When One Hears Torah from the Mouth of a True Tzaddik, He Feels Humility and Shame / Even if the Tzaddik Just Looks at Him, He Attains Greatness / Humility is the Essence of Life of a Person’s Every Limb / At the Time of the Resurrection, a Person’s Humility Will be Revived / One Should Feel Ashamed When He Dares to Perform a Mitzvah or Even Put Food into His Mouth / Something of Moses’ Humility Exists in a Jew’s Every Limb When a person hears Torah from the mouth of a true Tzaddik — an ascetic, holy leader who has separated himself from sexual lust — he feels humility and shame, comparable to the feeling that the Jews experienced when they received the Torah. But even if he does not hear such words of Torah, when the Tzaddik just looks at him, his consciousness shines and he attains greatness in accordance with his consciousness. God’s great sovereignty is caught in the pathways of his mind and fresh Torah insights suited to his quality of awareness are drawn to him. The essence of a person’s greatness is humility. Humility is the essence of life of a person’s every limb. It is the delight of the World to Come. And so, at the time of the resurrection of the dead, it is a person’s humility that will be revived. Until then, a person cannot grasp the pleasure of the World to Come, nor the pleasure of the Shabbat, which is a taste of the World to Come. But he will experience that when he fully possesses humility — which, because it is not bounded, can resonate to infinity. When a person sees how far he is from God, he feels great shame and he returns to God. Certainly a person who has committed a sin feels ashamed, because sinning is not fitting for a Jew. But a person should feel ashamed even while performing a mitzvah, considering that he lacks the merit to perform such an extraordinary deed. How dare he enter the King’s palace to perform that mitzvah? In fact, a person should be ashamed even to bring food to his mouth, knowing that it is not his but a gift from God. Each Jew has something of Moses’ humility in every limb, which we received at the giving of the Torah. But it lies dormant and hidden. However, with the repentance that will accompany the resurrection, the humility of Moses in each Jew’s every limb will return to life. No One Will Remain Estranged from God “God, You are mighty forever. You revive the dead and save abundantly. You support the living with kindness, You revive the dead with vast compassion, You support those who have fallen.”
You know that in essence, the greatest compassion is expressed by Your having thoughts at every moment that will prevent anyone from being estranged from You at the time of the resurrection.
That time will be the great and awesome Day of Judgment, in anticipation of which even all of the great, true Tzaddikim tremble and cringe. The essence of compassion, salvation, success and hope come to a person who can receive salvation and compassion that will enable him to reach that time, the time of the resurrection, when You will revive the dead with vast compassion.
Fortunate is the person who receives this true compassion. Fortunate is the one who waits in this world all the days of his life, all of his hours and minutes, to receive this compassion, which is in essence the purpose of all of the days of this world. Besides this, everything else is vanity and an evilness of spirit.
Master of the world, what shall I say? How shall I speak? How can I justify myself? How can I appear before You now to request all of this? Where will I find the words and expressions to arouse Your vast compassion on my behalf? Master of the entire world, Lord of compassion and forgiveness, HaShem, Your compassion is vast.
You know in ultimate truth that I am no better than I am, that I have caused a great deal of blemishes before You, that I transgressed, sinned and offended, that I did what was evil in Your eyes and ruined much.
Nevertheless, now as well, You think thoughts at every moment to bring me truly close to You and revive me even now, when I am so profoundly alienated.
In Your vast compassion, You revive me at every moment. You draw life onto me from eternal life. You know all of the vast, true and eternal kindnesses and compassionate acts that You have done for me at every moment.
I will hope in God, I will seek His face, I will ask Him to respond. “A man prepares his heart, but HaShem provides the answer of the tongue.” “God, open my lips, and my mouth will speak Your praise.”
I will speak, no matter what I have gone through. I will stand firm and beseech, pray and plead before You Who are filled with compassion, You Who hear the prayer of every mouth. Perhaps God will yield to me and I will no longer suffer any losses from now on, Heaven forbid.
For the Seventh of Adar, the Hilula of Moses Attaining True Humility Our Father in Heaven, Living God and Eternal King, You Who revive the dead with vast compassion, in Your vast compassion bring me to experience the resurrection of the dead.
From this moment on, help me revive my true lowliness and humility that is rooted in my every limb. This is the true lowliness and humility of Moses, which is rooted in every limb of every Jew.
You know how far I am from true lowliness and humility, which is the essence of everything. Due to my many sins, I have no concept of humility, which is the essence of the true life of my every limb.
You have revealed to us that You do not want us to act abased or incompetent, Heaven forbid, which is false humility. To the contrary, You have urged us numerous times to be mighty as a leopard, and the like.
In truth, the only way I know to attain this is to trust that in Your compassion, You will help me, save me, guide me and truly teach me the ways of humility; that You will always revive me with Your eternal life and help me attain true humility.
In the Presence of True Tzaddikim Therefore, may it be Your will, You Who are filled with compassion, Unique Master, that You help me see myself with the true Tzaddikim in this generation and hear Torah from their holy mouths.
Even if I do not hear Torah from them, at any rate may I see them and have them see me. As a result of the true Tzaddikim seeing me and gazing at me with their holy, awesome eyes, may my mind shine with great light and with wondrous illumination.
Through this, may I achieve true greatness in accordance with Your good will, a greatness that is truly appropriate for me in accordance with my level of consciousness. And the essence of greatness is true lowliness and humility.
May I be swift in my work, the work of Heaven. May I always expand my mind and wisdom to constantly think holy thoughts in Torah, Divine service and fear of Heaven with truth and simplicity, in accordance with Your good will.
He is the man of the spirit, a man who knows how to resonate to the spirit of every individual, who incorporates all consciousness and the entire spirit of God, who is composed of the four spirits that are contained within every Jew.
May everything be in accordance with Your good will, truly in accordance with the shining consciousness that You will send me via the gaze of the true leader.
Guarding the Holy Covenant In Your vast compassion, may the world always be guarded by the influence of the true leader, the one who is worthy of being the leader of all Israel.
May we, even we, truly attain the holiness of the covenant. May we separate ourselves from lust with great holiness and purity, truly in accordance with Your good will.
Master of the world, Master of the entire world, You Who are filled with compassion, “recall Your compassion, HaShem, and Your lovingkindness, because they are eternal.”
Act in accordance with Your compassion. Act in accordance with Your kindness. Act in accordance with Your wonders. Act for the sake of Your Name that is applied to us, and rescue us from now on from the lust for sexual relations.
Please save us from this pollution, this filth, the bitter, disgusting madness of this lust. Please guard me from evil fantasies, from evil gazing, from evil thoughts.
In Your mighty compassion and awesome kindness, have compassion on us. It is revealed and known to You that we want to do Your will, but the “leavening in the dough” — the lusts and vanities of this world — prevent us from doing so.
Because of this lust, we lost what we have lost. As the holy Zohar states, this desire is the essence of the evil inclination and of spiritual pollution.
In Your vast compassion, have compassion on us. Act for the sake of the true Tzaddikim who truly guard the covenant with ultimate holiness and asceticism.
Send us new kindnesses that never before existed. Purify our hearts of every sort of fantasy and evil desire — and from this evil lust in particular, for “what profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?”
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who are holy and awesome, “You Who do great things beyond comprehension and wonders without number,” perform a life-giving wonder on our behalf and bring us back to You in complete repentance.
Through them, may the holiness and asceticism of Moses, which he drew onto the entire Jewish people when he received the Torah, always be drawn onto us.
As a result, may we constantly receive the Torah anew. May we receive it from now on in ultimate truth, so that we will lovingly guard, perform and fulfill all of the words of Your Torah.
May we meditate on Your holy Torah day and night. Illumine our eyes in Your Torah, until we will create true insights in Your holy Torah every day — in particular, on the Shabbat and festivals — which will constitute a great rectification for all of the parts of my soul: my nefesh, ruach and neshamah.
By means of these insights and explanations of the Torah, may great fear and awesome shame before You be drawn onto me. May I fear You with a shame that rests upon my face so that I will never sin again.
Holy Shame Master of the world, grant me holy shame so that I will fear You and be ashamed before You always, and never do anything that contravenes Your will.
How is it that someone as immature as I can have the privilege of performing a mitzvah, which possesses a deeply splendid, precious, awesome holiness? The awesome holiness of every mitzvah is profoundly lofty and great. Who would dare boast that he is worthy of performing a mitzvah before You, may You be blessed?
In particular, in accordance with our great distance from You as a result of our many sins and offenses, which everyone can recognize about himself, it is certainly fitting that great fear and shame should fall upon our faces when we want to perform some mitzvah.
Who am I that I should seize the holy and awesome tefillin, which are the crowns of the King, and place them upon my deeply blemished head and arm, and wrap myself in the mitzvah of the garments of the King, the holy and awesome tzitzit? And the same applies to the other mitzvot.
Each mitzvah is extremely holy and awesome. And before Whom am I performing the mitzvah? Before the King, the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He — awesome, fearsome and mighty, Whose greatness has no limit. If I possessed any true knowledge, great shame would certainly fall upon my face even at the thought of performing a mitzvah.
And I should even experience great shame at the thought of putting food in my mouth. A person who eats someone else’s food is afraid to look at that person’s face.
A sin has no connection to a Jew at all because, at their root, the souls of all Jews are entirely far from sin, and there is no sin relevant to the soul of a Jew at all.
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, help me come close to true Tzaddikim and hear original insights and explanations of the Torah from their holy mouths.
In this way, may great fear and shame before You be drawn onto me. May Your fear be upon my face so that I will no longer sin at all, from now and forever.
May the holy fear and shame that the entire Jewish people attained at the holy convocation on Mount Sinai when they received the Torah be drawn onto me always. As the verse states, “May His fear be upon your faces so that You will not sin.”
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who desire repentance, You Who look hopefully to the wicked person and desire his reform, help me in Your compassion so that I will truly see my shame and guilt, until I will return to You in truly complete repentance from now on.
“Bring me back and I will return, for You are [HaShem] my God.” Our Father, bring us back to Your Torah. Our King, bring us close to serve You. Bring us back to You in complete repentance.
As a result of our repentance, may we attain true, eternal life. As the verse states, “Do I desire the death of the wicked person? says HaShem God. Is it not rather that he repent of his ways and live?”
True Humility In Your vast compassion, in the merit of the true Tzaddikim, may we attain eternal life. May the humility of Moses, which is clothed in every limb of every Jew, live in us.
Due to our many sins, at present we have hidden and covered this lowliness and humility so that it is as though dead. Therefore, we do not attain true humility to sense our lowliness with ultimate truth, as would be fitting.
In Your vast compassion, grant us true, eternal life. Even now, may something of the resurrection of the dead be drawn onto us. May the humility and lowliness of Moses, which is clothed in a person’s every limb, be revived and arise in the resurrection.
Such humility is on the level of the life of the World to Come, the resurrection of the dead, the true and eternal life of every limb, true nullification to the Infinite One, blessed be He.
Even in this world, may we taste something of the life of the World to Come, the true level of the pleasure of the Shabbat. “I will not die but I will live, and I will relate the deeds of God.”
Master of the world, because of my intense physicality and my many grave sins and offenses, there are no words on my tongue with which to compose prayers to You to attain true humility, a trait that is greater than anything else.
You have revealed to us that You do not desire false humility. You do not want a person to view himself as disgraceful and weak as part of his serving You. And how much more is it forbidden to be depressed and embittered, Heaven forbid!
To the contrary, everyone must constantly revive himself, gladden himself and strengthen himself with every type of encouragement not to be downhearted at all, so that he will never despair, Heaven forbid.
And now, how will a person as lacking in awareness as I am, truly attain the ways of humility? For pride and coarseness of spirit, as well as false humility, both of which are so harmful, have soiled me.
How can we be saved from these two evil, blemished ways and attain true humility, the humility of Moses and of all of the great, true Tzaddikim — a humility that is the eternal life of the World to Come, on the level of the resurrection of the dead?
Master of the world, our King and our God, our great, mighty and awesome God, there is no limit to Your greatness. And wherever we find Your greatness, there we find Your humility.
Teach us and show us how to compose prayers and requests regarding this, so that we will please and appease You, and You will grant all of us true humility, in accordance with Your good will.
God’s Compassion Master of the world, You Who gaze and see to the end of all generations, You Who “tell the end from the beginning,” You know the great compassion I will require on the great and awesome Day of Judgment, when You will revive the dead.
Then each person will be scrutinized regarding all of his deeds, great and small, that he did in this world. At that time, everything will be recalled. “For every deed, everything that is hidden, whether good or bad, God will bring judgment.”
Even if from now on I attain truly complete repentance, I will also require vast compassion and great salvation on the Day of Judgment to counter the immensity of my blemishes and the offenses with which I offended You until now.
Since I am still far from complete repentance, what shall I do now, my Father in Heaven? Please save me, my Father, my King, my Holy One, my Maker, my Creator, my Prime Mover. Rectify me by sending me good counsel from wherever I am at present.
From now on may I be truly inspired, with great might, power and enthusiasm, to return to You, so that at the resurrection, I will rise to eternal life.
Therefore, in Your great mercy, have mercy on me and on the entire Jewish people. In Your vast lovingkindness, help us attain everything that we have requested of You.
May we come close to true Tzaddikim, see them face to face, and be subsumed into their awesome holiness. May their holiness and asceticism be drawn onto us, until we will be as holy and pure in regard to the purity of the covenant as they are.
May we receive from them an illuminated consciousness with great holiness. May our mind and intellect grow in Your Torah, in serving You, and in truly perceiving Your Godliness. May we receive original insights and explanations of the Torah from them.
Help us and save us so that we, too, will create true insights and explanations of Your holy Torah. As a result, may we experience great shame and fear before You, and truly return to You in complete repentance.
Even in this world, may we taste the holy Shabbat, the life of the World to Come — true life, eternal life, as in the verse, “Those who taste it have acquired life.”
Master of the world, Living and Eternal God, give us life and sustain us. Compassionately fulfill our requests for the good. From now on may we live a true life, a good and long life, on the level of the eternal life of the World to Come.
“In accordance with Your kindness, give me life, and I will guard the testimony of Your mouth.” “May my spirit live and praise You as Your judgments help me.” “Let me know the way of life, the satiety of joy before Your countenance, the pleasantness at Your right hand forever.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ע"ב - חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים]
אַתָּה גִבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה וְרַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ, מְכַלְכֵּל חַיִּים בְּחֶסֶד מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, סוֹמֵךְ נוֹפְלִים.
When One Hears Torah from the Mouth of a True Tzaddik, He Feels Humility and Shame / Even if the Tzaddik Just Looks at Him, He Attains Greatness / Humility is the Essence of Life of a Person’s Every Limb / At the Time of the Resurrection, a Person’s Humility Will be Revived / One Should Feel Ashamed When He Dares to Perform a Mitzvah or Even Put Food into His Mouth / Something of Moses’ Humility Exists in a Jew’s Every Limb
When a person hears Torah from the mouth of a true Tzaddik — an ascetic, holy leader who has separated himself from sexual lust — he feels humility and shame, comparable to the feeling that the Jews experienced when they received the Torah.
But even if he does not hear such words of Torah, when the Tzaddik just looks at him, his consciousness shines and he attains greatness in accordance with his consciousness. God’s great sovereignty is caught in the pathways of his mind and fresh Torah insights suited to his quality of awareness are drawn to him.
The essence of a person’s greatness is humility.
Humility is the essence of life of a person’s every limb. It is the delight of the World to Come. And so, at the time of the resurrection of the dead, it is a person’s humility that will be revived.
Until then, a person cannot grasp the pleasure of the World to Come, nor the pleasure of the Shabbat, which is a taste of the World to Come. But he will experience that when he fully possesses humility — which, because it is not bounded, can resonate to infinity.
When a person sees how far he is from God, he feels great shame and he returns to God.
Certainly a person who has committed a sin feels ashamed, because sinning is not fitting for a Jew. But a person should feel ashamed even while performing a mitzvah, considering that he lacks the merit to perform such an extraordinary deed. How dare he enter the King’s palace to perform that mitzvah?
In fact, a person should be ashamed even to bring food to his mouth, knowing that it is not his but a gift from God.
Each Jew has something of Moses’ humility in every limb, which we received at the giving of the Torah. But it lies dormant and hidden. However, with the repentance that will accompany the resurrection, the humility of Moses in each Jew’s every limb will return to life.
No One Will Remain Estranged from God
“God, You are mighty forever. You revive the dead and save abundantly. You support the living with kindness, You revive the dead with vast compassion, You support those who have fallen.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֲמָן אֲמִתִּי, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים.
Master of the world, You Who are truly compassionate, You revive the dead with vast compassion. You revive the dead with vast compassion!
אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעִקָּר הָרַחֲמָנוּת מִכָּל הָרַחֲמָנוּת הוּא מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּכָל עֵת וָרֶגַע לְבַל יִדַּח מִמְּךָ נִדָּח לְעֵת הַתְּחִיָּה,
You know that in essence, the greatest compassion is expressed by Your having thoughts at every moment that will prevent anyone from being estranged from You at the time of the resurrection.
שֶׁאָז יִהְיֶה עִקָּר יוֹם הַדִּין הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֲשֶׁר אֲפִלּוּ כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים חֲרֵדִים וְזוֹחֲלִים מִמֶּנּוּ. וְעִקָּר הָרַחֲמָנוּת וְהַיְשׁוּעָה וְהַהַצְלָחָה וְהַתִּקְוָה הוּא מִי שֶׁזּוֹכֶה לְקַבֵּל יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים לְהַצְלִיחַ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לָעֵת הַהוּא, שֶׁהוּא עֵת הַתְּחִיָּה, בְּעֵת שֶׁאַתָּה עָתִיד לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים.
That time will be the great and awesome Day of Judgment, in anticipation of which even all of the great, true Tzaddikim tremble and cringe. The essence of compassion, salvation, success and hope come to a person who can receive salvation and compassion that will enable him to reach that time, the time of the resurrection, when You will revive the dead with vast compassion.
אַשְׁרֵי הַזּוֹכֶה לְרַחֲמָנוּת אֲמִתִּי הַזֹּאת, אַשְׁרֵי הַמְּחַכֶּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו וְכָל שְׁעוֹתָיו וּרְגָעָיו לִזְכּוֹת לְזֹאת הָרַחֲמָנוּת, שֶׁהוּא עִקָּר הַתַּכְלִית מִכָּל יְמוֹת עוֹלָם, וְחוּץ מִזֶּה הַכֹּל הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ:
Fortunate is the person who receives this true compassion. Fortunate is the one who waits in this world all the days of his life, all of his hours and minutes, to receive this compassion, which is in essence the purpose of all of the days of this world. Besides this, everything else is vanity and an evilness of spirit.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָה אוֹמַר וּמַה אֲדַבֵּר וּמָה אֶצְטַדָּק, בְּהָאֵיךְ אַנְפִּין אֵיעוּל קֳדָמָךְ לְבַקֵּשׁ מִמְּךָ עַתָּה עַל זֶה, וּמֵהֵיכָן אֶקַּח דִּבּוּרִים וּמְלִיצוֹת לְאַפּוֹשֵׁי רַחֲמֵי, לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים עָלַי, רִבּוֹנוֹ דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, אֲדוֹן הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִיחוֹת, רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהֹוָה, רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהֹוָה,
Master of the world, what shall I say? How shall I speak? How can I justify myself? How can I appear before You now to request all of this? Where will I find the words and expressions to arouse Your vast compassion on my behalf? Master of the entire world, Lord of compassion and forgiveness, HaShem, Your compassion is vast.
אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ שֶׁאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁאֲנִי כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי, אֲשֶׁר פָּגַמְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ הַרְבֵּה, חָטָאתִי עָוִיתִי וּפָשַׁעְתִּי וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי וְקִלְקַלְתִּי הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד.
You know in ultimate truth that I am no better than I am, that I have caused a great deal of blemishes before You, that I transgressed, sinned and offended, that I did what was evil in Your eyes and ruined much.
אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן עַתָּה גַּם עַתָּה, אַתָּה חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּכָל עֵת וָרֶגַע עָלַי אֵיךְ לְקָרְבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְאֵיךְ לְהַחֲיוֹת אוֹתִי עַתָּה בְּרִחוּקִי הֶעָצוּם.
Nevertheless, now as well, You think thoughts at every moment to bring me truly close to You and revive me even now, when I am so profoundly alienated.
וְאַתָּה מְחַיֵּה אוֹתִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים בְּכָל עֵת וָרֶגַע. וְאַתָּה מַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי חִיּוּת מֵחַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים. כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת כָּל הַחֲסָדִים וְהָרַחֲמִים רַבִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים וְנִצְחִיִּים, שֶׁאַתָּה מְרַחֵם עָלַי בְּכָל עֵת,
In Your vast compassion, You revive me at every moment. You draw life onto me from eternal life. You know all of the vast, true and eternal kindnesses and compassionate acts that You have done for me at every moment.
וְסוֹף כָּל סוֹף, תְּתַקְּנֵנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ בְּוַדַּאי, וְנִזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
In the end, You will certainly rectify all of us, and we will truly exist in accordance with Your good will.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, פְּתַח פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם כָּמוֹנִי, פְּתַח פִּי וְיָאִירוּ דְבָרַי.
Master of the world, Master of the world, speak on behalf of a mute such as I am. Open my mouth, and let my words shine.
אוֹחִילָה לָאֵל אֲחַלֶּה פָנָיו, אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן. לְאָדָם מַעַרְכֵי לֵב, וּמֵיהֹוָה מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן. אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ.
I will hope in God, I will seek His face, I will ask Him to respond. “A man prepares his heart, but HaShem provides the answer of the tongue.” “God, open my lips, and my mouth will speak Your praise.”
אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח שֶׁאוּכַל לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עִם לְבָבִי אָשִׂיחָה וְיִרְוַח לִי.
God, open my lips so I will be able to express my speech to You and tell You everything that is in my heart. I will speak and gain relief.
אֲדַבְּרָה וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה, אֲנִי עַל מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹד לְדַבֵּר דִּבְרֵי תַחֲנוּנִים וּתְפִלּוֹת וּבַקָּשׁוֹת לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלַּת כָּל פֶּה, אוּלַי יֵעָתֶר לִי הָאֱלֹהִים וְלֹא אוֹבַד עוֹד מֵעַתָּה שׁוּם אֲבֵדָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
I will speak, no matter what I have gone through. I will stand firm and beseech, pray and plead before You Who are filled with compassion, You Who hear the prayer of every mouth. Perhaps God will yield to me and I will no longer suffer any losses from now on, Heaven forbid.
לְז' אֲדָר הִילּוּלָא דְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע"ה
אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים וּמֶלֶךְ עוֹלָם, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לִתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים,
For the Seventh of Adar, the Hilula of Moses
Attaining True Humility
Our Father in Heaven, Living God and Eternal King, You Who revive the dead with vast compassion, in Your vast compassion bring me to experience the resurrection of the dead.
וְעָזְרֵנִי מֵעַתָּה שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִחְיֶה שִׁפְלוּתִי הָאֲמִתִּי הַמֻּשְׁרָשׁ בִּי בְּכָל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר, שֶׁהוּא שִׁפְלוּת וַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, הַמֻּשְׁרָשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר,
From this moment on, help me revive my true lowliness and humility that is rooted in my every limb. This is the true lowliness and humility of Moses, which is rooted in every limb of every Jew.
שֶׁזֹּאת הַשִּׁפְלוּת וְהָעֲנָוָה הוּא עִקָּר הַחַיִּים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, חַיִּים הַנִּצְחִיִּים שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַבָּא.
This lowliness and humility is the essence of true life: the eternal life of the World to Come.
אֲבָל עַתָּה בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים, הַשִּׁפְלוּת הַזֹּאת הִיא בִּבְחִינַת מִיתָה אֶצְלִי, וְאֵינִי זוֹכֶה לְהַרְגִּישׁ זֹאת הַשִּׁפְלוּת הָאֲמִתִּי, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִמְּךָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי רָחוֹק.
But now, because of my many sins, this lowliness is all but dead to me, and I do not feel it. As a result, I am far from You.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, זַכֵּנִי לְכָל הָעֵצוֹת וְהַתַּחְבּוּלוֹת וְהַדְּרָכִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְעוֹרֵר וּלְהָקִיץ וּלְהַחֲיוֹת הַשִּׁפְלוּת וְהָעֲנָוָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית הַזֹּאת הַמֻּשְׁרָשׁ בִּי.
Master of the world, help me attain all true counsel and techniques so I can arouse, awaken and revive this true lowliness and humility within myself.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִשִּׁפְלוּת וַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית שֶׁהוּא עִקָּר הַכֹּל. וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל מַהוּ שִׁפְלוּת וַעֲנָוָה שֶׁהוּא עִקָּר הַחַיִּים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁל כָּל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר,
You know how far I am from true lowliness and humility, which is the essence of everything. Due to my many sins, I have no concept of humility, which is the essence of the true life of my every limb.
כִּי כְבָר גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ שֶׁאֵין זֶה רְצוֹנְךָ לִהְיוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם נִבְזֶה וְעָצֵל (שֶׁקּוֹרִין: שְׁלֵימַזֵלֵנִיק) שֶׁהִיא עֲנָוָה פְּסוּלָה, כִּי אַדְרַבָּא הִזְהַרְתָּנוּ בְּכַמָּה אַזְהָרוֹת לִהְיוֹת עַז כַּנָּמֵר וְכוּ'.
You have revealed to us that You do not want us to act abased or incompetent, Heaven forbid, which is false humility. To the contrary, You have urged us numerous times to be mighty as a leopard, and the like.
אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת לֹא יָדַעְתִּי כְּלָל שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ לָזֶה כִּי אִם עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ לְבַד אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ, שֶׁאַתָּה תַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי דַרְכֵי הָעֲנָוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וּתְחַיֶּה אוֹתִי בְּחַיֶּיךָ הַנִּצְחִיִּים תָּמִיד, וּתְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית בֶּאֱמֶת:
In truth, the only way I know to attain this is to trust that in Your compassion, You will help me, save me, guide me and truly teach me the ways of humility; that You will always revive me with Your eternal life and help me attain true humility.
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים אָדוֹן יָחִיד. שֶׁתַּעַזְרֵנִי וּתְזַכֵּנִי לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמִי עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה, וְלִשְׁמֹעַ מִפִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ תּוֹרָה.
In the Presence of True Tzaddikim
Therefore, may it be Your will, You Who are filled with compassion, Unique Master, that You help me see myself with the true Tzaddikim in this generation and hear Torah from their holy mouths.
וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעֵת שֶׁלֹּא אֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁמֹעַ מֵהֶם תּוֹרָה, אֶזְכֶּה עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים לִרְאוֹתָם וּלְקַבֵּל פְּנֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הָרְאִיָּה לְבַד שֶׁיֶּחֱזוּ וְיִסְתַּכְּלוּ בִּי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים בְּעֵינֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים,
Even if I do not hear Torah from them, at any rate may I see them and have them see me. As a result of the true Tzaddikim seeing me and gazing at me with their holy, awesome eyes, may my mind shine with great light and with wondrous illumination.
שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְנוֹצֵץ מֹחִי בְּהִתְנוֹצְצוּת גָּדוֹל וּבְהֶאָרָה נִפְלָאָה. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל גְּדֻלָּה אֲמִתִּיִּית כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, כְּפִי הָרָאוּי לִי בֶּאֱמֶת, כְּפִי מֹחִי, וְעִקָּר הַגְּדֻלָּה יִהְיֶה שִׁפְלוּת וַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית.
Through this, may I achieve true greatness in accordance with Your good will, a greatness that is truly appropriate for me in accordance with my level of consciousness. And the essence of greatness is true lowliness and humility.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת מָהִיר בִּמְלַאכְתִּי בִּמְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם, לְהַגְדִּיל מֹחִי וְחָכְמָתִי תָמִיד לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת תָמִיד בְּתוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
May I be swift in my work, the work of Heaven. May I always expand my mind and wisdom to constantly think holy thoughts in Torah, Divine service and fear of Heaven with truth and simplicity, in accordance with Your good will.
וּתְמַלֵּא אוֹתִי רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָכְמָה וּבִתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת וּבְכָל מְלָאכָה בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Fill me with “the spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all work,” in the true work of holiness.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל הָרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים שֶׁהֵם הַמֹּחִין הַקְּדוֹשִׁים מֵהַצַּדִּיק הָאֲמִתִּי, מַנְהִיג הַכּוֹלֵל, חָכָם הַכּוֹלֵל בֶּאֱמֶת,
May I attain the spirit of God — which is holy consciousness — from the true Tzaddik, the truly universal leader and sage.
שֶׁהוּא אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ בּוֹ, שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לַהֲלֹךְ נֶגֶד רוּחוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, שֶׁהוּא כָּלוּל מִכָּל הַמֹּחִין, וּמִכָּל הָרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, הַכָּלוּל מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הַמְלֻבָּשִׁין בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל.
He is the man of the spirit, a man who knows how to resonate to the spirit of every individual, who incorporates all consciousness and the entire spirit of God, who is composed of the four spirits that are contained within every Jew.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הָרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים הַזֶּה, לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
Help me so that, inspired by this spirit of God, I will compose true insights in Your holy Torah, in accordance with Your good will.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת נַחַת רוּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ עַל־יְדֵי הַחִדּוּשִׁין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי לְחַדֵּשׁ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד.
May I please You by means of the insights that You help me constantly create in Your holy Torah.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע בֶּאֱמֶת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּהַחִדּוּשִׁין שֶׁלִּי, אִם לְאָמְרָם אִם לָאו, וּמָתַי לְאָמְרָם וּבִפְנֵי מִי, בִּפְנֵי כַּמָּה אֲנָשִׁים.
May I truly know how to present my insights: whether to say them or not, and when to say them and before whom, and before how many people.
וְיִהְיֶה הַכֹּל כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, כְּפִי הִתְנוֹצְצוּת הַמֹּחִין בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי עַל־יְדֵי הִסְתַּכְּלוּת הַמַּנְהִיג הָאֲמִתִּי:
May everything be in accordance with Your good will, truly in accordance with the shining consciousness that You will send me via the gaze of the true leader.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁיִּתְנַהֵג הָעוֹלָם תָּמִיד עַל־יְדֵי הַמַּנְהִיג הָאֱמֶת, הָרָאוּי לִהְיוֹת מַנְהִיג לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
Guarding the Holy Covenant
In Your vast compassion, may the world always be guarded by the influence of the true leader, the one who is worthy of being the leader of all Israel.
שֶׁיִּהְיֶה קָדוֹשׁ בִּקְדֻשַּׁת הַבְּרִית, בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְהַפְּרִישׁוּת, בִּבְחִינַת קְדֻשַּׁת וּפְרִישׁוּת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם,
He will possess a covenant rectified with ultimate holiness and asceticism, comparable to the level of the holiness and asceticism of Moses.
עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהַמִּתְקָרְבִים אֵלָיו, קְדֻשָּׁתוֹ וּפְרִישׁוּתוֹ הָעֲצוּמָה,
May his intense holiness and asceticism be drawn onto us and onto the entire Jewish people, and onto everyone who comes close to him.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלִפְרֹשׁ מִתַּאֲוָה הַזֹּאת בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
May we, even we, truly attain the holiness of the covenant. May we separate ourselves from lust with great holiness and purity, truly in accordance with Your good will.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, מְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, זְכֹר רַחֲמֶיךָ יְהֹוָה וַחֲסָדֶיךָ כִּי מֵעוֹלָם הֵמָּה.
Master of the world, Master of the entire world, You Who are filled with compassion, “recall Your compassion, HaShem, and Your lovingkindness, because they are eternal.”
עֲשֵׂה כְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, עֲשֵׂה כַּחֲסָדֶיךָ, עֲשֵׂה כְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ, וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מֵעַתָּה מִתַּאֲוַת הַמִשְׁגָּל, הַצִּילֵנוּ נָא מִזֻּהֲמָא הַזֹּאת,
Act in accordance with Your compassion. Act in accordance with Your kindness. Act in accordance with Your wonders. Act for the sake of Your Name that is applied to us, and rescue us from now on from the lust for sexual relations.
מִטִּנּוּף הַזֶּה, מִמְּרִירוּת מִאוּס הַשִּׁגָּעוֹן שֶׁל תַּאֲוָה הַזֹּאת. שָׁמְרֵנוּ נָא מֵהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, מֵהִסְתַּכְּלוּת רָעִים, מִמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת.
Please save us from this pollution, this filth, the bitter, disgusting madness of this lust. Please guard me from evil fantasies, from evil gazing, from evil thoughts.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הַנּוֹרָאִים. כִּי גָלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ שֶׁרְצוֹנֵנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ, אַךְ הַשְּׂאוֹר שֶׁבָּעִסָּה מְעַכֵּב אוֹתָנוּ שֶׁהֵם תַּאֲווֹת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַהֲבָלָיו.
In Your mighty compassion and awesome kindness, have compassion on us. It is revealed and known to You that we want to do Your will, but the “leavening in the dough” — the lusts and vanities of this world — prevent us from doing so.
וְעִקָּר הִיא הַתַּאֲוָה הַזֹּאת, אֲשֶׁר עַל־יָדָהּ אִבַּדְנוּ מַה שֶּׁאִבַּדְנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁזֹּאת הַתַּאֲוָה הִיא עִקָּרָא דְּיִצְרָא בִּישָׁא וְהִיא עִקָּרָא דִּמְסַאֲבוּתָא.
Because of this lust, we lost what we have lost. As the holy Zohar states, this desire is the essence of the evil inclination and of spiritual pollution.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וַעֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְהַפְּרִישׁוּת,
In Your vast compassion, have compassion on us. Act for the sake of the true Tzaddikim who truly guard the covenant with ultimate holiness and asceticism.
וְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ חֲסָדִים חֲדָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיוּ מֵעוֹלָם, וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים וְתַאֲווֹת רָעוֹת, וּבִפְרָט מִתַּאֲוָה רָעָה הַזֹּאת, כִּי מַה בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל שַׁחַת, הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ.
Send us new kindnesses that never before existed. Purify our hearts of every sort of fantasy and evil desire — and from this evil lust in particular, for “what profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, קָדוֹשׁ וְנוֹרָא, עוֹשֶׂה גְדוֹלוֹת עַד אֵין חֵקֶר, נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת עַד אֵין מִסְפָּר. עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ פֶּלֶא לְחַיִּים, וְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ,
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who are holy and awesome, “You Who do great things beyond comprehension and wonders without number,” perform a life-giving wonder on our behalf and bring us back to You in complete repentance.
וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים בִּקְדֻשַּׁת הַבְּרִית בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה,
Help us come close to true Tzaddikim who possess the holiness of the covenant to the ultimate degree.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יָדָם שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ עָלֵינוּ תָמִיד קְדֻשַּׁת וּפְרִישׁוּת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁהִמְשִׁיךְ עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׁעַת קַבָּלַת הַתּוֹרָה.
Through them, may the holiness and asceticism of Moses, which he drew onto the entire Jewish people when he received the Torah, always be drawn onto us.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּכָל פַּעַם מֵחָדָשׁ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל עָלֵינוּ מֵעַתָּה בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ בְּאַהֲבָה.
As a result, may we constantly receive the Torah anew. May we receive it from now on in ultimate truth, so that we will lovingly guard, perform and fulfill all of the words of Your Torah.
וְנִזְכֶּה לַהֲגוֹת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה, וְתָאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁין אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, וּבִפְרָט בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לִי תִקּוּן גָּדוֹל לְנַפְשִׁי וְרוּחִי וְנִשְׁמָתִי.
May we meditate on Your holy Torah day and night. Illumine our eyes in Your Torah, until we will create true insights in Your holy Torah every day — in particular, on the Shabbat and festivals — which will constitute a great rectification for all of the parts of my soul: my nefesh, ruach and neshamah.
וְאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי חִדּוּשֵׁי וּבֵאוּרֵי הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁיֻּמְשַׁךְ עָלַי יִרְאָה גְּדוֹלָה וּבוּשָׁה נוֹרָאָה מִפָּנֶיךָ, וְתִהְיֶה יִרְאָתְךָ עַל פָּנַי זוֹ הַבּוּשָׁה, לְבִלְתִּי אֶחֱטָא עוֹד מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
By means of these insights and explanations of the Torah, may great fear and awesome shame before You be drawn onto me. May I fear You with a shame that rests upon my face so that I will never sin again.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, זַכֵּנִי לְבּוּשָׁה דִקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְיָרֵא וּלְהִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ תָמִיד לִבְלִי לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא כְּנֶגֶד רְצוֹנֶךָ,
Holy Shame
Master of the world, grant me holy shame so that I will fear You and be ashamed before You always, and never do anything that contravenes Your will.
וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֶרְצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה מִצְוָה, אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִמְּךָ הַרְבֵּה, מִפְּנֵי הַמִּצְוָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַנּוֹרָאָה בְּעַצְמָהּ.
Furthermore, when I want to perform a mitzvah, may I be profoundly ashamed before You because of the great and awesome nature of the mitzvah itself.
כִּי בַּמֶּה יִזְכֶּה נַעַר כָּמוֹנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה לְגֹדֶל הַדְרַת יִקְרַת נוֹרָאוֹת קְדֻשַּׁת כָּל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה, אֲשֶׁר נוֹרָאוֹת קְדֻשַּׁת כָּל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה שָׂגְבָה וְגָדְלָה מְאֹד מְאֹד, וּמִי יַעֲצֹר כֹּחַ לְהִתְפָּאֵר שֶׁרָאוּי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה לְפָנֶיךָ תִּתְבָּרַךְ,
How is it that someone as immature as I can have the privilege of performing a mitzvah, which possesses a deeply splendid, precious, awesome holiness? The awesome holiness of every mitzvah is profoundly lofty and great. Who would dare boast that he is worthy of performing a mitzvah before You, may You be blessed?
וּבִפְרָט לְפִי גֹּדֶל רִחוּקֵנוּ מִמְּךָ עַל־יְדֵי עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ וּפְשָׁעֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, כַּאֲשֶׁר יוֹדֵעַ כָּל אֶחָד בְּנַפְשׁוֹ, בְּוַדַּאי רָאוּי שֶׁתִּפֹּל יִרְאָה וּבוּשָׁה גְּדוֹלָה עַל פָּנֵינוּ כְּשֶׁאָנוּ רוֹצִים לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה מִצְוָה,
In particular, in accordance with our great distance from You as a result of our many sins and offenses, which everyone can recognize about himself, it is certainly fitting that great fear and shame should fall upon our faces when we want to perform some mitzvah.
כִּי מִי אָנֹכִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַחְטֹף הַתְּפִלִּין הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים שֶׁהֵם כִּתְרֵי דְמַלְכָּא וּלְהַנִּיחָם עַל רֹאשִׁי וּזְרוֹעִי הַפְּגוּמִים מְאֹד, וּלְהִתְעַטֵּף בְּעִטּוּפָא דְמִצְוָה בִּלְבוּשִׁין דְּמַלְכָּא, בִּקְדֻשַּׁת הַצִּיצִית הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים, וְכֵן בְּשַׁאָרֵי הַמִּצְוֹת,
Who am I that I should seize the holy and awesome tefillin, which are the crowns of the King, and place them upon my deeply blemished head and arm, and wrap myself in the mitzvah of the garments of the King, the holy and awesome tzitzit? And the same applies to the other mitzvot.
כִּי הַמִּצְוֹת בְּעַצְמָן קְדוֹשִׁים וְנוֹרָאִים מְאֹד מְאֹד כָּל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה. וְלִפְנֵי מִי אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה הַמִּצְוָה, לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, אָיוֹם וְנוֹרָא וְאַדִּיר וְכוּ', אֲשֶׁר לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר. וְאִם הָיִיתִי זוֹכֶה לְדַעַת אֲמִתִּי כָּל שֶׁהוּא, בְּוַדַּאי הָיָה נוֹפֵל עַל פָּנַי בּוּשָׁה גְּדוֹלָה, אֲפִלּוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה,
Each mitzvah is extremely holy and awesome. And before Whom am I performing the mitzvah? Before the King, the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He — awesome, fearsome and mighty, Whose greatness has no limit. If I possessed any true knowledge, great shame would certainly fall upon my face even at the thought of performing a mitzvah.
וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהוֹשִׁיט הַמַּאֲכָל לְפִי, הָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי בּוּשָׁה גְּדוֹלָה, כִּי מַאן דְּאָכִיל דְּלַאו דִּילֵיהּ בָּהִית לְאִסְתַּכּוּלֵי בְּאַפֵּיהּ.
And I should even experience great shame at the thought of putting food in my mouth. A person who eats someone else’s food is afraid to look at that person’s face.
מִכָּל־שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל־שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁרָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי בּוּשָׁה וְיִרְאָה גְּדוֹלָה לִבְלִי לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם עֲבֵרָה וְחֵטְא וּפְגָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
How much more should I experience great shame and fear so as not to commit any sin or transgression, or incur any blemish, Heaven forbid.
כִּי עֲבֵרָה אֵינָהּ שַׁיָּכָה לְאִישׁ יִשְׂרְאֵלִי כְּלָל, כִּי נַפְשׁוֹת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשָׁרְשָׁם רְחוֹקִים מֵעֲבֵרוֹת לְגַמְרֵי, וְאֵין עֲבֵרָה שַׁיָּכָה לְנֶפֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּלָל.
A sin has no connection to a Jew at all because, at their root, the souls of all Jews are entirely far from sin, and there is no sin relevant to the soul of a Jew at all.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, זַכֵּנִי לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וְלִשְׁמֹעַ מִפִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ חִדּוּשֵׁי וּבֵאוּרֵי הַתּוֹרָה,
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, help me come close to true Tzaddikim and hear original insights and explanations of the Torah from their holy mouths.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלַי יִרְאָה וּבוּשָׁה גְּדוֹלָה מִפָּנֶיךָ. וְתִהְיֶה יִרְאָתְךָ עַל פָּנַי לְבִלְתִּי אֶחֱטָא עוֹד כְּלָל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
In this way, may great fear and shame before You be drawn onto me. May Your fear be upon my face so that I will no longer sin at all, from now and forever.
וְיִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלַי תָּמִיד הַיִּרְאָה וְהַבּוּשָׁה דִקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁזָּכוּ כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמַעֲמָד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בְּהַר סִינַי בִּשְׁעַת קַבָּלַת הַתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּלְבַעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל פְּנֵיכֶם לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאוּ:
May the holy fear and shame that the entire Jewish people attained at the holy convocation on Mount Sinai when they received the Torah be drawn onto me always. As the verse states, “May His fear be upon your faces so that You will not sin.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה, הַצּוֹפֶה לָרָשָׁע וְחָפֵץ בְּהִצָדְקוֹ. זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת בֹּשְׁתִּי וּכְלִמָּתִי בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַבּוּשָׁה לָשׁוּב מֵעַתָּה בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who desire repentance, You Who look hopefully to the wicked person and desire his reform, help me in Your compassion so that I will truly see my shame and guilt, until I will return to You in truly complete repentance from now on.
הֲשִׁבֵנִי וְאָשׁוּבָה כִּי אַתָּה (יְהֹוָה) אֱלֹהָי. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ אָבִינוּ לְתוֹרָתֶךָ וְקָרְבֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ וְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ.
“Bring me back and I will return, for You are [HaShem] my God.” Our Father, bring us back to Your Torah. Our King, bring us close to serve You. Bring us back to You in complete repentance.
וְזַכֵּנִי עַל־יְדֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה לְחַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, הֶחָפֹץ אֶחְפֹּץ מוֹת רָשָׁע נְאֻם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים, הֲלוֹא בְּשׁוּבוֹ מִדְּרָכָיו וְחָיָה.
As a result of our repentance, may we attain true, eternal life. As the verse states, “Do I desire the death of the wicked person? says HaShem God. Is it not rather that he repent of his ways and live?”
וְנֶאֱמַר, כִּי לֹא אֶחְפֹּץ בְּמוֹת הַמֵּת נְאֻם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים, וְהָשִׁיבוּ וִחְיוּ.
And, “I do not desire the death of the person who dies, says HaShem God — rather, let them repent and live!”
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, בִּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְחַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִחְיֶה אֶצְלֵנוּ הַשִּׁפְלוּת שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, הַמְלֻבָּשׁ אֵצֶל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר.
True Humility
In Your vast compassion, in the merit of the true Tzaddikim, may we attain eternal life. May the humility of Moses, which is clothed in every limb of every Jew, live in us.
כִּי בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, עַתָּה הַשִּׁפְלוּת וְהָעֲנָוָה הַזֹּאת נֶעְלָם וְנִסְתָּר אֶצְלֵנוּ בִּבְחִינַת מִיתָה, וְעַל כֵּן אֵין אָנוּ זוֹכִים לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית לְהַרְגִּישׁ שִׁפְלוּתֵנוּ בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ כָּרָאוּי.
Due to our many sins, at present we have hidden and covered this lowliness and humility so that it is as though dead. Therefore, we do not attain true humility to sense our lowliness with ultimate truth, as would be fitting.
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְחַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים, חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלֵינוּ גַם עַתָּה בְּחִינַת תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִחְיֶה וְיָקוּם בִּתְחִיָּה, הָעֲנָוָה וְהַשִּׁפְלוּת שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, הַמְלֻבָּשׁ אֵצֶל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר:
In Your vast compassion, grant us true, eternal life. Even now, may something of the resurrection of the dead be drawn onto us. May the humility and lowliness of Moses, which is clothed in a person’s every limb, be revived and arise in the resurrection.
אָדוֹן יָחִיד הֶעָנָיו בֶּאֱמֶת, זַכֵּנוּ לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַעֲנָוָה בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת,
Unique, truly humble Master, make it possible for us to attain humility with ultimate perfection, in accordance with Your good will.
שֶׁעֲנָוָה כָּזֹאת הִיא בְּחִינַת חַיֵּי עוֹלָם הַבָּא, בְּחִינַת תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים, בְּחִינַת חַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים וְנִצְחִיִּים שֶׁל כָּל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר, בְּחִינַת בִּטּוּל בֶּאֱמֶת אֶל הָאֵין סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא,
Such humility is on the level of the life of the World to Come, the resurrection of the dead, the true and eternal life of every limb, true nullification to the Infinite One, blessed be He.
עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִטְעֹם גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בְּחִינַת חַיֵּי עוֹלָם הַבָּא בְּחִינַת עֹנֶג שַׁבָּת בֶּאֱמֶת, לֹא אָמוּת כִּי אֶחְיֶה וַאֲסַפֵּר מַעֲשֵׂי יָהּ:
Even in this world, may we taste something of the life of the World to Come, the true level of the pleasure of the Shabbat. “I will not die but I will live, and I will relate the deeds of God.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, לְעֹצֶם גַּשְׁמִיּוּתִי וְרֹב עֲוֹנוֹתַי וּפְשָׁעַי הָעֲצוּמִים, אֵין מִלָּה בִּלְשׁוֹנִי לְסַדֵּר תְּפִלָּה לְפָנֶיךָ עַל־זֶה לִזְכּוֹת לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, כִּי עֲנָוָה גְּדוֹלָה מִכֻּלָּם.
Master of the world, because of my intense physicality and my many grave sins and offenses, there are no words on my tongue with which to compose prayers to You to attain true humility, a trait that is greater than anything else.
וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ מִדַּרְכֵי הָעֲנָוָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית.
Because of my many sins, I do not know anything about the ways of true humility.
כִּי כְבָר גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ שֶׁאֵין רְצוֹנְךָ בַּעֲנָוָה פְּסוּלָה, וְאֵין רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאָדָם נִבְזֶה וְחָלָשׁ בְּדַעְתּוֹ, בְּדַרְכֵי עֲבוֹדָתוֹ. מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁאָסוּר לִהְיוֹת בְּעַצְבוּת וּמָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
You have revealed to us that You do not desire false humility. You do not want a person to view himself as disgraceful and weak as part of his serving You. And how much more is it forbidden to be depressed and embittered, Heaven forbid!
רַק אַדְרַבָּא כָּל אֶחָד צָרִיךְ לְהַחֲיוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ וּלְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ, וּלְחַזֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּכָל פַּעַם בְּכָל מִינֵי הִתְחַזְּקוּת לִבְלִי לִפֹּל בְּדַעְתּוֹ כְּלָל, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא לְיָאֵשׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
To the contrary, everyone must constantly revive himself, gladden himself and strengthen himself with every type of encouragement not to be downhearted at all, so that he will never despair, Heaven forbid.
וְעַל פִּי רֹב צְרִיכִין לְהִתְחַזֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ, לְבַל יוּכַל לִמְנֹעַ אוֹתוֹ שׁוּם מוֹנֵעַ וּמְעַכֵּב.
In most cases, a person must fortify himself against the entire world, so that it will not be able to place any obstacles or impediments in his way.
וְעַתָּה אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה נִבְעָר מִדַּעַת כָּמוֹנִי, לְהָפִיק דַּרְכֵי הָעֲנָוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי שְׁנֵיהֶם הָיוּ בְּעוֹכְרָי, הֵן מִדַּת הַגַּאֲוָה וְגַסּוּת הָרוּחַ, הֵן עֲנָוָה פְּסוּלָה, כִּי שְׁנֵיהֶם מַזִּיקִים הַרְבֵּה,
And now, how will a person as lacking in awareness as I am, truly attain the ways of humility? For pride and coarseness of spirit, as well as false humility, both of which are so harmful, have soiled me.
וְאֵיךְ זוֹכִין לְהִנָּצֵל מִשְּׁנֵי דְרָכִים הָרָעִים הַפְּגוּמִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְלִזְכּוֹת לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, לַעֲנָוָה שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ וְשֶׁל כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, שֶׁעֲנָוָה הַזֹּאת הִיא חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים שֶׁל עוֹלָם־הַבָּא, בְּחִינַת תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים:
How can we be saved from these two evil, blemished ways and attain true humility, the humility of Moses and of all of the great, true Tzaddikim — a humility that is the eternal life of the World to Come, on the level of the resurrection of the dead?
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מַלְכֵּנוּ וֵאלֹהֵינוּ, הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֲשֶׁר לִגְדֻלָּתְךָ אֵין חֵקֶר, וּבְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹצְאִין גְּדֻלָּתְךָ אָנוּ מוֹצְאִין עַנְוְתָנוּתֶךָ.
Master of the world, our King and our God, our great, mighty and awesome God, there is no limit to Your greatness. And wherever we find Your greatness, there we find Your humility.
לַמְּדֵנוּ וְהוֹרֵנוּ אֵיךְ לְסַדֵּר תְּפִלּוֹת וּבַקָּשׁוֹת עַל זֶה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְרַצּוֹת וּלְפַיֵּס אוֹתְךָ, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנוּ כֻלָּנוּ לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ:
Teach us and show us how to compose prayers and requests regarding this, so that we will please and appease You, and You will grant all of us true humility, in accordance with Your good will.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, מַגִּיד מֵרֵאשִׁית אַחֲרִית, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל הָרַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עָלַי לְיוֹם הַדִּין הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא, בָּעֵת שֶׁאַתָּה עָתִיד לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים,
God’s Compassion
Master of the world, You Who gaze and see to the end of all generations, You Who “tell the end from the beginning,” You know the great compassion I will require on the great and awesome Day of Judgment, when You will revive the dead.
שֶׁאָז יִהְיֶה נִפְקַד הָאָדָם עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁעָשָׂה בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, דָּבָר גָּדוֹל וְדָבָר קָטָן, הַכֹּל יִהְיֶה נִזְכַּר לוֹ אָז, כִּי אֶת כָּל מַעֲשֶׂה הָאֱלֹהִים יָבִיא בְמִשְׁפָּט עַל כָּל נֶעְלָם אִם טוֹב וְאִם רָע,
Then each person will be scrutinized regarding all of his deeds, great and small, that he did in this world. At that time, everything will be recalled. “For every deed, everything that is hidden, whether good or bad, God will bring judgment.”
וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם אֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, גַּם כֵּן אֲנִי צָרִיךְ רַחֲמִים רַבִּים וִישׁוּעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת לְיוֹם הַדִּין, לְפִי עֹצֶם רִבּוּי פְּגָמַי וּפְשָׁעַי שֶׁפָּשַׁעְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ עַד הֵנָּה,
Even if from now on I attain truly complete repentance, I will also require vast compassion and great salvation on the Day of Judgment to counter the immensity of my blemishes and the offenses with which I offended You until now.
אֲבָל עֲדַיִן אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִתְּשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה. וְעַתָּה מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי נָא אָבִי מַלְכִּי וּקְדוֹשִׁי, יוֹצְרִי וּבוֹרְאִי וְעוֹשִׂי, וְתַקְּנֵנִי בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, בַּאֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שָׁם עַתָּה,
Since I am still far from complete repentance, what shall I do now, my Father in Heaven? Please save me, my Father, my King, my Holy One, my Maker, my Creator, my Prime Mover. Rectify me by sending me good counsel from wherever I am at present.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְהִתְעוֹרֵר בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכֹחַ וּגְבוּרָה וּזְרִיזוּת גָּדוֹל לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָקוּם בִּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם.
From now on may I be truly inspired, with great might, power and enthusiasm, to return to You, so that at the resurrection, I will rise to eternal life.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ, אֲשֶׁר כָּל כַּוָּנָתְךָ בִּבְרִיאָתֵנוּ הָיָה, רַק כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַתַכְלִית הַזֶּה, לְחַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַבָּא:
You know that all of Your intention in creating us was so that we would attain this goal — the eternal life of the World to Come.
עַל־כֵּן חֲמֹל עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וַעֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָבוֹא לְכָל מַה שֶּׁבִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ,
Therefore, in Your great mercy, have mercy on me and on the entire Jewish people. In Your vast lovingkindness, help us attain everything that we have requested of You.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וְלִרְאוֹת עַצְמֵנוּ עִמָּהֶם פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים, וּלְהִכָּלֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתָם הַנּוֹרָאָה. וְיִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלֵינוּ קְדֻשָּׁתָם וּפְרִישָׁתָם, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים בִּקְדֻשַּׁת הַבְּרִית כְּמוֹתָם.
May we come close to true Tzaddikim, see them face to face, and be subsumed into their awesome holiness. May their holiness and asceticism be drawn onto us, until we will be as holy and pure in regard to the purity of the covenant as they are.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל מֵהֶם הִתְנוֹצְצוּת הַמֹּחִין בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, וְיִהְיֶה מוֹחֵנוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ הוֹלֵךְ וְגָדוֹל בְתוֹרָתֶךָ וּבַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ וּבְהַשָּׂגַת אֱלָהוּתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל מֵהֶם חִדּוּשֵׁי וּבֵאוּרֵי הַתּוֹרָה.
May we receive from them an illuminated consciousness with great holiness. May our mind and intellect grow in Your Torah, in serving You, and in truly perceiving Your Godliness. May we receive original insights and explanations of the Torah from them.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה גַם אֲנַחְנוּ לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁים וּבֵאוּרִים אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְבוּשָׁה וְיִרְאָה גְּדוֹלָה מִפָּנֶיךָ, וְלָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
Help us and save us so that we, too, will create true insights and explanations of Your holy Torah. As a result, may we experience great shame and fear before You, and truly return to You in complete repentance.
עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִחְיֶה אֶצְלֵנוּ הַשִּׁפְלוּת וְהָעֲנָוָה שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ הַמְלֻבָּשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר.
May the lowliness and humility of Moses, which is clothed in every individual’s every limb, be revived in us.
וְנִזְכֶּה גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לִטְעֹם טַעַם שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חַיֵּי עוֹלָם הַבָּא, חַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, טוֹעֲמֶיהָ חַיִּים זָכוּ, אֲשֶׁר חַיִּים כָּאֵלֶּה אִי־אֶפְשָׁר לְקַבֵּל בְּשׁוּם גּוּף וּבְשׁוּם יֵשּׁוּת,
Even in this world, may we taste the holy Shabbat, the life of the World to Come — true life, eternal life, as in the verse, “Those who taste it have acquired life.”
כִּי אִם כְּשֶׁזּוֹכִין לָבוֹא לְתַכְלִית הָעֲנָוָה בֶּאֱמֶת לִהְיוֹת כְּאַיִן וּכְאֶפֶס.
A person can receive such life only when he truly attains ultimate humility and is as nothing.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם, הַחֲיֵינוּ וְקַיְמֵינוּ, וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים, וְזַכֵּנוּ לִחְיוֹת מֵעַתָּה חַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים חַיִּים טוֹבִים וַאֲרֻכִּים, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חַיִּים נִצְחִיִּים שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַבָּא,
Master of the world, Living and Eternal God, give us life and sustain us. Compassionately fulfill our requests for the good. From now on may we live a true life, a good and long life, on the level of the eternal life of the World to Come.
כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדוּת פִּיךָ, תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ, וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ יַעַזְרֻנִי. תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת פָּנֶיךָ נְעִימוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח.
“In accordance with Your kindness, give me life, and I will guard the testimony of Your mouth.” “May my spirit live and praise You as Your judgments help me.” “Let me know the way of life, the satiety of joy before Your countenance, the pleasantness at Your right hand forever.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי, אָמֵן נֶצַח סֶלָה וָעֶד:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen, forever and ever.