Bringing People Close to God / The Holy Palace / Protecting Oneself Against Evil / The Wall of Patience / Abundance and Wealth / Teaching Properly A person who is always working to bring people close to God is building a holy palace composed of souls who were far from God and in the midst of many “husks.” Therefore, this person must make sure that the “husks” and evil of those people does not affect him. Should any “husks” take hold of the thoughts of his heart, he should summon the angels of his own heart — his heart’s fervor — to incinerate those “husks.” This angelic fervor is created when a person judges and weighs his words. By doing so, he guards his spirit by building a wall around it. That is a wall of patience, which keeps out anger. When a person keeps anger out of his life, he also attains abundance and wealth. Indeed, should a person ever feel driven to get angry, he should know that God is sending him prosperity at that very moment, and his evil inclination is attempting to thwart it. When a person guards his soul with such a wall, then the souls of all people want to be incorporated in him. This is because the root of all souls lies in abundance. (That is why people like to associate with wealthy people.) Similarly, when a person has many students, their souls are incorporated in him. All this comes about because this person judges and weighs his words. As a result, he can teach his wisdom to students without harming them. There are some wicked people whom he may not teach, however, since they might cause him spiritual harm. “Fortunate are those who cleave to judgment, those who perform charity at every moment. Justice and judgment comprise the seat of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth precede Your countenance.”
Judging Oneself Master of the World, Who loves justice, in Your boundless compassion, guide me to judge myself in a holy manner at every moment regarding everything I do. May I calmly consider my ways every day, judging myself for what I have done and for what I intend to do, until I achieve clarity and recognize the straight path on which I should walk in order to do Your will, keep Your laws and adhere to Your judgments — and not toil in vain, ending up with nothing. May I never avoid true and honest self-evaluation. May I never fool myself, Heaven forbid, but instead judge all my actions through the lens of truth, so that I will return to You, in accordance with Your desire. “In accordance with Your judgments, give me life; I will guard the testimonies of Your mouth.”
Help me to evaluate myself using my good inclination to do so. Inspire me to speak to You every day and evaluate myself carefully, with compassion on myself, judging myself for everything I have done from the moment I came into the world until now. Let me think of what I can do to save my soul from destruction, and how to firmly commit myself to keep Your commandments, laws and judgments until my heart is aflame for You, in accordance with Your desire.
With that fervor in my heart, may I destroy and burn away all the evil that clings to me, whether because of my wrong deeds or the negative influence of people with whom I speak in order to bring them back to You, as You have commanded us to do — because, as Your holy sages teach, every Jew must inspire others to return to You, since we are all responsible for one another.
Inspiring Others Therefore, I have come to pour forth my prayer before You. Please have compassion on me and imbue me with wisdom, understanding and holy awareness, so that the wellspring of wisdom that comes from Your Temple will flow down onto me and make it possible for me to judge in holiness. And let me speak in such a way that the fire of judgment will flare up and burn away all the evil of those people whom I am bringing back to You.
Please give me the strength to bring many people back to You, until they comprise a holy palace that will increase and elevate Your glory. For that is the essence of Your glory: when those who were far away from You come back to serve You. As the verse states, “HaShem is elevated beyond all nations; His glory is higher than Heaven.”
May their evil never harm me. Instead, may I overcome and burn away the evil within my own heart with the fire of holy judgment, so that my heart will be fervent and occupy the throne of judgment. And may all evil be burned away and have no power to harm me, so that no negative energies will be able to cling to my heart or the hearts of those people who want to return to You.
May those people who are still far away from You come and hear, and recognize the power of Your sovereignty. May the verse be realized, “All those who remain in Zion and who abide in Jerusalem shall be called holy — each one inscribed for life in Jerusalem.”
Please eliminate all evil. Restore our judges as of old and our advisers as in the past. HaShem, be our King alone — with love and compassion, justice and judgment. May the verse be realized, “HaShem will sit forever, maintaining His throne for the sake of judgment.” Nullify all negative energies and aspects of evil, so that we will gain the fullness of the holiness of the Shabbat.
Give me a secure place in Your house and in Your walls. As the verse states, “I will give them in My house and in My walls a monument better than sons and daughters; I will give them an eternal name that will never be cut off.”
May I mentor many students. Give me holy wisdom and awareness so that I will know how to speak with each one and weigh my words with judgment, so that my words will not harm them but awaken them to serve You, turn their hearts to You and return to You fully, in accordance with Your desire.
Overcoming Anger Grant me a good name. Enhance my name forever. Guard me always from the sin of anger, so that I will never get upset at anything or anyone in the world. May I never “tear my soul in my wrath,” Heaven forbid. May I never grasp an idol or bow down to a foreign god — which is how our sages describe losing one’s temper.
Guard me against growing furious, angry or simply irritated. And for all the damage when I indulged in the sin of growing angry, from my youth until this day, forgive me and grant me atonement. You know how this evil has clung to me since my youth and caused me so many losses.
Have mercy on me and do good for me, so that I will be good to others and emulate Your holy traits of being gracious, merciful, patient, kind, good, and doing good to all.
Imbue me with an abundant flow of holiness, so that my name and spirit will grow and many souls will desire to be absorbed into my soul and come close to You. May the name and spirit of holiness grow forever. And may the verse be realized, “Your Name and the awareness of You are the desire of our soul.”
Avoiding Wicked People Guard me against trying to influence wicked people whom it is forbidden to bring back to You, lest they drag me down spiritually, Heaven forbid. May I have nothing to do with them. You know that I lack the ability to know whom to bring close to You and whom to send away. I rely only on You — be kind to me and guide me in accordance with Your will.
A Universal Repentance My Father in Heaven, please fulfill my requests with compassion. Imbue me with holy judgment, so that I will always judge myself in accordance with Your desire; until I awaken the “fire of judgment” which will burn away all the evil that clings to me, and I will be nothing but good.
Then I will have a good portion in the holy palace comprised of those who do Your will and who bring estranged Jews back to You. Rebuild Your city of Jerusalem quickly and in our day, physically and spiritually — the holy city, “the faithful city, filled with judgment.”
Burn away all evil and uncleanness in the world. May the verse soon be realized, “At that time, Jerusalem will be called the throne of HaShem, and all the nations will stream to the Name of HaShem, to Jerusalem, and they will no longer follow after the stubbornness of their evil heart.”
Guide me to return to You and bring others back to repent. May my involvement in bringing back these people not harm my own service of You, because You know that my intent in doing so is only for the good, for the sake of Your Name alone.
Have pity on me. Prepare me to carry out Your will with a full heart. “Support my steps on Your paths, lest my footsteps fail.” “He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of justice for the sake of His Name.” May Your lovingkindness, HaShem, be upon us as we have hoped for You. May HaShem our God be with us as He was with our fathers. May He not abandon or reject us, but turn our hearts to Him to go in all His ways and guard His commandments, laws and judgments that He commanded our forefathers.
“And may these words that I have entreated before HaShem be close to HaShem our God day and night — to judge His servant and His nation, Israel, each matter in its day, so that all the nations of the world will know that HaShem is God — there is no other.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה נ"ט - הֵיכַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ]
אַשְׁרֵי שׁוֹמְרֵי מִשְׁפָּט עוֹשֵׂה צְדָקָה בְּכָל עֵת. צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְּמוּ פָנֶיךָ.
Bringing People Close to God / The Holy Palace / Protecting Oneself Against Evil / The Wall of Patience / Abundance and Wealth / Teaching Properly
A person who is always working to bring people close to God is building a holy palace composed of souls who were far from God and in the midst of many “husks.” Therefore, this person must make sure that the “husks” and evil of those people does not affect him. Should any “husks” take hold of the thoughts of his heart, he should summon the angels of his own heart — his heart’s fervor — to incinerate those “husks.”
This angelic fervor is created when a person judges and weighs his words. By doing so, he guards his spirit by building a wall around it. That is a wall of patience, which keeps out anger. When a person keeps anger out of his life, he also attains abundance and wealth. Indeed, should a person ever feel driven to get angry, he should know that God is sending him prosperity at that very moment, and his evil inclination is attempting to thwart it.
When a person guards his soul with such a wall, then the souls of all people want to be incorporated in him. This is because the root of all souls lies in abundance. (That is why people like to associate with wealthy people.) Similarly, when a person has many students, their souls are incorporated in him.
All this comes about because this person judges and weighs his words. As a result, he can teach his wisdom to students without harming them. There are some wicked people whom he may not teach, however, since they might cause him spiritual harm.
“Fortunate are those who cleave to judgment, those who perform charity at every moment. Justice and judgment comprise the seat of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth precede Your countenance.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אוֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט. זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְמִשְׁפָּט דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁפֹּט עַצְמִי בְּכָל עֵת עַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה, וְלַחְשֹׁב דְּרָכַי וּלְיַשֵּׁב דַּעְתִּי הֵיטֵב בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, לְהִשָּׁפֵט בְּעַצְמִי הֵן עַל הֶעָבַר הֵן עַל הֶעָתִיד. עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא מִשְׁפָּטִי לָאוֹר, לְבָרֵר לִי דֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה שֶׁאֵלֵךְ בָּהּ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ וְלִשְׁמֹר חֻקֶּיךָ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא אִיגַע לָרִיק וְלֹא אֵלֵד לַבֶּהָלָה. וְלֹא אַטֶּה מִן הַמִּשְׁפָּט הָאֱמֶת וְהַיָּשָׁר, וְלֹא אַטְעֶה אֶת עַצְמִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁפֹּט וְלָדוּן אֶת כָּל עֲסָקַי וּמַעֲשַׂי בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, לְמַעַן אֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי, וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדוּת פִּיךָ.
Judging Oneself
Master of the World, Who loves justice, in Your boundless compassion, guide me to judge myself in a holy manner at every moment regarding everything I do. May I calmly consider my ways every day, judging myself for what I have done and for what I intend to do, until I achieve clarity and recognize the straight path on which I should walk in order to do Your will, keep Your laws and adhere to Your judgments — and not toil in vain, ending up with nothing. May I never avoid true and honest self-evaluation. May I never fool myself, Heaven forbid, but instead judge all my actions through the lens of truth, so that I will return to You, in accordance with Your desire. “In accordance with Your judgments, give me life; I will guard the testimonies of Your mouth.”
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, וּתְזַכֵּנִי שֶׁיִהְיֶה יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב שׁוֹפְטִי, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְבּוֹדֵד בְּכָל יוֹם וּלְהִסְתַּכֵּל עַל עַצְמִי הֵיטֵב הֵיטֵב, וּלְרַחֵם עָלַי וּלְהִשָּׁפֵט בְּעַצְמִי עַל כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, וְלַחְשֹׁב עֵצוֹת וְתַחְבּוּלוֹת, אֵיךְ לְמַלֵּט נַפְשִׁי מִנִּי שַׁחַת, וּלְקַבֵּל עָלַי קַבָּלָה חֲזָקָה בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם בֶּאֱמֶת, לִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתֶיךָ וְחֻקֶּיךָ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ תָמִיד, עַד שֶׁיִּתְלַהֵב לִבִּי בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל וְחָזָק מְאֹד אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
Help me to evaluate myself using my good inclination to do so. Inspire me to speak to You every day and evaluate myself carefully, with compassion on myself, judging myself for everything I have done from the moment I came into the world until now. Let me think of what I can do to save my soul from destruction, and how to firmly commit myself to keep Your commandments, laws and judgments until my heart is aflame for You, in accordance with Your desire.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הִתְלַהֲבוּת הַלֵּב לְכַלּוֹת וְלִשְׂרֹף וּלְבָעֵר כָּל הָרַע שֶׁנֶּאֱחַז בִּי, הֵן הָרַע שֶׁנֶּאֱחַז בִּי עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים, הֵן הָרַע שֶׁנֶּאֱחַז בִּי עַל־יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹסֵק לְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם בְּיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם לְקָרְבָם לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר גָּזַרְתָּ עָלֵינוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל מְחֻיָּב לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לְקָרֵב בְּנֵי אָדָם לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, כִּי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה.
With that fervor in my heart, may I destroy and burn away all the evil that clings to me, whether because of my wrong deeds or the negative influence of people with whom I speak in order to bring them back to You, as You have commanded us to do — because, as Your holy sages teach, every Jew must inspire others to return to You, since we are all responsible for one another.
אֲבָל אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ עַל זֶה, וְגֹדֶל הִתְגָּרוּת הָרַע שֶׁמִּתְגָּרֶה בְּזֶה הָאִישׁ הָעוֹסֵק לְקָרֵב רְחוֹקִים לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, כִּי הָרַע שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים רוֹצֶה לְהִתְאַחֵז בְּלֵב הַמְקָרְבָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ:
You know how many obstacles I have experienced in this regard, and how the evil within those people attempts to pull my heart away from You.
עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ לְהַפִּיל תְּחִנָּתִי מוּל קְדֻשָּׁתֶךָ, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתַחְמֹל עָלֵינוּ בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה וָדַעַת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְיֻמְשַׁךְ עָלֵינוּ מַעְיָן הַחָכְמָה הַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית יְהֹוָה. וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְמִשְׁפָּט דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וּלְכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרֵינוּ בְּמִּשְׁפָּט, עַד שֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר אֵשׁ הַמִּשְׁפָּט וְיִשְׂרֹף כָּל הָרַע שֶׁל כָּל הָרְחוֹקִים הַמִּתְקָרְבִים לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ עַל יָדֵינוּ,
Inspiring Others
Therefore, I have come to pour forth my prayer before You. Please have compassion on me and imbue me with wisdom, understanding and holy awareness, so that the wellspring of wisdom that comes from Your Temple will flow down onto me and make it possible for me to judge in holiness. And let me speak in such a way that the fire of judgment will flare up and burn away all the evil of those people whom I am bringing back to You.
וְיִהְיֶה לָנוּ כֹחַ לְהַחֲזִיר אֲנָשִׁים רַבִּים בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ, וּלְקָרֵב נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וְלִבְנוֹת מֵהֶם הֵיכַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, לְגַדֵּל וּלְרוֹמֵם וּלְנַשֵּׂא וּלְהַעֲלוֹת כְּבוֹדְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל יָדָם, כִּי זֶה עִקָּר כְּבוֹדְךָ כְּשֶׁהָרְחוֹקִים מִתְקָרְבִים לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, רָם עַל כָּל גּוֹיִם יְהֹוָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ.
Please give me the strength to bring many people back to You, until they comprise a holy palace that will increase and elevate Your glory. For that is the essence of Your glory: when those who were far away from You come back to serve You. As the verse states, “HaShem is elevated beyond all nations; His glory is higher than Heaven.”
וְלֹא יַזִּיק לָנוּ הָרַע שֶׁלָּהֶם כְּלָל, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וְלִשְׂרֹף וּלְבָעֵר הָרַע מִלְּבָבֵנוּ עַל־יְדֵי אֵשׁ הַמִּשְׁפָּט דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְיִתְלַהֵב הַלֵּב בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל וְיֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא הַמִּשְׁפָּט, וְיִהְיֶה נִשְׂרָף כָּל הָרַע לְגַמְרֵי, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שׁוּם כֹּחַ לְהָרַע וְהַקְּלִפּוֹת לְהִתְאַחֵז חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לֹא בִּלְבָבֵנוּ וְלֹא בְּלֵב הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הַמִּתְקָרְבִים לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וְרוֹצִים לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ.
May their evil never harm me. Instead, may I overcome and burn away the evil within my own heart with the fire of holy judgment, so that my heart will be fervent and occupy the throne of judgment. And may all evil be burned away and have no power to harm me, so that no negative energies will be able to cling to my heart or the hearts of those people who want to return to You.
וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיֵעָשׂוּ כֻלָּם אֲגֻדָּה אֶחָת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם.
May the entire world awaken to serve You. May all people join together as one to do Your will with all their heart.
וְיִשְׁמְעוּ רְחוֹקִים וְיָבוֹאוּ וְיַכִּירוּ כֹחַ מַלְכוּתֶךָ, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהָיָה (כָּל) הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ כָּל הַכָּתוּב לַחַיִּים בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם.
May those people who are still far away from You come and hear, and recognize the power of Your sovereignty. May the verse be realized, “All those who remain in Zion and who abide in Jerusalem shall be called holy — each one inscribed for life in Jerusalem.”
וְיִתְבַּטֵּל הָרַע לְגַמְרֵי. וְתָשִׁיב שׁוֹפְטֵינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְיוֹעֲצֵינוּ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה, וְתִמְלֹךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה לְבַדֶּךָ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים בְּצֶדֶק וּבְמִשְׁפָּט. וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וַיהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם יֵשֵׁב כּוֹנֵן לַמִּשְׁפָּט כִּסְאוֹ. וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַקְּלִפּוֹת וְכָל הַסִּטְרִין אוֹחֲרָנִין מִן הָעוֹלָם:
Please eliminate all evil. Restore our judges as of old and our advisers as in the past. HaShem, be our King alone — with love and compassion, justice and judgment. May the verse be realized, “HaShem will sit forever, maintaining His throne for the sake of judgment.” Nullify all negative energies and aspects of evil, so that we will gain the fullness of the holiness of the Shabbat.
לְשַׁבַּת־קוֹדֶשׁ
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לִקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבָּת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תִּתֶּן לָנוּ יַד וָשֵׁם בְּבֵיתְךָ וּבְחוֹמוֹתֶיךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם בְּבֵיתִי וּבְחוֹמוֹתַי יָד וָשֵׁם טוֹב מִבָּנִים וּמִבָּנוֹת שֵׁם עוֹלָם אֶתֶּן לוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת.
Give me a secure place in Your house and in Your walls. As the verse states, “I will give them in My house and in My walls a monument better than sons and daughters; I will give them an eternal name that will never be cut off.”
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְהַעֲמִיד תַּלְמִידִים הַרְבֵּה, וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ חָכְמָה וָשֵׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לֵידַע אֵיךְ לְדַבֵּר עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד וּלְכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרֵנוּ בְּמִּשְׁפָּט, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיקוּ לָהֶם דְּבָרֵינוּ, רַק יְעוֹרְרוּ אוֹתָם לְשִׁמְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיַטּוּ לְבָבָם אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשׁוּבוּ כֻלָּם בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
May I mentor many students. Give me holy wisdom and awareness so that I will know how to speak with each one and weigh my words with judgment, so that my words will not harm them but awaken them to serve You, turn their hearts to You and return to You fully, in accordance with Your desire.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְשֵׁם טוֹב וְתַגְדִּיל שְׁמֵנוּ עַד עוֹלָם, וּתְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְתִשְׁמֹר אוֹתָנוּ תָמִיד מֵעֲוֹן הַכַּעַס, וְלֹא אֶכְעוֹס עַל שׁוּם דָּבָר וְלֹא עַל שׁוּם אָדָם לְעוֹלָם, וְלֹא אֶטְרֹף נַפְשִׁי בְּאַפִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בְיָדִי אֵל זָר וְלֹא אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל נֵכָר, שֶׁזֶּה נֶאֱמַר עַל הַכּוֹעֵס שֶׁהוּא כְּעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.
Overcoming Anger
Grant me a good name. Enhance my name forever. Guard me always from the sin of anger, so that I will never get upset at anything or anyone in the world. May I never “tear my soul in my wrath,” Heaven forbid. May I never grasp an idol or bow down to a foreign god — which is how our sages describe losing one’s temper.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי מִן הַכַּעַס וּמִן הָרֹגֶז וּמִן הַקַּפְּדָנוּת בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁמִירָה, וְתִמְחֹל וְתִסְלַח לִי וּתְכַפֵּר לִי עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁפָּגַמְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ עַל־יְדֵי עָוֹן הַכַּעַס מִנְּעוּרַי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁמִּדָּה רָעָה זֹאת נִתְאַחֲזָה בָּנוּ מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ, עַד אֲשֶׁר אִבַּדְנוּ עַל יָדָהּ מַה שֶּׁאִבַּדְנוּ:
Guard me against growing furious, angry or simply irritated. And for all the damage when I indulged in the sin of growing angry, from my youth until this day, forgive me and grant me atonement. You know how this evil has clung to me since my youth and caused me so many losses.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי וְהֵטִיבָה עִמָּדִי בְּטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל, וְזַכֵּנִי לִהְיוֹת טוֹב לַכֹּל, וְלֶאֱחֹז בְּמִדּוֹתֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וְטוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל.
Have mercy on me and do good for me, so that I will be good to others and emulate Your holy traits of being gracious, merciful, patient, kind, good, and doing good to all.
וְאֶהְיֶה נִשְׁמָר מִכָּל מִינֵי כַּעַס וּקְפֵּדוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲלוּ וְלֹא יָבוֹאוּ וְלֹא יַגִּיעוּ לִלְבָבִי כְּלָל.
Guard me from falling prey to any type of anger or irritation, so that anger will never touch my heart.
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ שֶׁפַע הָעֲשִׁירוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְיִתְגַדֵּל שְׁמֵינוּ וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, עַד שֶׁיִּתְאַוּוּ נַפְשׁוֹת רַבִּים לְהִכָּלֵל בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ וְיִתְקָרְבוּ אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, וְתַגְדִּיל הַשֵּׁם וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ דִּקְדֻשָּׁה עַד עוֹלָם, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, לְשִׁמְךָ וּלְזִכְרְךָ תַּאֲוַת נָפֶשׁ:
Imbue me with an abundant flow of holiness, so that my name and spirit will grow and many souls will desire to be absorbed into my soul and come close to You. May the name and spirit of holiness grow forever. And may the verse be realized, “Your Name and the awareness of You are the desire of our soul.”
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ מֵהָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁאָסוּר לְקָרְבָם תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי עֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר הֵם יְכוֹלִים לְהוֹרִיד חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֶת הַמְקָרְבָם מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ, וְלֹא נַעֲסֹק עִמָּהֶם לְקָרְבָם כְּלָל. כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי אֵין בָּנוּ דַעַת לֵידַע אֶת מִי לִבְחֹר וּלְקָרֵב וְאֶת מִי לְרַחֵק, רַק עָלֶיךָ לְבַד אָנוּ סוֹמְכִים וְנִשְׁעָנִים, כְּחַסְדְּךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ וְכִרְצוֹנְךָ נַעֲשֶׂה:
Avoiding Wicked People
Guard me against trying to influence wicked people whom it is forbidden to bring back to You, lest they drag me down spiritually, Heaven forbid. May I have nothing to do with them. You know that I lack the ability to know whom to bring close to You and whom to send away. I rely only on You — be kind to me and guide me in accordance with Your will.
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, מַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתַי בְּרַחֲמִים, וְזַכֵּנִי לְמִשְׁפָט דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לִשְׁפֹּט עַצְמִי בְּכָל עֵת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, עַד שֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר אֵשׁ הַמִּשְׁפָּט וְיִשְׂרֹף כָּל הָרַע הַנֶּאֱחַז בִּי, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת כֻּלּוֹ טוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
A Universal Repentance
My Father in Heaven, please fulfill my requests with compassion. Imbue me with holy judgment, so that I will always judge myself in accordance with Your desire; until I awaken the “fire of judgment” which will burn away all the evil that clings to me, and I will be nothing but good.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי לְקָרֵב נַפְשׁוֹת רַבִּים אֵלֶיךָ וּלְגַדֵּל כְּבוֹדְךָ תָמִיד, וְיִגְדַּל שִׁמְךָ עַד עוֹלָם.
Help me to bring many people close to You, increase Your glory always and magnify Your Name forever.
וְאֶזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי חֵלֶק טוֹב בְּהַהֵיכַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ הַנִּבְנֶה עַל־יְדֵי עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנְךָ הַמְקָרְבִים רְחוֹקִים לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְתִבְנֶה עִירְךָ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, תִּבָּנֶה וְתִכּוֹנֵן בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ קִרְיָה נֶאֱמָנָה מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט.
Then I will have a good portion in the holy palace comprised of those who do Your will and who bring estranged Jews back to You. Rebuild Your city of Jerusalem quickly and in our day, physically and spiritually — the holy city, “the faithful city, filled with judgment.”
וּתְבַעֵר וְתִשְׂרֹף וּתְכַלֶּה וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הָרַע וְהַטֻּמְאָה מִן הָעוֹלָם, וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּעֵת הַהִיא יִקְרְאוּ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם כִּסֵּא יְהֹוָה וְנִקְווּ אֵלֶיהָ כָל הַגּוֹיִם לְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה לִירוּשָׁלָיִם וְלֹא יֵלְכוּ עוֹד אַחֲרֵי שְׁרִירוּת לִבָּם הָרָע.
Burn away all evil and uncleanness in the world. May the verse soon be realized, “At that time, Jerusalem will be called the throne of HaShem, and all the nations will stream to the Name of HaShem, to Jerusalem, and they will no longer follow after the stubbornness of their evil heart.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, צִיּוֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּט תִּפָּדֶה וְשָׁבֶיהָ בִּצְדָקָה.
And another verse states, “Zion will be redeemed with judgment, and those who return to it with charity.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּלְהַחֲזִיר אֲחֵרִים בִּתְשׁוּבָה, וְלֹא יַזִּיק לָנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּ כְּלָל הָעֵסֶק שֶׁנַּעֲסֹק לְקָרֵב רְחוֹקִים לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי כַוָּנָתֵינוּ בָּזֶה לְטוֹבָה, לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת:
Guide me to return to You and bring others back to repent. May my involvement in bringing back these people not harm my own service of You, because You know that my intent in doing so is only for the good, for the sake of Your Name alone.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי, וְהָכֵן צְעָדַי וּמַעְגָּלַי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם, תָּמֹךְ אֲשׁוּרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ בַּל נָמוֹטוּ פְעָמָי. נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ. יְהִי חַסְדְּךָ יְהֹוָה עָלֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַלְנוּ לָךְ. יְהִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עִמָּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַל יַעַזְבֵנוּ וְאַל יִטְּשֵׁנוּ. לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבֵנוּ אֵלָיו לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וְחֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ.
Have pity on me. Prepare me to carry out Your will with a full heart. “Support my steps on Your paths, lest my footsteps fail.” “He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of justice for the sake of His Name.” May Your lovingkindness, HaShem, be upon us as we have hoped for You. May HaShem our God be with us as He was with our fathers. May He not abandon or reject us, but turn our hearts to Him to go in all His ways and guard His commandments, laws and judgments that He commanded our forefathers.
וְיִהְיוּ דְבָרַי אֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַנַּנְתִּי לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה קְרוֹבִים אֶל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפַּט עַבְדּוֹ וּמִשְׁפַּט עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ. לְמַעַן דַּעַת כָּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כִּי יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד:
“And may these words that I have entreated before HaShem be close to HaShem our God day and night — to judge His servant and His nation, Israel, each matter in its day, so that all the nations of the world will know that HaShem is God — there is no other.”