or in any of the other senses.
וּתְחַזְּקֵנִי וּתְאַמְּצֵנִי לְדַלֵּג עַל כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל כֻּלָּם וְלִכְנֹס לְתוֹךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְהַתְחִיל מֵעַתָּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
Strengthen me and support me so that I can leap over all of the barriers and break and nullify them all, and truly enter into holiness. From now on may I begin to truly come close to You, in accordance with Your good will.
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, רַחֵם עָלַי, מַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתַי בְּרַחֲמִים, כִּי אֵין לִי שׁוּם תִּקְוָה כִּי אִם עַל תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים, וְעַל כֹּחָם הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וְאַתָּה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי.
My Father in Heaven, have compassion on me. Fulfill my requests with compassion, because my only hope is in prayer and beseeching You, and in the great power of the true Tzaddikim. Treat me in the way that is good in Your eyes.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ וְאַל תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי, עָזְרֵנִי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, פֹּעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ, וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Do not reject or abandon me. You Who are filled with compassion, help me, save me. “Bring about salvations in the midst of the earth.” Help me follow Your laws. May I guard Your commandments from now and forever.
עֲנֵנוּ יְהֹוָה כִּי בְצָרָה גְּדוֹלָה אֲנַחְנוּ בְּתֹקֶף הַגָּלוּת הַמַּר הַזֶּה, וְעִקָּר הוּא גָּלוּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ, מַה שֶּׁתַּאֲווֹת הַגּוּף וּבִלְבּוּלֵי הַמֹּחַ וְרִבּוּי הַמּוֹנְעִים מִבְּנֵי־אָדָם, כֻּלָּם הִשְׂתָּרְגוּ עָלוּ עַל צַוָּארֵנוּ לְמָנְעֵנוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מִדֶּרֶךְ הַחַיִּים.
Answer us, HaShem, for we are in great difficulty in the midst of this bitter exile — which is principally the exile of the soul. The desires of the body, confused consciousness, and the multitude of obstacles created by other people have all multiplied and risen to our necks, threatening to keep us from the way of life, Heaven forbid.
חָנֵּנוּ מֵאִתְּךָ חָכְמָה בִּינָה וְדַעַת אֲמִתִּי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם וְלִבְלִי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם כְּלָל, וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֶל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה בֶּאֱמֶת,
Graciously grant us wisdom, understanding and true awareness so that we will withstand all of these and pay them no mind, but truly come close to holiness.
וְלִמְצֹא אוֹתְךָ תָמִיד בְּתוֹךְ כָּל תֹּקֶף הִתְגַּבְּרוּת הַמְּנִיעוֹת, כִּי בָּהֶן אַתָּה נִסְתָּר וְנֶעְלָם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבְאַהֲבָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה אוֹתָנוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל.
May we always find You in the midst of the multiplying obstacles, because You are hidden and concealed in them in Your vast compassion and great love for us, Your nation, the House of Israel.
עָזְרֵנוּ לִמְצֹא אוֹתְךָ תָמִיד בְּתוֹךְ תֹּקֶף הַהַסְתָּרָה וְהַמְּנִיעָה, אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי בְּיוֹם צַר לִי, הַטֵּה אֵלַי אָזְנֶךָ בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְּאָלָהּ, לְמַעַן אוֹיְבַי פְּדֵנִי. וְ
Help us always find You within the concealments and obstacles themselves. “Do not hide Your face from me on my day of trouble; incline Your ear to me; on the day that I call, quickly answer me.” “Approach my soul, redeem it against my enemies, deliver me.”
עַתָּה יָרוּם רֹאשִׁי עַל אוֹיְבַי סְבִיבוֹתַי וְאֶזְבְּחָה בְאָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵי תְרוּעָה, אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמְּרָה לַיהֹוָה. שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי.
“And now my head will be raised over my enemies around me, and in His tent I will offer sacrifices with joyous song. I will sing and chant praises to HaShem. HaShem, hear my voice when I call out; be gracious to me and answer me.”
פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי, תְּנָה עֻזְּךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן אֲמָתֶךָ. עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה, וְיִרְאוּ שׂוֹנְאַי וְיֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי,
“Turn to me and be gracious to me. Grant Your might to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant. Send me a sign for the good; let my enemies see it and be ashamed, for You, HaShem, help me and console me.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen and amen.