Silence and Reliance on God Eliminates Heretical Thoughts / A Man of Truth Overcomes Wicked People Who Give Charity When dispute exists, the heretical thoughts of wicked people can affect good and pious people. To get rid of these thoughts, a good person must be silent and rely on God to fight on his behalf. Then the thoughts of idolatry are eliminated and his own thoughts are elevated. However, when wicked people give charity, their thoughts have the power to persist. The influence of their charity can then be overcome by a man of truth — someone who performs mitzvot wholeheartedly and carefully, whether in the presence of others or alone before God. Such a person has the power to draw all charity to himself, for charity is attracted to truth. In particular, this person draws the charity of wicked people to himself, for it is already standing far from them, since they are far from truth. As this man of truth draws the charity of those wicked people to himself, its power is nullified and their evil thoughts and heresies can no longer affect good and pious people. HaShem Protects Us from Dispute “HaShem, rescue me from evil people; protect me from men of violence. They meditate evils in their heart; every day they stir up strife.” “The entire day they trouble my affairs; all of their thoughts are against me for evil.”
Master of the world, You know the prevalence and intensity of disputatiousness. As a result, thoughts of heresy attack even the pious people of the generation — and so we ourselves are subject to a limitless amount of such thoughts.
We have no one on whom to rely but You, our Father in Heaven. Therefore, we cast ourselves upon You alone. We commit our spirits to You. We place the entire struggle in Your hands. Fight on our behalf, for You are a warrior. As the verse states, “HaShem is a warrior, HaShem is His Name.” No one can stand against You.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who have pity on the poor, You Who are close to those who call upon You in truth, look upon our impoverishment and fight on our behalf. “HaShem, fight those who fight against me; battle those who battle against me. Take hold of the shield and buckler and rise to help me.”
“The enemy’s hand gains strength and there is no savior to strengthen us.” Be gracious to us, God, for wicked people yearn to destroy us; they fight and oppress us all day long. “We do not know what to do, and so our eyes are turned to You.”
Help us perform all of the commandments with all of their details for the sake of Your Name, without any ulterior motives and without any intent to curry favor with people.
Help us, be gracious to us, and rescue us from argumentative tongues. Protect us so that the great contentiousness that now exists in the world — in particular, the disputes among the Torah sages and pious people — will not interfere with our serving You.
Expel all evil thoughts from our borders. We have no counsel or plan to deal with such thoughts, except to cast our entire burden upon You alone and ask You to fight on our behalf. As the verse states, “On the day that I fear, I will place my trust in You.”
“Much have they tormented me from my youth — but they have not overcome me. Upon my back have the plowers plowed; they have lengthened their furrows. HaShem is righteous; He has cut the ropes of the wicked.” “Those who seek my life will be ashamed and crestfallen; those who plan my ruin will be turned back and humiliated.”
“Then my spirit will be glad in HaShem; it will rejoice in His salvation. All of my bones will say, ‘HaShem, Who is like You? You save the poor person from the one who is stronger than he, and the poor man and the impoverished man from the one who robs him.’”
Take heed of my tears, sighs, groans, the bitterness of my heart and the yearning of my eyes for Your true salvation. “Do not abandon me, HaShem, my God; do not be far from me. Rush to help me, Master of my salvation.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה רנ"א - דַּע שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי מִלְחָמוֹת]
חַלְּצֵנִי יְהֹוָה מֵאָדָם רָע מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים תִּנְצְרֵנִי. אֲשֶׁר חָשְׁבוּ רָעוֹת בְּלֵב כָּל יוֹם יָגוּרוּ מִלְחָמוֹת. כָּל הַיּוֹם דְּבָרַי יְעַצֵּבוּ עָלַי כָּל מַחְשְׁבוֹתָם לָרָע.
Silence and Reliance on God Eliminates Heretical Thoughts / A Man of Truth Overcomes Wicked People Who Give Charity
When dispute exists, the heretical thoughts of wicked people can affect good and pious people. To get rid of these thoughts, a good person must be silent and rely on God to fight on his behalf. Then the thoughts of idolatry are eliminated and his own thoughts are elevated.
However, when wicked people give charity, their thoughts have the power to persist. The influence of their charity can then be overcome by a man of truth — someone who performs mitzvot wholeheartedly and carefully, whether in the presence of others or alone before God. Such a person has the power to draw all charity to himself, for charity is attracted to truth. In particular, this person draws the charity of wicked people to himself, for it is already standing far from them, since they are far from truth.
As this man of truth draws the charity of those wicked people to himself, its power is nullified and their evil thoughts and heresies can no longer affect good and pious people.
HaShem Protects Us from Dispute
“HaShem, rescue me from evil people; protect me from men of violence. They meditate evils in their heart; every day they stir up strife.” “The entire day they trouble my affairs; all of their thoughts are against me for evil.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָרֵיהּ דְּעַלְמָא כֹּלָא, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִתְגַּבְּרָה בָּעוֹלָם עַכְשָׁיו, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה נוֹפְלִים עָלֵינוּ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת רַבּוֹת מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ.
Master of the world, You know the prevalence and intensity of disputatiousness. As a result, thoughts of heresy attack even the pious people of the generation — and so we ourselves are subject to a limitless amount of such thoughts.
וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, עַל־יְדֵי עֹצֶם הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת בָּאִים מַחֲשָׁבוֹת שֶׁל כְּפִירוֹת עַל הַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, כַּאֲשֶׁר גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וּבְגֹדֶל דַּלּוּתֵנוּ וַחֲלִישׁוּתֵנוּ אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין שׁוּם עֵצָה וְתַחְבּוּלָה לַעֲמֹד נֶגֶד הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים הָרַבִּים הַשּׁוֹטְפִים עָלֵינוּ בְּכָל־עֵת,
And because we are so impoverished and weak, we have no idea how to withstand these evil thoughts and confusions, which sweep over us constantly.
וְאֵין לָנוּ אַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עַל אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. וְהִנְנוּ מַשְׁלִיכִים עַצְמֵנוּ עָלֶיךָ לְבַד, בְּיָדְךָ נַפְקִיד רוּחֵנוּ, וְאָנוּ מוֹסְרִים כָּל הַמִּלְחָמָה עָלֶיךָ לְבַד, וְאַתָּה תִּלְחוֹם בַּעֲדֵנוּ, כִּי אַתָּה הוּא אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, יְהֹוָה אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה יְהֹוָה שְׁמוֹ. וּמִי יַעֲמֹד נֶגְדֶּךָ.
We have no one on whom to rely but You, our Father in Heaven. Therefore, we cast ourselves upon You alone. We commit our spirits to You. We place the entire struggle in Your hands. Fight on our behalf, for You are a warrior. As the verse states, “HaShem is a warrior, HaShem is His Name.” No one can stand against You.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, קָרוֹב לְקוֹרְאָיו בֶּאֱמֶת, חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ וּרְאֵה נָא בְעָנְיֵנוּ וְרִיבָה רִיבֵנוּ, רִיבָה יְהֹוָה אֶת יְרִיבַי לְחַם אֶת לוֹחֲמָי, הַחֲזֵק מָגֵן וְצִנָּה וְקוּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִי.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who have pity on the poor, You Who are close to those who call upon You in truth, look upon our impoverishment and fight on our behalf. “HaShem, fight those who fight against me; battle those who battle against me. Take hold of the shield and buckler and rise to help me.”
וְהִלָּחֵם בַּעֲדֵנוּ נֶגֶד צוֹרְרֵנוּ, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, יְהֹוָה יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְאַתֶּם תַּחֲרִישׁוּן.
Fight on our behalf against our persecutors. As the verse states, “HaShem will fight for you, as you remain silent.”
עָזְרֵנוּ כִּי עָלֶיךָ נִשְׁעָנְנוּ, דַּלּוּ עֵינֵינוּ לַמָּרוֹם יְהֹוָה עָשְׁקָה לָנוּ עָרְבֵנוּ.
Help us, for we rely on You. “My eyes fail with looking upwards; Master, I am oppressed. Be my surety.”
רְאֵה כִּי אָזְלַת יָד וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב. חָנֵּנוּ אֱלֹהִים כִּי שְׁאָפַנוּ אֱנוֹשׁ כָּל הַיּוֹם לֹחֵם יִלְחָצֵנוּ. וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נֵדַע מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי עָלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ,
“The enemy’s hand gains strength and there is no savior to strengthen us.” Be gracious to us, God, for wicked people yearn to destroy us; they fight and oppress us all day long. “We do not know what to do, and so our eyes are turned to You.”
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וְלֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ:
Act for Your own sake and not for ours.
וְזַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לִתֵּן צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה לַעֲנִיִּים הֲגוּנִים לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד, בְּלִי שׁוּם שְׁקָרִים וּבְלִי שׁוּם פְּנִיּוֹת.
Giving Charity Properly
Help us give a great deal of charity to worthy poor people for the sake of Your Name alone, without any ulterior motives.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ תָמִיד לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת צְדָקָה כָּרָאוּי כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב.
Help us always perform the mitzvah of charity properly, in accordance with Your beneficent will, with holiness and purity, with joy and a good heart.
וְתַצִּיל אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִכָּשֵׁל לְעוֹלָם בַּעֲנִיִּים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ מִצְּדָקוֹת הָרָעוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם כִּרְצוֹנֶךָ.
Protect our spirits by keeping us from giving money to unworthy poor people and unworthy charities that are not in accordance with Your will.
וְתַחְמֹל עָלֵינוּ בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ, וְתָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיקוּ לָנוּ כְּלָל הַצְּדָקוֹת הָרָעוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם כִּרְצוֹנְךָ בֶאֱמֶת, הַגּוֹרְמִים מַה שֶּׁגּוֹרְמִים. אָנָּא רַחוּם, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים הַצִּילֵנוּ וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ מֵהֶם, וְתִתֵּן כֹּחַ לְהַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת שֶׁיַּמְשִׁיכוּ לְעַצְמָם כָּל הַצְּדָקוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, הָעוֹמְדִים מֵרָחוֹק מֵעֲדוּרֵי אֱמֶת.
Charity and Truth
Enable the true Tzaddikim, who are men of truth and who stand far from those who lack truth, to draw all charity to themselves.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִכָּלֵל בְּמִדָּתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁהָיָה מִדָּתוֹ אֱמֶת, וְנִזְכֶּה לְמִדַּת אֱמֶת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת.
Help us be absorbed into the trait of Jacob, which is the trait of truth.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּנוּ עִם כָּל פְּרָטֵיהֶם וְדִקְדּוּקֵיהֶם, לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת בְּלִי שׁוּם פְּנִיָּה וּבְלִי שׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה זָרָה בִּשְׁבִיל בְּנֵי אָדָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Help us perform all of the commandments with all of their details for the sake of Your Name, without any ulterior motives and without any intent to curry favor with people.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת בֶּאֱמֶת, לְדַקְדֵּק בְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת בֵּינֵינוּ לְבֵין קוֹנֵנוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹתָם בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ.
May we walk humbly and be exacting in all of the commandments between man and God, performing them perfectly for Your sake alone.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לְהִתְדַּבֵּק וּלְהִכָּלֵל בְּצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וּבַאֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת.
Help us cling to true Tzaddikim and all pious men of truth.
וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּצְדָקָה תִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כִּי נִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת כָּל הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּנוּ.
“May it be charity to us when we make sure to keep all of this commandment before HaShem our God, as He has commanded us.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וְזָרְחָה לָכֶם יִרְאֵי שְׁמִי שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה וּמַרְפֵּא בִּכְנָפֶיהָ.
“May the sun of charity, with healing in its wings, shine upon you who fear My Name.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִימֵי קֶדֶם.
“Give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham, as You promised our fathers from the earliest days.”
עָזְרֵנוּ עָזְרֵנוּ, חָנֵּנוּ חָנֵּנוּ, הַצִּילֵנוּ מֵרִיב לְשׁוֹנוֹת, הַצִּילֵנוּ וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיק לָנוּ כְּלָל לַעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּ הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עַכְשָׁיו בָּעוֹלָם, וּבִפְרָט הַקַּטֵּגוֹרְיָא שֶׁיֵּשׁ עַתָּה בֵּין הַתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר.
Help us, be gracious to us, and rescue us from argumentative tongues. Protect us so that the great contentiousness that now exists in the world — in particular, the disputes among the Torah sages and pious people — will not interfere with our serving You.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיקוּ לָנוּ שׁוּם מַחֲלֹקֶת לֹא בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְלֹא בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת.
May no dispute, in either the physical or the spiritual realms, harm us.
וּתְגָרֵשׁ וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל גְּבוּלֵנוּ, כִּי אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם עֵצָה וְתַחְבּוּלָה נֶגְדָּם, כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ לְבַד אָנוּ מַשְׁלִיכִים כָּל יְהָבֵינוּ וְאַתָּה תִלְחוֹם בַּעֲדֵנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, יוֹם אִירָא אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ אֶבְטָח.
Expel all evil thoughts from our borders. We have no counsel or plan to deal with such thoughts, except to cast our entire burden upon You alone and ask You to fight on our behalf. As the verse states, “On the day that I fear, I will place my trust in You.”
כִּי רַבּוּ מִשַּׂעֲרוֹת רֹאשִׁי שׂוֹנְאַי חִנָּם. יְהֹוָה מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי.
“More than the hairs of my head are those who hate me for no reason.” “HaShem, how many are my adversaries, how many rise against me!”
רַבַּת צְרָרוּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי גַּם לֹא יָכְלוּ לִי. עַל גַּבִּי חָרְשׁוּ חוֹרְשִׁים הֶאֱרִיכוּ לְמַעֲנִיתָם. יְהֹוָה צַדִּיק קִצֵּץ עֲבוֹת רְשָׁעִים. יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיִכָּלְמוּ מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשִׁי יִסּוֹגוּ אָחוֹר וְיַחְפְּרוּ חוֹשְׁבֵי רָעָתִי.
“Much have they tormented me from my youth — but they have not overcome me. Upon my back have the plowers plowed; they have lengthened their furrows. HaShem is righteous; He has cut the ropes of the wicked.” “Those who seek my life will be ashamed and crestfallen; those who plan my ruin will be turned back and humiliated.”
וְנַפְשִׁי תָּגִיל בַּיהֹוָה תָּשִׂישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ. כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה יְהֹוָה מִי כָמוֹךָ מַצִּיל עָנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מִגּוֹזְלוֹ.
“Then my spirit will be glad in HaShem; it will rejoice in His salvation. All of my bones will say, ‘HaShem, Who is like You? You save the poor person from the one who is stronger than he, and the poor man and the impoverished man from the one who robs him.’”
רְאֵה דִּמְעָתִי וְאַנְחָתִי וְאֶנְקָתִי וּמְרִירוּת לְבָבִי וְכִלְיוֹן עֵינַי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית. אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי אַל תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי. חוּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִי אֲדֹנָי תְּשׁוּעָתִי.
Take heed of my tears, sighs, groans, the bitterness of my heart and the yearning of my eyes for Your true salvation. “Do not abandon me, HaShem, my God; do not be far from me. Rush to help me, Master of my salvation.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”