When a Jew Rectifies His Covenant, He Perfects His Prayer and Faith / One Who Rectifies His Covenant Attains the Holiness of the Shabbat / The Ultimate Knowledge is that We Know Nothing / On the Shabbat, We Shed Our Plague-Ridden Body and Put on a Holy Body from the Garden of Eden / When One’s Mazal Ascends, He Gains Wealth / Through the “Right Side,” One Can Elevate Those Who Have Fallen into Evil Loves and Fears / Through the “Flames of Love,” a Person’s Heart is Enflamed with Learning Torah / When the Tzaddik Experiences Shame, God Accepts His Mitzvot / Sometimes a Tzaddik Must Experience Bloodshed, Figuratively or Even Literally, to Rectify a Fallen Soul When a person rectifies his covenant, he perfects his prayer and faith. This causes the ray of the Mashiach to shine, since MaShIaCh is the speech with which one prays, as in the verse, “He generates speech (MeiSIaCh) in the mute” (Shabbat morning liturgy).8 The words MaShIaCh (משיח Messiah) and MeiSIaCh (משיח generates speech) have the same letters. As a result of rectifying his covenant and perfecting his prayer, a person is liberated and attains the holiness of the Shabbat, which encompasses the entire world. The holiness of the Shabbat is the ultimate knowledge: the knowledge that we know nothing. On the Shabbat, a person sheds his plague-ridden body, the skin of the Serpent, and puts on Shabbat clothes — a holy body from the Garden of Eden. Then his mazal, the source of his being, is elevated. He gains wealth and his good inclination is strengthened. Depression and sarcasm, which stem from “black bile,” are eradicated by the mazal of wealth and the good inclination, which correspond to the “right side.” Through the “right side,” he can elevate those who fell into evil loves and fears, returning them to holy loves and fears. Their eyes then see wonders. It is as though such a person is creating the world. The light of the eyes also elevates all of the requests and supplications that are prayed in the direction of the holy Temple. The light of the eyes emerges from the Temple and arouses the redemption. It also eradicates the leavening of the evil inclination of the heart, which has been there since his youth, enticing him to question and judge the Torah sages of the generation. Through the “flames of love” — the love one has for God — a person’s heart is enflamed with learning Torah, and the “many waters” of external love and fear cannot extinguish that flame. The Divine Presence users Her wings to cover the blood of Israel (a person’s sins) with love, so that the seed of the wicked — the floodwaters — will not rule over them. God wants to taste the positive mitzvot of a Tzaddik. But those positive mitzvot correspond to the limb of a living animal, which is forbidden to eat until it is ritually slaughtered. The human equivalent of that is shame, which corresponds to “spilled blood,” a form of ritual slaughter. Thus, the Tzaddik must experience shame in order for God to be able to taste his mitzvot. When the Tzaddik’s blood is spilled by shame, he must take care that outer forces will not derive energy from it. His blood needs to be covered — just as the blood of a slaughtered animal must be covered. There are many fallen souls that can rise only when a great Jew’s blood is spilled — whether figuratively or sometimes even literally. The sins of these souls are then transformed into merits and then they are elevated. Guarding the Holy Covenant Master of the world, help me and save me from this moment on. In Your vast compassion and Your great kindness, treat me as You wish with Your hidden wonders and awesome ways. Help me from now on to truly guard the holy covenant.
May I truly and completely repent for my past. From now on may I attain a true rectification of the covenant, with the power and aid of the true Tzaddikim who attained the most perfect rectification of the covenant.
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You informed us that all rectifications, the entire Torah, and the entire rectification of all worlds depend on the rectification of the holy covenant. This is the foundation of everything, as all of the holy books explain.
But the evil inclination has so greatly overwhelmed and overcome us from our youth that we have blemished the covenant a great deal — each person with his own blemishes, which he himself recognizes (and, in particular, [add your own words here]). Now I have no words with which to speak about this. “I am mute and still, I am silent even in the face of goodness, and my pain is overwhelming.”
Therefore, I come to stretch my hands out to gain Your compassion and salvation. Please help me and save me so that from now on I will truly and completely rectify the covenant, in accordance with Your good will.
Have pity on me and be gracious to me. Have compassion on me and save me. Teach me and direct me in the ways of Your holy and wondrous counsel, whether revealed or implicit, in the books of Your true Tzaddikim. Illumine my mind’s eye at every moment, so that I will distance myself from this desire and from these fantasies, and truly rescue my soul.
Help us in the power and merit of all of the true Tzaddikim who attained a complete rectification of the covenant. May we draw forth prayer with the ultimate perfection, like drawing forth arrows from a quiver.
May our prayer always be smooth in our mouths, until we bring forth holy words of prayer with tremendous vitality, like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
May holy speech blossom from our mouths with wondrous vitality, like an arrow from the bow. May it rise ever higher, powerfully and perfectly rectifying everything that must be rectified in all worlds.
As a result of the prayer that will blossom for us soon, may we attain the horn of the Mashiach, son of David. May the verse quickly be realized, “There I will cause the horn of David to blossom; I have arranged a lamp for My anointed.” As a result, may we emerge from slavery to freedom.
For the Holy Shabbat The Precious Holiness of the Shabbat Send us the holiness of the Shabbat. Nullify all of our mundane deeds, so that we need not engage in any craft or work, but only in Torah, prayer and the true service of HaShem. May we all be truly liberated.
You Who are filled with compassion, You gave us this good gift from Your treasure house — Shabbat is its name. You know the great and precious holiness of the Shabbat, which revives and sustains all worlds. And You know how far I am from the holiness and joy of the Shabbat.
Please, Unique Master, You Who are good and do good to all, “great in counsel and mighty in deed,” help me, save me, teach me and guide me so that I will always experience the true joy of the Shabbat.
May I truly rejoice a great deal every Shabbat with the joy of the Shabbat. Please give me a taste of the holy Shabbat, for You are good and do good to all.
Please free us, HaShem our God, with Your mitzvot — and, in particular, with the mitzvah of the seventh day, the great and holy Sabbath. For it is Your great and holy day, meant for us to rest and be tranquil in an atmosphere of love, in accordance with Your will and commandment.
Sanctify us with Your mitzvot and give us our portion in Your Torah. Satiate us with Your goodness, gladden us with Your salvation, purify our hearts to truly serve You, and give us an inheritance, HaShem our God, in love and favor, of Your holy Shabbat.
May I always remember the holy Shabbat, as the verse states, “Remember the day of the Shabbat to sanctify it.” During all six days of the week, may I always draw the holiness of the Shabbat onto myself, so that all of the weekdays will be holy and pure with the holiness of the Shabbat.
In the merit of the holiness of the Shabbat, may we quickly attain the true goal, truly reaching the ultimate knowledge that we do not know anything. May we truly understand and realize that wisdom is far from us, as the verse states, “I said that I will be wise, yet it is far from me.”
May we be subsumed into the level of the “place of the world,” which is the intended destination of existence, enveloping the entire world that was created with Your wisdom.
If David and Solomon and the greatest of the early Tzaddikim — elevated men, true sages, masters of spiritual attainments and Divine inspiration, whose names I am not worthy to pronounce with my lips — used such expressions about themselves, what shall I say and how shall I speak?
I am filled with sins. As a result, my mind is turbulent. I have not yet been cleansed of the spirit of foolishness that comes as a result of sins, may the Compassionate One save us — and, even worse, I have no awareness or intelligence with which to understand how You conduct the world.
How many times do I forget this! And even when I remind myself, I do not realize it fully. This results in obstacles, confusions and descents not only in my awareness but in that of every individual, in accordance with the extent of his error.
If every individual would know the ultimate truth — that he does not know anything at all — nothing would have the power to cast him down or unsettle him. Every individual would always strengthen himself extensively and forever.
HaShem, You Who are “wise of heart and mighty of strength,” wisdom and understanding remain with You alone. There is no limit to Your understanding, whereas all of the sages are without knowledge — and, how much more, a person as ignorant as I am.
Aid me, guide me and teach me so that I will truly know that I know nothing at all. As a result, may I strengthen myself in the service of HaShem at all times and begin anew at every moment.
May I do everything that is truly what You want and occupy myself with it completely, in great enthusiasm, with a truly engaged heart, so that nothing in the world will distract me.
May my severe, multiple sins be unable to weaken my mind at all, Heaven forbid. Rather, may I appreciate, comprehend, understand and realize that I know nothing at all of what is going on in this world or what is going on with me.
May I perform perfectly whatever holy matters I have the ability to perform in this transient world. May I pray, strengthen myself, cry out and call out to You always, however things may be.
May I not be distracted from the truth by an unproductive state of mind or cleverness, Heaven forbid. Rather, may I attain true knowledge, wisdom and understanding so that I will truly understand and realize that wisdom is far from me and that I know nothing at all.
May I always truly rely on You alone. May I not engage in any superfluous or obsessive thoughts at all. Always treat me in accordance with Your will. On my behalf, truly realize the desires of Heaven, in accordance with Your good will.
Attaining a Holy Body from the Garden of Eden In Your vast compassion, help me so that I will strip myself of my plague-ridden body, which is the skin of the Serpent, and put on the clothes of the Shabbat — that is, a holy body from the Garden of Eden.
Master of the world, You who know hidden things, You alone know where my corporeal body comes from. “Behold, in sin I was conceived and in transgression my mother conceived me.” “My father and my mother abandoned me, but HaShem gathered me in.”
And in addition to the pollution and coarseness of my body from its inception at birth, I added darkness and pollution upon pollution as a result of all of my evil and blemished deeds.
Due to the profound coarseness and pollution of this plague-ridden body, I cannot cleanse myself of the foolishness of my mind and the pollution of my evil deeds, and I wander about through this world confused and torn.
At least from this moment on may I abandon my evil ways and my unworthy and confused thoughts, and strip myself of my plague-ridden, coarse and polluted body.
Master of the entire world, charitable Healer, please heal my soul and body in Your vast compassion. “Heal me, HaShem, so that I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.”
Attaining Abundance May my good inclination be strengthened. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. And may the sadness and cynicism that come from the “black bile” be eradicated.
May our poverty and oppression end, for “the strength of the porter has collapsed” due to the poverty and oppression of Your nation, the House of Israel — in particular, the great poverty and oppression of worthy people who desire to truly enter upon the way of holiness.
Have compassion on us in Your wondrous kindness. Illumine us with the Heavenly blessing of wealth. May all wealth accompany the worthy people of the House of Israel, Your nation, who desire to truly serve You so that Your Name will be magnified and sanctified.
May every type of sadness and mockery that comes from the “black bile” be eradicated. May the mockery of all those who attack decent, Godfearing people cease.
Grant us strength so that “the heart of the wise man on his right” will overcome the “heart of the fool on the left,” from which all of their mockery, the laughter of the fool, comes. May the left be nullified to the right.
For Pesach Recounting God’s Wonders By means of the dynamic of the “right side,” raise up those who fell into evil types of love and fear so that they will rise to holy loves and fears.
May the dynamic of the “right side” remove the darkness from their eyes so they will see wonders. May the verse quickly be realized, “As in the days of your going out from the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders.”
Always draw the holiness of Pesach onto us. Help us always recount and tell Your wonders and speak of Your true Torah. May we always speak about and reveal the Torah of truth. May the verse be realized in us, “The Torah of truth was in his mouth.”
Have compassion on us. Save us and help us quickly remove the darkness covering the face of the depths. May we shine the light of truth into the world in such a way that it will be as though we created the world.
Master of the world, You Who give a mouth to the mute, give us a mouth to speak of Your Torah and Your true wonders always, “so that the last generation may know, children will be born and arise and tell their own children.”
May we tell our children, our children’s children, and all the children of Israel for all generations of the deeds of HaShem and His wonders that He performed on our behalf from the day of the Exodus from Egypt until this day, as the verse states, “You shall make them known to your children and to your children’s children.”
You Who are filled with compassion, grant us and the entire Jewish people a true illumination of the eyes, so that we will always look and see the truth. May we gaze and always truly see the wonders of HaShem.
Uncover my eyes and the eyes of the entire Jewish people. May we gaze upon the wonders of Your Torah that You revealed through Your true Tzaddikim. You alone know the wonders of their teachings that they revealed to the world.
In consequence of the light of our eyes, may all of our requests and prayers rise to the holy Temple. As a result of that, arouse the redemption that is dependent on the heart, as the verse states, “A day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption arrived.”
Nullify the leavening of the evil inclination in the heart of man, which has remained in us since our youth. This leavening in the heart entices a person to think judgmentally about the Torah sages of the generation and critique their worthiness.
As a result of such behavior, our heart is divided, so that the seventy-two Tzaddikim in our generation are hidden from us, and we do not know any of them clearly.
Have compassion on us for Your sake. Remove, destroy and eradicate the leavening in our heart until we believe in all of the Tzaddikim, and we do not think judgmentally about them at all or make any distinctions among them. Rather, we will view them all as extremely fine, beloved and precious.
“Love Conceals All Sins” As a result, may our heart blaze to learn Torah with “flames of love.” Then “many waters” — which are extraneous loves and fears — “will not extinguish the love, and rivers will not overflow it.”
As a result of this love, may the Divine Presence cover the blood of the Jewish people with its wings, so that evildoers — the floodwaters — will not rule over them.
Help me so that I will be ashamed for the multitude of my great sins and wrongdoings that caused so many blemishes against You. Out of my pain and shame, may I feel that my own blood is spilled, until, with holy love, the Divine Presence will cover my spilled blood with Her wings.
Then my sins will be covered, because “love conceals all sins.” As a result of this holy love, forgive and pardon me for all of my transgressions, sins and offenses with truly complete forgiveness.
This refers to the literal shedding of Jewish blood, so much of which has been spilled since the day of the Destruction of the Temple until now. “They spilled their blood like water around Jerusalem, and no one buries them.”
And it also refers to bloodshed in the sense of the shame and embarrassment that the Jewish people have suffered in every generation — particularly, the copious bloodshed of all of the holy people and Tzaddikim whose blood has been spilled like water.
May all of this blood serve in place of the animal offerings brought as pleasing sacrifices to You. May their limbs not be the equivalent of the limb of a living animal, but may they be permissible to eat as a result of the spilling of this blood.
As a result, You will taste the holiness and pleasantness of all of the positive mitzvot that all of the Tzaddikim in every generation, and the entire Jewish people overall, have rectified before You.
In consequence of that, arouse Your love for Your nation, the Jewish people. Never remove Your love from us, and cover all of the blood with this holy love. May all of our sins then be concealed automatically.
Have compassion on us in the merit and power of the copious, measureless blood that was spilled by the great, awesome Tzaddikim, due to no fault of their own. In their merit, have compassion on all of those fallen souls.
Only You know how pitiful these fallen souls are. You raise them from their descent. You cover their sins with love, and transform all of their sins to merits.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who love Your nation, the Jewish people, and choose Your nation of Israel with love, arouse Your love for us. Rise and save us. Compassionately fulfill our requests for the good.
Have compassion on all of the souls of Your nation, the Jewish people, whether living or dead. Inspire the hearts of the true Tzaddikim to engage in our rectification always. May they swiftly put their desire and will into action to rectify all of us quickly.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה פ"ג - עַל־יְדֵי תִּקּוּן הַבְּרִית שֶׁהוּא קֶשֶׁת]
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מֵעַתָּה, וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים וְנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ הַנֶּעְלָמוֹת וּדְרָכֶיךָ הַנּוֹרָאִים, וְזַכֵּנִי מֵעַתָּה לִשְׁמֹר אֶת הַבְּרִית־קֹדֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת,
When a Jew Rectifies His Covenant, He Perfects His Prayer and Faith / One Who Rectifies His Covenant Attains the Holiness of the Shabbat / The Ultimate Knowledge is that We Know Nothing / On the Shabbat, We Shed Our Plague-Ridden Body and Put on a Holy Body from the Garden of Eden / When One’s Mazal Ascends, He Gains Wealth / Through the “Right Side,” One Can Elevate Those Who Have Fallen into Evil Loves and Fears / Through the “Flames of Love,” a Person’s Heart is Enflamed with Learning Torah / When the Tzaddik Experiences Shame, God Accepts His Mitzvot / Sometimes a Tzaddik Must Experience Bloodshed, Figuratively or Even Literally, to Rectify a Fallen Soul
When a person rectifies his covenant, he perfects his prayer and faith. This causes the ray of the Mashiach to shine, since MaShIaCh is the speech with which one prays, as in the verse, “He generates speech (MeiSIaCh) in the mute” (Shabbat morning liturgy).8 The words MaShIaCh (משיח Messiah) and MeiSIaCh (משיח generates speech) have the same letters.
As a result of rectifying his covenant and perfecting his prayer, a person is liberated and attains the holiness of the Shabbat, which encompasses the entire world. The holiness of the Shabbat is the ultimate knowledge: the knowledge that we know nothing.
On the Shabbat, a person sheds his plague-ridden body, the skin of the Serpent, and puts on Shabbat clothes — a holy body from the Garden of Eden.
Then his mazal, the source of his being, is elevated. He gains wealth and his good inclination is strengthened. Depression and sarcasm, which stem from “black bile,” are eradicated by the mazal of wealth and the good inclination, which correspond to the “right side.”
Through the “right side,” he can elevate those who fell into evil loves and fears, returning them to holy loves and fears. Their eyes then see wonders. It is as though such a person is creating the world.
The light of the eyes also elevates all of the requests and supplications that are prayed in the direction of the holy Temple. The light of the eyes emerges from the Temple and arouses the redemption. It also eradicates the leavening of the evil inclination of the heart, which has been there since his youth, enticing him to question and judge the Torah sages of the generation.
Through the “flames of love” — the love one has for God — a person’s heart is enflamed with learning Torah, and the “many waters” of external love and fear cannot extinguish that flame.
The Divine Presence users Her wings to cover the blood of Israel (a person’s sins) with love, so that the seed of the wicked — the floodwaters — will not rule over them.
God wants to taste the positive mitzvot of a Tzaddik. But those positive mitzvot correspond to the limb of a living animal, which is forbidden to eat until it is ritually slaughtered. The human equivalent of that is shame, which corresponds to “spilled blood,” a form of ritual slaughter. Thus, the Tzaddik must experience shame in order for God to be able to taste his mitzvot.
When the Tzaddik’s blood is spilled by shame, he must take care that outer forces will not derive energy from it. His blood needs to be covered — just as the blood of a slaughtered animal must be covered.
There are many fallen souls that can rise only when a great Jew’s blood is spilled — whether figuratively or sometimes even literally. The sins of these souls are then transformed into merits and then they are elevated.
Guarding the Holy Covenant
Master of the world, help me and save me from this moment on. In Your vast compassion and Your great kindness, treat me as You wish with Your hidden wonders and awesome ways. Help me from now on to truly guard the holy covenant.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת עַל הֶעָבַר, וְלִזְכּוֹת מֵעַתָּה לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים אֲשֶׁר זָכוּ לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת:
May I truly and completely repent for my past. From now on may I attain a true rectification of the covenant, with the power and aid of the true Tzaddikim who attained the most perfect rectification of the covenant.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אַתָּה הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ שֶׁכָּל הַתִּקּוּנִים וְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ וְכָל תִּקּוּן הָעוֹלָמוֹת, הַכֹּל תָּלוּי בְּתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית־קֹדֶשׁ שֶׁהוּא יְסוֹד הַכֹּל כַּמְבוֹאָר בְּכָל סִפְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ.
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You informed us that all rectifications, the entire Torah, and the entire rectification of all worlds depend on the rectification of the holy covenant. This is the foundation of everything, as all of the holy books explain.
אֲבָל מִגֹּדֶל הַהִתְגַּבְּרוּת שֶׁהִתְגַּבֵּר עָלֵינוּ הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע מִנְעוּרֵנוּ פָּגַמְנוּ הַרְבֵּה בִּפְגַם הַבְּרִית, כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי פְּגָמָיו כַּאֲשֶׁר יוֹדֵעַ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּנַפְשׁוֹ (וּבִפְרָט וְכוּ'). עַל־כֵּן אֵין לִי עַתָּה שׁוּם דִּבּוּר אֵיךְ לְדַבֵּר בָּזֶה, נֶאֱלַמְתִּי דוּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי מִטּוֹב וּכְאֵבִי נֶעְכָּר.
But the evil inclination has so greatly overwhelmed and overcome us from our youth that we have blemished the covenant a great deal — each person with his own blemishes, which he himself recognizes (and, in particular, [add your own words here]). Now I have no words with which to speak about this. “I am mute and still, I am silent even in the face of goodness, and my pain is overwhelming.”
אַךְ כְּבָר הִזְהַרְתָּנוּ וְחִזַּקְתָּנוּ לָנֶצַח, לִזְעֹק וְלִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד, יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה.
But the Tzaddikim have always heartened and encouraged us to cry out and call out to You, however things may be.
עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לִשְׁטוֹחַ כַּפַּי לְרַחֲמֶיךָ וִישׁוּעָתֶךָ, שֶׁתַּעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
Therefore, I come to stretch my hands out to gain Your compassion and salvation. Please help me and save me so that from now on I will truly and completely rectify the covenant, in accordance with Your good will.
חוּס וְחָנֵּנִי וְרַחֵם עָלַי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, וְלַמְּדֵנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי דַרְכֵי עֵצוֹתֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת וְהַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְהַנִּסְתָּרוֹת בְּסִפְרֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְתָאִיר עֵינֵי דַעְתִּי וְשִׂכְלִי בְּכָל־עֵת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְרַחֵק מִתַּאֲוָה הַזֹּאת וּמֵהִרְהוּרִים הָאֵלֶּה וּלְמַלֵּט נַפְשִׁי מֵהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת,
Have pity on me and be gracious to me. Have compassion on me and save me. Teach me and direct me in the ways of Your holy and wondrous counsel, whether revealed or implicit, in the books of Your true Tzaddikim. Illumine my mind’s eye at every moment, so that I will distance myself from this desire and from these fantasies, and truly rescue my soul.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְגָרְשָׁם וּלְבַטְּלָם מִמֶּנִּי לְגַמְרֵי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
May I expel them and eradicate them entirely, so that from now on I will truly rectify the covenant, in accordance with Your good will.
וּבְכֵן תַּעַזְרֵנִי בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁזָּכוּ לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא הַחִצִּים שֶׁהִיא הַתְּפִלָּה בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת,
Help us in the power and merit of all of the true Tzaddikim who attained a complete rectification of the covenant. May we draw forth prayer with the ultimate perfection, like drawing forth arrows from a quiver.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, בְּחַיּוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה,
May we always pray with truly great and intense concentration, and with complete faith, tremendous vitality and holy fervor.
וְתִהְיֶה תְפִלָּתֵנוּ שְׁגוּרָה בְּפִינוּ תָמִיד, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא דִבּוּרִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה בְּחַיּוּת גָּדוֹל כְּחִצִּים בְּיַד גִּבּוֹר,
May our prayer always be smooth in our mouths, until we bring forth holy words of prayer with tremendous vitality, like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
שֶׁיִּפְרַח הַדִּבּוּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ מִפִּינוּ בְּחַיּוּת נִפְלָא כְּמוֹ חֵץ מֵהַקֶּשֶׁת, וְיַעֲלֶה לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה, וְיִפְעוֹל וְיַעֲשֶׂה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת כָּל הַתִּקּוּנִים שֶׁצְּרִיכִים לְתַקֵּן עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת כֻּלָּם,
May holy speech blossom from our mouths with wondrous vitality, like an arrow from the bow. May it rise ever higher, powerfully and perfectly rectifying everything that must be rectified in all worlds.
עַד אֲשֶׁר נִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁתַּצְמִיחַ לָנוּ מְהֵרָה קֶרֶן מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד, וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, שָׁם אַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן לְדָוִד עָרַכְתִּי נֵר לִמְשִׁיחִי, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לָצֵאת מֵעַבְדּוּת לְחֵרוּת:
As a result of the prayer that will blossom for us soon, may we attain the horn of the Mashiach, son of David. May the verse quickly be realized, “There I will cause the horn of David to blossom; I have arranged a lamp for My anointed.” As a result, may we emerge from slavery to freedom.
לְשַׁבַּת־קוֹדֶשׁ
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לִקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ, וּתְבַטֵל מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל עוֹבָדִין דְּחוֹל, שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטָרֵךְ לַעֲסֹק בְּשׁוּם מְלָאכָה וְעֵסֶק, רַק נַעֲסוֹק תָּמִיד בְּתוֹרָה וּתְפִלָּה וַעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְנִהְיֶה כֻּלָּנוּ בְּנֵי־חוֹרִין בֶּאֱמֶת.
For the Holy Shabbat
The Precious Holiness of the Shabbat
Send us the holiness of the Shabbat. Nullify all of our mundane deeds, so that we need not engage in any craft or work, but only in Torah, prayer and the true service of HaShem. May we all be truly liberated.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אַתָּה נָתַתָּ לָּנוּ מַתָּנָה טוֹבָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּבֵית גְּנָזֶיךָ וְשַׁבָּת שְׁמָהּ, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל מַעֲלַת יִקְרַת קְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ, הַמְחַיֶּה וּמְקַיֵּם כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת, וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְהַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.
You Who are filled with compassion, You gave us this good gift from Your treasure house — Shabbat is its name. You know the great and precious holiness of the Shabbat, which revives and sustains all worlds. And You know how far I am from the holiness and joy of the Shabbat.
אָנָּא אָדוֹן יָחִיד, טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, גְּדוֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה. עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָּמִיד לְשִׂמְחָה שֶׁל־שַׁבָּת בֶּאֱמֶת,
Please, Unique Master, You Who are good and do good to all, “great in counsel and mighty in deed,” help me, save me, teach me and guide me so that I will always experience the true joy of the Shabbat.
שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׂמֹחַ מְאֹד בְּכָל שַׁבָּת וְשַׁבָּת בְּשִׂמְחַת שַׁבָּת בֶּאֱמֶת, הַטְעִימֵנִי נָא טַעַם שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ, כִּי אַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל.
May I truly rejoice a great deal every Shabbat with the joy of the Shabbat. Please give me a taste of the holy Shabbat, for You are good and do good to all.
רְצֵה וְהַחֲלִיצֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ וּבְמִצְוַת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַשַּׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה, כִּי יוֹם זֶה גָדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ הוּא לְפָנֶיךָ לִשְׁבּוֹת בּוֹ וְלָנוּחַ בּוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה כְּמִצְוַת רְצוֹנֶךָ.
Please free us, HaShem our God, with Your mitzvot — and, in particular, with the mitzvah of the seventh day, the great and holy Sabbath. For it is Your great and holy day, meant for us to rest and be tranquil in an atmosphere of love, in accordance with Your will and commandment.
קַדְּשֵׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ וְתֵן חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, שַׂבְּעֵנוּ מִטּוּבֶךָ וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ, וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לְעָבְדְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְהַנְחִילֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן שַׁבַּת קָדְשֶׁךָ,
Sanctify us with Your mitzvot and give us our portion in Your Torah. Satiate us with Your goodness, gladden us with Your salvation, purify our hearts to truly serve You, and give us an inheritance, HaShem our God, in love and favor, of Your holy Shabbat.
זַכֵּנִי לִשְׂמֹחַ בְּכָל שַׁבָּת וְשַׁבָּת בְּשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁל שַׁבָּת לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַחוֹל,
Help me rejoice on every Shabbat with great and intense joy, until I will draw the joy of the Shabbat into the six days of the week.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר אֶת הַשַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ תָּמִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי קְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבָּת תָּמִיד בְּכָל שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַחוֹל, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל יְמֵי הַחוֹל קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים בִּקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ,
May I always remember the holy Shabbat, as the verse states, “Remember the day of the Shabbat to sanctify it.” During all six days of the week, may I always draw the holiness of the Shabbat onto myself, so that all of the weekdays will be holy and pure with the holiness of the Shabbat.
וְעַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבָּת נִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת מִמְּקוֹר הַבְּרָכוֹת:
As a result of the holiness of the Shabbat, may we receive all blessings from the source of blessings.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בִּזְכוּת קְדֻשַּׁת שַּׁבָּת שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ מְהֵרָה אֶל הַתַּכְלִית הָאֲמִתִּי, לְהַשִּׂיג בֶּאֱמֶת תַּכְלִית הַיְדִיעָה שֶׁלֹּא נֵדַע, שֶׁנָּבִין וְנַשְׂכִּיל בֶּאֱמֶת שֶׁרָחוֹק מִמֶּנּוּ הַחָכְמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: אָמַרְתִּי אֶחְכָּמָה וְהִיא רְחוֹקָה מִמֶּנִּי.
In the merit of the holiness of the Shabbat, may we quickly attain the true goal, truly reaching the ultimate knowledge that we do not know anything. May we truly understand and realize that wisdom is far from us, as the verse states, “I said that I will be wise, yet it is far from me.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִכָּלֵל בִּבְחִינַת מְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא הַתַּכְלִית הַזֶּה הַמַּקִּיף אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּחָכְמָה.
May we be subsumed into the level of the “place of the world,” which is the intended destination of existence, enveloping the entire world that was created with Your wisdom.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בֶּאֱמֶת יָדַעְתִּי מֵרָחוֹק כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ וְלֹא בִינַת אָדָם לִי.
We Know Nothing
Master of the world, I know this only from a distance, for “I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.”
וְאִם לְשׁוֹנוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ אָמְרוּ דָוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה וּגְדוֹלֵי צַדִּיקִים הַקַּדְמוֹנִים בְּנֵי עֲלִיָּה, חַכְמֵי אֱמֶת, בַּעֲלֵי הַשָּׂגָה וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר אֵינִי כְּדַאי וְרָאוּי לִשָּׂא שְׁמוֹתָם עַל שְׂפָתָי. אָנֹכִי מָה אוֹמַר וּמָה אֲדַבֵּר,
If David and Solomon and the greatest of the early Tzaddikim — elevated men, true sages, masters of spiritual attainments and Divine inspiration, whose names I am not worthy to pronounce with my lips — used such expressions about themselves, what shall I say and how shall I speak?
אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מָלֵא עֲוֹנוֹת, אֲשֶׁר עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה דַעְתִּי עֲכוּרָה מְאֹד, כִּי עֲדַיִן לֹא נִטְהַרְתִּי מֵהָרוּחַ שְׁטוּת הַבָּא עַל־יְדֵי הָעֲוֹנוֹת רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, וּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁאֵין לִי שׁוּם דַּעַת וָשֵׂכֶל לְהָבִין שׁוּם דָּבָר וְהַנְהָגָה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
I am filled with sins. As a result, my mind is turbulent. I have not yet been cleansed of the spirit of foolishness that comes as a result of sins, may the Compassionate One save us — and, even worse, I have no awareness or intelligence with which to understand how You conduct the world.
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן מְבַלְבְּלִין אוֹתִי הַחָכְמוֹת הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, וַאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק הַרְבֵּה לְהַזְכִּיר אֶת עַצְמִי בְּכָל פַּעַם שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל,
My intellect confuses me greatly, and I need to constantly force myself to remember that I do not know anything at all.
וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים שֶׁאֲנִי שׁוֹכֵחַ בָּזֶה, וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי מַזְכִּיר אֶת עַצְמִי, אֵינִי זוֹכֶה לָזֶה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת. וּמִזֶּה בָּאִים כַּמָּה מִכְשׁוֹלוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים וּנְפִילוֹת בְּדַעְתָּם לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי עֵרֶךְ טָעוּתוֹ בָּזֶה,
How many times do I forget this! And even when I remind myself, I do not realize it fully. This results in obstacles, confusions and descents not only in my awareness but in that of every individual, in accordance with the extent of his error.
כִּי אִם הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל אֶחָד הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל, לֹא הָיָה שׁוּם דָּבָר יָכוֹל לְהַפִּיל אוֹתוֹ וּלְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתוֹ כְּלָל, וְהָיָה כָּל אֶחָד מִתְחַזֵּק הַרְבֵּה תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם:
If every individual would know the ultimate truth — that he does not know anything at all — nothing would have the power to cast him down or unsettle him. Every individual would always strengthen himself extensively and forever.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, חֲכַם לֵבָב וְאַמִּיץ כֹּחַ, אֲשֶׁר הַחָכְמָה וְהַתְּבוּנָה עִמְּךָ לְבַד, וְלִתְבוּנָתְךָ אֵין מִסְפָּר, וְכָל הַחֲכָמִים כִּבְלִי מַדָּע, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן נִבְעַר מִדַּעַת כָּמוֹנִי.
HaShem, You Who are “wise of heart and mighty of strength,” wisdom and understanding remain with You alone. There is no limit to Your understanding, whereas all of the sages are without knowledge — and, how much more, a person as ignorant as I am.
זַכֵּנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע בֶּאֱמֶת שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בַּעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה בְּכָל פַּעַם, וּלְהַתְחִיל בְּכָל עֵת מֵחָדָשׁ,
Aid me, guide me and teach me so that I will truly know that I know nothing at all. As a result, may I strengthen myself in the service of HaShem at all times and begin anew at every moment.
בֵּין בִּבְחִינַת עֲלִיָּה וּבֵין בִּבְחִינַת יְרִידָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְהַתְחִיל בְּכָל פַּעַם מֵחָדָשׁ.
Whether I am rising or falling, Heaven forbid, however things may be, may I strengthen myself to constantly begin anew.
וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, אֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתָם וְלַעֲסֹק בָּהֶם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּדוֹל בְּהִתְחַזְּקוּת גָּדוֹל בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא יוּכַל לְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתִי שׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,
May I do everything that is truly what You want and occupy myself with it completely, in great enthusiasm, with a truly engaged heart, so that nothing in the world will distract me.
וְלֹא יוּכְלוּ עֲוֹנוֹתַי הָעֲצוּמִים וְהַמְּרֻבִּים מְאֹד לְהַחֲלִישׁ אֶת דַּעְתִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם כְּלָל בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. רַק אֵדַע וְאַבְחִין וְאָבִין וְאַשְׂכִּיל שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל מַה נַּעֲשָׂה בָּעוֹלָם, וּמַה נַּעֲשָׂה עִמָּדִי,
May my severe, multiple sins be unable to weaken my mind at all, Heaven forbid. Rather, may I appreciate, comprehend, understand and realize that I know nothing at all of what is going on in this world or what is going on with me.
רַק כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדִי לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּכֹחִי דְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם הָעוֹבֵר, אֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתָם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהִתְחַזֵּק וְלִזְעֹק וְלִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד, יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה.
May I perform perfectly whatever holy matters I have the ability to perform in this transient world. May I pray, strengthen myself, cry out and call out to You always, however things may be.
וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְהַדַּעַת וְהַחָכְמָה שֶׁל הֶבֶל לְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתִי מֵהָאֱמֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְדַעַת וְחָכְמָה וּבִינָה אֲמִתִּיִּית לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל הָאֱמֶת שֶׁרָחוֹק מִמֶּנִּי הַחָכְמָה וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל.
May I not be distracted from the truth by an unproductive state of mind or cleverness, Heaven forbid. Rather, may I attain true knowledge, wisdom and understanding so that I will truly understand and realize that wisdom is far from me and that I know nothing at all.
וְאֶסְמֹךְ עָלֶיךָ לְבַד תָּמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא אֶחְשׁוֹב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת יְתֵרוֹת כְּלָל (שֶׁקּוֹרִין: אִיבֶּער טְרַאכְטִין), וְאַתָּה תַעֲשֶׂה עִמִּי כִּרְצוֹנְךָ תָמִיד, וְתִגְמוֹר עִמִּי חֶפְצֵי שָׁמַיִם כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
May I always truly rely on You alone. May I not engage in any superfluous or obsessive thoughts at all. Always treat me in accordance with Your will. On my behalf, truly realize the desires of Heaven, in accordance with Your good will.
וּבְכֵן תַּעַזְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַפְשִׁיט גּוּפִי הַמְּצוֹרָע שֶׁהוּא מִמָּשְׁכָא דְּחִוְיָא, וְלִלְבּוֹשׁ בִּגְדֵי שַׁבָּת דְּהַיְינוּ גּוּף קָדוֹשׁ מִגַּן עֵדֶן.
Attaining a Holy Body from the Garden of Eden
In Your vast compassion, help me so that I will strip myself of my plague-ridden body, which is the skin of the Serpent, and put on the clothes of the Shabbat — that is, a holy body from the Garden of Eden.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת, אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ מֵהֵיכָן נִמְשָׁךְ גּוּפִי הַמְגֻשָּׁם, הֵן בְּעָוֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי וּבְחֵטְא יֶחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּי. כִּי אָבִי וְאִמִּי עֲזָבוּנִי וַיהֹוָה יַאַסְפֵנִי,
Master of the world, You who know hidden things, You alone know where my corporeal body comes from. “Behold, in sin I was conceived and in transgression my mother conceived me.” “My father and my mother abandoned me, but HaShem gathered me in.”
וּמִלְּבַד מַה שֶּׁגּוּפִי עָכוּר וּמְגֻשָּׁם מִתְּחִלַּת הַהוֹלָדָה, נוֹסַף לָזֶה הוֹסַפְתִּי זוֹהֲמָא וַעֲכִירוּת עַל עֲכִירוּת עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים וְהַפְּגוּמִים מְאֹד,
And in addition to the pollution and coarseness of my body from its inception at birth, I added darkness and pollution upon pollution as a result of all of my evil and blemished deeds.
וּמֵעוֹצֶם גַּשְׁמִיּוּת וַעֲכִירַת הַגּוּף הַמְּצוֹרָע הַזֶּה, אֵינִי יָכוֹל לְנַקּוֹת עַצְמִי מִכְּסִילוּת דַּעְתִּי וַעֲכִירַת מַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה נָע וָנָד מְבֻלְבָּל וּמְטוֹרָף,
Due to the profound coarseness and pollution of this plague-ridden body, I cannot cleanse myself of the foolishness of my mind and the pollution of my evil deeds, and I wander about through this world confused and torn.
וַאֲנִי מְחַפֵּשׂ וּמְבַקֵּשׁ אָנֶה וְאָנָה לִמְצוֹא פֶּתַח הַצָּלָה לִבְרֹחַ מִזּוֹהֲמַת טִנּוּף גּוּפִי וּמִתַּאֲווֹתָיו הָרָעִים וַעֲדַיִן לֹא נוֹשָׁעְתִּי,
I search everywhere, seeking an escape from the polluted filth of my body and its evil desires, but I remain unredeemed.
וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ לְהַצִּיל אֶת עַצְמִי מִמֶּנִּי בְּעַצְמִי, עַד אֲשֶׁר קָשֶׁה וְכָבֵד עָלַי אֲפִלּוּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן עַל זֶה.
I do not know how to rescue myself from myself, to such an extent that it is difficult and onerous for me even to pray and beg for this.
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, רַחֵם עָלַי, לַמְּדֵנִי אֵיךְ לְסַדֵּר תְּחִנָּתִי הַמָּרָה לְפָנֶיךָ עַתָּה, אֵיךְ לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים עָלַי עַתָּה.
My Father in Heaven, have compassion on me. Teach me how to arrange my bitter prayer before You now, how to arouse Your true compassion for me now.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים מֵעַתָּה לַעֲזוֹב דַּרְכִּי הָרַע וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתַי הַמְגֻנּוֹת וְהַמְבֻלְבָּלוֹת, וְאַפְשִׁיט אֶת עַצְמִי מֵעַתָּה מִגּוּפִי הַמְּצוֹרָע הַמְגֻשָּׁם וְהֶעָכוּר כָּל־כָּךְ,
At least from this moment on may I abandon my evil ways and my unworthy and confused thoughts, and strip myself of my plague-ridden, coarse and polluted body.
וְאַתְחִיל לְטַהֵר וּלְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת עַצְמִי בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדֻשּׁוֹת וְטָהֳרוֹת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּגוּף קָדוֹשׁ מִגַּן עֵדֶן.
May I begin to purify and sanctify myself with every type of holiness and purity, until I will be clothed in a holy body from the Garden of Eden.
מָרֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא כֹּלָּא, רוֹפֵא חִנָּם, רְפָאֵנִי נָא בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף, רְפָאֵנִי יְהֹוָה וְאֵרָפֵא הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְאִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתִי אָתָּה,
Master of the entire world, charitable Healer, please heal my soul and body in Your vast compassion. “Heal me, HaShem, so that I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.”
רְפָאֵנִי וְאָסְפֵנִי מִצָּרַעְתִּי וּמַהֵר לְהַפְשִׁיט מֵעָלַי גּוּפִי הַמְּצוֹרָע, וְהַלְבֵּשׁ אוֹתִי בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ גּוּף קָדוֹשׁ מִגַּן־עֵדֶן,
Heal me and cure me of my plague. Quickly strip me of this plague-ridden body and kindly clothe me with a holy body from the Garden of Eden.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְרוֹמֵם מַזָּלִי וְאֶזְכֶּה לְעוֹשֶׁר, וּבְבִרְכוֹתֶיךָ תְבָרְכֵנִי וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ לִי עֲשִׁירוּת גָּדוֹל בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה,
As a result, may my fortune be elevated so that I will attain wealth. Send me Your blessings and pour great wealth onto me with holiness and purity.
וְיִתְחַזֵּק יִצְרִי הַטּוֹב, וְתָסִיר לֵב אֶבֶן מִבְּשָׂרִי וְתִתֶּן לִי לֵב בָּשָׂר, וְיִתְבַּטֵּל הָעַצְבוּת וְהַלֵּיצָנוּת הַבָּאִים מִמָּרָה שְׁחוֹרָה,
Attaining Abundance
May my good inclination be strengthened. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. And may the sadness and cynicism that come from the “black bile” be eradicated.
וְיִתְבַּטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ הָעֲנִיּוּת וְהַדַּחֲקוּת, כִּי כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל שֶׁל הָעֲנִיּוּת וְהַדַּחֲקוּת שֶׁל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּפְרַט גֹּדֶל הָעֲנִיּוּת וְהַדַּחֲקוּת שֶׁל הַכְּשֵׁרִים הַחֲפֵצִים לִכְנוֹס בְּדֶרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת.
May our poverty and oppression end, for “the strength of the porter has collapsed” due to the poverty and oppression of Your nation, the House of Israel — in particular, the great poverty and oppression of worthy people who desire to truly enter upon the way of holiness.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הַנִּפְלָאִים, וְתָאִיר עָלֵינוּ מַזָּל שֶׁל עֲשִׁירוּת, וְיִהְיֶה כָּל הָעֲשִׁירוּת אֵצֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ הַכְּשֵׁרִים הַחֲפֵצִים לְעָבְדְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, לְמַעַן יִתְגַּדֵּל וְיִתְקַדֵּשׁ שִׁמְךָ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה.
Have compassion on us in Your wondrous kindness. Illumine us with the Heavenly blessing of wealth. May all wealth accompany the worthy people of the House of Israel, Your nation, who desire to truly serve You so that Your Name will be magnified and sanctified.
וְיִתְבַּטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל מִינֵי עַצְבוּת וְלֵיצָנוּת הַבָּאִים מִמָּרָה שְׁחוֹרָה, וְיִתְבַּטֵּל הַלֵּיצָנוּת שֶׁל כָּל הַחוֹלְקִים עַל הַכְּשֵׁרִים וְהַיְרֵאִים.
May every type of sadness and mockery that comes from the “black bile” be eradicated. May the mockery of all those who attack decent, Godfearing people cease.
וְתִתֶּן כֹּחַ שֶׁיִּתְגַּבֵּר לֵב חָכָם לִימִין עַל לֵב הַכְּסִיל שֶׁהוּא מִשְּׂמֹאל, אֲשֶׁר מִשָּׁם כָּל הַלֵּיצָנוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם, שֶׁהוּא שְׂחוֹק הַכְּסִיל, וְיִתְבַּטֵּל הַשְּׂמֹאל לְגַבֵּי הַיָּמִין:
Grant us strength so that “the heart of the wise man on his right” will overcome the “heart of the fool on the left,” from which all of their mockery, the laughter of the fool, comes. May the left be nullified to the right.
לְפֶּסַח
וְעַל־יְדֵי הַיָּמִין הַזֶּה תָּקִים אֶת הַנּוֹפְלִים לְאַהֲבוֹת וְיִרְאוֹת רָעוֹת, לְהָקִים אוֹתָם לְאַהֲבוֹת וְיִרְאוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת,
For Pesach
Recounting God’s Wonders
By means of the dynamic of the “right side,” raise up those who fell into evil types of love and fear so that they will rise to holy loves and fears.
וְהַיָּמִין יַעֲבִיר הַחֹשֶׁךְ מֵעֵינֵיהֶם עַד אֲשֶׁר עֵינֵיהֶם יִרְאוּ נִפְלָאוֹת, וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: כִּימֵי צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אַרְאֶנּוּ נִפְלָאוֹת,
May the dynamic of the “right side” remove the darkness from their eyes so they will see wonders. May the verse quickly be realized, “As in the days of your going out from the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders.”
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי קְדֻשַּׁת פֶּסַח תָּמִיד, וְתַעֲזֹר לָנוּ תָמִיד לְסַפֵּר וְלָשׂוּחַ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְתוֹרָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית, וְנִזְכֶּה לְדַבֵּר וּלְגַלּוֹת תָּמִיד תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ.
Always draw the holiness of Pesach onto us. Help us always recount and tell Your wonders and speak of Your true Torah. May we always speak about and reveal the Torah of truth. May the verse be realized in us, “The Torah of truth was in his mouth.”
וּתְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ מְהֵרָה לְהַעֲבִיר הַחֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁכִּסָּה פְּנֵי תְהוֹם, וּלְהָאִיר אוֹר הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נֶחְשָׁב כְּאִלּוּ בָּרָאנוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם.
Have compassion on us. Save us and help us quickly remove the darkness covering the face of the depths. May we shine the light of truth into the world in such a way that it will be as though we created the world.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הַשָּׂם פֶּה לָאִלֵּם, תֶּן לָנוּ פֶּה לָשׂוּחַ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וְנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיּוֹת תָּמִיד, לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דוֹר אַחֲרוֹן בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ יָקוּמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם.
Master of the world, You Who give a mouth to the mute, give us a mouth to speak of Your Torah and Your true wonders always, “so that the last generation may know, children will be born and arise and tell their own children.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהוֹדִיעַ לְבָנֵינוּ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֵינוּ וּלְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְדוֹרוֹתָם אֵת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה יְהֹוָה וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמָּנוּ מִיּוֹם יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ.
May we tell our children, our children’s children, and all the children of Israel for all generations of the deeds of HaShem and His wonders that He performed on our behalf from the day of the Exodus from Egypt until this day, as the verse states, “You shall make them known to your children and to your children’s children.”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, זַכֵּנוּ אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאוֹר הָעֵינַיִם הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, לְהִסְתַּכֵּל וְלִרְאוֹת הָאֱמֶת תָּמִיד, וְנַבִּיט וְנִרְאֶה נִפְלָאוֹת יְהֹוָה תָּמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת.
You Who are filled with compassion, grant us and the entire Jewish people a true illumination of the eyes, so that we will always look and see the truth. May we gaze and always truly see the wonders of HaShem.
גַּל עֵינַי וְעֵינֵי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנַבִּיט נִפְלָאוֹת מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ אֲשֶׁר גִּלִּיתָ עַל־יְדֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ נִפְלְאוֹת תּוֹרָתָם שֶׁגִּלּוּ בָּעוֹלָם.
Uncover my eyes and the eyes of the entire Jewish people. May we gaze upon the wonders of Your Torah that You revealed through Your true Tzaddikim. You alone know the wonders of their teachings that they revealed to the world.
וְעַל־יְדֵי אוֹר הָעֵינַיִם יַעֲלוּ כָּל הַבַּקָּשׁוֹת וְהַתְּחִנּוֹת אֲשֶׁר אָנוּ מִתְפַּלְּלִים אֶל הַבֵּית־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְּעוֹרֵר הַגְּאֻלָּה הַתְּלוּיָה בַּלֵּב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי יוֹם נָקָם בְּלִבִּי וּשְׁנַת גְּאוּלַי בָּאָה.
In consequence of the light of our eyes, may all of our requests and prayers rise to the holy Temple. As a result of that, arouse the redemption that is dependent on the heart, as the verse states, “A day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption arrived.”
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְּבַטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ שְׂאֹר וְחָמֵץ שֶׁל יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם רַע שֶׁנִּשְׁאָר לָנוּ מִנְּעוּרֵנוּ, אֲשֶׁר זֶה הַשְּׂאֹר וְהַחָמֵץ שֶׁבַּלֵּב, הוּא הַמֵּסִּית אֶת הָאָדָם לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר וְלוֹמַר זֶה נָאֶה וְזֶה לֹא נָאֶה,
Nullify the leavening of the evil inclination in the heart of man, which has remained in us since our youth. This leavening in the heart entices a person to think judgmentally about the Torah sages of the generation and critique their worthiness.
עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה חָלַק לִבֵּנוּ וְנֶעֶלְמוּ מֵאִתָּנוּ הַשִּׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם צַדִּיקִים שֶׁבְּדוֹרֵנוּ וְאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים בְּבֵרוּר אֶחָד מֵהֶם.
As a result of such behavior, our heart is divided, so that the seventy-two Tzaddikim in our generation are hidden from us, and we do not know any of them clearly.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַנְךָ וְתָסִיר וּתְבַעֵר וּתְבַטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ הַשְּׂאֹר וְהַחָמֵץ שֶׁבַּלֵּב, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין בְּכָל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְלִבְלִי לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֵיהֶם כְּלָל, וְלֹא לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם חִלּוּק בֵּינֵיהֶם כְּלָל, רַק כֻּלָּם יִהְיוּ נָאִים וַאֲהוּבִים וִיקָרִים בְּעֵינֵינוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד,
Have compassion on us for Your sake. Remove, destroy and eradicate the leavening in our heart until we believe in all of the Tzaddikim, and we do not think judgmentally about them at all or make any distinctions among them. Rather, we will view them all as extremely fine, beloved and precious.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְלַהֵב לִבֵּנוּ בְּלִמּוּד הַתּוֹרָה בְּשַׁלְהוֹבִין דִּרְחִימוּתָא, וּמַיִם רַבִּים שֶׁהֵם אַהֲבוֹת וְיִרְאוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְכַבּוֹת אֶת הָאַהֲבָה וּנְהָרוֹת לֹא יִשְׁטְפוּהָ,
“Love Conceals All Sins”
As a result, may our heart blaze to learn Torah with “flames of love.” Then “many waters” — which are extraneous loves and fears — “will not extinguish the love, and rivers will not overflow it.”
וְעַל־יְדֵי אַהֲבָה הַזֹּאת תְּכַסֶּה הַשְּׁכִינָה בִּכְנָפֶיהָ עַל דִּמְהוֹן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁלְטוּ עֲלֵיהֶם זֶרַע מְרֵעִים שֶׁהֵם מֵי הַמַּבּוּל.
As a result of this love, may the Divine Presence cover the blood of the Jewish people with its wings, so that evildoers — the floodwaters — will not rule over them.
וְתַעֲזֹר לִי שֶׁאֶתְבַּיֵּשׁ בְּעַצְמִי עַל רִבּוּי פְּשָׁעַי וַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הַגְּדוֹלִים, שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי נֶגְדֶּךָ הַרְבֵּה עַד שֶׁאַרְגִּישׁ שֶׁנִּשְׁפָּכִין דָּמַי בְּקִרְבִּי מִגֹּדֶל הַצַּעַר וְהַבּוּשָׁה, עַד אֲשֶׁר הַשְּׁכִינָה תְּכַסֶּה בִּכְנָפֶיהָ אֶת דָּמַי הַנִּשְׁפָּכִין בְּאַהֲבָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
Help me so that I will be ashamed for the multitude of my great sins and wrongdoings that caused so many blemishes against You. Out of my pain and shame, may I feel that my own blood is spilled, until, with holy love, the Divine Presence will cover my spilled blood with Her wings.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְכַּסּוּ פְּשָׁעַי מִמֵּילָא כִּי עַל כָּל פְּשָׁעִים תְּכַסֶּה אַהֲבָה, וְתִמְחֹל וְתִסְלַח לִי עַל כָּל חֲטָאַי וַעֲוֹנוֹתַי וּפְשָׁעַי בִּמְחִילָה גְּמוּרָה בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יְדֵי אַהֲבָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה הַזֹּאת:
Then my sins will be covered, because “love conceals all sins.” As a result of this holy love, forgive and pardon me for all of my transgressions, sins and offenses with truly complete forgiveness.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תִּזְכֹּר אֶת כָּל הַדָּמִים שֶׁנִּשְׁפְּכוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט,
In Your vast compassion, recall all of the spilled blood of the Jewish people, collectively and individually.
הֵן שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים מַמָּשׁ שֶׁכְּבָר נִשְׁפַּךְ דַּם יִשְׂרָאֵל הַרְבֵּה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד מִיּוֹם הַחֻרְבָּן עַד הֵנָּה, שָׁפְכוּ דָּמָם כַּמַּיִם סְבִיבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם וְאֵין קוֹבֵר.
This refers to the literal shedding of Jewish blood, so much of which has been spilled since the day of the Destruction of the Temple until now. “They spilled their blood like water around Jerusalem, and no one buries them.”
הֵן שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים עַל־יְדֵי בּוּשׁוֹת וְחֶרְפּוֹת שֶׁסָּבְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל דּוֹר, וּבִפְרָט שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁל כָּל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁנִּשְׁפַּךְ מֵהֶם דָּמָם כַּמַּיִם.
And it also refers to bloodshed in the sense of the shame and embarrassment that the Jewish people have suffered in every generation — particularly, the copious bloodshed of all of the holy people and Tzaddikim whose blood has been spilled like water.
וְכָל אֵלּוּ הַדָּמִים יִהְיוּ בִּמְקוֹם תִּקּוּן הַשְּׁחִיטָה לְהַמַּטְעַמִּים שֶׁל הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בִּבְחִינַת אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי, רַק יִהְיוּ נִתָּרִין בַּאֲכִילָה עַל־יְדֵי שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה.
May all of this blood serve in place of the animal offerings brought as pleasing sacrifices to You. May their limbs not be the equivalent of the limb of a living animal, but may they be permissible to eat as a result of the spilling of this blood.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תִּטְעֹם אֶת הַמַּטְעַמִּים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁל כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁתִּקְּנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְלָל,
As a result, You will taste the holiness and pleasantness of all of the positive mitzvot that all of the Tzaddikim in every generation, and the entire Jewish people overall, have rectified before You.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְעוֹרֵר אַהֲבָתְךָ עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַהֲבָתְךָ אַל תָּסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעוֹלָמִים, וּתְכַסֶּה עַל כָּל הַדָּמִים בְּאַהֲבָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה הַזֹּאת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִתְכַּסוּ כָּל פְּשָׁעֵינוּ מִמֵּילָא.
In consequence of that, arouse Your love for Your nation, the Jewish people. Never remove Your love from us, and cover all of the blood with this holy love. May all of our sins then be concealed automatically.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ תַּעֲלֶה אֶת כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת הַנְּפוּלוֹת שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם עֲלִיָּה כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים שֶׁל אָדָם גָּדוֹל.
In Your compassion, elevate all of the fallen souls that can ascend only as a result of the bloodshed of a great Tzaddik.
רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ הַשְּׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁנִּשְׁפַּךְ מִגְּדוֹלֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הַנּוֹרָאִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר בְּחִנָּם, בִּזְכוּתָם רַחֵם עַל כָּל אֵלּוּ הַנְּשָׁמוֹת הַנְּפוּלוֹת,
Have compassion on us in the merit and power of the copious, measureless blood that was spilled by the great, awesome Tzaddikim, due to no fault of their own. In their merit, have compassion on all of those fallen souls.
כִּי אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ הָרַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם, וְתַעֲלֶה אוֹתָם מִנְּפִלָּתָם וּתְכַסֶּה עַל פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם בְּאַהֲבָה, וְיִתְהַפְּכוּ כָּל הָעֲוֹנוֹת לִזְכֻיּוֹת:
Only You know how pitiful these fallen souls are. You raise them from their descent. You cover their sins with love, and transform all of their sins to merits.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה, עוֹרְרָה אַהֲבָתְךָ עָלֵינוּ, וְקוּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים,
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who love Your nation, the Jewish people, and choose Your nation of Israel with love, arouse Your love for us. Rise and save us. Compassionately fulfill our requests for the good.
וְרַחֵם עַל כָּל נְשָׁמוֹת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַחַיִּים וְהַמֵּתִים, וְתֵן בְּלֵב הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁיַּעַסְקוּ בְּתִקּוּנֵנוּ תָּמִיד, וִימַהֲרוּ לִפְעֹל חֶפְצָם וּרְצוֹנָם לְתַקְּנֵנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ מְהֵרָה,
Have compassion on all of the souls of Your nation, the Jewish people, whether living or dead. Inspire the hearts of the true Tzaddikim to engage in our rectification always. May they swiftly put their desire and will into action to rectify all of us quickly.
וְנָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה, וְנִזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב תָּמִיד מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם אָמֵן סֶלָה:
May we truly return to You soon. May we be in accordance with Your good will always, from now and forever. Amen, selah.