Meaningful Prayer / Self-Nullification / Praying with Imperfect Jews / Connecting Oneself to Tzaddikim / Raising Up Those Who Have Fallen / Forceful Prayer In order to overcome evil — in particular and in general — we must engage in meaningful prayer. We overcome the evil in ourselves by nullifying our connection to our identification of ourselves as corporeal beings for the period of time that we are at prayer. We overcome evil in general by praying together with Jews who are far from perfect — who are, in fact, sinners. By praying with them, we nullify their evil; and, in fact, that former evil is transformed into a platform — a throne — for holiness. In addition, when we pray, we should connect ourselves to the souls of departed Tzaddikim and arouse them to pray with us. We must lift up people who have fallen into false faith with our prayer and plant perfect faith in their hearts. When a person is a philosopher, although he may have intelligent thoughts, those thoughts are greater than his deeds. Consequently, when his thought settles in his heart, his heart cannot contain it, since the heart is strengthened by good deeds. This is particularly true of licentious people who learn philosophy. When we pray with intensity, we rectify the hearts of these philosophers, so that their hearts can contain their intellect. Not everyone can achieve such rectifications, however. Sometimes one is faced with the energy of very wicked people, and whoever challenges them endangers himself. To deal with this, one needs great prayer, such as that of Moses himself. In addition, praying with intensity transforms all insults to honor. When a person stands in the palace of the king, he makes himself as nothing, so that he sees only the king. Should he hear any insult, he interprets it as expressing the honor of the king — because who would enter the palace and insult the king? Thus he makes an effort to interpret those words as a token of respect for the king. Also, he cannot imagine that these insults are meant for him, since he has nullified himself completely, so that only the king exists. The mitzvah of taking challah from the dough also implies these ideas. “I lift my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come? My help is from HaShem, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Master of the World, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the merit of our fathers, bring me to the Land of Israel swiftly and easily. Reveal the holiness of the Land of Israel even now in this bitter exile when, because of our many sins, it lies beneath the hand of the Other Side.
In the merit of our patriarchs, reveal the incredible holiness of the land even now, so that we will overcome our enemies and realize the verse, “Sit at My right side until I make your enemies your footstool.” Recall Your covenant with our forefathers. As the verse states, “I will recall My covenant with Jacob and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I recall, and the land will I recall.” And another verse states, “Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them to destroy them and violate my covenant with them, because I am HaShem their God.”
So Many Enemies Master of the World, not just one enemy means to destroy us, Heaven forbid, but a great many intend to do so. Every day and at every moment, “HaShem, how many are my enemies, how many are those who stand against me, how many say of me, ‘He has no salvation in God.’ All of them who see me, mock me. They push forth their lips, they shake their heads, they whistle, they grind their teeth, they say, ‘We will swallow him up!’”
Master of the World, You Who know every hidden thing, You know how utterly evil their eye is, how they wish to crush us, Heaven forbid. We do not know how to escape the venom of their evil eye. “My opponent polishes his eyes against me. I am a worm and not a man, the most disgraced and disrespected of men.” I am blemished and damaged, impaired and ruined, harmed and oppressed, torn and confused, weak and lacking intelligence. Where will I run? Where can I escape?
What counsel, what ideas will I find to gain the power to stand firm in the thick of battle? What can I say? How can I express myself? How can I justify myself? God has uncovered my sin. HaShem, You are right and I am ashamed. “My eyes are raised to the heights.” I raise my eyes to You in hope. “To You have I raised my eyes, You Who dwell in Heaven. My eyes are raised to the heights, HaShem. I have been oppressed, be my guarantor.” “My eyes are always turned to HaShem, for He brings my feet out of the net.”
Teach me to cling to Your holy traits so that I will always judge wicked people and my enemies favorably, and do my best to find some redeeming merit in them.
With the shadow of Your holy hand, weaken and darken the light of the eyes of the wicked, so that the venom of their evil eye will not have the power to harm me at all. Place a curtain between their evil eyes and me, so that the verse will be realized in me, “In the shadow of My hand have I covered you.”
Do not abandon me. Do not leave me in their hands, Heaven forbid, but save me from those who are stronger than I am. As the verse states, “He rescues the poor person from the one stronger than he and the impoverished and pauper from the person who robs him.” And may the verse be realized in me, “Although the wicked person gazes at the righteous man and seeks to kill him, HaShem will not abandon him in his hand and not permit him to be condemned when he is judged.”
May the light of my eyes be strengthened with holiness and purity, until — as I am revived — I am able to see from afar Your righteousness and the justice of Your path, and know that You are just, even if the wicked person prevails in judgment.
Then my faith will be strengthened and buoyed, and I will believe in You, HaShem my God, with all my heart and soul, and the crookedness in my heart will be straightened out.
I will bolster myself with this full and holy faith to pray to You always for everything I need, HaShem, my God and the God of my fathers. I will tell You everything in my heart simply and directly, without dishonesty or concealment.
I will believe that everything is in Your power — even the ability to change nature — and that You do not deprive anyone of his reward, because You are righteous and upright.
Give me the ability to eradicate their evil and turn it into a throne for holiness, so that it will be ashes beneath the feet of holiness. May the verse be realized, “We will tread down the wicked, so that they will be ash beneath the soles of our feet.”
Binding Oneself to Tzaddikim of Previous Generations When I pray, may I bind myself to all beings, particularly to the souls of those who “sleep in the dust.”
Then, as I connect my words of prayer to those who sleep in the dust — as a whole, and with each one in particular — I will awaken all the parts of my own soul which have come into an incarnation and been rectified.12When the parts of one’s soul are rectified, he is then considered a Tzaddik on his level. Therefore, he can join the other Tzaddikim whom he awakens to join his prayer. I will also awaken all the holy souls of all the Tzaddikim who sleep in the dust, the holy ones in the earth, so that they will pray together with me.
In their merit, may my prayers be heard always. Heed my voice. Listen to my outcry. Have compassion on me for their sake, not for mine. As the verse states, “As for the holy ones in the earth and as for the mighty ones, all my desires are fulfilled because of them.”
Eradicating the Notions of the Philosophers With the aid of Your power and love, and with the aid of the strength and merits of the true Tzaddikim, may I rectify the three evil voices of the wicked when I pray: the foolish voice of those who have fallen prey to false beliefs, the contemptuous voice of the philosophers and heretics, and the shaming voice of those who insult sincere, God-fearing people.
And may I raise up all those people who have fallen prey to false beliefs and bring them to the true and holy faith, filling their hearts with conviction.
May I place my entire heart in my prayer and speak to You with heartfelt feeling, until I rectify the hearts of the philosophers, so that their hearts will be able to embrace their minds, and their minds will no longer mislead them.
HaShem my God, You know how much damage these philosophers — who are so “wise in their own eyes” — have caused us. Because their intelligence is greater than their deeds, it is misguided. They are wise “to do evil, but they do not know how to do good.”
And they grow ever more intelligent in their own eyes to the point that they insult You and cause great harm to the Jewish people — part of the reason being that most of them are licentious. They engage in philosophy but they lack heart, so that they cannot contain their wisdom properly. As the verse states, they wish “to acquire wisdom, but lack heart.”
Thus they stray far from the proper path because of their evil wisdom and critiques. Not only do they ruin their own souls, but they spread out their nets to trap vulnerable and simple Jews, until the plague has spread far in our generations on account of our many sins.
“Woe to us, for we have been afflicted.” You alone known the depth of the pain that we suffer in these days preceding the coming of the Mashiach — something whose like was never seen before in history. We have no one to rely on except You, our Father in Heaven. Have mercy on us. Save the remnant of Your nation, the Jewish people, from all the schools of philosophers who trap souls and cast them into the pit of destruction.
May no one even contemplate their theories and mistaken notions. Instead, guide us all to learn Torah and perform good deeds wholeheartedly and with complete simplicity all the days of our lives, so that we cast aside those notions and rely only on the faith that our holy forefathers bequeathed to us.
Give me the strength to overcome and eradicate all the alien notions of the theorists and philosophers. Turn their hearts to truth, so that they will all come back to a holy and pure faith.
Transforming Insult into Honor God, help me to rid myself of the insults that I have suffered from my enemies, both in the material and spiritual realms. With my prayer, may I transform these to honor.
When I pray, may I nullify myself and stand in Your palace, seeing nothing but You, the King Himself, until I attain a holy mind with which I am able to transform all insults into honor and with which I can recombine the words of the insulters and blasphemers into words that honor You. As the verse states, “In His palace, everything declares His honor.”
May my prayer become so perfect that it accomplishes all the rectifications that Moses achieved when he burned the Red Heifer in the wilderness.13See Numbers 19:1-22. Keep in mind the covenant of our forefathers, so that the light of their merit will shine as a result of my entreaties as I constantly seek Your face.
Holiness of the Land of Israel Through the merit of our forefathers, unveil Your mighty presence in the world and reveal the holiness of the Land of Israel even during this bitter exile.
May the holiness of the Land of Israel save me from the evil eye of my enemies and persecutors. May they suffer what they wish me to suffer, so that the verse will be realized, “Hope in HaShem and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land as you see the wicked cut away. Trust in HaShem and do good. Dwell in the land and shepherd with faith.”
Overcoming the Wicked Master of the World, You know that I lack the power to withstand even one of my enemies, and certainly not all of them. I lack the power to overcome these three voices.
But I come to You with the merit and strength of the true Tzaddikim. May I be blended together with them so that they will battle on my behalf, and so that with their great might, they will overcome these three voices and cast down all my enemies and persecutors — all those who oppose Your pure truth, who prevent me and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from doing Your will and walking on the straight and true path.
May these enemies all fall and proclaim the glory of Your Name. Then the verse will be realized, “Although the wicked person gazes at the righteous man and seeks to kill him, HaShem will not abandon him in his hand and not permit him to be condemned when he is judged.”
In Your compassion, help me to return to You fully, quickly and easily, so that I will be among those righteous people who do good, and Your face will be revealed to me through the holiness of the Land of Israel. May I truly realize the verse, “Seek HaShem and His might, seek His face always.”
Bring our righteous Mashiach quickly so that we will soon return to our land, and there we will keep the mitzvah of giving challah to the kohen with fully-realized holiness.
“All my bones will proclaim, ‘HaShem, who is like You, Who rescues the poor person from the one stronger than he and the impoverished and pauper from the person who robs him.’
“Rescue me from my enemies, my God. Lift me above those who rise against me. HaShem, deliver me from a wicked man, protect me from a man of violence, because my eyes turn to You, God, HaShem. You are my protection. Do not cast away my spirit, HaShem my God. I take refuge in You. Save me from all my pursuers and rescue me.”
“Those who fear HaShem, praise Him; all descendants of Jacob, honor Him — for He has not disdained nor abhorred the powerlessness of the poor man. When he cries out to Him, He hears.”
“God helps me. HaShem is among those who support my spirit. He repays those who gaze at me with evil intent.” “In Your truth, crush them, cut them off.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה נ"ה - אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר, אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל]
אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבוֹא עֶזְרִי. עֶזְרִי מֵעִם יְהֹוָה עוֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ.
Meaningful Prayer / Self-Nullification / Praying with Imperfect Jews / Connecting Oneself to Tzaddikim / Raising Up Those Who Have Fallen / Forceful Prayer
In order to overcome evil — in particular and in general — we must engage in meaningful prayer.
We overcome the evil in ourselves by nullifying our connection to our identification of ourselves as corporeal beings for the period of time that we are at prayer. We overcome evil in general by praying together with Jews who are far from perfect — who are, in fact, sinners. By praying with them, we nullify their evil; and, in fact, that former evil is transformed into a platform — a throne — for holiness.
In addition, when we pray, we should connect ourselves to the souls of departed Tzaddikim and arouse them to pray with us.
We must lift up people who have fallen into false faith with our prayer and plant perfect faith in their hearts. When a person is a philosopher, although he may have intelligent thoughts, those thoughts are greater than his deeds. Consequently, when his thought settles in his heart, his heart cannot contain it, since the heart is strengthened by good deeds. This is particularly true of licentious people who learn philosophy. When we pray with intensity, we rectify the hearts of these philosophers, so that their hearts can contain their intellect.
Not everyone can achieve such rectifications, however. Sometimes one is faced with the energy of very wicked people, and whoever challenges them endangers himself. To deal with this, one needs great prayer, such as that of Moses himself.
In addition, praying with intensity transforms all insults to honor. When a person stands in the palace of the king, he makes himself as nothing, so that he sees only the king. Should he hear any insult, he interprets it as expressing the honor of the king — because who would enter the palace and insult the king? Thus he makes an effort to interpret those words as a token of respect for the king. Also, he cannot imagine that these insults are meant for him, since he has nullified himself completely, so that only the king exists. The mitzvah of taking challah from the dough also implies these ideas.
“I lift my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come? My help is from HaShem, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן זְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְזַכֵּנִי לָבוֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה. וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל גַּם עַכְשָׁיו בַּגָּלוּת הַמַּר הַזֶּה, אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא תַחַת יַד הַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא.
Master of the World, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the merit of our fathers, bring me to the Land of Israel swiftly and easily. Reveal the holiness of the Land of Israel even now in this bitter exile when, because of our many sins, it lies beneath the hand of the Other Side.
אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, תְּגַלֶּה קְדֻשָּׁתָהּ הָעֲצוּמָה גַּם עַתָּה, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְהַפִּיל אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּנוּ, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד אָשִׁית אוֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדוֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ. וּזְכָר לָנוּ בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵינוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר. וְנֶאֱמַר, וְאַף גַּם זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אוֹיְבֵיהֶם לֹא מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלּוֹתָם לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם:
In the merit of our patriarchs, reveal the incredible holiness of the land even now, so that we will overcome our enemies and realize the verse, “Sit at My right side until I make your enemies your footstool.” Recall Your covenant with our forefathers. As the verse states, “I will recall My covenant with Jacob and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I recall, and the land will I recall.” And another verse states, “Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them to destroy them and violate my covenant with them, because I am HaShem their God.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, מִי וָמִי עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ. שֶׁלֹּא אֶחָד בִּלְבָד עוֹמֵד עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵינוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶלָּא הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ, וּבְכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת, יְהֹוָה מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי. רַבִּים אוֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לוֹ בֵאלֹהִים סֶלָה. כָּל רוֹאַי יַלְעִיגוּ לִי יַפְטִירוּ בְּשָׂפָה יָנִיעוּ רֹאשׁ. שָׁרְקוּ וַיַּחַרְקוּ שֵׁן אָמְרוּ בִּלָּעְנוּ.
So Many Enemies
Master of the World, not just one enemy means to destroy us, Heaven forbid, but a great many intend to do so. Every day and at every moment, “HaShem, how many are my enemies, how many are those who stand against me, how many say of me, ‘He has no salvation in God.’ All of them who see me, mock me. They push forth their lips, they shake their heads, they whistle, they grind their teeth, they say, ‘We will swallow him up!’”
וְעֵינֵיהֶם לְטוּשִׁים עָלֵינוּ הֵמָּה יַבִּיטוּ יִרְאוּ בִי וְעֵינֵיהֶם רָעָה עָלֵינוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם.
They polish their eyes against us. “They gaze at me” with eyes that are unremittingly hostile.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם יוֹדֵעַ הַתַּעֲלוּמוֹת, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת גֹּדֶל עֹצֶם עֵינָם הָרָעָה מְאֹד שֶׁרוֹצִים לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עָלֵינוּ חָלִילָה, אֲשֶׁר אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים אֵיךְ לְהִטָּמֵן וּלְהִסָּתֵר מִפְּנֵי אֶרֶס עֵינֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת, צָרִי יִלְטוֹשׁ עֵינָיו לִי, וְאָנֹכִי תּוֹלַעַת וְלֹא אִישׁ, נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים, פָּגוּם וּמְקֻלְקָל, הָרוּס וְנִשְׁחָת, נָגוּעַ וּמְעֻנֶּה, מְטֹרָף וּמְבֻלְבָּל, חֲלוּשׁ כֹּחַ, חֲסַר דֵּעָה, מְרֻחָק בְּתַכְלִית הָרִחוּק, לְהֵיכָן אֶבְרַח לְהֵיכָן אָנוּס,
Master of the World, You Who know every hidden thing, You know how utterly evil their eye is, how they wish to crush us, Heaven forbid. We do not know how to escape the venom of their evil eye. “My opponent polishes his eyes against me. I am a worm and not a man, the most disgraced and disrespected of men.” I am blemished and damaged, impaired and ruined, harmed and oppressed, torn and confused, weak and lacking intelligence. Where will I run? Where can I escape?
אֵיזֶה עֵצָה, אֵיזֶה תַּחְבּוּלָה אֲבַקֵּשׁ, לְקַבֵּל כֹּחַ לַעֲמֹד בְּקִשְׁרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה, מָה אוֹמַר מָה אֲדַבֵּר מָה אֶצְטַדָּק הָאֱלֹהִים מָצָא אֶת עֲוֹנִי, לְךָ יְהֹוָה הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם, דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם. עֵינַי לְךָ תְּלוּיוֹת, עֵינַי לְךָ מְיַחֲלוֹת, אֵלֶיךָ נָשָׂאתִי אֶת עֵינַי הַיּוֹשְׁבִי בַּשָּׁמָיִם. דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם יְהֹוָה עָשְׁקָה לִי עָרְבֵנִי. עֵינַי תָּמִיד אֶל יְהֹוָה כִּי הוּא יוֹצִיא מֵרֶשֶׁת רַגְלָי.
What counsel, what ideas will I find to gain the power to stand firm in the thick of battle? What can I say? How can I express myself? How can I justify myself? God has uncovered my sin. HaShem, You are right and I am ashamed. “My eyes are raised to the heights.” I raise my eyes to You in hope. “To You have I raised my eyes, You Who dwell in Heaven. My eyes are raised to the heights, HaShem. I have been oppressed, be my guarantor.” “My eyes are always turned to HaShem, for He brings my feet out of the net.”
שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי אַל אֵבוֹשׁ כִּי חָסִיתִי בָךְ:
“Guard my spirit and rescue me. May I not be ashamed, for I have taken refuge in You.”
וּבְכֵן תַּעַזְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי הַדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהַנָּכוֹן, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל מֵאֶרֶס עֵינֵיהֶם הָרָעָה שֶׁל הָאוֹיְבִים וְהַשּׂוֹנְאִים.
Rescue Me from Evil Influences
God, show me the proper path to walk upon, where I will be safe from the venom of my enemies’ evil eye.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ וּתְלַמְּדֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְדַּבֵּק בְּמִדּוֹתֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת, וְנִזְכֶּה לָדוּן אֶת כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים וְכָל הָאוֹיְבִים וְהַשּׂוֹנְאִים כֻּלָּם נִזְכֶּה לְדוּנָם לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד,
Teach me to cling to Your holy traits so that I will always judge wicked people and my enemies favorably, and do my best to find some redeeming merit in them.
וּלְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּכָל עֹז לִמְצֹא בָהֶם זְכוּת תָּמִיד. וְתִפְשֹׁט יָדְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִּשְׁפָּט יָדְךָ, וּתְפַלְּטֵם מִמִּשְׁפָּטָם זְמַן כַּבִּיר,
Stretch out Your great hand and, with that trait of justice, rescue them from the judgment against them for a long time.
וְעַל־יְדֵי צֵל יָדְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תְכַסֶּה עָלֵינוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מֵאֶרֶס עֵינֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת, וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנוּ.
In this way, the shadow of Your holy hand will cover me and protect me from the venom of their evil eyes, and hide me in the shadow of Your wings.
וְתַכְהֶה וְתַחְשִׁיךְ מְאוֹר עֵינֵי הָרְשָׁעִים עַל־יְדֵי צֵל יָדְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה שׁוּם כֹּחַ לְאֶרֶס עֵינֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת לְהַזִּיק לָנוּ כְּלָל, וְתָשִׂים פַּרְגּוֹד וּמָסָךְ הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין עֵינֵיהֶם הָרָעוֹת וּבֵינֵינוּ, וּתְקַיֵּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּבְצֵל יָדִי כִּסִּיתִיךָ.
With the shadow of Your holy hand, weaken and darken the light of the eyes of the wicked, so that the venom of their evil eye will not have the power to harm me at all. Place a curtain between their evil eyes and me, so that the verse will be realized in me, “In the shadow of My hand have I covered you.”
וּתְחַזֵּק מְאוֹר עֵינֵינוּ וּתְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת עֵינֵינוּ בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדֻשּׁוֹת, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי לְבַל אֶסְתַּכֵּל בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר הַפּוֹגֵם אֶת הָרְאוּת,
Strengthen and sanctify my eyes with every type of holiness. Protect me from looking at anything that might harm my sight.
וְאַל תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי בְּיָדָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְתַצִּיל עָנִי כָּמֹנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, מַצִּיל עָנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מִגּוֹזְלוֹ. וּתְקַיֵּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ. יְהֹוָה לֹא יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטוֹ.
Do not abandon me. Do not leave me in their hands, Heaven forbid, but save me from those who are stronger than I am. As the verse states, “He rescues the poor person from the one stronger than he and the impoverished and pauper from the person who robs him.” And may the verse be realized in me, “Although the wicked person gazes at the righteous man and seeks to kill him, HaShem will not abandon him in his hand and not permit him to be condemned when he is judged.”
עָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁיִּתְחַזֵּק מְאוֹר עֵינֵינוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כֹחַ לִרְאוֹת לְמֵרָחוֹק, וְנִזְכֶּה וְנִחְיֶה וְנִרְאֶה וְנַשִּׂיג צִדְקָתְךָ וְיִשְׁרַת דַּרְכֶּךָ, וְנֵדַע וְנָבִין כִּי יְהֹוָה הַצַּדִּיק, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהָרָשָׁע זוֹכֶה בַּדִּין.
May the light of my eyes be strengthened with holiness and purity, until — as I am revived — I am able to see from afar Your righteousness and the justice of Your path, and know that You are just, even if the wicked person prevails in judgment.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תִּתְאַמֵּץ וְתִתְחַזֵּק אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ, וְתַפְשִׁיט לִבֵּנוּ מֵעַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבִּלְבָבֵנוּ, וְתָסִיר מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל מִינֵי עַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבִּלְבָבֵנוּ,
Then my faith will be strengthened and buoyed, and I will believe in You, HaShem my God, with all my heart and soul, and the crookedness in my heart will be straightened out.
וּתְיַשֵּׁר אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ לְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת אֱמוּנָה בְּלִי שׁוּם עַקְמִימִיּוּת כְּלָל. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְחַזֵּק אֶת עַצְמִי עַל־יְדֵי שְׁלֵמוּת הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל כָּל צְרָכַי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עִם לְבָבִי אָשִׂיחָה וַאֲסַפֵּר לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבִתְמִימוּת וּבְיִשְׁרַת לֵבָב בְּלִי שׁוּם עַרְמִימִיּוּת וְעַקְמִימִיּוּת כְּלָל.
I will bolster myself with this full and holy faith to pray to You always for everything I need, HaShem, my God and the God of my fathers. I will tell You everything in my heart simply and directly, without dishonesty or concealment.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין כִּי הַכֹּל בִּרְשׁוּתְךָ אֲפִלּוּ לְשַׁנּוֹת הַטֶּבַע, וְאֵין אַתָּה מְקַפֵּחַ שְׂכַר כָּל בְּרִיָּה, כִּי צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר יְהֹוָה.
I will believe that everything is in Your power — even the ability to change nature — and that You do not deprive anyone of his reward, because You are righteous and upright.
וְאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ בְּיֹשֶׁר לֵבָב, בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה:
May I always pray and thank You with a sincere heart, in complete truth and faith, with holiness and purity.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הִנֵּה נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל יְהֹוָה וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר.
Turning Evil into a Throne for Holiness
“I have dared to speak to HaShem, although I am dust and ashes.”
עָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תְפִלָּתֵנוּ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת לְפָנֶיךָ, וְנִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלָּתֵנוּ לְהַכְנִיעַ הָרַע שֶׁבִּפְרָט וְשֶׁבִּכְלָל.
May my prayer to You be unblemished, so that with my prayer I will be able to overcome evil — in particular and in general.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ בִּמְסִירוּת נֶפֶשׁ עָצוּם מְאֹד בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטֵּל כָּל חָמְרֵנוּ וְיֵשׁוּתֵנוּ וְגוּפֵנוּ הַמְגֻשָּׁם, הַכֹּל יִתְבַּטֵּל לְגַמְרֵי בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה.
Help me to pray to You with complete devotion and ultimate truth, until my entire physicality and all my senses are completely nullified.
וְתִהְיֶה תְפִלָּתֵנוּ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת כְּמוֹ תְפִלּוֹת הַחֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת.
May my prayer be as perfect as that of the early Tzaddikim, who completely lost their physical awareness when they prayed.
וְגַם נִזְכֶּה בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל, לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל הָרַע שֶׁל הַתְּפִלּוֹת שֶׁל הָרְשָׁעִים וּפוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאָנוּ מִתְפַּלְּלִין עִמָּהֶם,
With Your mighty help, may I then overcome and eliminate the evil of the prayers of the wicked people and Jewish sinners in whose midst I pray.
וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ כֹחַ לְבַטֵּל הָרַע שֶׁלָּהֶם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהָרַע כִּסֵּא לַקְּדֻשָּׁה, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֵפֶר תַּחַת כַּפּוֹת רַגְלֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְעַסּוֹתֶם רְשָׁעִים כִּי יִהְיוּ אֵפֶר תַּחַת כַּפּוֹת רַגְלֵיכֶם:
Give me the ability to eradicate their evil and turn it into a throne for holiness, so that it will be ashes beneath the feet of holiness. May the verse be realized, “We will tread down the wicked, so that they will be ash beneath the soles of our feet.”
וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בִּתְפִלָּתֵנוּ לְקַשֵּׁר עַצְמֵנוּ בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט עִם נַפְשִׁין רוּחִין וְנִשְׁמָתִין שֶׁל שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר,
Binding Oneself to Tzaddikim of Previous Generations
When I pray, may I bind myself to all beings, particularly to the souls of those who “sleep in the dust.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְעוֹרֵר וּלְהָקִיץ אוֹתָם בִּתְפִלָּתֵנוּ, שֶׁיִּתְפַּלְלוּ כֻלָּם עִמָּנוּ יַחַד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, הָקִיצוּ וְרַנְּנוּ שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר.
May I awaken them with my prayers, so that they all will pray together with me. As the verse states, “Awake and sing, you who sleep in the dust.”
וּנְקַשֵּׁר הַדִּבּוּר שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה עִם שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְעוֹרֵר וּלְהָקִיץ בִּתְפִלּוֹתֵנוּ כָּל חֶלְקֵי נֶפֶשׁ רוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה שֶׁלָּנוּ שֶׁבָּאוּ כְּבָר בְּגִלְגּוּל וְנִתְתַּקְנוּ. וְגַם נִזְכֶּה לְעוֹרֵר וּלְהָקִיץ כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת וְהָרוּחוֹת וְהַנְּשָׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת שֶׁל כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה, לְעוֹרֵר אֶת כֻּלָּם שֶׁיִּתְפַּלְּלוּ עִמָּנוּ,
Then, as I connect my words of prayer to those who sleep in the dust — as a whole, and with each one in particular — I will awaken all the parts of my own soul which have come into an incarnation and been rectified.12When the parts of one’s soul are rectified, he is then considered a Tzaddik on his level. Therefore, he can join the other Tzaddikim whom he awakens to join his prayer. I will also awaken all the holy souls of all the Tzaddikim who sleep in the dust, the holy ones in the earth, so that they will pray together with me.
וּבִזְכוּתָם תִּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ תָמִיד וְתַאֲזִין קוֹלֵנוּ וְתַקְשִׁיב שַׁוְעָתֵנוּ, וּתְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעֲנָם וְלֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, לִקְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה וְאַדִּירֵי כָּל חֶפְצִי בָם:
In their merit, may my prayers be heard always. Heed my voice. Listen to my outcry. Have compassion on me for their sake, not for mine. As the verse states, “As for the holy ones in the earth and as for the mighty ones, all my desires are fulfilled because of them.”
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרִי, וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים וּבְכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל, בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְתַקֵּן בִּתְפִלּוֹתֵנוּ כָּל הַשְׁלֹשָׁה קוֹלוֹת הָרָעוֹת שֶׁל הָרְשָׁעִים, שֶׁהֵם, קוֹל כְּסִילוּת וּשְׁטוּתִים שֶׁל הַנּוֹפְלִים בֶּאֱמוּנוֹת כּוֹזְבִיּוֹת, וְקוֹל חֵרוּפִים וְגִדּוּפִים שֶׁל הַמְחַקְרִים וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים, וְקוֹל הַבִּזְיוֹנוֹת שֶׁל הַמְחָרְפִים וְהַמְבַזִּים יִרְאֵי יְהֹוָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּים,
Eradicating the Notions of the Philosophers
With the aid of Your power and love, and with the aid of the strength and merits of the true Tzaddikim, may I rectify the three evil voices of the wicked when I pray: the foolish voice of those who have fallen prey to false beliefs, the contemptuous voice of the philosophers and heretics, and the shaming voice of those who insult sincere, God-fearing people.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ, אֶת כָּל מִינֵי אֱמוּנוֹת כּוֹזְבִיּוֹת אֱמוּנוֹת שֶׁל שְׁטוּת וָהֶבֶל וְכָל דַּרְכֵּי הָאֱמוֹרִי, כֻּלָּם נִזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ,
With my prayers, may I overcome and eliminate every type of false faith and superstition.
וּלְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת כָּל הַנּוֹפְלִים בֶּאֱמוּנוֹת כּוֹזְבִיּוֹת לֶאֱמוּנָה אֲמִתִּית דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְלִקְבֹּעַ בְּלִבָּם אֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ, וְנִזְכֶּה לָשִׂים כָּל לִבֵּנוּ עַל תְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה בְּכַוָּנַת הַלֵּב בֶּאֱמֶת,
And may I raise up all those people who have fallen prey to false beliefs and bring them to the true and holy faith, filling their hearts with conviction.
עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי כַּוָּנַת הַלֵּב שֶׁבַּתְּפִלָּה לְתַקֵּן אֶת לֵב הַמְחַקְרִים וְהַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים שֶׁיּוּכַל לִבָּם לְהָכִיל אֶת שִׂכְלָם, שֶׁלֹּא יַחְטִיא אוֹתָם שִׂכְלָם.
May I place my entire heart in my prayer and speak to You with heartfelt feeling, until I rectify the hearts of the philosophers, so that their hearts will be able to embrace their minds, and their minds will no longer mislead them.
כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת עֹצֶם הַפְּגָמִים וְהַקִּלְקוּלִים וְהַחֻרְבָּנוֹת הָרַבִּים שֶׁגּוֹרְמִים לָנוּ הַמְחַקְרִים וְהַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים שֶׁהֵם חֲכָמִים בְּעֵינֵיהֶם וְנֶגֶד פְּנֵיהֶם נְבוֹנִים, וְחָכְמָתָם וְשִׂכְלָם מְרֻבֶּה מִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה הֵם מַחֲטִיאִים עַל־יְדֵי חָכְמָתָם וְשִׂכְלָם, וְהֵם חֲכָמִים לְהָרַע וּלְהֵיטִיב לֹא יָדָעוּ,
HaShem my God, You know how much damage these philosophers — who are so “wise in their own eyes” — have caused us. Because their intelligence is greater than their deeds, it is misguided. They are wise “to do evil, but they do not know how to do good.”
וּמִתְחַכְּמִים הַרְבֵּה עַד שֶׁמְּגַדְּפִין כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה בְּחָכְמָתָם, וְהֵם מַזִּיקִים לִכְלָל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּחָכְמָתָם הָרָעָה. וּבִפְרָט שֶׁרֻבָּם כְּכֻלָּם הֵם נוֹאֲפִים גְּדוֹלִים, וְעוֹסְקִים בְּחָכְמַת הַפִּילוֹסוֹפְיָא, וְלִבָּם חָסֵר וְקָטָן מֵהָכִיל אֶת חָכְמָתָם, אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר, לִקְנוֹת חָכְמָה וְלֵב אָיִן.
And they grow ever more intelligent in their own eyes to the point that they insult You and cause great harm to the Jewish people — part of the reason being that most of them are licentious. They engage in philosophy but they lack heart, so that they cannot contain their wisdom properly. As the verse states, they wish “to acquire wisdom, but lack heart.”
וְעַל כֵּן הֵם מַחֲטִיאִים בְּיוֹתֵר עַל־יְדֵי חָכְמָתָם וַחֲקִירָתָם הָרָעָה, וְלֹא דַי שֶׁהֵם מַשְׁחִיתִים וּמְאַבְּדִים נַפְשׁוֹתָם עֲדֵי אוֹבֵד, אַף גַּם הֵם פּוֹרְשִׂים רְשָׁתוֹת וּמִכְמֹרוֹת לִשְׁאָר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּרוּאִים וְהוֹלְכִים לְתֻמָּם, עַד אֲשֶׁר פָּשְׂתָה הַנֶּגַע וְהַמִּסְפַּחַת הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת בְּדוֹרוֹתֵינוּ אֵלֶּה בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים,
Thus they stray far from the proper path because of their evil wisdom and critiques. Not only do they ruin their own souls, but they spread out their nets to trap vulnerable and simple Jews, until the plague has spread far in our generations on account of our many sins.
אוֹי לָנוּ כִּי שֻׁדָּדְנוּ. אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יָדַעְתָּ עֹצֶם הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת שֶׁבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ עַכְשָׁיו בְּעוּקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא, אֲשֶׁר כָּמֹהוּ לֹא נִהְיָיתָה מִימוֹת עוֹלָם, וְאֵין לָנוּ עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ וְהַצֵּל אֶת שְׁאֵרִית עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל הַכִּתּוֹת שֶׁל הַמְחַקְרִים וְהַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים הַצָּדִים נְפָשׁוֹת לְפֹרְחוֹת לִבְאֵר שַׁחַת,
“Woe to us, for we have been afflicted.” You alone known the depth of the pain that we suffer in these days preceding the coming of the Mashiach — something whose like was never seen before in history. We have no one to rely on except You, our Father in Heaven. Have mercy on us. Save the remnant of Your nation, the Jewish people, from all the schools of philosophers who trap souls and cast them into the pit of destruction.
וְלֹא יַעֲלֶה וְלֹא יָבוֹא וְלֹא יַגִּיעַ לְלִבֵּנוּ וּלְלֵב כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל שׁוּם צַד סְבָרָה מִסְּבָרוֹתֵיהֶם, וְלֹא שׁוּם דֵּעָה וּמְבוּכָה מִדֵּעוֹתֵיהֶם וּמִמְּבוּכוֹתֵיהֶם, וְלֹא שׁוּם בִּלְבּוּל וְקֻשְׁיָא מִקֻּשְׁיוֹתֵיהֶם. רַק תְּזַכֵּנוּ לְהַרְבּוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים בִּתְמִימוּת וּבִפְשִׁיטוּת גָּמוּר כָּל יָמֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם, וְנַשְׁלִיךְ כָּל הַחָכְמוֹת אַחֲרֵי גֵּוֵנוּ, וְנִסְמֹךְ עַל אֱמוּנָה לְבַד כְּמוֹ שֶׁקִּבַּלְנוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.
May no one even contemplate their theories and mistaken notions. Instead, guide us all to learn Torah and perform good deeds wholeheartedly and with complete simplicity all the days of our lives, so that we cast aside those notions and rely only on the faith that our holy forefathers bequeathed to us.
וְיִהְיוּ מַעֲשֵׂינוּ הַטּוֹבִים מְרֻבִּים מֵחָכְמָתֵנוּ.
May my good deeds outweigh my wisdom.
וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ כֹחַ לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל וְלַעֲקֹר וּלְכַלּוֹת אֶת כָּל דֵּעוֹת הַזָּרוֹת שֶׁל כָּל הַמְחַקְרִים וְהַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים, וְנִזְכֶּה לַהֲפֹךְ אֶת לִבָּם אֶל הָאֱמֶת שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ כֻלָּם לֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַטְּהוֹרָה וְהַתְּמִימָה:
Give me the strength to overcome and eradicate all the alien notions of the theorists and philosophers. Turn their hearts to truth, so that they will all come back to a holy and pure faith.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לְבַטֵּל כָּל הַבִּזְיוֹנוֹת וְהַחֶרְפּוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ מִשּׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְאוֹיְבֵינוּ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת, וְנִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ לַהֲפֹךְ כָּל הַחֶרְפּוֹת וְהַבִּזְיוֹנוֹת לְכָבוֹד.
Transforming Insult into Honor
God, help me to rid myself of the insults that I have suffered from my enemies, both in the material and spiritual realms. With my prayer, may I transform these to honor.
וְנִזְכֶּה בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה לְבַטֵּל עַצְמֵנוּ מִכֹּל וָכֹל, וְלִכְנֹס וְלַעֲמֹד בְּהֵיכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ, וּנְבַטֵּל אָז יֵשׁוּתֵנוּ לְגַמְרֵי עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאֶה אָז שׁוּם דָּבָר, אֶלָּא אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ יִתְבָּרַךְ לְבַדּוֹ נִרְאֶה, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְשֵׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה לַהֲפֹךְ כָּל הַחֶרְפּוֹת לְכָבוֹד, וּלְהִתְבּוֹנֵן בְּכָל הַדִּבּוּרִים שֶׁל הַמְחָרְפִים וְהַמְגַדְּפִים, לְצָרְפָם וּלְפָרְשָׁם שֶׁיִּתְהַוּוּ מֵהֶם אִמְרֵי כָבוֹד לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּבוֹד.
When I pray, may I nullify myself and stand in Your palace, seeing nothing but You, the King Himself, until I attain a holy mind with which I am able to transform all insults into honor and with which I can recombine the words of the insulters and blasphemers into words that honor You. As the verse states, “In His palace, everything declares His honor.”
וְתִהְיֶה תְפִלָּתֵנוּ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּדוֹל בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, עַד שֶׁיִּתְתַּקֵּן עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ כָּל הַתִּקּוּנִים שֶׁנִּתְתַּקְּנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַפָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה שֶׁשָּׂרַף מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר, עַד שֶׁתִּזְכֹּר בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל־יְדֵי תְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ, וְיִתְנוֹצֵץ אוֹר זְכוּת אָבוֹת עַל־יְדֵי תְחִנּוֹתֵינוּ וּתְפִלּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאָנוּ מְבַקְשִׁים וּמְחַלִּים פָּנֶיךָ תָמִיד.
May my prayer become so perfect that it accomplishes all the rectifications that Moses achieved when he burned the Red Heifer in the wilderness.13See Numbers 19:1-22. Keep in mind the covenant of our forefathers, so that the light of their merit will shine as a result of my entreaties as I constantly seek Your face.
וְעַל־יְדֵי זְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ תִּזְכֹּר אֶת שְׁכִינַת עֻזֶּךָ, וּתְגַלֶּה קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל גַּם בַּגָּלוּת הַמַּר הַזֶּה.
Holiness of the Land of Israel
Through the merit of our forefathers, unveil Your mighty presence in the world and reveal the holiness of the Land of Israel even during this bitter exile.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לִכְסֹף וּלְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק וּלְהִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ תָּמִיד לָבוֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לִגְמֹר מַחֲשַׁבְתֵּנוּ וּלְהוֹצִיאָהּ מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל, לִנְסֹעַ וְלַעֲלוֹת לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים.
Help me to constantly yearn to come to the Land of Israel, until I actually move there, quickly and easily.
וְעַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְרָאֵל נִזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל מֵרַע עַיִן שֶׁל שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְאוֹיְבֵינוּ וְרוֹדְפֵינוּ, וְגַם נִרְאֶה בָהֶם מַה שֶּׁהֵם רוֹצִים לִרְאוֹת בָּנוּ, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, קַוֵּה אֶל יְהֹוָה וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ וִירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה. בְּטַח בַּיהֹוָה וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב שְׁכָן אֶרֶץ וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה:
May the holiness of the Land of Israel save me from the evil eye of my enemies and persecutors. May they suffer what they wish me to suffer, so that the verse will be realized, “Hope in HaShem and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land as you see the wicked cut away. Trust in HaShem and do good. Dwell in the land and shepherd with faith.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ כִּי אֵין בָּנוּ כֹחַ לַעֲמֹד נֶגֶד אֶחָד מִשּׂוֹנְאֵינוּ אַף כִּי נֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, וְאֵין לָנוּ כֹחַ לְהַכְנִיעַ שָׁלֹשׁ קוֹלוֹת הָאֵלּוּ.
Overcoming the Wicked
Master of the World, You know that I lack the power to withstand even one of my enemies, and certainly not all of them. I lack the power to overcome these three voices.
רַק בָּאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ צַדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנוּ לְהִכָּלֵל בָּהֶם וְהֵם יִלָּחֲמוּ לְפָנֵינוּ, וְיַכְנִיעוּ בְּכֹחָם הַגָּדוֹל אֶת כָּל הַשְׁלֹשָׁה קוֹלוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, וְיַפִּילוּ לְפָנֵינוּ אֶת כָּל שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְרוֹדְפֵינוּ, וִישַׁבְּרוּ וְיַעַקְרוּ וִיכַלּוּ אֶת כָּל הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ לְרָעָה, אֶת כָּל הַמִּתְנַגְּדִים אֶל נְקֻדַּת הָאֱמֶת, וְכָל הַמּוֹנְעִים אוֹתָנוּ וְכָל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מִדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהָאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
But I come to You with the merit and strength of the true Tzaddikim. May I be blended together with them so that they will battle on my behalf, and so that with their great might, they will overcome these three voices and cast down all my enemies and persecutors — all those who oppose Your pure truth, who prevent me and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from doing Your will and walking on the straight and true path.
כֻּלָּם יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפֹּלוּ וְלִכְבוֹד שִׁמְךָ יְקָר יִתֵּנוּ, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ. יְהֹוָה לֹא יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטוֹ:
May these enemies all fall and proclaim the glory of Your Name. Then the verse will be realized, “Although the wicked person gazes at the righteous man and seeks to kill him, HaShem will not abandon him in his hand and not permit him to be condemned when he is judged.”
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת בִּכְלָל צַדִּיקִים עוֹשֵׂי טוֹב. וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה לָנוּ פְּנֵי יְהֹוָה עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְקַיֵּם בֶּאֱמֶת מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, דִּרְשׁוּ יְהֹוָה וְעֻזּוֹ בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִיד:
In Your compassion, help me to return to You fully, quickly and easily, so that I will be among those righteous people who do good, and Your face will be revealed to me through the holiness of the Land of Israel. May I truly realize the verse, “Seek HaShem and His might, seek His face always.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת חַלָּה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, וְלֹא נִכָּשֵׁל לְעוֹלָם וְלֹא יָבוֹא לְתוֹךְ פִּינוּ לְעוֹלָם עִסָּה שֶׁלֹּא הֻרְמָה חַלָּתָהּ.
Challah
Help me to keep the mitzvah of challah fully. May I never eat any dough from which challah has not been taken.
וְתָבִיא לָנוּ מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ מְהֵרָה וְנָשׁוּב לְאַרְצֵנוּ בְּקָרוֹב, וְשָׁם נִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת נְתִינַת חַלָּה טְהוֹרָה לַכֹּהֵן, בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּמוּר בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה:
Bring our righteous Mashiach quickly so that we will soon return to our land, and there we will keep the mitzvah of giving challah to the kohen with fully-realized holiness.
וְתַצִּילֵנוּ וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת זַרְעֵנוּ תָמִיד, שֶׁלֹּא יִשְּׁלֹט בָּנוּ שׁוּם עַיִן הָרָע לְעוֹלָם, מִשּׁוּם אָדָם וּמִשּׁוּם נִבְרָא שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
All My Bones Will Proclaim
Protect me and all my offspring, so that no evil eye — whether that of man or of any other being — will ever affect us.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ וּלְבָרֶכְךָ תָמִיד וְיִמָּלֵא פִי תְהִלָּתֶךָ, וְנוֹדֶה לְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ תָמִיד עַל כָּל נְשִׁימָה וּנְשִׁימָה.
May we thank and bless You always. May our mouths be filled with Your praise, so that we always laud You, HaShem our God, for each breath.
כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה יְהֹוָה מִי כָמוֹךָ מַצִּיל עָנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מִגּוֹזְלוֹ.
“All my bones will proclaim, ‘HaShem, who is like You, Who rescues the poor person from the one stronger than he and the impoverished and pauper from the person who robs him.’
הַצִּילֵנִי מֵאוֹיְבַי אֱלֹהָי מִמִּתְקוֹמְמַי תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי. חַלְּצֵנִי יְהֹוָה מֵאָדָם רָע מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים תִּנְצְרֵנִי. כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים יְהֹוָה עֵינָי בְּכָה חָסִיתִי אַל תְּעַר נַפְשִׁי. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי בְּךָ חָסִיתִי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מִכָּל רוֹדְפַי וְהַצִּילֵנִי.
“Rescue me from my enemies, my God. Lift me above those who rise against me. HaShem, deliver me from a wicked man, protect me from a man of violence, because my eyes turn to You, God, HaShem. You are my protection. Do not cast away my spirit, HaShem my God. I take refuge in You. Save me from all my pursuers and rescue me.”
וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, פָּדָה בְשָׁלוֹם נַפְשִׁי מִקְּרָב לִי כִּי בְרַבִּים הָיוּ עִמָּדִי.
May the verses be realized, “He has redeemed my spirit in peace so that no one, of the many who come against me, will be able to approach me.”
יִרְאֵי יְהֹוָה הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל זֶרַע יַעֲקֹב כַּבְּדוּהוּ, כִּי לֹא בָזָה וְלֹא שִׁקַּץ עֱנוּת עָנִי וּבְשַׁוְּעוֹ אֵלָיו שָׁמֵעַ.
“Those who fear HaShem, praise Him; all descendants of Jacob, honor Him — for He has not disdained nor abhorred the powerlessness of the poor man. When he cries out to Him, He hears.”
הִנֵּה אֱלֹהִים עוֹזֵר לִי יְהֹוָה בְּסוֹמְכֵי נַפְשִׁי. יָשִׁיב הָרַע לְשׁוֹרְרָי בַּאֲמִתְּךָ הַצְּמִיתֵם.
“God helps me. HaShem is among those who support my spirit. He repays those who gaze at me with evil intent.” “In Your truth, crush them, cut them off.
בִּנְדָבָה אֶזְבְּחָה לָךְ אוֹדֶה שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב.
I will generously sacrifice to You; I will thank Your Name, HaShem, for it is good.”
כִּי מִכָּל צָרָה הִצִּילָנִי וּבְאוֹיְבַי רָאֲתָה עֵינִי.
“He has saved me from every sorrow, and my eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies.”
כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּיָהּ. כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּיָהּ:
“Every soul will praise God. Everyone, praise God!”