Forceful Prayer / The Holy Sukkah / Childbearing The force (ko’ach) that a person invests in his prayer corresponds to the twenty-eight letters with which God created the universe, 3See p. 43. {Beginning of Prayer #44} letters from which the Ten Utterances of creation4 The Ten Utterances correspond to the nine statements that begin with the words, “God said,” in the Torah account of creation, and to the first verse of Genesis, “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the earth,” which is called the “Hidden Utterance.” receive their power. These words of forcefully-stated prayer are themselves the words of God, the “might of His deeds.” Through the vehicle of the Ten Utterances, God’s creative power expresses itself as kindness. This kindness is associated with the embrace of His right hand, which corresponds to the sukkah on the festival of Sukkot. Conversely, unholy words are associated with a “sukkah of the gentiles” and the embrace of the Other Side. Should the holy sukkah be damaged, then the gentiles gain power with their right hand of falsehood. When things go well, the three related elements — the holy sukkah, powerful prayer and the Land of Israel — are all beneficial for childbearing, deriving power from the “might of his deeds.” In the future, the gentiles will be tested by the mitzvah of sukkah, until they come to serve God with one accord and truth will gain ascendancy. For Sukkot “You Who hears prayer, all flesh will come to You. HaShem, listen to my prayer; heed the voice of my pleading. HaShem, hear the voice of my pleas as I cry out to You, as I raise my hands to Your Holy Temple.”
Rock of all worlds, Creator of the universe, in Your compassion and kindness, guide me to always pray to You with truth and with all my might. As the verse states, “All my bones will proclaim, ‘HaShem, who is like You!’”
Guide me to put all the energy in my bones, sinews and flesh — in all my body and soul — into my words of prayer, so that I will speak every word with vigor and truth, and feel the words in all my bones and limbs. Help me to pray with might and with truly great intent.
You are the God of truth. Your words are true and last forever. You desire truth. And You know how far I am from even one word of prayer, how I am unable to pray with true and proper energy and devotion. But even worse, because I have sinned, I am completely removed from prayer.
“I lift my eyes to the heights.” Master of the World, “I have stretched out my hands to You. To You, HaShem, I raise my spirit.” But I do not know how I can please and appease You.
I do not know what counsel to take. How can I find the goodness that is crushed within me? How can I find the goodness that has flown away from me because of my many sins? In particular, I have tainted my speech. I have not guarded my mouth, but spoken degraded words throughout my life and to this day, without measure or number, speaking nonsense, slander, gossip, mockery, lies, profanity and more.
Even my words of holiness have been profoundly blemished. When I consider my ways, I see that I have never spoken a single untainted word in my entire life.
As a result, I have been overwhelmed by dispute, and many people have risen up against me. “The kings of the world sit, and princes have taken counsel together against HaShem and His anointed one. They have placed their mouths against Heaven and their tongues walk about on the earth.” Arrogance wafts from their mouths and they defame You, the true Tzaddikim and the entire Jewish people, Your holy nation, whom You have chosen.
The Fallen Booth of David Master of the Universe, “send forth Your hand from the heights. Rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners whose mouth has spoken vanity and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
Woe to my soul! I have brought all this about with my many sins. I have extended the exile and damaged the fallen booth of David. And not only have I made no effort to raise the booth of David, but with my many sins, I have cast it down even further and given strength to the booth of the nations and to their speech — until, because of my many sins, the Shekhinah and the Congregation of Israel are in a great exile, and the Shekhinah fights on behalf of Her children (the Children of Israel) who have been exiled from the table of their Father and have left their land.
Master of the World, look upon my numerous troubles and heavy burdens. Every day I cry out before Your throne of glory, asking You to bring me back to You with perfect repentance. Yet still I have not atoned for my errors and foolishness.
Compassionate God, keep me from sinking into the deep mud of the desires of this world. I have been cast away from the land of life. I have been tainted — have mercy on my heart, which is twisted and perverse.
“You save the poor person from the one stronger than he, and the poor man and the impoverished man from the one who robs him.” Rescue me! Deliver me! “HaShem, I have been oppressed, be my guarantor.”
My Father in Heaven, have compassion on me. Help me and strengthen me. Guide me to obey Your decrees and keep Your laws, so that I will not lose this world — even though it is a world of nothingness, since all our days are vanity and emptiness: a fleeting dream, a passing shadow, a disappearing cloud, a blowing wind, a scattering dust.
Woe, oh woe! Woe and sorrow! Alas, my Master, alas, my Father! Be kind to me. Give me the gift of Your compassion. Be gracious to me so that I will not be lost.
Redeem me for Your sake. Be gracious to me if only because I belong to the holy Jewish people. You know that my only hope is to cry out to You and beseech Your grace.
You Who are close to everyone who calls to You, answer me. You Who are elevated forever, HaShem, assist me. You Who are holy beyond all holiness, sanctify me.
Raise up Your booth that has fallen repeatedly, which You alone can lift. Lift it up quickly, one level after another, from the lowest pit to the greatest height.
Transform my heart from evil to good. Turn my heart to You in truth, in accordance with Your desire. Help me to sanctify myself in all areas, particularly my mouth and my sexual purity.
Help me to never speak an untruthful or unethical word. Guard my mouth so that I will pray to You with all my might and with ultimate truth. May I be absorbed into You when I pray, so that all the words of my prayer will be Your own words; so that through my prayer, the twenty-eight letters of the work of creation — which are the Ten Utterances with which You created the world — will be aroused, and You will draw down Your great kindness onto me and spread the booth of Your peace over me, and embrace me with Your right hand. Then I will take refuge in Your holy shadow, and You will protect me from all my enemies in the physical and spiritual realms.
Help me to keep the mitzvah of sukkah in its proper time, with all its details and intentions, and with the 613 mitzvot that are dependent on it, with a good heart and with great joy.
Subjugate, cast down, crush, uproot and nullify the sukkah of the nations, “whose mouth has spoken vanity and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” Remove that falsehood and strengthen truth.
Raise up the fallen booth of David, so that the verse will be realized, “A lip of truth shall be established forever, but a tongue of falsehood is merely for a moment.”
Conceal me in Your holy booth and cover me with Your holy shadow. Rescue me from dispute, so that people’s tongues will have no power over me. Uproot falsehood and reveal truth in the world. And bring me soon to the holy Land of Israel, swiftly and easily.
Blessings for One’s Children Through Your unbounded compassion, give us healthy children who will serve You, fear You and learn Your Torah.5 If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone who is having trouble raising his children, add here, “and in particular, [name], son / daughter of [mother’s name].”May they and all their descendants lead good and long lives.6“In particular, [name], son / daughter of [mother’s name].”
May they have “peace within their walls, tranquility within their homes, with no breaches, no outbreaks, no outcry in the streets — forever, for all their generations.”
Though their beginning may be small, may their end be great, as when there will be a new heaven and earth. May their offspring prosper until that time.
Protect them and all the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, from an evil eye, from evil occurrences and from all plagues and diseases. From Heaven, maintain the health of their 248 limbs and 365 sinews. “May they spend their days in goodness and their years in pleasantness.”
May they have children and children’s children, to the end of all generations. Have compassion on them — and on me — for the sake of Your Name. Raise them for a long life of “Torah, the wedding canopy and good deeds.” “They will yet bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be full of sap and fresh.”
Have mercy and pity on me. Help me to return to You in truth and with a full heart, to do Your will all the days of my life, so that I will never return to my foolishness. “If I have acted sinfully, I will no longer do so.”
Have compassion on me so that I will be the person You want me to be, now and forever. Reveal Your truth in the world, so that everyone will return to serve You in truth, awe and love.
May the verses quickly be realized, “Then I will give all the nations a clear speech, so that they will all call out in the Name of HaShem, serving Him with one will.” “Truth will sprout from the earth and righteousness will gaze down from Heaven.” “HaShem will grant goodness, and our land will give its produce.” “Kindness and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed.”
In Your great compassion and kindness, appease and gain the favor of the Congregation of Israel, so that she will turn her face to You, so that there will be a unification of the Holy One, Blessed be He, with His Shekhinah, face to face.
Do not hide Your countenance from us any longer. Send us true Tzaddikim — rabbis who will guide us on the good, straight path and teach us the deeds that we are to perform.
Shield us from false leaders and false rabbis. Bring us close to Your salvation. Assist us with Your compassion. Revive us in the light of Your countenance. Satiate us with Your goodness and true kindness. Favor us with good kindness, “the faithful kindnesses of David,” and be gracious to us from Your treasury of undeserved gifts. May the verse be realized in us, “I will place My words in your mouth and cover you with the shadow of My hand — to plant the heavens and provide a foundation for the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My nation!’”
Graciously answer us and hear our prayer, for You hear the prayer of every mouth. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” “May He Who makes peace in His heights make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and let us say amen.’”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה מ"ח - עַל אֲשֶׁר מְעַלְתֶּם בִּי]
לְסֻכּוֹתשׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה עָדֶיךָ כָּל בָּשָׂר יָבוֹאוּ. הַאֲזִינָה יְהֹוָה תְּפִלָּתִי וְהַקְשִׁיבָה בְּקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנוֹתָי. שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנַי בְּשַׁוְּעִי אֵלֶיךָ בְּנָשְׂאִי יָדַי אֶל דְּבִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ.
Forceful Prayer / The Holy Sukkah / Childbearing
The force (ko’ach) that a person invests in his prayer corresponds to the twenty-eight letters with which God created the universe, 3See p. 43. {Beginning of Prayer #44} letters from which the Ten Utterances of creation4 The Ten Utterances correspond to the nine statements that begin with the words, “God said,” in the Torah account of creation, and to the first verse of Genesis, “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the earth,” which is called the “Hidden Utterance.” receive their power. These words of forcefully-stated prayer are themselves the words of God, the “might of His deeds.”
Through the vehicle of the Ten Utterances, God’s creative power expresses itself as kindness. This kindness is associated with the embrace of His right hand, which corresponds to the sukkah on the festival of Sukkot. Conversely, unholy words are associated with a “sukkah of the gentiles” and the embrace of the Other Side. Should the holy sukkah be damaged, then the gentiles gain power with their right hand of falsehood.
When things go well, the three related elements — the holy sukkah, powerful prayer and the Land of Israel — are all beneficial for childbearing, deriving power from the “might of his deeds.”
In the future, the gentiles will be tested by the mitzvah of sukkah, until they come to serve God with one accord and truth will gain ascendancy.
For Sukkot
“You Who hears prayer, all flesh will come to You. HaShem, listen to my prayer; heed the voice of my pleading. HaShem, hear the voice of my pleas as I cry out to You, as I raise my hands to Your Holy Temple.”
צוּר עוֹלָמִים, יוֹצֵר הַכֹּל, עָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, שֶׁנִזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל כֹּחֵנוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה יְהֹוָה מִי כָמוֹךָ.
Rock of all worlds, Creator of the universe, in Your compassion and kindness, guide me to always pray to You with truth and with all my might. As the verse states, “All my bones will proclaim, ‘HaShem, who is like You!’”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיס כָּל הַכֹּחוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּנוּ בַּעֲצָמוֹת וְגִידִים וּבָשָׂר וְכָל שְׁאָר הַכֹּחוֹת שֶׁבְּגוּפִי וְנַפְשִׁי, כֻּלָּם אֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְהַכְנִיסָם בְּתוֹךְ דִּבּוּרֵי הַתְּפִלָּה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא כָּל דִּבּוּר וְדִבּוּר שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַרְגִּישׁ הַדִּבּוּר בְּכָל עַצְמוֹתַי וְאֵבָרַי. חוּס וְחָנֵּנִי וְרַחֵם עָלַי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לִתְפִלָּה בְּכֹחַ וּבְכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת וּדְבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד,
Guide me to put all the energy in my bones, sinews and flesh — in all my body and soul — into my words of prayer, so that I will speak every word with vigor and truth, and feel the words in all my bones and limbs. Help me to pray with might and with truly great intent.
וְאַתָּה חָפֵץ בָּאֱמֶת, וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִדִּבּוּר אֶחָד שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה, וְלֹא דַי שֶׁאֵינִי יָכוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכֹחַ וּבְכַוָּנָה בֶאֱמֶת כָּרָאוּי, אַף גַּם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִתְּפִלָּה בְּתַכְלִית הָרִחוּק.
You are the God of truth. Your words are true and last forever. You desire truth. And You know how far I am from even one word of prayer, how I am unable to pray with true and proper energy and devotion. But even worse, because I have sinned, I am completely removed from prayer.
דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שִׁטַּחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ כַפָּי, אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ בְּאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ בְּאֵיזֶה אֹפֶן בְּאֵיזֶה תַחְבּוּלָה לְבַקֵּשׁ וּלְרַצּוֹת וּלְפַיֵּס אוֹתְךָ,
“I lift my eyes to the heights.” Master of the World, “I have stretched out my hands to You. To You, HaShem, I raise my spirit.” But I do not know how I can please and appease You.
וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל לָשִׁית עֵצוֹת בְּנַפְשִׁי, בְּאֵיזֶה אֹפֶן אֶזְכֶּה לְחַפֵּשׂ וְלִמְצֹא הַטּוֹב הַכָּבוּשׁ בִּי, וְאֵיךְ לִמְצֹא הַטּוֹב שֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק מִמֶּנִּי בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָעֲצוּמִים וְהָרַבִּים וְהַגְּדוֹלִים מְאֹד בְּמַהוּת וְכַמּוּת וְאֵכוּת. וּבִפְרָט מַה שֶּׁפָּגַמְתִּי בִּפְגַם הַדִּבּוּר הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, כִּי לֹא שָׁמַרְתִּי פִּתְחֵי פִי, וְדִבַּרְתִּי כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה דִּבּוּרִים פְּגוּמִים מִיּוֹם הֱיוֹתִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, עַד אֵין שִׁעוּר וְעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר, דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים וּלְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּרְכִילוּת וְלֵיצָנוּת וּשְׁקָרִים וְנִבּוּל פֶּה, וּשְׁאָר דְּבָרִים פְּגוּמִים הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד.
I do not know what counsel to take. How can I find the goodness that is crushed within me? How can I find the goodness that has flown away from me because of my many sins? In particular, I have tainted my speech. I have not guarded my mouth, but spoken degraded words throughout my life and to this day, without measure or number, speaking nonsense, slander, gossip, mockery, lies, profanity and more.
וְגַם אֲפִלּוּ כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁלִּי כֻּלָּם פְּגוּמִים מְאֹד מְאֹד, עַד אֲשֶׁר חִשַּׁבְתִּי דְרָכָי אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם לֹא יָצָא מִפִּי עֲדַיִן דִּבּוּר שָׁלֵם בְּלִי שׁוּם פְּגָם,
Even my words of holiness have been profoundly blemished. When I consider my ways, I see that I have never spoken a single untainted word in my entire life.
וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה הִתְגַּבְּרוּ עָלֵינוּ מְאֹד רִיב לְשׁוֹנוֹת, אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים קָמִים עָלֵינוּ, רַבִּים מְאֹד, יִתְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי אֶרֶץ וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ יָחַד עַל יְהֹוָה וְעַל מְשִׁיחוֹ. שַׁתּוּ בַשָׁמַיִם פִּיהֶם וּלְשׁוֹנָם תִּהֲלַךְ בָּאָרֶץ. יֵצֵא עָתָק מִפִּיהֶם וְדוֹבְרִים סָרָה עַל יְהֹוָה וְעַל צַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וְעַל כְּלָלִיּוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם בָּחָרְתָּ.
As a result, I have been overwhelmed by dispute, and many people have risen up against me. “The kings of the world sit, and princes have taken counsel together against HaShem and His anointed one. They have placed their mouths against Heaven and their tongues walk about on the earth.” Arrogance wafts from their mouths and they defame You, the true Tzaddikim and the entire Jewish people, Your holy nation, whom You have chosen.
מָרֵיהּ דְּעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, שְׁלַח יָדֶיךָ מִמָּרוֹם פְּצֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּיִם רַבִּים מִיַּד בְּנֵי נֵכָר, אֲשֶׁר פִּיהֶם דִּבֶּר שָׁוְא וִימִינָם יְמִין שָׁקֶר.
The Fallen Booth of David
Master of the Universe, “send forth Your hand from the heights. Rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners whose mouth has spoken vanity and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
אוֹי לְנַפְשִׁי כִּי אָנֹכִי גָּרַמְתִּי כָּל זֶה בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים, וְהֶאֱרַכְתִּי אֶת הַגָּלוּת וּפָגַמְתִּי בְּסֻכַּת דָּוִד הַנּוֹפֶלֶת, וְלֹא דַי שֶׁלֹּא הִשְׁתַּדַּלְתִּי לְהָקִים סֻכַּת דָּוִד, אַף גַּם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים הוֹסַפְתִּי לְהַפִּילָהּ יוֹתֵר וְהִגְבַּרְתִּי סֻכַּת נוֹצְרִים לְשׁוֹנוֹת הָעֲכּוּ"ם, עַד אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים הַשְּׁכִינָה וּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם בְּגָלוּת גָּדוֹל, וְהִיא רִיב בְּגָלוּתָהּ עַל בְּנָהָא, אֲשֶׁר גָּלוּ מִשֻּׁלְחַן אֲבִיהֶם וּמֵאַרְצָם יָצָאוּ:
Woe to my soul! I have brought all this about with my many sins. I have extended the exile and damaged the fallen booth of David. And not only have I made no effort to raise the booth of David, but with my many sins, I have cast it down even further and given strength to the booth of the nations and to their speech — until, because of my many sins, the Shekhinah and the Congregation of Israel are in a great exile, and the Shekhinah fights on behalf of Her children (the Children of Israel) who have been exiled from the table of their Father and have left their land.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רְאֵה בְּצָרוֹתֵינוּ הַמְּרֻבּוֹת מְאֹד וְהַכְּבֵדוֹת מְאֹד, הָאֲרֻכּוֹת מְאֹד, וּבְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם אָנוּ צוֹעֲקִים וּמִתְחַנְּנִים לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ שֶׁתַּחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא שַׁבְנוּ מִטָּעוּתֵנוּ וּשְׁטוּתֵנוּ.
Master of the World, look upon my numerous troubles and heavy burdens. Every day I cry out before Your throne of glory, asking You to bring me back to You with perfect repentance. Yet still I have not atoned for my errors and foolishness.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עֲזֹר וְהוֹשִׁיעַ וְרַחֵם וְהַצֵּל, חוּס וַחֲמֹל חוּס וַחֲמֹל, עַל מֻטְבָּע בִּיוֵן מְצוּלוֹת תַּאֲווֹת הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, עַל מְגֹרָשׁ מֵאֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים כָּמֹנִי, עַל פָּגוּם כָּמֹנִי, עַל לֵב עִקֵּשׁ וּפְתַלְתֹּל כָּמֹנִי,
Compassionate God, keep me from sinking into the deep mud of the desires of this world. I have been cast away from the land of life. I have been tainted — have mercy on my heart, which is twisted and perverse.
הֲרֵי אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ כְּלִי מָלֵא בּוּשָׁה וּכְלִמָּה.
I stand before You, filled with shame and disgrace.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁלֹּא אֶחֱטָא עוֹד.
Save me, HaShem, my God and the God of my fathers, from sinning any more.
עָזְרֵנִי עָזְרֵנִי, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, חָנֵּנִי וַהֲקִימֵנִי חָנֵּנִי וַהֲקִימֵנִי.
Help me! Save me! Be gracious to me and raise me up!
מַצִּיל עָנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מִגּוֹזְלוֹ, הַצִּילֵנִי וּמַלְּטֵנִי וּפְדֵנִי, יְהֹוָה עָשְׁקָה לִי עָרְבֵנִי.
“You save the poor person from the one stronger than he, and the poor man and the impoverished man from the one who robs him.” Rescue me! Deliver me! “HaShem, I have been oppressed, be my guarantor.”
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם רַחֵם עָלַי, אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם חֲמֹל עָלַי, אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם הֱיֵה בְּעֶזְרִי וְחַזְּקֵנִי וְאַמְּצֵנִי, וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר, שֶׁלֹּא אוֹבַד אֶת עוֹלָמִי בְּחִנָּם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי כָל יָמֵינוּ הֵם הֶבֶל וָרִיק, כַּחֲלוֹם יָעוּף וּכְצֵל עוֹבֵר וּכְעָנָן כָּלָה וּכְרוּחַ נוֹשָׁבֶת וּכְאָבָק פּוֹרֵחַ.
My Father in Heaven, have compassion on me. Help me and strengthen me. Guide me to obey Your decrees and keep Your laws, so that I will not lose this world — even though it is a world of nothingness, since all our days are vanity and emptiness: a fleeting dream, a passing shadow, a disappearing cloud, a blowing wind, a scattering dust.
אוֹי, אוֹי, אוֹי, אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, אֲהָהּ אֲדוֹנִי, אֲהָהּ אָבִי, רַחֲמָן אֲמִתִּי רַחֵם עָלַי, חַסְדָּן אֲמִתִּי עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי חֶסֶד חִנָּם, וְתֵן לִי חֲנִינָה וְלֹא אוֹבַד,
Woe, oh woe! Woe and sorrow! Alas, my Master, alas, my Father! Be kind to me. Give me the gift of Your compassion. Be gracious to me so that I will not be lost.
גּוֹאֵל חָזָק לְמַעַנְךָ גְּאָלֵנִי, חָנֵּנִי בִּקְדֻשַּׁת יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּמַתְּנַת חִנָּם וְנִדְבַת חֶסֶד. כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֵין לִי שׁוּם תִּקְוָה, כִּי אִם לִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ וְלִזְעֹק לַחֲנִינוֹתֶיךָ.
Redeem me for Your sake. Be gracious to me if only because I belong to the holy Jewish people. You know that my only hope is to cry out to You and beseech Your grace.
קָרוֹב לְכָל קוֹרְאָיו עֲנֵנִי, מָרוֹם לְעוֹלָם יְהֹוָה עָזְרֵנִי, קָדוֹשׁ עַל כָּל הַקְּדֻשּׁוֹת בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ קַדְּשֵׁנִי. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת, זַכֵּנִי לִקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ בֶאֱמֶת,
You Who are close to everyone who calls to You, answer me. You Who are elevated forever, HaShem, assist me. You Who are holy beyond all holiness, sanctify me.
הָקֵם סֻכָּתְךָ הַנּוֹפֶלֶת נְפִילָה אַחַר נְפִילָה בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר, עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵין מִי שֶׁיּוּכַל לַהֲקִימָהּ כִּי אִם אַתָּה לְבַד בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּנוּזִים, הָקִימָהּ מְהֵרָה תְקוּמָה אַחַר תְּקוּמָה, מִבִּירָא עֲמִיקְתָּא לְאִגְרָא רָמָא.
Raise up Your booth that has fallen repeatedly, which You alone can lift. Lift it up quickly, one level after another, from the lowest pit to the greatest height.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, מַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב, הֲפֹךְ אֶת לְבָבִי מֵרַע לְטוֹב, הַט לִבִּי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, עָזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַדֵּשׁ עַצְמִי בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדֻשּׁוֹת, וּבִפְרַט בִּקְדֻשַּׁת בְּרִית הַלָּשׁוֹן וּבְרִית הַמָּעוֹר.
Transform my heart from evil to good. Turn my heart to You in truth, in accordance with Your desire. Help me to sanctify myself in all areas, particularly my mouth and my sexual purity.
עָזְרֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא שׁוּם דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר מִפִּי לְעוֹלָם וְלֹא שׁוּם דִּבּוּר פָּגוּם, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁמֹר פִּתְחֵי פִי. וְזַכֵּנִי לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל כֹּחִי וּבְכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, וְאֶהְיֶה נִכְלָל בְּךָ בִּשְׁעַת תְּפִלָּתִי, עַד שֶׁכָּל דִּבְרֵי תְפִלָּתִי יִהְיוּ דִבְרֵי יְהֹוָה בְּעַצְמָן, וְיִתְעוֹרְרוּ עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלָּתִי כ"ח אַתְוָן דְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁהֵם עֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַּמְשִׁיךְ חַסְדְּךָ הַגָּדוֹל עָלֵינוּ, וְתִפְרֹס עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ וּתְחַבֵּק אוֹתָנוּ בִּימִינֶךָ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּצִלְּךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, וְתָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכָּל אוֹיְבֵינוּ וְשׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְרוֹדְפֵינוּ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת,
Help me to never speak an untruthful or unethical word. Guard my mouth so that I will pray to You with all my might and with ultimate truth. May I be absorbed into You when I pray, so that all the words of my prayer will be Your own words; so that through my prayer, the twenty-eight letters of the work of creation — which are the Ten Utterances with which You created the world — will be aroused, and You will draw down Your great kindness onto me and spread the booth of Your peace over me, and embrace me with Your right hand. Then I will take refuge in Your holy shadow, and You will protect me from all my enemies in the physical and spiritual realms.
וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנוּ, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי.
Conceal me in the shadow of Your wings, so that the verse will be realized, “His left hand is beneath my head and His right hand embraces me.”
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת סֻכָּה בִּזְמַנָּהּ כָּרָאוּי עִם כָּל פְּרָטֶיהָ וְדִקְדּוּקֶיהָ וְכַוָּנוֹתֶיהָ וְתַרְיַ"ג מִצְוֹת הַתְּלוּיִם בָּהּ, וּבְלֵב טוֹב וּבְשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה.
Help me to keep the mitzvah of sukkah in its proper time, with all its details and intentions, and with the 613 mitzvot that are dependent on it, with a good heart and with great joy.
וְתַכְנִיעַ וְתַשְׁפִּיל וּתְמַגֵּר וְתַעֲקֹר וּתְבַטֵּל סֻכַּת נוֹצְרִים סֻכַּת עֲכּוּ"ם, אֲשֶׁר פִּיהֶם דִּבֶּר שָׁוְא וִימִינָם יְמִין שָׁקֶר. וּתְבַטֵּל הַשֶּׁקֶר מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְתַגְבִּיר הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם,
Subjugate, cast down, crush, uproot and nullify the sukkah of the nations, “whose mouth has spoken vanity and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” Remove that falsehood and strengthen truth.
וְתָקִים אֶת סֻכַּת דָּוִד הַנּוֹפֶלֶת, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, שְׂפַת אֱמֶת תִּכּוֹן לָעַד וְעַד אַרְגִּיעָה לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר.
Raise up the fallen booth of David, so that the verse will be realized, “A lip of truth shall be established forever, but a tongue of falsehood is merely for a moment.”
וְתַסְתִּיר וְתַצְפִּין אוֹתָנוּ בְּסֻכָּתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וּתְסוֹכֵךְ עָלֵינוּ בְּצִלְּךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, וְתַצִּילֵנִי מֵרִיב לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם שׁוּם כֹּחַ עָלֵינוּ כְּלָל, וְתַעֲקֹר הַשֶּׁקֶר מִן הָעוֹלָם וּתְגַלֶּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, וּתְזַכֵּנִי מְהֵרָה לָבוֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, לָאָרֶץ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה:
Conceal me in Your holy booth and cover me with Your holy shadow. Rescue me from dispute, so that people’s tongues will have no power over me. Uproot falsehood and reveal truth in the world. And bring me soon to the holy Land of Israel, swiftly and easily.
וְזַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְבָנִים חָיִּים וְקַיָּמִים, לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וּלְיִרְאָתְךָ וּלְתוֹרָתֶךָ (כְּשֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ צַעַר גִּדּוּל בָּנִים רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, יַזְכִּירוֹ כָּאן וְיֹאמַר, וּבִפְרָט לִפְלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִית וְכוּ') חוּס וַחֲמֹל וְרַחֵם וְתֵן לְבָנֵינוּ וְלִבְנוֹתֵינוּ וּלְכָל יוֹצְאֵי חֲלָצֵינוּ חַיִּים טוֹבִים וַאֲרֻכִּים (וּבִפְרָט לְהַיֶּלֶד פְלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִית וְכוּ'. וּלְהַיַּלְדָּה פְּלוֹנִית בַּת פְּלוֹנִית וְכוּ'),
Blessings for One’s Children
Through Your unbounded compassion, give us healthy children who will serve You, fear You and learn Your Torah.5 If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone who is having trouble raising his children, add here, “and in particular, [name], son / daughter of [mother’s name].”May they and all their descendants lead good and long lives.6“In particular, [name], son / daughter of [mother’s name].”
רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתָם, וְתֵן לָהֶם חַיִּים טוֹבִים וַאֲרֻכִּים, וְתַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם וּשְׁנוֹתָם, יֶהֱמוּ נָא וְיִכְָמְרוּ נָא רַחֲמֶיךָ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ וְתֹאמַר דַּי לְצָרוֹתָם.
Have compassion on them and on me in the merit of their ancestors. Give them — and me — the gift of Your compassion, and declare an end to suffering.
הֵיטִיבָה יְהֹוָה לַטּוֹבִים וְלִישָׁרִים בְּלִבּוֹתָם.
“Do good, HaShem, to those who are good, and to those who are straight in their hearts.”
יְהִי שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילָם שַׁלְוָה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָם, אֵין פֶּרֶץ וְאֵין יוֹצֵאת וְאֵין צְוָחָה בִּרְחוֹבוֹתָם, לָעַד וּלְדוֹרוֹת וּלְדוֹרוֹת דּוֹרוֹתָם,
May they have “peace within their walls, tranquility within their homes, with no breaches, no outbreaks, no outcry in the streets — forever, for all their generations.”
רֵאשִׁיתָם מִצְעָר, יִשְׂגֶּה מְאֹד אַחֲרִיתָם, כַּאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים וְהָאָרֶץ הַחֲדָשָׁה כֵּן יַעֲמֹד זַרְעָם וּשְׁמוֹתָם.
Though their beginning may be small, may their end be great, as when there will be a new heaven and earth. May their offspring prosper until that time.
וְתַצִּיל אוֹתָם וְכָל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעַיִן הָרָע וּמִפֶּגַע רָע וּמִכָּל מִינֵי נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה, וְתִשְׁלַח לָהֶם רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְכָל רְמַ"ח אֵבָרֵיהֶם וּשְׁסָ"ה גִידֵיהֶם, וְיִזְכּוּ לִהְיוֹת חָיִּים בְּרִיאִים וְקַיָּמִים, יְבַלּוּ יְמֵיהֶם בַּטּוֹב וּשְׁנוֹתֵיהֶם בַּנְּעִימִים.
Protect them and all the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, from an evil eye, from evil occurrences and from all plagues and diseases. From Heaven, maintain the health of their 248 limbs and 365 sinews. “May they spend their days in goodness and their years in pleasantness.”
וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ מֵהֶם דּוֹרוֹת הַרְבֵּה וְדוֹרֵי דוֹרוֹת עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וּתְגַדְּלֵם לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים וְשָׁנִים, עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ:
May they have children and children’s children, to the end of all generations. Have compassion on them — and on me — for the sake of Your Name. Raise them for a long life of “Torah, the wedding canopy and good deeds.” “They will yet bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be full of sap and fresh.”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, צְרָכֵינוּ מְרֻבִּים וְדַעְתֵּנוּ קְצָרָה לְבָאֵר וּלְפָרֵשׁ.
My Needs are Too Many to Express
God, You Who are filled with compassion, my needs are many and my mind is too limited to express them all.
אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת כָּל מַחְסוֹרֵינוּ, מַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים, לְמַעַנְךָ וְלֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ.
You know everything that I lack. Fulfill my requests for good with compassion — for Your sake, not for mine.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי וְזַכֵּנִי לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי, וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה, אִם אָוֶן פָּעַלְתִּי לֹא אוֹסִיף.
Have mercy and pity on me. Help me to return to You in truth and with a full heart, to do Your will all the days of my life, so that I will never return to my foolishness. “If I have acted sinfully, I will no longer do so.”
רַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְזַכֵּנִי לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וּתְגַלֶּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, וְיָשׁוּבוּ כָל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם אֵלֶיךָ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּיִרְאָה וְאַהֲבָה,
Have compassion on me so that I will be the person You want me to be, now and forever. Reveal Your truth in the world, so that everyone will return to serve You in truth, awe and love.
וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל כָּל הָעַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד. אֱמֶת מֵאֶרֶץ תִּצְמָח וְצֶדֶק מִשָּׁמַיִם נִשְׁקָף. גַם יְהֹוָה יִתֵּן הַטּוֹב וְאַרְצֵנו תִתֵּן יְבוּלָהּ. חֶסֶד וְאֶמֶת נִפְגָשׁוּ צֶדֶק וְשָׁלוֹם נָשָׁקוּ.
May the verses quickly be realized, “Then I will give all the nations a clear speech, so that they will all call out in the Name of HaShem, serving Him with one will.” “Truth will sprout from the earth and righteousness will gaze down from Heaven.” “HaShem will grant goodness, and our land will give its produce.” “Kindness and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed.”
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים תְּפַיֵּס וּתְרַצֶּה אֶת שְׁכִינַת עֻזֶּךָ וּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁתָּשִׁיב פָּנֶיהָ אֵלֶיךָ, וְיִהְיֶה נַעֲשָׂה יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ פָּנִים בְּפָנִים,
In Your great compassion and kindness, appease and gain the favor of the Congregation of Israel, so that she will turn her face to You, so that there will be a unification of the Holy One, Blessed be He, with His Shekhinah, face to face.
וְאַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵאִתָּנוּ עוֹד. וְתִשְׁלַח לָנוּ צַדִּיקִים וְרַבָּנִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁיּוֹרוּ לָנוּ אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר, אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר נֵלֵךְ בָּהּ וְאֶת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשֶׂה,
Do not hide Your countenance from us any longer. Send us true Tzaddikim — rabbis who will guide us on the good, straight path and teach us the deeds that we are to perform.
וְתַצִּיל אוֹתָנוּ מֵהַמַּנְהִיג וְרַבִּי שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר, קָרְבֵנוּ לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ, עָזְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, הַחֲיֵינוּ בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ, שַׂבְּעֵנוּ מִטּוּבֶךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, גְּמֹל עָלֵינוּ חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים חַסְדֵּי דָוִד הַנֶּאֱמָנִים, וּמֵאוֹצַר מַתְּנַת חִנָּם חָנֵּנוּ, וְקַיֵּם לָנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וָאָשִׂים דְּבָרַי בְּפִיךָ וּבְצֵל יָדִי כִּסִּיתִיךָ לִנְטֹעַ שָׁמַיִם וְלִיסוֹד אָרֶץ וְלֵאמֹר לְצִיּוֹן עַמִּי אָתָּה.
Shield us from false leaders and false rabbis. Bring us close to Your salvation. Assist us with Your compassion. Revive us in the light of Your countenance. Satiate us with Your goodness and true kindness. Favor us with good kindness, “the faithful kindnesses of David,” and be gracious to us from Your treasury of undeserved gifts. May the verse be realized in us, “I will place My words in your mouth and cover you with the shadow of My hand — to plant the heavens and provide a foundation for the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My nation!’”
חָנֵּנוּ וַעֲנֵנוּ וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמִים, כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלַּת כָּל פֶּה, יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Graciously answer us and hear our prayer, for You hear the prayer of every mouth. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” “May He Who makes peace in His heights make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and let us say amen.’”