Mind vs. matter / Torah wisdom vs. atheism / Memory / Fasting / Charity / Eating / Kosher meat / Educating children / The Land of Israel The soul is associated with light, form, wisdom, spiritual awareness and life, while the physical body is associated with their opposites: darkness, substance, folly, animalism, forgetfulness and death. Immersing ourselves in the wisdom of the Torah strengthens the soul, bringing us to the level of Adam, man. However, the pursuit of materialistic ideologies that contradict the Torah leads to the glorification of physical desire, causing spiritual concealment. The way we eat also has a significant influence on whether our spiritual faculties will gain sway over our bodily cravings, or vice versa. It is important to eat in moderation and with dignity. Fasting also helps weaken bodily desires (though Rebbe Nachman advised people to fast only on the mandatory fast days of the Jewish calendar). Another practice that helps the soul gain dominance over the body is giving charity. Through contributing to causes in the Land of Israel, the donor becomes included in the pure air of that Land, which is free of sin, and is able to attain the wisdom of the Torah and overcome the influence of alien ideologies. It is particularly important to protect one’s children from exposure to atheistic influences and to see that they are taught Torah by a sincere, God-fearing teacher, in order not to corrupt the untainted breath of their mouths. The shochet, ritual slaughterer, plays a key role in guarding the spiritual purity of the Jewish people. Eating the meat of an improperly slaughtered animal can degrade and desensitize a person. In addition, the Kabbalah teaches that human souls may be incarnated in animals and birds, and can return to their source only if the shochet has the correct intentions and recites the blessing over the shechitah with the utmost concentration. The soul in the slaughtered animal or bird is then able to rise up to the Shekhinah, Who in turn channels blessings to the Jewish people. Dishonest shochtim fail to elevate these souls, interrupting the flow of livelihood to the Jewish people and giving strength to material cravings and ideologies. “Let my life be given to me at my petition and my people at my request.” “Save my soul from the sword, save my spirit from the power of the dog.” “Do not cast off my soul, for I have put my trust in You.”
“For You are my hope and You are my strength.” “Guard my soul and save me. I will not be ashamed, for I have put my trust in You.” “Hurry to my aid, God of my salvation!”
Please, let my soul be precious in Your eyes, HaShem my God and God of my fathers. Let Your mercy prevail over Your attribute [of justice]. Let Your heart be stirred with compassion for my poor, miserable soul. My soul is so hungry, thirsty and tired, so bitter, so trapped in chains of poverty and iron, in thousands and tens of thousands of nets and traps. Like birds caught in a snare, my soul is so very oppressed.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who see the shame of the humiliated, look and see the tears of the oppressed who scream out, weep, cry and groan. “On the side of their oppressors there is power, and they have no comforter.” How they weep, and their tears are on their cheeks.
I spread my hands out to You. My soul is like a land that is weary for You, selah.” “For the enemy has been chasing after my soul, he has crushed my spirit to the ground, he has taken me down into the dark places like those who are dead forever.”
“My soul is utterly confounded. And as for You, O God, how long? Return, HaShem, rescue my soul, save me for the sake of Your kindness.” “Like a swallow or a crane, I chirp; I moan like a dove.” “My eyes fail from looking upward; HaShem, I am oppressed. Be my guarantor.” “Be a guarantor for Your servant for good; do not let sinners oppress me.” “Redeem me from the oppression of man and I will observe Your precepts.”
The soul’s radiance Please, HaShem, free my soul from all bodily cravings and evil traits. In Your vast compassion, save my poor soul and give her power and strength from You, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, so she will be able to conquer the body. Let my soul overcome my body, let my form hold sway over my substance.
Then I can subdue, break and nullify the physicality of my body completely, so as to reveal the radiance of my soul and my holy form, and draw upon myself the image of God, the likeness in which I was patterned. Grant me the light of holy intellect — wisdom, understanding and knowledge — and help me rid myself of every kind of materialistic folly and gross physicality.
Bring me out from gloom to radiance, from darkness to great light, from the folly and darkness of gross physicality to the radiant wisdom of the holy soul.
Give me my portion in Your Torah. Day and night, let me study and contemplate Your Torah and devote myself to Your service. Put it into my heart to be wise and understanding, to hear, learn and teach, observe, practice and fulfill all the words of Your Torah in love. Illumine my eyes in Your Torah and attach my heart to Your commandments.
Keep me well away from those who have strayed into the realm of ideas that are contrary to the Torah. Protect me, my children, and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from ever pursuing such ideas.
Don’t let any of their philosophical arguments or strange and bitter ideas enter our minds and thoughts. Such ideas have the power to trap precious souls in their net.
The truth is that all their ideas are sheer folly, stupidity, nonsense and emptiness. They are drawn only from the folly and darkness of the physicality of their bodies, and from their evil desires and traits.
They have been so overcome by their bodily cravings and their coarse, materialistic, corrupted and disgusting physicality, the ultimate degree of corruption, squalor and filth, that their minds and uncircumcised hearts have been totally ruined.
Wisdom of the Torah Master of the world, have compassion on us, our children and our remnant. We have been left like a solitary mast on top of a mountain with no one to help or support us. We have no one to stand up for us.
Rescue us! Rescue us! In Your vast compassion, save us and free us and our children from all ideas that contradict the Torah. Don’t let us involve ourselves in them in any way. Keep our hands, minds and hearts away from them. For our portion and our lot is not in them. For we are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are believers and the children of believers. We had the privilege of standing at Mount Sinai to receive Your holy Torah through Your faithful prophet Moses.
Let us always have our share in Your holy Torah. “The Torah of HaShem is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of HaShem is faithful, making the simple one wise.” Have pity and mercy on us. Stir up Your compassion for Your children, the flock You have pastured. Guard us at this time of trouble at the threshold of the coming of the Mashiach. Rescue and free our souls and the souls of our sons and daughters, so we never pursue ideas that are contrary to the Torah.
Give us the strength to subdue, break, destroy and uproot all heretics and atheists from the world. “Let them be blotted out from the book of life and let them not be written with tzaddikim.” May the name and memory of all who engage in philosophical speculation be blotted out from the world.
May HaShem cut off the man who pursues such speculation and follows their ways, calling and answering. “Let his children be orphans and his wife a widow. … Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following, may their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by HaShem, and do not let the sin of his mother be erased. May they be before HaShem continually; may He excise their memory from the earth.”
May their arguments and theories vanish from the world. May they no longer enter people’s hearts or be mentioned by name. Have mercy on Your nation, the Jewish people. Raise up, elevate, exalt, reveal and shine the wisdom of the holy Torah throughout the world. Let us all come back to Your Torah and Your service in truth, faith, holiness and purity. May we constantly yearn to deepen our faith, just as You desire. Grant that we should truly come to know You even in this world, and honor Your great Name at all times.
For this was Your purpose in creating all the worlds: that Your creatures should come to know You. As it is written, “Everything that is called in My Name, which I created for My glory, I formed it, indeed, I made it.” Help us! Have compassion on us! Save us!
Let them all vanish from the world. None of them can stand up against even a single letter of Your holy, pure, perfect Torah, both the Written and the Oral Torah. Let everyone return to Your Torah and genuinely serve You and fear You with all their hearts and souls.
Please, HaShem, You Who are filled with compassion, take pity on my poor soul. Be my help at all times. Give me the courage and determination to assert my holy, goodly soul against my body and its traits and cravings. Then I will be able to strip my soul of all manner of materialistic desires and traits, and I will purify and sanctify my soul and my body with all manner of purity and holiness. Let me release my soul from all the evil cravings and bad traits that derive from the four physical elements that make up the body.
Memory In Your vast compassion, take me out and lift me up from the level of an animal to the level of Adam, man. Bring me out from the dominion of the body to that of the soul, from substance to form, from darkness to light, from folly to wisdom, from alien views and opinions to the wisdom of the holy Torah, from forgetfulness to memory.
Grant me a strong memory, and help me always remember very well all the words of Your Torah and everything connected with serving You — whether it be something I learn in holy books, or something I have heard or am going to hear from the mouth of my teachers and friends regarding the fear of HaShem, Divine service, and devotion to the Torah.
Through the power of holy memory, let me remember everything clearly at all times from now on and forever. May I not forget a single word of what I have learned.
And let me constantly remember very well what my ultimate destiny is. Let me keep my attention fixed on the purpose of my coming into this lowly world, and where I am destined to go when I reach the end of my life. May I never forget this all the days of my life. Every single day, help me remember that all my days and years are vanity, like a fleeting dream, a passing shadow, a cloud melting into nothingness, a puff of wind, flying dust. There is absolutely no way to escape death. “There is no discharge in war.” What will we think about HaShem, and what will we do on the day of judgment?
“My soul remembers and is bowed down within me.” “Remember, do not forget, how You angered HaShem your God” from your youth until today. For there is no forgetfulness before His throne of glory, and nothing is hidden from His eyes.
Help me and save me! Help me remember this always so that I’ll have compassion on myself from now on, and save my soul from destruction by preparing what I’ll need on my journey. “It’s a long road and we don’t have even the scantiest provisions.”
In Your vast compassion, help me forget all foreign thoughts and ideas that are contrary to the Torah. Help me forget all the different evil and twisted thoughts that cling to my heart and mind as a result of my many sins. Free me of all the different thoughts that distract me from serving You properly.
Compassionate God, totally remove all of them from my mind and heart so that I completely forget them from now on and forever. From now on let me remember You constantly at every moment — when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey, when I lie down and when I rise up. At all times let me attach my thoughts to You, Your Torah and Your service in awe and love, holiness and purity, in truth and perfect faith.
Then I will merit remembering clearly all the words of Your Torah and everything connected with serving You. May I never forget a single word of Torah and devotion, but remember them at all times — in this world and in the World to Come.
Fasting Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers — God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, God of all the true tzaddikim in earlier and later times, God of Your entire nation, the holy Jewish people, my Father, compassionate Father, Who knows all the hidden secrets of the heart — that You will have compassion on me and grant me knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Teach me and send me true guidance at all times.
Help me understand the right way to conduct myself regarding voluntary fasts. Should I fast or not? Let me know the real truth so I’ll be able to follow the true path exactly the way You desire. My feelings are so divided as to what I should do.
Therefore, I am throwing myself upon You alone. To You alone I surrender my body, my nefesh, my ruach and my neshamah. Do whatever You want with me, and I will act according to Your will.
Don’t let me confuse myself excessively about this subject. Just let me always have a clear idea as to what I should do, and grant me sound guidance as to what You truly want. Give me to understand how I should conduct myself both on the subject of fasting and about everything else in the world. Then I will be able to turn from evil and subordinate my physical body to my soul and form, and genuinely devote myself to Your Torah and Your service at all times, in just the way You want, from now on and forever.
“Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You I trust. Help me understand this path that I am following, for I have lifted my soul to You.”
Charity Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that You will help me give plenty of charity to many genuinely deserving people.
Have mercy on me in Your great and overflowing compassion and kindness. Help me give plenty of charity to causes in the Land of Israel. Let me give real support and assistance to deserving people in the Land of Israel. Then I will be privileged to be included in the holy air of the Land of Israel, which is untainted by sin. Through this, help me sweeten and remove all harsh judgments against myself and Your entire nation, the House of Israel. May we always have the power to banish harsh judgments, darkness, folly, and all ideas that go against the Torah.
Let us strengthen and elevate our holy souls and the holy Torah. Illumine us with the light of holy wisdom, and drawn down upon us goodly kindnesses constantly. Grant us holy memory. Send us blessings of goodness, life, grace and kindness, compassion, peace and everything good.
In Your vast compassion, remember the covenant You made with our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Fulfill for us the verse, “I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I remember, and I will remember the Land.”
Help us cultivate our souls and lift them up to You. Let us sanctify and beautify our souls so that they will be able to rise up to the Shekhinah as “feminine waters,” and the Shekhinah will take pride in our souls before You and say, “See with what a child I come before You.” May the unification of the Holy One, blessed is He, and the Shekhinah be effected through our souls ascending to You for the good, like a fragrant savor, a fire-offering to HaShem.
Eating in holiness Let me always eat in holiness and purity, especially when eating animal products. Help me sanctify myself to the utmost degree at mealtimes.
Then I will be able to elevate the soul contained in the meat that I am eating from the level of an animal to that of a speaking human being, by means of the blessing I make over my food. Let me recite all the blessings with the greatest concentration for the sake of Your great Name.
Kosher meat In Your vast compassion, guard me and save me from forbidden foods. Let nothing that is forbidden ever enter my mouth. May I never stumble by eating non-kosher meat, even inadvertently.
Compassionate God, save me from dishonest shochtim. Keep me well away from any kind of forbidden meat, whether prohibited by the Written Torah or by rabbinic enactment. Always send us reliable shochtim and be with them and guard them constantly, so as to protect them and the Jewish people from stumbling through eating the meat of improperly slaughtered animals, God forbid.
Help the shochtim concentrate carefully on the blessing over shechitah, so as to elevate the soul contained in the animal from the level of a beast to the level of a human being. Let all the souls that are trapped and incarnated in animals, birds and beasts rise up to the Shekhinah, and may they bring about a unification between the Holy One, blessed is He, and the Shekhinah.
Draw down upon us an abundant flow of goodness, blessing, compassion, life and peace. May we have a good and honorable livelihood without exerting ourselves excessively. My Father in Heaven, You Who bestow goodness even on the guilty, You Who bestow generous kindnesses — You know we are powerless to guard ourselves against unreliable shochtim. There are so many of them today. And we have no one to stand up for us and make an effort to rectify our souls and save us from the evil caused by dishonest shochtim. Master of the world, have compassion on us for Your Name’s sake, for the sake of Your mighty Shekhinah, for the sake of our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for the sake of all the true tzaddikim. Help, save, rescue and free us from evil and dishonest shochtim. Guard us always so that forbidden meat will never enter our mouths. For “You can do everything, and no purpose can be withheld from You.” Everything is in Your hands, and You have the power to protect us even now, in this generation, from non-kosher meat and from dishonest shochtim.
Have pity and mercy on us for Your sake if not for ours. Sanctify us with Your holiness and keep us well away from forbidden foods, as it is written, “I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”
May we fulfill the verse, “You shall be holy men for Me, and you shall not eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field: throw it to the dogs.” It is also written, “Sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” And may the verse be fulfilled, “He has given prey to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.”
Educating children In Your vast compassion, help us and send us good, respectable teachers for our children. Let them carry out their work faithfully and teach our children the maximum that is truly good for them.
May all those involved in teaching children be honest and righteous so as not to spoil the holy breath of these little schoolchildren, which is untainted by sin. Let their holy breath rise up, appear before You, find favor, and be accepted. Through this, may You remember the covenant You made with our fathers. Sweeten and remove all harsh judgments and decrees against Your nation, the House of Israel, both as a whole and as individuals, whether the decree has not yet been issued or whether it has already been signed. Sweeten and annul all these decrees in the merit of the innocent breath of the little schoolchildren.
In Your vast compassion, sanctify us with Your supreme holiness and let us return to You in perfect repentance with all our hearts and souls. Help us make amends for all the damage we have done. May we strengthen our souls until we overcome our bodies and make them totally subordinate to our souls.
Let us give plenty of charity to causes in the Land of Israel, until we become included in the holy air of the Land of Israel, which is untainted by sin. Make the breath of the mouths of Your entire nation, the House of Israel, as pure as the air of the Land of Israel and the breath of little schoolchildren.
Help the shochtim genuinely sanctify and purify themselves to the point that their breath will also be untainted by sin. Then they will be able to elevate the souls incarnated in animals, elevating them to their holy root through the breath of the blessing they make over the shechitah.
For You know the pitiful state of the souls that are incarnated in animals. Please have mercy on them and on us. For Your sake, help us elevate all those souls to their supernal root in holiness. Compassionate One, You Who are filled with mercy, You Who have mercy on the poor and hear the cry of the needy, have compassion on us and on our souls, which are oppressed like birds trapped in a snare, as is revealed to You, since You know all secrets. Help me save my soul from destruction.
For You know the great preciousness and splendor of my soul at her supernal root. You also know how much I have spoiled and corrupted my poor soul. You know the tragic state of my poor soul, weary, crushed and torn apart between lions’ teeth. They have opened their mouths at us, saying, “We have devoured.”
But You can rescue my soul through the power of Your mercy. You have the power to turn my heart to good and direct it toward You. Grant me holy wisdom and understanding, power, strength and guidance, so that I will always be able to put my soul in control over my body, until I totally subordinate the body and its cravings.
Let me elevate my soul to Your supreme holiness in perfect truth and faith. My Father, my compassionate Father, have pity on the honor of the holy Torah that You have given us! For You know the amazing beauty of the precious Torah hidden within us. In Your vast compassion, help me from now on to genuinely purify and sanctify myself, so I will be able to bring out and reveal the Torah that is concealed within me.
Save me from insults and embarrassment. May I never be ashamed or stumble. May I merit holy honor, and receive it in great sanctity for the sake of Your Name and Your glory alone. Don’t let me make the least use of this honor for myself, but use it solely for the sake of Your Name, in order to serve You truly and sincerely with no ulterior motives. Help me restore and elevate the honor to its root.
And with the holy honor that You will compassionately bestow upon me, help me reveal the wealth of original Torah insights that are concealed within my soul in great holiness and purity.
Be with me at all times, and don’t let me say anything that is not in accordance with Your will. Be with my mouth when I speak and with my hands when it is time for me to act. Master of the world, have pity on my poor, deprived soul which is so very hungry, thirsty and faint. Compassionately fulfill my requests and let my soul hold sway over my body from now on and forever.
Let my soul rise up and be lifted high, high above in great holiness and purity, in truth and perfect faith, in holy wisdom, understanding and knowledge, through Torah and devotion with reverence, love and complete repentance, sincerely and wholeheartedly, in exactly the way You desire.
“Return, my soul, to your rest, for HaShem has been kind to you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eye from tears, my feet from stumbling. I will walk before HaShem in the lands of the living.”
“For You will not abandon my soul to hell; You will not let Your pious one see destruction.” “He will restore my soul, He will lead me along the pathways of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” “For Your Name’s sake, HaShem, give me life! In Your righteousness, free my soul from sorrow.
“My soul will rejoice in HaShem and exult in His salvation.” “Take my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your Name. Because of me the righteous will crown themselves, for You have been kind to me.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ל"ז - דִּרְשׁוּ יְיָ וְעֻזּוֹ]
נַפְשִׁי בִּשְׁאֵלָתִי וְעַמִּי בְּבַקָּשָׁתִי, הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי, אַל תְּעַר נַפְשִׁי כִּי בְּךָ חָסִיתִי.
Mind vs. matter / Torah wisdom vs. atheism / Memory / Fasting / Charity / Eating / Kosher meat / Educating children / The Land of Israel
The soul is associated with light, form, wisdom, spiritual awareness and life, while the physical body is associated with their opposites: darkness, substance, folly, animalism, forgetfulness and death. Immersing ourselves in the wisdom of the Torah strengthens the soul, bringing us to the level of Adam, man. However, the pursuit of materialistic ideologies that contradict the Torah leads to the glorification of physical desire, causing spiritual concealment.
The way we eat also has a significant influence on whether our spiritual faculties will gain sway over our bodily cravings, or vice versa. It is important to eat in moderation and with dignity. Fasting also helps weaken bodily desires (though Rebbe Nachman advised people to fast only on the mandatory fast days of the Jewish calendar). Another practice that helps the soul gain dominance over the body is giving charity. Through contributing to causes in the Land of Israel, the donor becomes included in the pure air of that Land, which is free of sin, and is able to attain the wisdom of the Torah and overcome the influence of alien ideologies. It is particularly important to protect one’s children from exposure to atheistic influences and to see that they are taught Torah by a sincere, God-fearing teacher, in order not to corrupt the untainted breath of their mouths. The shochet, ritual slaughterer, plays a key role in guarding the spiritual purity of the Jewish people. Eating the meat of an improperly slaughtered animal can degrade and desensitize a person. In addition, the Kabbalah teaches that human souls may be incarnated in animals and birds, and can return to their source only if the shochet has the correct intentions and recites the blessing over the shechitah with the utmost concentration. The soul in the slaughtered animal or bird is then able to rise up to the Shekhinah, Who in turn channels blessings to the Jewish people. Dishonest shochtim fail to elevate these souls, interrupting the flow of livelihood to the Jewish people and giving strength to material cravings and ideologies.
“Let my life be given to me at my petition and my people at my request.” “Save my soul from the sword, save my spirit from the power of the dog.” “Do not cast off my soul, for I have put my trust in You.”
כִּי אַתָּה תִקְוָתִי וְאַתָּה אֱיָלוּתִי. שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי אַל אֵבוֹשׁ כִּי חָסִיתִי בָךְ, חוּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִי יְהֹוָה תְּשׁוּעָתִי.
“For You are my hope and You are my strength.” “Guard my soul and save me. I will not be ashamed, for I have put my trust in You.” “Hurry to my aid, God of my salvation!”
תִּיקַר נָא נַפְשִׁי בְּעֵינֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, יֵגוֹלְלוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עַל מִדּוֹתֶיךָ, יֶהֱמוּ וְיִכָמְרוּ רַחֲמֵי לִבְּךָ עַל נַפְשִׁי הָאֻמְלָלָה וְהָעֲלוּבָה מְאֹד מְאֹד, עַל נַפְשִׁי הָרְעֵבָה וְהַצְּמֵאָה וְהָעֲיֵפָה מְאֹד, עַל נֶפֶשׁ מָרָה כָּזוּ, נֶפֶשׁ הַלְּכוּדָה בְּכַבְלֵי עֹנִי וּבַרְזֶל בַּאֲלָפִים וּרְבָבוֹת רְשָׁתוֹת וּמְצוּדוֹת כַּצִפֳּרִים הָאֲחוּזוֹת בַּפָּח, נֶפֶשׁ הָעֲשׁוּקָה מְאֹד.
Please, let my soul be precious in Your eyes, HaShem my God and God of my fathers. Let Your mercy prevail over Your attribute [of justice]. Let Your heart be stirred with compassion for my poor, miserable soul. My soul is so hungry, thirsty and tired, so bitter, so trapped in chains of poverty and iron, in thousands and tens of thousands of nets and traps. Like birds caught in a snare, my soul is so very oppressed.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רוֹאֶה בְּעֶלְבּוֹן עֲלוּבִים, הַבִּיטָה נָא וּרְאֵה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשֻׁקִים, הַצּוֹעֲקִים וּבוֹכִים וְנֶאֱנָקִים וְנֶאֱנָחִים וּמִיַּד עוֹשְׁקֵיהֶם כֹּחַ וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם. בָּכוֹ יִבְכּוּ הַרְבֵּה בֶכֶה וְדִמְעָתָם עַל לֶחֱיָם.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who see the shame of the humiliated, look and see the tears of the oppressed who scream out, weep, cry and groan. “On the side of their oppressors there is power, and they have no comforter.” How they weep, and their tears are on their cheeks.
רַחֲמָן אֲמִתִּי, אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִשַּׁוְעָתָם, וְאַל תֶּאֱטֹם אָזְנְךָ מִצַּעֲקָתָם, וְאַל תַּעֲלִים עֵינֶיךָ מִדִּמְעָתָם.
Truly Compassionate One, don’t hide Your face from their cry! Don’t shut Your ear to their scream! Don’t close Your eyes to their tears!
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא,
Master of the world, “to You I lift up my soul;
פֵּרַשְׂתִּי יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ נַפְשִׁי כְּאֶרֶץ עֲיֵפָה לְךָ סֶלָה, כִּי רָדַף אוֹיֵב נַפְשִׁי דִּכָּא לָאָרֶץ חַיָּתִי הוֹשִׁיבַנִי בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּים כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם,
I spread my hands out to You. My soul is like a land that is weary for You, selah.” “For the enemy has been chasing after my soul, he has crushed my spirit to the ground, he has taken me down into the dark places like those who are dead forever.”
וְנַפְשִׁי נִבְהֲלָה מְאֹד וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה עַד מָתָי. שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה חַלְּצָה נַפְשִׁי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ. כְּסוּס עָגוּר כֵּן אֲצַפְצֵף אֶהְגֶּה כַּיּוֹנָה דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם יְהֹוָה עָשְׁקָה לִּי עָרְבֵנִי. עֲרֹב עַבְדְּךָ לְטוֹב אַל יַעַשְׁקֻנִי זֵדִים. פְּדֵנִי מֵעֹשֶׁק אָדָם וְאֶשְׁמְרָה פִּקּוּדֶיךָ.
“My soul is utterly confounded. And as for You, O God, how long? Return, HaShem, rescue my soul, save me for the sake of Your kindness.” “Like a swallow or a crane, I chirp; I moan like a dove.” “My eyes fail from looking upward; HaShem, I am oppressed. Be my guarantor.” “Be a guarantor for Your servant for good; do not let sinners oppress me.” “Redeem me from the oppression of man and I will observe Your precepts.”
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה מַלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל תַּאֲווֹת הַגּוּף וּמִדּוֹתָיו הָרָעִים. עֲזֹר וְהוֹשִׁיעָה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֶת נַפְשִׁי הָאֻמְלָלָה, וְתֵן לָהּ כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה מֵאִתְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתּוּכַל לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הַגּוּף וְתִתְגַּבֵּר נַפְשִׁי עַל גּוּפִי, צוּרָתִי עַל חוֹמְרִי,
The soul’s radiance
Please, HaShem, free my soul from all bodily cravings and evil traits. In Your vast compassion, save my poor soul and give her power and strength from You, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, so she will be able to conquer the body. Let my soul overcome my body, let my form hold sway over my substance.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל אֶת הַגּוּף וְהַחֹמֶר לְגַמְרֵי, וְתִתְגַּלֶּה הֶאָרַת נַפְשִׁי וְצוּרָתִי הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְיֻמְשַׁךְ עָלַי צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים, צֶלֶם דְּמוּת תַּבְנִיתוֹ. וּתְזַכֵּנִי לְאוֹר הַשֵּׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לְחָכְמָה בִּינָה וָדַעַת, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְבַטֵּל מִמֶּנִּי כָּל מִינֵי סִכְלוּת וּכְסִילוּת שֶׁל הַגּוּף וְהַחֹמֶר.
Then I can subdue, break and nullify the physicality of my body completely, so as to reveal the radiance of my soul and my holy form, and draw upon myself the image of God, the likeness in which I was patterned. Grant me the light of holy intellect — wisdom, understanding and knowledge — and help me rid myself of every kind of materialistic folly and gross physicality.
וְתוֹצִיאֵנִי מֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה, מֵחֹשֶׁךְ לְאוֹר גָּדוֹל, מִכְּסִילוּת וְחֶשְׁכַת שֶׁל חָמְרִיּוּת הַגּוּף הֶעָכוּר וְהַמְגֻשָּׁם, לְהֶאָרַת הַחָכְמָה שֶׁל הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה.
Bring me out from gloom to radiance, from darkness to great light, from the folly and darkness of gross physicality to the radiant wisdom of the holy soul.
וְתֵן חֶלְקִי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִלְמֹד וְלַהֲגוֹת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וּבַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, וְתֵן בְּלִבִּי בִּינָה לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל לִשְׁמֹעַ לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ בְּאַהֲבָה, וְהָאֵר עֵינַי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ וְדַבֵּק לִבִּי בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ.
Give me my portion in Your Torah. Day and night, let me study and contemplate Your Torah and devote myself to Your service. Put it into my heart to be wise and understanding, to hear, learn and teach, observe, practice and fulfill all the words of Your Torah in love. Illumine my eyes in Your Torah and attach my heart to Your commandments.
וְתַפְרִישֵׁנִי וְתַבְדִּילֵנִי מִן הַתּוֹעִים בְּחָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת, וְתָגֵן בַּעֲדִי וּבְעַד זַרְעִי תָמִיד וּבְעַד כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲסֹק לְעוֹלָם בְּשׁוּם חָכְמָה חִיצוֹנָה כְּלָל,
Keep me well away from those who have strayed into the realm of ideas that are contrary to the Torah. Protect me, my children, and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from ever pursuing such ideas.
וְלֹא נָשִׂים עַיִן וְלֹא נִלְמַד בְּשׁוּם סֵפֶר מִסִּפְרֵי הַחֲקִירוֹת כְּלָל, הֵן בְּסִפְרֵי חֲקִירוֹת שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֵן בְּסִפְרֵי חֲקִירוֹת שֶׁל הָעֲכּוּ"ם.
May we never set our eyes on or study any books of this kind, whether philosophical works written by Jews or those written by non-Jews.
וְתַעֲזֹר לָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס בְּדַעְתֵּנוּ וּמַחֲשַׁבְתֵּנוּ שׁוּם חֲקִירָה מֵחֲקִירוֹתֵיהֶם, וְלֹא שׁוּם סְבָרָה וְדֵעָה מִסְּבָרוֹתֵיהֶם וְדֵעוֹתֵיהֶם הַזָּרוֹת וְהַמָּרוֹת, הַצָּדִים בְּרִשְׁתָּם נְפָשׁוֹת יְקָרוֹת,
Don’t let any of their philosophical arguments or strange and bitter ideas enter our minds and thoughts. Such ideas have the power to trap precious souls in their net.
אֲשֶׁר בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל חָכְמוֹתֵיהֶם הַחִיצוֹנִיּוֹת הֵם רַק כְּסִילוּת וְסִכְלוּת וּשְׁטוּת וְהֶבֶל גָּמוּר בֶּאֱמֶת, וְנִמְשָׁכִים רַק מִכְּסִילוּת וְחֶשְׁכַת חָמְרִיּוּת הַגּוּף וּמִתַּאֲווֹתֵיהֶם וּמִדּוֹתֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת,
The truth is that all their ideas are sheer folly, stupidity, nonsense and emptiness. They are drawn only from the folly and darkness of the physicality of their bodies, and from their evil desires and traits.
אֲשֶׁר מֵחֲמַת תֹּקֶף הִתְגַּבְּרוּת תַּאֲווֹת גּוּפָם וְחָמְרָם הֶעָב וְהַמְגֻשָּׁם וְהַמְזֹהָם וְהַמְשֻׁקָּץ מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּתַכְלִית הַזֻּהֲמָה וְהַטִּנּוּף וְהַמִּאוּס, מִשָּׁם נִתְעַכֵּר וְנִתְקַלְקֵל וְנִשְׁחַת דַּעְתָּם וְלִבָּם הֶעָרֵל,
They have been so overcome by their bodily cravings and their coarse, materialistic, corrupted and disgusting physicality, the ultimate degree of corruption, squalor and filth, that their minds and uncircumcised hearts have been totally ruined.
עַד שֶׁנִּתְעוּ וְנָבוֹכוּ מִדֵּעָה לְדֵעָה וּמִסְּבָרָא לִסְבָרָא, עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לִידֵי טָעוּת וּשְׁטוּת חָכְמוֹתֵיהֶם הַחִיצוֹנִיּוֹת:
They have gone astray from one idea to the next, from one argument to another, ending up with the false and foolish theories they espouse.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל זַרְעֵנוּ וְעַל פְּלֵטָתֵנוּ, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאַרְנוּ כַּתֹּרֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר בְּאֵין עוֹזֵר וְסוֹמֵךְ, וְאֵין מִי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵינוּ.
Wisdom of the Torah
Master of the world, have compassion on us, our children and our remnant. We have been left like a solitary mast on top of a mountain with no one to help or support us. We have no one to stand up for us.
הַצֵּל הַצֵּל, וְהוֹשִׁיעָה וּמַלֵּט אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת זַרְעֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים מִכָּל מִינֵי חָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָנוּ שׁוּם חֵלֶק וְעֵסֶק בָּהֶם, וְתִהְיֶה יָדֵינוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ וְלִבֵּנוּ מְסֻלֶּקֶת מֵהֶם, כִּי לֹא בְאֵלֶּה חֶלְקֵנוּ וְלֹא בְאֵלֶּה גּוֹרָלֵנוּ. כִּי אֲנַחְנוּ מִזֶּרַע אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, מַאֲמִינִים בְּנֵי מַאֲמִינִים, וַאֲנַחְנוּ זָכִינוּ לַעֲמֹד עַל הַר סִינַי וּלְקַבֵּל תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה נְבִיאֶךָ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתֶךָ.
Rescue us! Rescue us! In Your vast compassion, save us and free us and our children from all ideas that contradict the Torah. Don’t let us involve ourselves in them in any way. Keep our hands, minds and hearts away from them. For our portion and our lot is not in them. For we are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are believers and the children of believers. We had the privilege of standing at Mount Sinai to receive Your holy Torah through Your faithful prophet Moses.
עָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד, תּוֹרַת יְהֹוָה תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ עֵדוּת יְהֹוָה נֶאֱמָנָה מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי. חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ, יֶהֱמוּ נָא מֵעֶיךָ עַל בָּנֶיךָ צֹאן מַרְעִיתֶךָ, וּשְׁמֹר אוֹתָנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָה הַזֹּאת, בְּעִקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא, וְהַצֵּל וּמַלֵּט נַפְשֵׁנוּ וְנֶפֶשׁ בָּנֵינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲסֹק לְעוֹלָם בְּשׁוּם חָכְמָה חִיצוֹנָה כְּלָל.
Let us always have our share in Your holy Torah. “The Torah of HaShem is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of HaShem is faithful, making the simple one wise.” Have pity and mercy on us. Stir up Your compassion for Your children, the flock You have pastured. Guard us at this time of trouble at the threshold of the coming of the Mashiach. Rescue and free our souls and the souls of our sons and daughters, so we never pursue ideas that are contrary to the Torah.
וְתֵן לָנוּ כֹחַ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל וְלַעֲקֹר כָּל הַאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים וְהַכּוֹפְרִים מִן הָעוֹלָם. יִמָּחוּ מִסֵּפֶר חַיִּים וְעִם צַדִּיקִים אַל יִכָּתֵבוּ. וְכָל הָעוֹסְקִים בְּפִילוֹסוֹפְיָא וַחֲקִירוֹת שֶׁל חָכְמוֹת הַחִיצוֹנִיּוֹת, יִהְיֶה נִמַּח שְׁמָם וְזִכְרָם מִן הָעוֹלָם,
Give us the strength to subdue, break, destroy and uproot all heretics and atheists from the world. “Let them be blotted out from the book of life and let them not be written with tzaddikim.” May the name and memory of all who engage in philosophical speculation be blotted out from the world.
יַכְרֵת יְהֹוָה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲסֹק בַּחֲקִירוֹתֵיהֶם וּבְדַרְכֵיהֶם עֵר וְעוֹנָה, יִהְיוּ בָנָיו יְתוֹמִים וְאִשְׁתּוֹ אַלְמָנָה. יְהִי אַחֲרִיתוֹ לְהַכְרִית בְּדוֹר אַחֵר יִמַּח שְׁמָם. יִזָּכֵר עֲוֹן אֲבֹתָיו אֶל־יְהֹוָה וְחַטַּאת אִמּוֹ אַל־תִּמָּח. יִהְיוּ נֶגֶד יְהֹוָה תָּמִיד וְיַכְרֵת מֵאֶרֶץ זִכְרָם.
May HaShem cut off the man who pursues such speculation and follows their ways, calling and answering. “Let his children be orphans and his wife a widow. … Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following, may their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by HaShem, and do not let the sin of his mother be erased. May they be before HaShem continually; may He excise their memory from the earth.”
וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ סְבָרוֹתֵיהֶם וְדֵעוֹתֵיהֶם מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְלֹא יַעֲלוּ עוֹד עַל לֵב וְלֹא יִזָּכְרוּ עוֹד בִּשְׁמָם. וּתְרַחֵם עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתַעֲלֶה וּתְנַשֵּׂא וּתְרוֹמֵם וּתְגַלֶּה וְתָאִיר חָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בָּעוֹלָם, וְנָשׁוּב כֻּלָּנוּ לְתוֹרָתְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה. וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק תָּמִיד לֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וּלְכַבֵּד אֶת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל בְּכָל עֵת,
May their arguments and theories vanish from the world. May they no longer enter people’s hearts or be mentioned by name. Have mercy on Your nation, the Jewish people. Raise up, elevate, exalt, reveal and shine the wisdom of the holy Torah throughout the world. Let us all come back to Your Torah and Your service in truth, faith, holiness and purity. May we constantly yearn to deepen our faith, just as You desire. Grant that we should truly come to know You even in this world, and honor Your great Name at all times.
כִּי בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה בָּרָאתָ כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת כֻּלָּם, בְּגִין דְּיִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעִין לֵיהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כֹּל הַנִּקְרָא בִשְׁמִי וְלִכְבוֹדִי בְּרָאתִיו יְצַרְתִּיו אַף עֲשִׂיתִיו. עֲזֹר וְרַחֵם וְהוֹשִׁיעָה,
For this was Your purpose in creating all the worlds: that Your creatures should come to know You. As it is written, “Everything that is called in My Name, which I created for My glory, I formed it, indeed, I made it.” Help us! Have compassion on us! Save us!
וַעֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעַן כְּבוֹד תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, שֶׁתִּתְגַּבֵּר חָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל חָכְמַת הַפִּילוֹסוֹפְיָא, עַל חָכְמוֹת הַחִיצוֹנִיּוֹת,
Act for Your sake and for the honor of Your holy Torah, letting the wisdom of the holy Torah overcome philosophical wisdom and atheistic ideologies.
וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ כָּל הַחָכְמוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם כְּנֶגֶד אוֹת אֶחָד מִתּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַטְּהוֹרָה וְהַתְּמִימָה, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, וְיָשׁוּבוּ כֻלָּם לְתוֹרָתְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וּלְיִרְאָתְךָ בֶאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ:
Let them all vanish from the world. None of them can stand up against even a single letter of Your holy, pure, perfect Torah, both the Written and the Oral Torah. Let everyone return to Your Torah and genuinely serve You and fear You with all their hearts and souls.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, רַחֲמָן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוּסָה עַל נַפְשִׁי הָאֻמְלָלָה מְאֹד, וֶהְיֵה בְּעֶזְרִי תָמִיד, וְחַזֵּק וְאַמֵּץ אֶת נַפְשִׁי בְכָל מִינֵי עֹז וְתַעֲצוּמוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁתִּתְגַּבֵּר נַפְשִׁי הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַטּוֹבָה עַל הַגּוּף וְתַאֲווֹתָיו וּמִדּוֹתָיו הָרָעִים, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַפְשִׁיט אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל מִינֵי תַאֲווֹת הַגּוּף וּמִדּוֹתָיו, וַאֲטַהֵר וַאֲקַדֵּשׁ אֶת נַפְשִׁי וְגוּפִי בְּכָל מִינֵי טָהֳרוֹת וּקְדֻשּׁוֹת, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת וּמִדּוֹת רָעוֹת הַנִּמְשָׁכִים מֵאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדוֹת חָמְרִיִּים שֶׁל הַגּוּף:
Please, HaShem, You Who are filled with compassion, take pity on my poor soul. Be my help at all times. Give me the courage and determination to assert my holy, goodly soul against my body and its traits and cravings. Then I will be able to strip my soul of all manner of materialistic desires and traits, and I will purify and sanctify my soul and my body with all manner of purity and holiness. Let me release my soul from all the evil cravings and bad traits that derive from the four physical elements that make up the body.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תּוֹצִיאֵנִי וְתַעֲלֵנִי מִבְּחִינַת בְּהֵמָה לִבְחִינַת אָדָם, מִגּוּף לְנֶפֶשׁ, מֵחֹמֶר לְצוּרָה, מֵחֹשֶׁךְ לְאוֹר, מִסִּכְלוּת לְחָכְמָה, מֵחָכְמוֹת וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת לְחָכְמוֹת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, מִשִּׁכְחָה לְזִכָּרוֹן.
Memory
In Your vast compassion, take me out and lift me up from the level of an animal to the level of Adam, man. Bring me out from the dominion of the body to that of the soul, from substance to form, from darkness to light, from folly to wisdom, from alien views and opinions to the wisdom of the holy Torah, from forgetfulness to memory.
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי מֵאִתְּךָ כֹּחַ הַזִּכָּרוֹן, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִזְכּוֹר תָּמִיד הֵיטֵב אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, הֵן מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי לוֹמֵד בִּסְפָרִים הַקְדוֹשִׁים, הֵן מַה שֶּׁשָׁמַעְתִּי אוֹ מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לִשְׁמֹעַ מִפִּי רַבּוֹתַי וַחֲבֵרַי כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הַנּוֹגְעִים לְיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה וְלַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְתוֹרָתוֹ,
Grant me a strong memory, and help me always remember very well all the words of Your Torah and everything connected with serving You — whether it be something I learn in holy books, or something I have heard or am going to hear from the mouth of my teachers and friends regarding the fear of HaShem, Divine service, and devotion to the Torah.
כֻּלָּם אֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר תָּמִיד הֵיטֵב בְּכֹחַ הַזִּכָּרוֹן דִּקְדֻשָּׁה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וְלֹא אֶשְׁכַּח שׁוּם דָּבָר מִמִּשְׁנָתִי.
Through the power of holy memory, let me remember everything clearly at all times from now on and forever. May I not forget a single word of what I have learned.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר תָּמִיד הֵיטֵב הֵיטֵב אֶת אַחֲרִיתִי וְסוֹפִי, וְלָשׂוּם לִבִּי הֵיטֵב עַל מָה אֲתִינָא לְהַאי עַלְמָא שְׁפֵלָה, וּמַה יִּהְיֶה בְּסוֹפִי וְאַחֲרִיתִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָבוֹא קִצִּי, וְלֹא אֶשְׁכַּח זֹאת כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר זֹאת הֵיטֵב בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, כִּי כָל יָמֵינוּ וּשְׁנוֹתֵינוּ הֵם הֶבֶל, כַּחֲלוֹם יָעוּף, וּכְצֵל עוֹבֵר, כְּעָנָן כָּלֶה, וּכְרוּחַ נוֹשָׁבֶת, וּכְאָבָק פּוֹרֵחַ. וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִמָּלֵט מִן הַמִּיתָה בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, וְאֵין מִשְׁלַחַת בַּמִּלְחָמָה. וּמַה נַּחְשֹׁב עַל יְהֹוָה וּמַה נַּעֲשֶׂה לְיוֹם פְּקֻדָּה,
And let me constantly remember very well what my ultimate destiny is. Let me keep my attention fixed on the purpose of my coming into this lowly world, and where I am destined to go when I reach the end of my life. May I never forget this all the days of my life. Every single day, help me remember that all my days and years are vanity, like a fleeting dream, a passing shadow, a cloud melting into nothingness, a puff of wind, flying dust. There is absolutely no way to escape death. “There is no discharge in war.” What will we think about HaShem, and what will we do on the day of judgment?
זָכוֹר תִּזְכֹּר וְתָשׁוּחַ עָלַי נַפְשִׁי. זְכוֹר אַל תִּשְׁכַּח אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִקְצַפְתָּ אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִנְּעוּרֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, כִּי אֵין שִׁכְחָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדוֹ וְאֵין נֶעְלַָם מִנֶּגֶד עֵינָיו.
“My soul remembers and is bowed down within me.” “Remember, do not forget, how You angered HaShem your God” from your youth until today. For there is no forgetfulness before His throne of glory, and nothing is hidden from His eyes.
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לִזְכֹּר אֶת כָּל זֹאת תָּמִיד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְרַחֵם עָלַי מֵעַתָּה לְמַלֵּט נַפְשִׁי מִנִּי שָׁחַת, וּלְהָכִין צֵדָה לְדַרְכִּי, אוֹרְחָא רְחִיקָא וַאֲפִלּוּ זַוְדִּין קַלִּילָא לֵית לָן.
Help me and save me! Help me remember this always so that I’ll have compassion on myself from now on, and save my soul from destruction by preparing what I’ll need on my journey. “It’s a long road and we don’t have even the scantiest provisions.”
וְעָזְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁכֹּחַ אֶת כָּל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת, מַחֲשָׁבוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת וְחָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת, וְכָל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים רָעִים וְעַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבַּלֵּב, שֶׁנִּדְבְּקוּ בְּלִבִּי וּבְדַעְתִּי בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים, וְכָל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת הַמְבַלְבְּלִים מֵעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּית.
In Your vast compassion, help me forget all foreign thoughts and ideas that are contrary to the Torah. Help me forget all the different evil and twisted thoughts that cling to my heart and mind as a result of my many sins. Free me of all the different thoughts that distract me from serving You properly.
כֻּלָּם אֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְהַעֲבִירָם מִדַּעְתִּי וְלִבִּי לְגַמְרֵי וּלְשָׁכְחָם לְגַמְרֵי מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וּמֵעַתָּה אֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר אוֹתְךָ תָמִיד בְּכָל עֵת, בְּשִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵיתִי וּבְלֶכְתִּי בַדֶּרֶךְ בְּשָׁכְבִי וּבְקוּמִי, וּלְדַבֵּק מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד וּלְתוֹרָתְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּיִרְאָה וְאַהֲבָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה.
Compassionate God, totally remove all of them from my mind and heart so that I completely forget them from now on and forever. From now on let me remember You constantly at every moment — when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey, when I lie down and when I rise up. At all times let me attach my thoughts to You, Your Torah and Your service in awe and love, holiness and purity, in truth and perfect faith.
וְאֶזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְדַּבֵּק לִבִּי וּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ וּלְתוֹרָתְךָ וּלְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, בִּדְבֵקוּת גָּדוֹל וּבְהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק מְאֹד,
Let my thoughts and feelings be genuinely attached to You, Your Torah and Your commandments with a strong and mighty bond.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִזְכֹּר הֵיטֵב אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ תָמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, וְלֹא אֶשְׁכַּח שׁוּם דָּבָר מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה לְעוֹלָם, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְזוֹכְרָם תָּמִיד בְּעַלְמָא דֵין וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי:
Then I will merit remembering clearly all the words of Your Torah and everything connected with serving You. May I never forget a single word of Torah and devotion, but remember them at all times — in this world and in the World to Come.
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, וֵאלֹהֵי כָל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים רִאשׁוֹנִים וְאַחֲרוֹנִים, וֵאלֹהֵי כָל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ, אָבִינוּ אָב הָרַחֲמָן הַיּוֹדֵעַ כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת־לֵב, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וּתְחָנֵּנִי מֵאִתְּךָ דֵּעָה בִּינָה וְהַשְׂכֵּל, וְתוֹרֵנִי וְתַדְרִיכֵנִי בַּאֲמִתְּךָ תָמִיד,
Fasting
Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers — God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, God of all the true tzaddikim in earlier and later times, God of Your entire nation, the holy Jewish people, my Father, compassionate Father, Who knows all the hidden secrets of the heart — that You will have compassion on me and grant me knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Teach me and send me true guidance at all times.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי בְּכָל־עֵת לָדַעַת בֶּאֱמֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּעִנְיָנֵי תַעֲנִיּוֹת נְדָבָה, אִם לְהִתְעַנּוֹת אִם לַחְדֹּל. וּתְזַכֵּנִי לֵידַע הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ וּלְהִתְנַהֵג בְּדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, כִּי לִבִּי הוֹלֵךְ אָנֶה וְאָנָה בְּעִנְיָן זֶה.
Help me understand the right way to conduct myself regarding voluntary fasts. Should I fast or not? Let me know the real truth so I’ll be able to follow the true path exactly the way You desire. My feelings are so divided as to what I should do.
עַל כֵּן הִנְנִי מַשְׁלִיךְ עַצְמִי עָלֶיךָ לְבַד, וַהֲרֵינִי מוֹסֵר גּוּפִי וְנַפְשִׁי וְרוּחִי וְנִשְׁמָתִי אֵלֶיךָ לְבַד, שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה עִמִּי מַה שֶּׁתִּרְצֶה וְכִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶעֱשֶׂה,
Therefore, I am throwing myself upon You alone. To You alone I surrender my body, my nefesh, my ruach and my neshamah. Do whatever You want with me, and I will act according to Your will.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא אֲבַלְבֵּל דַּעְתִּי הַרְבֵּה בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, רַק אֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְעֵצָה שְׁלֵמָה מְהֵרָה, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ לִי עֵצָה טוֹבָה מֵאִתְּךָ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת. וְאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּעִנְיָן הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת וְאֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָסוּר מֵרָע וּלְהַכְנִיעַ הַגּוּף וְהַחֹמֶר לְגַבֵּי הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַצּוּרָה, וְלַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וּבַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ תָמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
Don’t let me confuse myself excessively about this subject. Just let me always have a clear idea as to what I should do, and grant me sound guidance as to what You truly want. Give me to understand how I should conduct myself both on the subject of fasting and about everything else in the world. Then I will be able to turn from evil and subordinate my physical body to my soul and form, and genuinely devote myself to Your Torah and Your service at all times, in just the way You want, from now on and forever.
הַשְׁמִיעֵנִי בַבֹּקֶר חַסְדֶּךָ כִּי בְךָ בָטָחְתִּי. הוֹדִיעֵנִי דֶּרֶךְ זוּ אֵלֵךְ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ נָשָׂאתִי נַפְשִׁי:
“Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You I trust. Help me understand this path that I am following, for I have lifted my soul to You.”
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתַּעַזְרֵנִי לִתֵּן צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה לַעֲנִיִּים הֲגוּנִים הַרְבֵּה,
Charity
Therefore, may it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that You will help me give plenty of charity to many genuinely deserving people.
וְתַחְמֹל עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים וְהָעֲצוּמִים, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי לִתֵּן צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה לְאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, לִתְמֹךְ וּלְסַיֵּעַ בְּסִיּוּעַ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מַמָּשׁ לַעֲנִיִּים הֲגוּנִים הַדָּרִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִכָּלֵל עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בַּאֲוִירָא דְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּאֲוִיר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, בְּהָאֲוִיר וְהַהֶבֶל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, וְנִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְהַמְתִּיק וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל מִינֵי דִינִים מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְנִזְכֶּה תָמִיד לִדְחוֹת וּלְבַטֵּל הַדִּין וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וְהַסִּכְלוּת וְכָל מִינֵי חָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת מִן הָעוֹלָם.
Have mercy on me in Your great and overflowing compassion and kindness. Help me give plenty of charity to causes in the Land of Israel. Let me give real support and assistance to deserving people in the Land of Israel. Then I will be privileged to be included in the holy air of the Land of Israel, which is untainted by sin. Through this, help me sweeten and remove all harsh judgments against myself and Your entire nation, the House of Israel. May we always have the power to banish harsh judgments, darkness, folly, and all ideas that go against the Torah.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לְהַגְבִּיר וּלְהַעֲלוֹת וּלְנַשֵּׂא הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְתָאִיר עָלֵינוּ אוֹר הַחָכְמָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים מֵאִתְּךָ תָמִיד, וְנִזְכֶּה לְזִכָּרוֹן דִּקְדֻשָּׁה. וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ מֵאִתְּךָ שֶׁפַע טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים וְשָׁלוֹם וְכָל טוֹב.
Let us strengthen and elevate our holy souls and the holy Torah. Illumine us with the light of holy wisdom, and drawn down upon us goodly kindnesses constantly. Grant us holy memory. Send us blessings of goodness, life, grace and kindness, compassion, peace and everything good.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תִּזְכָּר לָנוּ אֶת בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, וּתְקַיֵּם לָנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקֹב וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר:
In Your vast compassion, remember the covenant You made with our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Fulfill for us the verse, “I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I remember, and I will remember the Land.”
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְגַדֵּל וּלְהַעֲלוֹת נַפְשֵׁנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַדֵּשׁ וּלְקַשֵּׁט נַפְשֵׁנוּ בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁתּוּכַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ לַעֲלוֹת לְהַשְּׁכִינָה בִּבְחִינַת מַנ (מַיִין נוּקְבִין), וְתִתְפָּאֵר הַשְּׁכִינָה לְפָנֶיךָ עִם נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ, חֲזִי בַּמֶּה בְּרָא קָאֲתִינָא לְגַבָּךְ. וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשָׂה יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ־הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, עַל־יְדֵי נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁיַּעֲלוּ לְטוֹבָה לְפָנֶיךָ לְרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַיְהֹוָה:
Help us cultivate our souls and lift them up to You. Let us sanctify and beautify our souls so that they will be able to rise up to the Shekhinah as “feminine waters,” and the Shekhinah will take pride in our souls before You and say, “See with what a child I come before You.” May the unification of the Holy One, blessed is He, and the Shekhinah be effected through our souls ascending to You for the good, like a fragrant savor, a fire-offering to HaShem.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אֲכִילָתֵנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה תָמִיד, וּבִפְרָט כְּשֶׁאָנוּ אוֹכְלִין דָּבָר מִן הַחַי, תַּעַזְרֵנוּ לְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ בְּיוֹתֵר בִּשְׁעַת אֲכִילָתֵנוּ,
Eating in holiness
Let me always eat in holiness and purity, especially when eating animal products. Help me sanctify myself to the utmost degree at mealtimes.
עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַעֲלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַמְלֻבָּשׁ בַּחַי שֶׁאָנוּ אוֹכְלִים, לְהַעֲלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ מֵחַי לִמְדַבֵּר, עַל־יְדֵי הַבְּרָכָה שֶׁאָנוּ מְבָרְכִין עַל אֲכִילָתֵנוּ, וְנִזְכֶּה לוֹמַר כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל בֶּאֱמֶת:
Then I will be able to elevate the soul contained in the meat that I am eating from the level of an animal to that of a speaking human being, by means of the blessing I make over my food. Let me recite all the blessings with the greatest concentration for the sake of Your great Name.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים מִמַּאֲכָלוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, וְלֹא יָבוֹא לְתוֹךְ פִּינוּ שׁוּם דָּבָר הָאָסוּר לָנוּ, וְלֹא נִכָּשֵׁל לְעוֹלָם בִּנְבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת אֲפִלּוּ בְּשׁוֹגֵג וּבְאֹנֶס.
Kosher meat
In Your vast compassion, guard me and save me from forbidden foods. Let nothing that is forbidden ever enter my mouth. May I never stumble by eating non-kosher meat, even inadvertently.
וְתַצִּיל אוֹתָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ מִשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, וְתַפְרִישׁ אוֹתָנוּ וְתַבְדִּיל אוֹתָנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי נְבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּדְרַבָּנָן. וְתַזְמִין לָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ תָּמִיד שׁוֹחֲטִים הֲגוּנִים וּכְשֵׁרִים וְתִהְיֶה עִמָּהֶם תָּמִיד, וְתִשְׁמֹר אוֹתָם וְאוֹתָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּשְׁלוּ עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־יָדָם לְעוֹלָם בִּנְבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Compassionate God, save me from dishonest shochtim. Keep me well away from any kind of forbidden meat, whether prohibited by the Written Torah or by rabbinic enactment. Always send us reliable shochtim and be with them and guard them constantly, so as to protect them and the Jewish people from stumbling through eating the meat of improperly slaughtered animals, God forbid.
וְתַעֲזֹר לְהַשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁיְּכַוְּנוּ תָמִיד הֵיטֵב בְּבִרְכַת הַשְּׁחִיטָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְהַעֲלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַמְלֻבָּשׁ בְּהָחַי, מֵחַי לִמְדַבֵּר, עַד שֶׁיַּעֲלוּ כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָעֲשׁוּקוֹת הַמְגֻּלְגָּלִים בְּחַיּוֹת וְעוֹפוֹת וּבְהֵמוֹת אֶל הַשְּׁכִינָה, וְיִהְיֶה נַעֲשָׂה יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ עַל־יָדָם,
Help the shochtim concentrate carefully on the blessing over shechitah, so as to elevate the soul contained in the animal from the level of a beast to the level of a human being. Let all the souls that are trapped and incarnated in animals, birds and beasts rise up to the Shekhinah, and may they bring about a unification between the Holy One, blessed is He, and the Shekhinah.
וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה עָלֵינוּ שֶׁפַע טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם, וְנִזְכֶּה לְפַרְנָסָה טוֹבָה בְּכָבוֹד בְּלִי שׁוּם יְגִיעָה וְטִרְחָא וְטִרְדָּא כְּלָל. אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, גּוֹמֵל לַחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת, גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֵין בָּנוּ כֹחַ לִשְׁמֹר עַצְמֵנוּ מִשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים הַמְּצוּיִּים עַכְשָׁיו הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, וְאֵין מִי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנוּ וְיִשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּתִקּוּן נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ, וְיַצִּיל אוֹתָנוּ מִפְּגַם הַשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים הַגּוֹרְמִים מַה שֶׁגּוֹרְמִים רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וּלְמַעַן שְׁכִינַת עֻזֶּךָ, וּלְמַעַן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, וּלְמַעַן כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים. וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ וּמַלְּטֵנוּ מִשּׁוֹחֲטִים רָעִים, מִשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים. וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ תָמִיד שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹא לְתוֹךְ פִּינוּ שׁוּם מִכְשׁוֹל נְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה, כִּי אַתָּה כֹּל תּוּכָל וְלֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמְּךָ מְזִמָּה וּבְיָדְךָ הַכֹּל, וְאַתָּה יָכוֹל לִשְׁמֹר אוֹתָנוּ גַם עַכְשָׁיו בַּדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ מִנְּבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת וּמִשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים.
Draw down upon us an abundant flow of goodness, blessing, compassion, life and peace. May we have a good and honorable livelihood without exerting ourselves excessively. My Father in Heaven, You Who bestow goodness even on the guilty, You Who bestow generous kindnesses — You know we are powerless to guard ourselves against unreliable shochtim. There are so many of them today. And we have no one to stand up for us and make an effort to rectify our souls and save us from the evil caused by dishonest shochtim. Master of the world, have compassion on us for Your Name’s sake, for the sake of Your mighty Shekhinah, for the sake of our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for the sake of all the true tzaddikim. Help, save, rescue and free us from evil and dishonest shochtim. Guard us always so that forbidden meat will never enter our mouths. For “You can do everything, and no purpose can be withheld from You.” Everything is in Your hands, and You have the power to protect us even now, in this generation, from non-kosher meat and from dishonest shochtim.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַנְךָ וְלֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ, וְקַדְּשֵׁנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁתֶךָ, וְהַבְדִּילֵנוּ מִן מַאֲכָלוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וָאַבְדִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי.
Have pity and mercy on us for Your sake if not for ours. Sanctify us with Your holiness and keep us well away from forbidden foods, as it is written, “I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְאַנְשֵׁי קֹדֶשׁ תִּהְיוּן לִי וּבָשָׂר בַּשָּׂדֶה טְרֵפָה לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ לַכֶּלֶב תַּשְׁלִכוּן אֹתוֹ. וּכְתִיב, וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אָנִי. וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, טֶרֶף נָתַן לִירֵאָיו יִזְכֹּר לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ:
May we fulfill the verse, “You shall be holy men for Me, and you shall not eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field: throw it to the dogs.” It is also written, “Sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” And may the verse be fulfilled, “He has given prey to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.”
וְעָזְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתַזְמִין לָנוּ מְלַמְּדִים טוֹבִים וַהֲגוּנִים לְבָנֵינוּ שֶׁיִהְיוּ עוֹסְקִים בִּמְלַאכְתָּם בֶּאֱמוּנָה, לִלְמֹד הַרְבֵּה עִם בָּנֵינוּ בְּתַכְלִית הַמּוֹעִיל בֶּאֱמֶת.
Educating children
In Your vast compassion, help us and send us good, respectable teachers for our children. Let them carry out their work faithfully and teach our children the maximum that is truly good for them.
וְיִהְיוּ כָּל הַמְלַמְּדֵי־תִינוֹקוֹת אֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים וְצַדִּיקִים, שֶׁלֹּא יְקַלְקְלוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֶת הַהֶבֶל הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁל הַתִּנוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן, שֶׁהוּא הֶבֶל־פֶּה שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, וְיַעֲלֶה וְיֵרָאֶה וְיֵרָצֶה וְיִשָּׁמַע לְפָנֶיךָ הַהֶבֶל הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁל הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תִּזְכֹּר אֶת בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, וְתַמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּל הַדִּינִים וְכָל הַגְּזֵרוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם טוֹבוֹת שֶׁנִּגְזְרוּ עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְלָל אוֹ בִּפְרָט, בֵּין שֶׁהוּא קֹדֶם גְּזַר־דִּין בֵּין שֶׁהוּא לְאַחַר גְּזַר־דִּין, כֻּלָּם תַּמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל בִּזְכוּת הֶבֶל פֶּה שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא שֶׁל הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן.
May all those involved in teaching children be honest and righteous so as not to spoil the holy breath of these little schoolchildren, which is untainted by sin. Let their holy breath rise up, appear before You, find favor, and be accepted. Through this, may You remember the covenant You made with our fathers. Sweeten and remove all harsh judgments and decrees against Your nation, the House of Israel, both as a whole and as individuals, whether the decree has not yet been issued or whether it has already been signed. Sweeten and annul all these decrees in the merit of the innocent breath of the little schoolchildren.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּתְקַדְּשֵׁנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְתַקֵּן אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר שִׁחַתְנוּ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַגְבִּיר הַנֶּפֶשׁ עַל הַגּוּף, עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל הַגּוּף לְגַמְרֵי לְגַבֵּי הַנֶּפֶשׁ.
In Your vast compassion, sanctify us with Your supreme holiness and let us return to You in perfect repentance with all our hearts and souls. Help us make amends for all the damage we have done. May we strengthen our souls until we overcome our bodies and make them totally subordinate to our souls.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִתֵּן צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה לְאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד שֶׁנִּהְיֶה נִכְלָלִים בַּאֲוִירָא דְאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהַהֶבֶל הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה כֻלָּנוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הֶבֶל פִּינוּ הֶבֶל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא כְּמוֹ אֲוִירָא דְאֶרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּכְמוֹ הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם שֶׁל תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית־רַבָּן.
Let us give plenty of charity to causes in the Land of Israel, until we become included in the holy air of the Land of Israel, which is untainted by sin. Make the breath of the mouths of Your entire nation, the House of Israel, as pure as the air of the Land of Israel and the breath of little schoolchildren.
וְתַעֲזֹר לְהַשּׁוֹחֲטִים שֶׁיְּקַדְּשׁוּ וִיטַהֲרוּ עַצְמָן בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם גַּם כֵּן הֶבֶל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְהַעֲלוֹת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הַמְגֻּלְגָּלוֹת בְּהָחַי, לְהַעֲלוֹתָם לְשָׁרְשָׁם שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה עַל־יְדֵי הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם שֶׁל בִּרְכַּת הַשְּׁחִיטָה,
Help the shochtim genuinely sanctify and purify themselves to the point that their breath will also be untainted by sin. Then they will be able to elevate the souls incarnated in animals, elevating them to their holy root through the breath of the blessing they make over the shechitah.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ עֹצֶם הָרַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ עַל נְפָשׁוֹת הַמְגֻּלְגָּלוֹת בְּבַעֲלֵי חַיִּים, חוּסָה נָא בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ, וַעֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַעֲלוֹת כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הַמְגֻּלְגָּלוֹת לְשָׁרְשָׁן הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה: רַחֲמָן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים שׁוֹמֵעַ אֶנְקַת אֶבְיוֹנִים, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ הָעֲשׁוּקוֹת כַּצִּפָּרִים הָאֲחוּזוֹת בַּפָּח, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְפָנֶיךָ יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת, וְעָזְרֵנִי לְמַלֵּט נַפְשִׁי מִנִּי שָׁחַת,
For You know the pitiful state of the souls that are incarnated in animals. Please have mercy on them and on us. For Your sake, help us elevate all those souls to their supernal root in holiness. Compassionate One, You Who are filled with mercy, You Who have mercy on the poor and hear the cry of the needy, have compassion on us and on our souls, which are oppressed like birds trapped in a snare, as is revealed to You, since You know all secrets. Help me save my soul from destruction.
כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת גֹּדֶל יְקַר וַהֲדַר תִּפְאֶרֶת נַפְשִׁי בְּשָׁרְשָׁהּ הָעֶלְיוֹן, וְגַם אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת רִבּוּי הַטִּנֹּפֶת וְהַלִּכְלוּכִים שֶׁלִּכְלַכְתִּי וְטִנַּפְתִּי נַפְשִׁי הָעֲלוּבָה מְאֹד מְאֹד, וּלְפָנֶיךָ נִגְלָה עֹצֶם הָרַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁעַל נַפְשִׁי הָאֻמְלָלָה מְאֹד, הַיְגֵעָה מְאֹד, הַנִּדְכֵּאת וְהַמְטֹרֶפֶת מְאֹד בֵּין שִׁנֵּי הַכְּפִירִים. פָּצוּ עָלֵינוּ פִּיהֶם אָמְרוּ בִּלָּעְנוּ.
For You know the great preciousness and splendor of my soul at her supernal root. You also know how much I have spoiled and corrupted my poor soul. You know the tragic state of my poor soul, weary, crushed and torn apart between lions’ teeth. They have opened their mouths at us, saying, “We have devoured.”
וְאָנוּ צוֹעֲקִים אֵלֶיךָ זֶה זְמַן רַב, וְאֵין מִי שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ, כִּי אֲנַחְנוּ בְּעַצְמֵנוּ הָיִינוּ אַכְזָרִיִּים עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ.
I have been crying out to You for so long, but no one can save me, because I am the one who has been cruel to my own soul.
אֲבָל אַתָּה יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל אֶת נַפְשֵׁנוּ בְּתֹקֶף חֶמְלָתְךָ, שֶׁתַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ לְטוֹבָה וְתַטֶּה אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ שֵׂכֶל וָדַעַת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה וְכֹחַ וּגְבוּרָה וְעֵצָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַגְבִּיר הַנֶּפֶשׁ עַל הַגּוּף תָּמִיד עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל הַגּוּף וְתַאֲווֹתָיו לְגַמְרֵי,
But You can rescue my soul through the power of Your mercy. You have the power to turn my heart to good and direct it toward You. Grant me holy wisdom and understanding, power, strength and guidance, so that I will always be able to put my soul in control over my body, until I totally subordinate the body and its cravings.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַעֲלוֹת וּלְנַשֵּׂא נַפְשִׁי תָמִיד בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בֶאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה: אָבִינוּ אָב הָרַחֲמָן, חֲמֹל עַל כְּבוֹד הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁהִשְׁפַּעְתָּ בָּנוּ, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עֹצֶם יֹפִי קְדֻשַּׁת־הַתּוֹרָה הַיְּקָרָה הַנֶּעְלֶמֶת בָּנוּ. עָזְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְטַהֵר וּלְקַדֵּשׁ עַצְמֵנוּ בֶּאֱמֶת. בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא וּלְגַלּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה הַנֶּעְלֶמֶת בָּנוּ, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה.
Let me elevate my soul to Your supreme holiness in perfect truth and faith. My Father, my compassionate Father, have pity on the honor of the holy Torah that You have given us! For You know the amazing beauty of the precious Torah hidden within us. In Your vast compassion, help me from now on to genuinely purify and sanctify myself, so I will be able to bring out and reveal the Torah that is concealed within me.
וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מֵחֶרְפּוֹת וּבִזְיוֹנוֹת, וְלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם וְלֹא נִכָּשֵׁל לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. וְזַכֵּנוּ לְכָבוֹד דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַכָּבוֹד בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה לְשִׁמְךָ וְלִכְבוֹדְךָ הַגָּדוֹל לְבַד, וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ עִם הַכָּבוֹד בִּשְׁבִילֵנוּ כְּלָל רַק לְשִׁמְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת וּבִתְמִימוּת, בְּלִי שׁוּם פְּנִיָּה וּמַחֲשָׁבָה חִיצוֹנָה כְּלָל, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַחֲזִיר וּלְהַעֲלוֹת הַכָּבוֹד לְשָׁרְשׁוֹ.
Save me from insults and embarrassment. May I never be ashamed or stumble. May I merit holy honor, and receive it in great sanctity for the sake of Your Name and Your glory alone. Don’t let me make the least use of this honor for myself, but use it solely for the sake of Your Name, in order to serve You truly and sincerely with no ulterior motives. Help me restore and elevate the honor to its root.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַכָּבוֹד דִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁתְּחָנֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְהוֹצִיא וּלְגַלּוֹת חִדּוּשֵׁי תוֹרָה הַרְבֵּה הַנֶּעְלָמִים בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה.
And with the holy honor that You will compassionately bestow upon me, help me reveal the wealth of original Torah insights that are concealed within my soul in great holiness and purity.
וְתִהְיֶה עִמָּנוּ תָמִיד, וְלֹא נֹאמַר דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא כִּרְצוֹנְךָ, וְתִהְיֶה עִם פִּינוּ בְּעֵת הַטִּיפֵנוּ וְעִם יָדֵינוּ בְּעֵת מַעְבָּדֵנוּ: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, חוּסָה עַל נַפְשִׁי הָעֲנִיָּה וְהַדַּלָּה, הָרְעֵבָה וְהַצְּמֵאָה וְהָעֲיֵפָה מְאֹד. וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתַי בְּרַחֲמִים, שֶׁתִּתְגַּבֵּר נַפְשִׁי עַל גּוּפִי מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם,
Be with me at all times, and don’t let me say anything that is not in accordance with Your will. Be with my mouth when I speak and with my hands when it is time for me to act. Master of the world, have pity on my poor, deprived soul which is so very hungry, thirsty and faint. Compassionately fulfill my requests and let my soul hold sway over my body from now on and forever.
וְתִתְעַלֶּה וְתִתְנַשֵּׂא נַפְשִׁי לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, בְּחָכְמָה וּבִינָה וָדַעַת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, בְּתוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה, בְּיִרְאָה וּבְאַהֲבָה וּבִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ, בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
Let my soul rise up and be lifted high, high above in great holiness and purity, in truth and perfect faith, in holy wisdom, understanding and knowledge, through Torah and devotion with reverence, love and complete repentance, sincerely and wholeheartedly, in exactly the way You desire.
שׁוּבִי נַפְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָיְכִי כִּי יְהֹוָה גָּמַל עָלָיְכִי. כִּי חִלַּצְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִמָּוֶת אֶת עֵינִי מִן דִּמְעָה אֶת רַגְלִי מִדֶּחִי. אֶתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים.
“Return, my soul, to your rest, for HaShem has been kind to you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eye from tears, my feet from stumbling. I will walk before HaShem in the lands of the living.”
כִּי לֹא תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל לֹא תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ לִרְאוֹת שָׁחַת, נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְּמַעְגְּלֵי צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ. לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה תְּחַיֵּנִי בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תּוֹצִיא מִצָּרָה נַפְשִׁי.
“For You will not abandon my soul to hell; You will not let Your pious one see destruction.” “He will restore my soul, He will lead me along the pathways of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” “For Your Name’s sake, HaShem, give me life! In Your righteousness, free my soul from sorrow.
וּבְחַסְדְּךָ תַּצְמִית אוֹיְבָי וְהַאֲבַדְתָּ כָּל צוֹרְרֵי נַפְשִׁי כִּי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ.
And in Your lovingkindness, cut down my enemies and destroy all who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.”
וְנַפְשִׁי תָּגִיל בַּיהֹוָה תָּשִׂישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ. הוֹצִיאָה מִמַּסְגֵּר נַפְשִׁי לְהוֹדוֹת אֶת שְׁמֶךָ בִּי יַכְתִּירוּ צַדִּיקִים כִּי תִגְמֹל עָלָי:
“My soul will rejoice in HaShem and exult in His salvation.” “Take my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your Name. Because of me the righteous will crown themselves, for You have been kind to me.”