When a Man Rectifies the Blemish to the Covenant, if He is Unmarried He Finds His Wife, and if He is Married His Wife is in Accord with His Will / A Person Must Not Eat Unripe Fruit / Fruit that is Picked Before its Time Can Draw the Life Force of the Person Who Eats it / By Reciting the Blessing over Fruit with Concentration and Awe of God, One Can Find Lost Sparks of Holiness in it / Angels Holding Shofars Search for Lost Sparks of Holiness and Blow on Their Shofars When They Find Them / People Lose Sparks of Holiness Because of Their Desires / Even Tzaddikim Who Search for Lost Sparks of Holiness are Sometimes Lost Themselves In Elul a person should bear in mind the intention to rectify the blemish to the covenant. That rectification illuminates a “path in the sea.” Should a man does not achieve that rectification, if he is unmarried he may find it hard to find his wife. And even if he finds her, she may oppose him and not accept his will. This happens because he turned away from malkhut and did not illumine her. Thus, malkhut, as embodied in the form of a physical wife, has a will that opposes his. A man can rectify this in the month of Elul. Then he can find his wife and she will not oppose his will. Our patriarch Abraham imparted this secret to his servant Eliezer when he sent him to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham said, “If the woman is not willing to go after you (ואם לא תאבה האשה ללכת אחריך,Ve-im Lo toveh ha’ishah Lalekhet Acharekha)” (Genesis 24:8). The initials of the first two and last two words of this verse spell ELUL (אלול) and in the middle are the words toveh ha’ishah (תאבה האשה, the woman is willing). Through the mystical intentions of Elul, the woman is willing, since this makes her want him. A person must avoid eating fruit that is not fully ripe. Just as it is forbidden to cut down a tree before its time (Deuteronomy 20:19), one should not pick or eat a fruit before its time. As long as the fruit is on the tree, it has a “pulling” power with which it draws its nourishment and vitality. It loses this power after it fully ripens. If it is picked before its time, that “pulling” power is still present in it, and will draw the life force of the person who eats the fruit. Then that person can lose his soul. However, one who recites the blessing over the fruit with concentration and awe of God can be saved from this. One who is strong in his service of God can even extract more vitality from the unripe fruit and find lost sparks of holiness there. Cooking unripe fruit does not make it suitable to eat. One should allow it to ripen on its own before eating it. In general, a person should be careful about reciting the blessings over food and drink, and especially the blessings over fruit, because fruits contain many lost sparks of holiness that need to be extracted and elevated. There is an angel with many appointees, all of whom hold shofars in their hands. They stand and dig constantly, searching for lost sparks of holiness. As they dig and search, they sound the tekiah-teruahtekiah on their shofars. When they find something, it generates a great noise and much joy. People lose sparks of holiness as a result of their desires. Even the tzaddikim who search for these lost sparks of holiness are sometimes lost themselves. The verse, “The desire of the wicked will be lost” (Psalms 112:10) hints at the activity of the angels searching for lost things. The initial letters of the Hebrew words of this verse, Ta’avat Resha’im Toveid (תאות רשעים תאבד), stand for Tekiah-teRuah-Tekiah (תקיעה תרועה תקיע). The mystical intentions of Elul, which rectify the blemish of the covenant; the prohibition against eating unripe fruit; and the angels holding shofars and searching for lost sparks of holiness, are all one idea. For the Month of Elul Gather Your Scattered People “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, Who shepherds among the lilies.” My Father in Heaven, “my King and my God, I pray to You.”
“HaShem, You have investigated me and You know: You know my sitting and my rising, You understand how to attach me to You from afar. You have encompassed my walking about and my lying down, and You have seen all of my ways. There is no word on my tongue — You know everything, HaShem.”
“From the back and front, You formed me, placing Your hand on me. Knowledge is hidden from me. It is exalted, I cannot reach it. Where will I go away from Your spirit and where will I flee from You? If I rise to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are.”
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who think thoughts so that no one will remain cast away from You, have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name. Gather our scattered people from the four corners of the earth.
In Your compassion, seek the lost, scattered sheep that no one gathers in. Master of the world, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant.”
Master of the world, I suffer great poverty and travail due to the great severity of my many, immeasurable, grievous sins and misdeeds beyond reckoning.
And I suffer severe turmoil in my mind due to the vast amount of blemishes that I brought about with my wrongdoing from my beginning until this day. Therefore, I cannot open my mouth to speak at all. It is very hard and difficult for me to express my speech to You.
Additionally, I cannot express all of my speech to You regarding everything in my heart because “the sorrows of my heart have increased” so much that time would not suffice to list them, “for many are my sighs and my heart is desolate.”
Nevertheless, we remain obligated to dig, seek and search for our many and profoundly misplaced objects, which we lost in this incarnation and in previous incarnations as a result of our evil desires.
Perhaps we will arouse the great compassion of the Master of compassion, Who has compassion on all those who are lost and scattered, Who decreed in His Torah that lost objects must be returned.
I myself am guilty in all respects, for I purposefully lost what I lost, committing many wrongdoings because of my evil desires. I was like a fool who loses what he has been given.
Nevertheless, because of Your compassion, perhaps I will find another good, true point that will be able to overcome everything that I need to overcome. From now on may I truly return to You. May I seek, search and find all of my lost objects and the lost objects of others, and return them all to their proper place, to the source from which they were carved, so that all of them will be truly and completely rectified, in accordance with Your good will.
Rectifying the Covenant Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You revealed to us through Your holy sages that the main thing is the rectification of the covenant. That is the principal test and challenge of every person in this world.
Solely for this did man come into the world: to be administered this test. If he passes this test and this purification, on which the entire Torah depends, he will succeed in guarding the covenant, which is the foundation of everything.
And now what will I say and how shall I speak, after I blemished so much of the covenant (and, in particular, [add your own words here])? “Therefore my words stammer,” and I do not know where to begin.
But You commanded us through Your true Tzaddikim to cry out to You always, and to pray and plead before You always, whether we are ascending or descending, according to our level.
However things may be, we will not be silent. We will not refrain from crying out, calling out and begging You always, for Your kindness has not ended and Your compassion has not ceased.
HaShem our God, You are very great, and Your kindness and Your compassion are in accordance with Your greatness. Just as Your greatness has no boundary, so too, there is no boundary to Your compassion and kindness.
Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem our God and God of our fathers, that You illumine my eyes in Your Torah, and guide me and teach me so that I will know, appreciate and understand the words of Your holy Torah. You commanded us to have in mind the mystical intentions of Elul for the sake of the rectification of the covenant.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Sanctify me with Your supernal holiness. Open my heart to learn Your Torah. Help me and aid me to learn and understand all of the mystical intentions of Elul and all of the teachings related to that. May I find in them a proper and straight path to come close to You always, at all times.
May I be an expert in Jewish law9In Hebrew, halakhah, which literally means “walking.” In Likutey Moharan I, 6:4, Rebbe Nachman explains that mastery of Jewish law is essential for one who wishes to return to God, so that whether he is spiritually “rising” or “falling,” nothing will throw him or distance him from his quest. This corresponds to the verse, “If I go up to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are” (Psalms 139:8). — an expert in running [to Heaven] and an expert in returning [to earth]; an expert in entering [Heaven] and an expert in exiting [Heaven]. May I truly and completely fulfill the verse, “If I go up to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are.”
May we draw down all of the rectifications that come about by means of the unifications and mystical intentions of Elul, so that we will quickly attain a complete rectification of the covenant.
In Your vast compassion, command Your holy angels who grasp shofars in their hands, who are in charge of seeking, searching, digging and burrowing after lost objects, to strive to rectify our souls.
May they seek and dig for all of the objects that we lost in our privation, from the beginning of our existence to this day, as a result of our evil desires — in particular, as a result of the blemish of the covenant.
May they dig, seek and quickly find all that we lost in this incarnation and in previous incarnations and return those to us, so that our souls will be completely rectified, in accordance with Your good will.
All of the paper in the world would not suffice to describe the smallest fraction of the supplications, requests, confessions, pleas, appeals and prayers that I must engage in regarding this matter for my past, present and future. What can I do, for my words are blocked?
Finding a Spouse Regarding this, I come to You, Master of all, You Who are merciful to the poor, You Who are good and do good to both the wicked and the deserving. Have compassion on all those of Your nation, the Jewish people, who are having difficulty finding their marriage partner.
Even if a man does find a woman, she thwarts him and is not positively inclined toward him, and there is no peace in their home, may the Compassionate One protect us (and, in particular, [Hebrew name], the son of [father’s Hebrew name], who has these tribulations).
Have compassion on such a person, as well as on all of the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, in the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim who are constantly engaged in our rectification, who have guarded the holy covenant with the ultimate perfection. Have compassion on people in turbulent marriages for the sake of these Tzaddikim, and establish peace in their home.
Help them and save them. May everyone quickly find the marriage partner that is truly proper for him from Heaven. May the wife not oppose her husband at all, but transform her will to his will.
May there be no hatred or division between them at all. May they live in love, harmony and camaraderie, in true peace and tranquility, in accordance with Your good will.
You Who are filled with compassion, have pity, mercy and compassion on them for Your sake and for the sake of the true Tzaddikim. Do not treat the couple in accordance with their transgressions or recompense them in accordance with their wrongdoing.
Rather, treat them with Your compassion that goes beyond the letter of the law, just as You always treat all of Your creatures with great compassion and kindness.
Do so in the merit of our patriarch Abraham, who alluded to this secret — the mystical meaning of Elul — when he sent Eliezer his servant to seek a wife for his son Isaac.
In the merit of the Tzaddikim who revealed this awesome secret, shield people in contentious relationships, as well as us and our children. Have compassion on all the people of Israel, Your nation. Establish peace among all the people of Israel — in particular, between husband and wife (and, in particular, [Hebrew name], the son/daughter of [father’s Hebrew name]).
Rather, transform her will to his in true peace and love, without guile or deceit, without any hatred or division in her heart. And may they conduct themselves with holiness and purity. May many generations emerge from them, living and healthy sons and daughters who will truly do Your will, engage in Your Torah, and serve You all of their days, forever.
May they reveal, publicize and communicate Your Divinity and sovereignty in the world, as in the verse, “Generation to generation will praise Your deeds and relate Your mighty acts.”
Fruits and Blessings Have compassion on us and save us, so that we will always guard ourselves from eating any fruit before it is ripe, and also from picking any fruit before its time.
You revealed to us the severe loss and harm that can come to a person as a result of that, because he can lose his soul, Heaven forbid. Master of the world, have compassion on us. In Your vast compassion and profound kindness, guard us and rescue us from this.
Always help us and save us so that we will recite “blessings of enjoyment” — in particular, the blessing over fruits — with considerable, heightened intent. May we not simply mutter the blessings, Heaven forbid.
Rather, may we always rise in might and strengthen ourselves robustly every time we want to eat some fruit or benefit from something of this world, and recite the blessing with powerful, proper intent, so that everything we eat, drink and otherwise benefit from will not harm our souls in the least.
Help us and save us so that all of our eating and drinking, and everything we derive benefit from, will be in great holiness and purity, for the sake of Your Name alone, without any bodily pleasure at all. May we be included among the Tzaddikim who eat in order to satiate their holy soul.
Please, HaShem, You Who are filled with compassion, help us and guard us from now on so that we will not lose anything more as a result of evil desires, Heaven forbid. Instead, from now on may we break and nullify all evil desires.
For Rosh HaShanah Sound the Great Shofar for Our Freedom In Your vast compassion, help us fulfill the mitzvah of blowing the shofar on Rosh HaShanah perfectly and properly, with all of its details, particulars, intentions and the 613 commandments that are dependent on it, in great fear, awe, love, joy and delight.
Always send us worthy shofar-blowers on Rosh HaShanah who are noble Tzaddikim. Through the sounding of the shofar, may they have the power to arouse the sound of the supernal shofar that You will blow in the future for our freedom.
Our God and God of our fathers, blow a great shofar for our freedom. Raise an ensign as a signal to gather our exiles, and bring in our scattered from among the nations and our dispersed from the corners of the earth. Gather us together swiftly from the four corners of the earth to our land.
May the verse quickly be realized, “On that day, a great shofar will be blown, and those lost in the land of Assyria and those cast away in the land of Egypt shall come and bow to HaShem on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.”
And, “The Lord God will blow with a shofar and He will go forth with the whirlwinds of the south. The Lord of hosts will protect them.” “Shield Your nation Israel with the well‑being that You give them.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה פ"ז - דַּע, שֶׁכַּוָּנַת אֱלוּל הֵם תִּקּוּן לִפְגַם הַבְּרִית]
לְחֹדֶשׁ אֱלוּל
אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי הָרוֹעֶה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים, אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, מַלְכִּי וֵאלֹהָי כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶתְפַּלָּל.
When a Man Rectifies the Blemish to the Covenant, if He is Unmarried He Finds His Wife, and if He is Married His Wife is in Accord with His Will / A Person Must Not Eat Unripe Fruit / Fruit that is Picked Before its Time Can Draw the Life Force of the Person Who Eats it / By Reciting the Blessing over Fruit with Concentration and Awe of God, One Can Find Lost Sparks of Holiness in it / Angels Holding Shofars Search for Lost Sparks of Holiness and Blow on Their Shofars When They Find Them / People Lose Sparks of Holiness Because of Their Desires / Even Tzaddikim Who Search for Lost Sparks of Holiness are Sometimes Lost Themselves
In Elul a person should bear in mind the intention to rectify the blemish to the covenant. That rectification illuminates a “path in the sea.”
Should a man does not achieve that rectification, if he is unmarried he may find it hard to find his wife. And even if he finds her, she may oppose him and not accept his will.
This happens because he turned away from malkhut and did not illumine her. Thus, malkhut, as embodied in the form of a physical wife, has a will that opposes his.
A man can rectify this in the month of Elul. Then he can find his wife and she will not oppose his will.
Our patriarch Abraham imparted this secret to his servant Eliezer when he sent him to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham said, “If the woman is not willing to go after you (ואם לא תאבה האשה ללכת אחריך,Ve-im Lo toveh ha’ishah Lalekhet Acharekha)” (Genesis 24:8). The initials of the first two and last two words of this verse spell ELUL (אלול) and in the middle are the words toveh ha’ishah (תאבה האשה, the woman is willing). Through the mystical intentions of Elul, the woman is willing, since this makes her want him.
A person must avoid eating fruit that is not fully ripe. Just as it is forbidden to cut down a tree before its time (Deuteronomy 20:19), one should not pick or eat a fruit before its time.
As long as the fruit is on the tree, it has a “pulling” power with which it draws its nourishment and vitality. It loses this power after it fully ripens. If it is picked before its time, that “pulling” power is still present in it, and will draw the life force of the person who eats the fruit. Then that person can lose his soul.
However, one who recites the blessing over the fruit with concentration and awe of God can be saved from this. One who is strong in his service of God can even extract more vitality from the unripe fruit and find lost sparks of holiness there.
Cooking unripe fruit does not make it suitable to eat. One should allow it to ripen on its own before eating it.
In general, a person should be careful about reciting the blessings over food and drink, and especially the blessings over fruit, because fruits contain many lost sparks of holiness that need to be extracted and elevated.
There is an angel with many appointees, all of whom hold shofars in their hands. They stand and dig constantly, searching for lost sparks of holiness. As they dig and search, they sound the tekiah-teruahtekiah on their shofars. When they find something, it generates a great noise and much joy.
People lose sparks of holiness as a result of their desires. Even the tzaddikim who search for these lost sparks of holiness are sometimes lost themselves.
The verse, “The desire of the wicked will be lost” (Psalms 112:10) hints at the activity of the angels searching for lost things. The initial letters of the Hebrew words of this verse, Ta’avat Resha’im Toveid (תאות רשעים תאבד), stand for Tekiah-teRuah-Tekiah (תקיעה תרועה תקיע).
The mystical intentions of Elul, which rectify the blemish of the covenant; the prohibition against eating unripe fruit; and the angels holding shofars and searching for lost sparks of holiness, are all one idea.
For the Month of Elul
Gather Your Scattered People
“I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, Who shepherds among the lilies.” My Father in Heaven, “my King and my God, I pray to You.”
יְהֹוָה חֲקַרְתַּנִי וַתֵּדָע, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שִׁבְתִּי וְקוּמִי בַּנְתָּה לְרֵעִי מֵרָחוֹק, אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי זֵרִיתָ וְכָל דְּרָכַי הִסְכַּנְתָּה, כִּי אֵין מִלָּה בִּלְשׁוֹנִי הֵן יְהֹוָה יָדַעְתָּ כֻלָּהּ,
“HaShem, You have investigated me and You know: You know my sitting and my rising, You understand how to attach me to You from afar. You have encompassed my walking about and my lying down, and You have seen all of my ways. There is no word on my tongue — You know everything, HaShem.”
אָחוֹר וָקֶדֶם צַרְתָּנִי וַתָּשֶׁת עָלַי כַּפֶּכָה, פְּלִיאָה דַּעַת מִמֶּנִּי נִשְׂגְּבָה לֹא אוּכַל לָהּ, אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָח, אִם אֶסַּק שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָתָּה וְאַצִּיעָה שְׁאוֹל הִנֶּךָּ:
“From the back and front, You formed me, placing Your hand on me. Knowledge is hidden from me. It is exalted, I cannot reach it. Where will I go away from Your spirit and where will I flee from You? If I rise to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת לְבַל יִדַּח מִמְּךָ נִדָּח, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְקַבֵּץ נִדָּחֵנוּ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ,
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You Who think thoughts so that no one will remain cast away from You, have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name. Gather our scattered people from the four corners of the earth.
בַּקֵּשׁ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ צֹאן אוֹבְדוֹת, צֹאן נִדָּח וְאֵין מְקַבֵּץ. רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, תָּעִיתִי כְּשֶׂה אוֹבֵד בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ.
In Your compassion, seek the lost, scattered sheep that no one gathers in. Master of the world, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מֵרֹב עָנְיִי וַעֲמָלִי וּמֵרֹב עֹצֶם עֲוֹנוֹתַי וּפְשָׁעַי הָרַבִּים וְהָעֲצוּמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר,
Master of the world, I suffer great poverty and travail due to the great severity of my many, immeasurable, grievous sins and misdeeds beyond reckoning.
וּמֵעֹצֶם בִּלְבּוּל דַּעְתִּי מֵרִבּוּי הַפְּגָמִים שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, עַל־כֵּן אֵינִי יָכוֹל לִפְתֹּחַ פִּי לְדַבֵּר כְּלָל, וְקָשֶׁה וְכָבֵד עָלַי מְאֹד מְאֹד לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ,
And I suffer severe turmoil in my mind due to the vast amount of blemishes that I brought about with my wrongdoing from my beginning until this day. Therefore, I cannot open my mouth to speak at all. It is very hard and difficult for me to express my speech to You.
וְגַם אִי־אֶפְשָׁר לְפָרֵשׁ כָּל שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ כְּכָל אֲשֶׁר עִם לְבָבִי, כִּי צָרוֹת לְבָבִי הִרְחִיבוּ מְאֹד, אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַסְפִּיק הַזְּמַן לְפוֹרְטָם, כִּי רַבּוֹת אַנְחוֹתַי וְלִבִּי דַוָּי.
Additionally, I cannot express all of my speech to You regarding everything in my heart because “the sorrows of my heart have increased” so much that time would not suffice to list them, “for many are my sighs and my heart is desolate.”
אֲבָל אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחִי וְעַצוֹר בְּמִלִּין לֹא אוּכָל, אָמַרְתִּי אָשִׂיחָה וְיִרְוַח לִי, אֲדַבְּרָה וְיַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה,
Nevertheless, my spirit is agitated and I cannot hold back my words. I have decided to speak in order to gain relief. I will talk, no matter what.
אוּלַי אֶזְכֶּה עַתָּה לִמְצֹא הַנְּקֻדָּה טוֹבָה הַשַּׁיָּךְ לְלִבִּי עַתָּה בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יָדָהּ לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ מֵעַתָּה בֶּאֱמֶת.
Perhaps now I will truly find the good point within my heart, and in that way truly come back to You from now on.
וְאֵיךְ שֶׁהוּא אֵיךְ שֶׁהוּא, אֵיךְ שֶׁנָּפַלְנוּ וְיָרַדְנוּ בְּגָלוּת הַמַּר הַזֶּה לִמְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁיָּרַדְנוּ כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי יְרִידָתוֹ,
Things may be however they may be. We may have fallen and descended — each person in his own bitter exile.
עִם כָּל זֶה עֲדַיִן חוֹבָה עָלֵינוּ עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, לַחְתֹּר וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וּלְחַפֵּשׂ אַחַר אֲבֵדוֹתֵנוּ הָרַבּוֹת וְהָעֲצוּמוֹת מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ, אֲשֶׁר אִבַּדְנוּ בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה וּבְגִלְגּוּלִים אֲחֵרִים, עַל־יְדֵי תַאֲווֹתֵינוּ הָרָעוֹת.
Nevertheless, we remain obligated to dig, seek and search for our many and profoundly misplaced objects, which we lost in this incarnation and in previous incarnations as a result of our evil desires.
אוּלַי נִזְכֶּה לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים אֵצֶל בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים הַמְרַחֵם עַל כָּל הָאוֹבְדִים וְהַנִּדָּחִים, הַגּוֹזֵר בְּתוֹרָתוֹ לְהָשִׁיב אֲבֵדוֹת,
Perhaps we will arouse the great compassion of the Master of compassion, Who has compassion on all those who are lost and scattered, Who decreed in His Torah that lost objects must be returned.
אוּלַי יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה לִמְצֹא אֵיזֶה אֲבֵדָה מֵאֲבֵדוֹת נַפְשֵׁנוּ הָרַבִּים, אוּלַי נִזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא מִקְצָתָם אוֹ כֻּלָּם.
Perhaps there is hope that we will find some of the many lost objects of our soul. Perhaps we will find some of them or even all of them.
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁאֲנִי בְּעַצְמִי הַחַיָּב מִכָּל הַצְּדָדִים, כִּי אִבַּדְתִּי לָדַעַת מַה שֶּׁאִבַּדְתִּי, וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים מֵחֲמַת תַּאֲווֹתַי הָרָעוֹת, הָיִיתִי כְּמוֹ שׁוֹטֶה הַמְאַבֵּד מַה שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לוֹ.
I myself am guilty in all respects, for I purposefully lost what I lost, committing many wrongdoings because of my evil desires. I was like a fool who loses what he has been given.
אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אוּלַי אֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לִמְצֹא עוֹד אֵיזֶה נְקֻדָּה טוֹבָה אֲמִתִּיִּית שֶׁתּוּכַל לְהִתְגַבֵּר עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְגַבֵּר, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא כָּל אֲבֵדוֹתַי וַאֲבֵדַת אֲחֵרִים לַהֲשִׁיבָם כֻּלָּם לִמְקוֹמָם הָרָאוּי לִמְקוֹר שֶׁנֶּחְצְבוּ מִשָּׁם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיְּתֻקְנוּ כֻּלָּם בְּתַכְלִית הַתִּקּוּן בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
Nevertheless, because of Your compassion, perhaps I will find another good, true point that will be able to overcome everything that I need to overcome. From now on may I truly return to You. May I seek, search and find all of my lost objects and the lost objects of others, and return them all to their proper place, to the source from which they were carved, so that all of them will be truly and completely rectified, in accordance with Your good will.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אַתָּה גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, שֶׁהָעִקָּר הוּא תִּקּוּן הַבְּרִית, כִּי זֶה עִקָּר הַנִּסָּיוֹן וְהַמַּתְקְלָא שֶׁל כָּל אָדָם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,
Rectifying the Covenant
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, You revealed to us through Your holy sages that the main thing is the rectification of the covenant. That is the principal test and challenge of every person in this world.
וְרַק בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה בָּא הָאָדָם לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְנַסֶּה בְּנִסָּיוֹן זֶה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִזְכֶּה לְמַה שֶּׁיִּזְכֶּה אִם יַעֲמֹד בְּנִסָּיוֹן וּבְצֵרוּף הַזֶּה, אֲשֶׁר כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ תְּלוּיָה בָּזֶה, כִּי שְׁמִירַת הַבְּרִית הוּא יְסוֹד הַכֹּל.
Solely for this did man come into the world: to be administered this test. If he passes this test and this purification, on which the entire Torah depends, he will succeed in guarding the covenant, which is the foundation of everything.
וְעַתָּה מָה אוֹמַר וּמַה אֲדַבֵּר, אַחֲרֵי שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי הַרְבֵּה בִּפְגַם הַבְּרִית כַּאֲשֶׁר פָּגַמְתִּי (וּבִפְרָט וְכוּ'), עַל־כֵּן דְּבָרַי לָעוּ, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מֵהֵיכָן לְהַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר.
And now what will I say and how shall I speak, after I blemished so much of the covenant (and, in particular, [add your own words here])? “Therefore my words stammer,” and I do not know where to begin.
אֲבָל כְּבָר גָּזַרְתָּ עָלֵינוּ עַל־יְדֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים לִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ תָמִיד בֵּין בַּעֲלִיָּה בֵּין בִּירִידָה לְפִי בְּחִינָתֵנוּ,
But You commanded us through Your true Tzaddikim to cry out to You always, and to pray and plead before You always, whether we are ascending or descending, according to our level.
יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, לֹא נַחֲרִישׁ וְלֹא נִשְׁקוֹט מִלִּזְעֹק וְלִצְעֹק וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן אֵלֶיךָ תָּמִיד, כִּי חֲסָדֶיךָ לֹא תָמִים וְרַחֲמֶיךָ לֹא כָלִים.
However things may be, we will not be silent. We will not refrain from crying out, calling out and begging You always, for Your kindness has not ended and Your compassion has not ceased.
כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ גָדַלְתָּ מְאֹד, וְכִגְדֻלָּתְךָ כֵּן חֲסָדֶיךָ וְרַחֲמֶיךָ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר לִגְדֻלָּתְךָ אֵין חֵקֶר, אֵין חֵקֶר לְרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ:
HaShem our God, You are very great, and Your kindness and Your compassion are in accordance with Your greatness. Just as Your greatness has no boundary, so too, there is no boundary to Your compassion and kindness.
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתָּאִיר עֵינַי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהַשִּׂיג וּלְהָבִין דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָ עָלֵינוּ לְכַוֵּן כַּוָּנוֹת אֱלוּל בִּשְׁבִיל תִּקּוּן הַבְּרִית,
Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem our God and God of our fathers, that You illumine my eyes in Your Torah, and guide me and teach me so that I will know, appreciate and understand the words of Your holy Torah. You commanded us to have in mind the mystical intentions of Elul for the sake of the rectification of the covenant.
כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ וְלֹא בִּינַת אָדָם לִי וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ הַדֶּרֶךְ כְּלָל לְכַוֵּן כַּוָּנוֹת.
But “I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.” I do not know any way at all to have intentions in mind.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְקַדְּשֵׁנִי בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, וּפְתַח לִבִּי בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וְעָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לִלְמֹד וּלְהָבִין כָּל כַּוָּנוֹת אֱלוּל וְכָל הַתּוֹרוֹת הַשַּׁיָּכִים לָזֶה, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא בָּהֶם דֶּרֶךְ נָכוֹן וְיָשָׁר לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד בְּכָל עֵת.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Sanctify me with Your supernal holiness. Open my heart to learn Your Torah. Help me and aid me to learn and understand all of the mystical intentions of Elul and all of the teachings related to that. May I find in them a proper and straight path to come close to You always, at all times.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת בָּקִי בַּהֲלָכָה, בָּקִי בְּרָצוֹא, בָּקִי בְּשׁוֹב, בָּקִי בְּעַיִל, בָּקִי בְּנָפִיק, וּלְקַיֵּם בֶּאֱמֶת וּבִשְׁלֵמוּת מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: אִם אֶסַּק שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָתָּה וְאַצִּיעָה שְׁאוֹל הִנֶּךָּ,
May I be an expert in Jewish law9In Hebrew, halakhah, which literally means “walking.” In Likutey Moharan I, 6:4, Rebbe Nachman explains that mastery of Jewish law is essential for one who wishes to return to God, so that whether he is spiritually “rising” or “falling,” nothing will throw him or distance him from his quest. This corresponds to the verse, “If I go up to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are” (Psalms 139:8). — an expert in running [to Heaven] and an expert in returning [to earth]; an expert in entering [Heaven] and an expert in exiting [Heaven]. May I truly and completely fulfill the verse, “If I go up to Heaven, You are there, and if I lie down in Sheol, there You are.”
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה בֶּאֱמֶת תָּמִיד, וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ תִּפְתַּח יָדֶךָ, וְתִהְיֶה יְמִינְךָ פְּשׁוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים,
May I always truly walk in the ways of repentance. In Your compassion, You open Your hand and stretch Your right hand out to receive penitents.
עַד אֲשֶׁר נִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ וּלְתַקֵּן כָּל הַתִּקּוּנִין הַנִּמְשָׁכִין עַל־יְדֵי הַיִּחוּדִים וְהַכַּוָּנוֹת שֶׁל אֱלוּל, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה מְהֵרָה לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בִּשְׁלֵמוּת.
May we draw down all of the rectifications that come about by means of the unifications and mystical intentions of Elul, so that we will quickly attain a complete rectification of the covenant.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תְּצַוֶּה לְמַלְאָכֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאוֹחֲזִים בְּיָדָם שׁוֹפָרוֹת, הַמְּמֻנִּים לְבַקֵּשׁ וּלְחַפֵּשׂ וְלַחְפֹּר וְלַחְתֹּר אַחַר אֲבֵדוֹת, שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּדְּלוּ בְּתִקּוּן נַפְשֵׁנוּ,
In Your vast compassion, command Your holy angels who grasp shofars in their hands, who are in charge of seeking, searching, digging and burrowing after lost objects, to strive to rectify our souls.
וִיבַקְּשׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ אַחַר כָּל הָאֲבֵדוֹת שֶׁאִבַּדְנוּ בְּעָנְיֵנוּ מֵעוֹדֵנוּ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה עַל־יְדֵי תַאֲווֹתֵינוּ הָרָעוֹת, וּבִפְרַט עַל־יְדֵי פְּגָם הַבְּרִית,
May they seek and dig for all of the objects that we lost in our privation, from the beginning of our existence to this day, as a result of our evil desires — in particular, as a result of the blemish of the covenant.
אֵת כָּל מַה שֶּׁאִבַּדְנוּ בְּגִּלְגּוּל זֶה וּבְגִּלְגּוּלִים אֲחֵרִים, הַכֹּל יַחְפְּרוּ וִיחַפְּשׂוּ וְיִמְצְאוּ כֻּלָּם מְהֵרָה, וְיַחֲזִירוּ אוֹתָם לָנוּ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיְּתוּקְנוּ נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּתַכְלִית הַתִּקּוּן בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
May they dig, seek and quickly find all that we lost in this incarnation and in previous incarnations and return those to us, so that our souls will be completely rectified, in accordance with Your good will.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, מֵרֹב קִלְקוּלַי אֵינִי יָכוֹל לְהַאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּה זֹאת הַרְבֵּה,
You Who are filled with compassion, I am so vastly damaged that I cannot engage at length in this prayer.
אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁלֹּא יַסְפִּיקוּ כָּל יְרִיעוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם לְבָאֵר אֶפֶס קָצֶה מֵהַתְּחִנּוֹת וּבַקָּשׁוֹת וּוִדּוּיִם וְהַפְצָרוֹת וּפִיּוּסִים וּתְפִלּוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּעִנְיַן זֶה עַל הֶעָבָר וְעַל הַהֹוֶה וְעַל הֶעָתִיד, אַךְ מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה כִּי דְבָרַי נִסְתַּתְּמִין.
All of the paper in the world would not suffice to describe the smallest fraction of the supplications, requests, confessions, pleas, appeals and prayers that I must engage in regarding this matter for my past, present and future. What can I do, for my words are blocked?
אֲבָל עַל זֶה בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן כֹּל, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לָרָעִים וְלַטּוֹבִים, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל כָּל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁקָּשֶׁה לָהֶם לִמְצֹא זִוּוּגָם,
Finding a Spouse
Regarding this, I come to You, Master of all, You Who are merciful to the poor, You Who are good and do good to both the wicked and the deserving. Have compassion on all those of Your nation, the Jewish people, who are having difficulty finding their marriage partner.
וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמּוֹצְאִים הִיא מְנַגֶּדֶת אֵלָיו, וְאֵין לָהּ רָצוֹן אֵלָיו, וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם בְּבֵיתָם רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן (וּבִפְרָט עַל פְּלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִית שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ יִסּוּרִים אֵלּוּ),
Even if a man does find a woman, she thwarts him and is not positively inclined toward him, and there is no peace in their home, may the Compassionate One protect us (and, in particular, [Hebrew name], the son of [father’s Hebrew name], who has these tribulations).
רַחֵם עָלָיו וְעַל כָּל זֶרַע עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הָעוֹסְקִים בְּתִקּוּנֵנוּ תָמִיד, אֲשֶׁר שָׁמְרוּ אֶת הַבְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת שֶׁאֵין שְׁלֵמוּת אַחֲרָיו, רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם לְמַעֲנָם, וְתָשִׂים שָׁלוֹם בְּבֵיתָם,
Have compassion on such a person, as well as on all of the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, in the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim who are constantly engaged in our rectification, who have guarded the holy covenant with the ultimate perfection. Have compassion on people in turbulent marriages for the sake of these Tzaddikim, and establish peace in their home.
וְתַעֲזֹר לָהֶם וְתוֹשִׁיעֵם שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לִמְצֹא זִוּוּגוֹ מְהֵרָה, זִוּוּגָם הֶהָגוּן לָהֶם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא תִהְיֶה מְנַגֶּדֶּת כְּנֶגְדּוֹ כְּלָל, רַק תַּהֲפֹךְ רְצוֹנָהּ לִרְצוֹן בַּעֲלָהּ,
Help them and save them. May everyone quickly find the marriage partner that is truly proper for him from Heaven. May the wife not oppose her husband at all, but transform her will to his will.
וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בֵּינֵיהֶם שׁוּם שִׂנְאָה וְשׁוּם שִׁנּוּי רָצוֹן כְּלָל, וְיָדוּרוּ בְּאַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה וְרֵעוּת בְּשָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
May there be no hatred or division between them at all. May they live in love, harmony and camaraderie, in true peace and tranquility, in accordance with Your good will.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוּס וַחֲמֹל וְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעַן צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְאַל תַּעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם כַּחֲטָאֵיהֶם וְלֹא תִגְמֹל עֲלֵיהֶם כַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם,
You Who are filled with compassion, have pity, mercy and compassion on them for Your sake and for the sake of the true Tzaddikim. Do not treat the couple in accordance with their transgressions or recompense them in accordance with their wrongdoing.
רַק תִּתְנַהֵג עִמָּהֶם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מִתְנַהֵג עִם כָּל בְּרִיּוֹתֶיךָ בְּרַחֲמִים וַחֲסָדִים גְּדוֹלִים תָּמִיד.
Rather, treat them with Your compassion that goes beyond the letter of the law, just as You always treat all of Your creatures with great compassion and kindness.
וּבִזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁרָמַז הַסּוֹד הַזֶּה שֶׁל כַּוָּנַת אֱלוּל בְּעֵת שֶׁשָּׁלַח אֶת אֱלִיעֶזֶר עַבְדּוֹ לְבַקֵּשׁ הַזִּוּוּג שֶׁל יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ,
Do so in the merit of our patriarch Abraham, who alluded to this secret — the mystical meaning of Elul — when he sent Eliezer his servant to seek a wife for his son Isaac.
וּבִזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁגִּלּוּ הַסּוֹד הַנּוֹרָא הַזֶּה, תָּגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ וְעַל זַרְעֵנוּ, וּתְרַחֵם עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ, וְתָשִׂים שָׁלוֹם בֵּין כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִפְרָט בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ (וּבִפְרָט וְכוּ'),
In the merit of the Tzaddikim who revealed this awesome secret, shield people in contentious relationships, as well as us and our children. Have compassion on all the people of Israel, Your nation. Establish peace among all the people of Israel — in particular, between husband and wife (and, in particular, [Hebrew name], the son/daughter of [father’s Hebrew name]).
וְתַעֲזֹר לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל הַצְּרִיכִים לִמְצֹא זִוּוּגָם שֶׁיִּזְכֶּה כָּל אֶחָד לִמְצוֹא זִוּוּגוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה, וְתִהְיֶה כִּרְצוֹנוֹ וְלֹא תִהְיֶה מְנַגֶּדֶת כְּנֶגְדּוֹ כְּלָל,
Quickly help all of the Jewish people who need to find their true match. May the wife be in accord with her husband’s will and not oppose him at all.
רַק תַּהֲפוֹךְ רְצוֹנָהּ אֵלָיו בְּשָׁלוֹם וְאַהֲבָה בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּלִי עָרְמָה וּמִרְמָה, וּבְלִי שׁוּם שִׂנְאָה וְשִׁנּוּי רָצוֹן בַּלֵב כְּלָל, וְיִתְנַהֲגוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה, וְיֵצְאוּ מֵהֶם דּוֹרוֹת רַבִּים, בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת חָיִּים וְקַיָּמִים, עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיַעַסְקוּ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יְמֵיהֶם לְעוֹלָם,
Rather, transform her will to his in true peace and love, without guile or deceit, without any hatred or division in her heart. And may they conduct themselves with holiness and purity. May many generations emerge from them, living and healthy sons and daughters who will truly do Your will, engage in Your Torah, and serve You all of their days, forever.
וִיגַלּוּ וִיפַרְסְמוּ וְיוֹדִיעוּ אֱלָהוּתְךָ וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּךָ בָּעוֹלָם כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרוֹתֶיךָ יַגִּידוּ:
May they reveal, publicize and communicate Your Divinity and sovereignty in the world, as in the verse, “Generation to generation will praise Your deeds and relate Your mighty acts.”
וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִשְׁמוֹר עַצְמֵנוּ תָמִיד שֶׁלֹּא לֶאֱכוֹל שׁוּם פְּרִי קוֹדֶם שֶׁנִּתְבַּשְּׁלָה, וְגַם שֶׁלֹּא נִתְלוֹשׁ שׁוּם פְּרִי קוֹדֶם זְמַנָּהּ.
Fruits and Blessings
Have compassion on us and save us, so that we will always guard ourselves from eating any fruit before it is ripe, and also from picking any fruit before its time.
כִּי אַתָּה גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ עֹצֶם הַהֶפְסֵד וְהַהֶזֵּק שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהַגִּיעַ לְהָאָדָם עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, כִּי יוּכַל לְאַבֵּד אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה. רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִזֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים.
You revealed to us the severe loss and harm that can come to a person as a result of that, because he can lose his soul, Heaven forbid. Master of the world, have compassion on us. In Your vast compassion and profound kindness, guard us and rescue us from this.
וְעָזְרֵנו וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ תָמִיד לְבָרֵךְ בִּרְכַּת הַנֶּהֱנִין וּבִפְרָט בִּרְכַּת הַפֵּרוֹת בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה, וְלֹא נִזְרוֹק בְּרָכָה מִתּוֹךְ פִּינוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Always help us and save us so that we will recite “blessings of enjoyment” — in particular, the blessing over fruits — with considerable, heightened intent. May we not simply mutter the blessings, Heaven forbid.
רַק נִזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְגַּבֵּר וּלְהִתְחַזֵּק בְּכָל עֹז, בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁנִּרְצֶה לֶאֱכוֹל אֵיזֶה פְּרִי אוֹ לֵיהָנוֹת מֵהָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה אֵיזֶה הֲנָאָה, לְבָרֵךְ הַבְּרָכָה בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה כָּרָאוּי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיק לְנַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּלָל כָּל מַה שֶּׁנֹּאכַל וְנִשְׁתֶּה וְנֶהֱנֶה מִמֶּנּוּ,
Rather, may we always rise in might and strengthen ourselves robustly every time we want to eat some fruit or benefit from something of this world, and recite the blessing with powerful, proper intent, so that everything we eat, drink and otherwise benefit from will not harm our souls in the least.
רַק אַדְרַבָּא נִזְכֶּה לְהַשְׁלִים אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ וּלְהוֹסִיף בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ חַיּוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה וְהֶאָרָה גְּדוֹלָה, עַל־יְדֵי כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁנֹּאכַל וְנִשְׁתֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ.
To the contrary, may we perfect our soul and add holy vitality and great illumination to our soul as a result of everything that we eat and drink.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל אֲכִילוֹתֵינוּ וּשְׁתִיּוֹתֵנוּ וְכָל הַנָּאוֹתֵנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד בְּלִי שׁוּם הֲנָאַת הַגּוּף כְּלָל, וְנִהְיֶה בִּכְלַל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאוֹכְלִים לְשֹׂבַע נַפְשָׁם דִּקְדֻשָּׁה:
Help us and save us so that all of our eating and drinking, and everything we derive benefit from, will be in great holiness and purity, for the sake of Your Name alone, without any bodily pleasure at all. May we be included among the Tzaddikim who eat in order to satiate their holy soul.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עָזְרֵנוּ וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ מֵעַתָּה שֶׁלֹּא נְאַבֵּד עוֹד כְּלָל עַל־יְדֵי תַאֲווֹת רָעוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק נִזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת רָעוֹת.
Please, HaShem, You Who are filled with compassion, help us and guard us from now on so that we will not lose anything more as a result of evil desires, Heaven forbid. Instead, from now on may we break and nullify all evil desires.
וּתְצַוֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְהַחֲזִיר וּלְהָשִׁיב לָנוּ כָּל הָאֲבֵדוֹת שֶׁאִבַּדְנוּ מִכְּבָר, הֵן בְּגִּלְגּוּל זֶה הֵן בְּגִּלְגּוּלִים שֶׁעָבְרוּ.
In Your compassion, command that all of the objects that we have lost, whether in this or previous incarnations, be returned and brought back to us.
וְזַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת תְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת כָּרָאוּי בְּכָל פְּרָטֶיהָ וְדִקְדּוּקֶיהָ וְכַוָּנוֹתֶיהָ וְתַרְיַ"ג מִצְוֹת הַתְּלוּיִם בָּהּ, בְּאֵימָה וּבְיִרְאָה וּבְאַהֲבָה וּבְשִׂמְחָה וְחֶדְוָה גְּדוֹלָה,
לְרֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה
For Rosh HaShanah
Sound the Great Shofar for Our Freedom
In Your vast compassion, help us fulfill the mitzvah of blowing the shofar on Rosh HaShanah perfectly and properly, with all of its details, particulars, intentions and the 613 commandments that are dependent on it, in great fear, awe, love, joy and delight.
וְתַזְמִין לָנוּ תָמִיד תּוֹקְעִים הֲגוּנִים בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה צַדִּיקִים וּכְשֵׁרִים, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם כֹּחַ לְעוֹרֵר עַל־יְדֵי קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר אֶת קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר הָעֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עָתִיד לִתְקוֹעַ בּוֹ לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ,
Always send us worthy shofar-blowers on Rosh HaShanah who are noble Tzaddikim. Through the sounding of the shofar, may they have the power to arouse the sound of the supernal shofar that You will blow in the future for our freedom.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְקַבֵּץ נִדָּחֵינוּ. וְתָשִׁיב לָנוּ אֶת כָּל אֲבֵדוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאִבַּדְנוּ מֵעוֹלָם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
As a result of this, gather our dispersed and bring us back everything that we lost from our beginning until this day.
אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ תְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ וְשָׂא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלֻיּוֹתֵנוּ, וְקָרֵב פְּזוּרֵנוּ מִבֵּין הַגּוֹיִם וּנְפוּצוֹתֵינוּ כַּנֵּס מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ, וְקַבְּצֵנוּ יַחַד מְהֵרָה מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ לְאַרְצֵנוּ,
Our God and God of our fathers, blow a great shofar for our freedom. Raise an ensign as a signal to gather our exiles, and bring in our scattered from among the nations and our dispersed from the corners of the earth. Gather us together swiftly from the four corners of the earth to our land.
וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל וּבָאוּ הָאוֹבְדִים בְּאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר וְהַנִּדָּחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהֹוָה בְּהַר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם.
May the verse quickly be realized, “On that day, a great shofar will be blown, and those lost in the land of Assyria and those cast away in the land of Egypt shall come and bow to HaShem on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.”
וְנֶאֱמַר: וַאדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים בַּשּׁוֹפָר יִתְקָע וְהָלַךְ בְּסַעֲרוֹת תֵּימָן, יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת יָגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם, כֵּן תָּגֵן עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׁלוֹמֶךָ.
And, “The Lord God will blow with a shofar and He will go forth with the whirlwinds of the south. The Lord of hosts will protect them.” “Shield Your nation Israel with the well‑being that You give them.”
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא בְּרַחֲמָיו יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
“May He Who makes peace in His heights, in His compassion make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and say, ‘Amen.’”