Temporary and Permanent Repentance / The Tzaddik Sees His Smallness and the Greatness of the Jewish People / Repentance and the Shabbat / Repentance and Income A person must make sure that nothing within him prevents the coming of the Mashiach. In other words, he must repent. There are two types of repentance. The first kind is temporary. A person engages in business and the vanities of this world and, in the midst of that, he thinks of repenting — but then he returns to his original ways. He may flip back and forth repeatedly in this manner — between life and death, kosher and non-kosher, clean and unclean, forbidden and permitted. This type of repentance corresponds to the six days of the week. The second type of repentance is permanent. In this case, evil is entirely expelled. This type of repentance corresponds to the Shabbat, and is associated with the level of Moses and Mashiach. Thus, Moses carried the staff of God in his hand, with which he transformed reality from evil to good. On the Shabbat, a Tzaddik repents completely and then he can see how small he is and how great the Jewish people are. That is why every true Tzaddik — principally Moses — dedicates himself to helping the Jewish people. When a person sees his lowliness, no one can deprive him of his livelihood by attempting to remove him from his place. Because he is humble to the point of nothingness, he has no characteristic corresponding to “place.” Storm-Tossed by This World “I have taken refuge in HaShem. How shall you say to my soul, flee to your mountain like a bird?” Yet although “I have been diligent, I remain like a bird alone on the roof. All day long my enemies revile me; those who are crazed against me curse me. I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping, because of Your anger and Your wrath — for You lifted me up and then cast me down.”
I wander throughout the world without rest or quiet, in the midst of a storm that grows ever wilder. I am tossed about and torn asunder, more so than a ship driven off course in the heart of the sea.
Sometimes a little bit of goodness is aroused in me. Then I experience a thought of repentance and I decide to follow the ways of HaShem, the ways of the holy Torah, and I yearn for complete repentance.
My soul is like a stone shot from a slingshot, like a body flung about by monstrous waves streaked with the mud of the meaningless lusts of this world.
I have no way to describe my pitiable state from the day that I entered the world until this day. “I have had no tranquility and no quiet, and have not rested; and trouble has come.”
To Live Permanently with God Therefore, I plead before You, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, to bring me peace and quiet, and may I merit to repent before You with a complete repentance.
You Who told the sea at the shore, “Do not cross this point!” — rebuke my evil inclination and all those who pursue me, so they will leave me alone and cease to exist, and I will be able to serve You with all my heart. May I be saved and gain peace. May I find my power in tranquility and confidence.
May I no longer experience You as ruling my life with arbitrary occurrences. May I no longer be like a turning wheel or a flung staff, so that one moment I am worthy and the next moment unworthy, one moment pure and the next moment impure.
Help me make Torah an unchanging part of my life and place myself permanently within Your holiness. May I repent completely and serve You always, day and night, with all my heart and soul, with both my good and evil inclinations.
May I attain the repentance of the holy Shabbat and refrain from all mundane matters. May I turn away entirely from the lusts and vanities of this world and plant myself within holiness, with tranquility and quiet — a tranquility of love and generosity, a tranquility of truth and faith, a tranquility of peace and calm, quiet and confidence, a complete tranquility that You desire.
I Have Harmed Myself My transgressions cannot be measured or counted. They are more numerous than the grains of sand in the sea. There are no words to describe the multitude and intensity of my terrible sins against You.
Woe to me, because I transgressed! Woe, what have I done? How could it be that I did not have pity on my precious spirit? How could it be that I was crueler to my spirit than murderers and sadists?
If all of the murderers, thieves and sadists in the world would gather against me, they would not be able to do to me in a thousand years what I did to myself with a single sin.
“Who will make my head water and my eye a source of tears?” I will weep day and night over my profanations. I have abused my holiness and torn apart my spirit in my anger.
I come before You filled with sin, and You are filled with compassion. I am filled with confusion, evil thoughts and a twisted heart, and You are filled with goodness, decency, truth, kindness, compassion, life and peace.
Help me attain complete repentance — the repentance of the holy Shabbat. Help me place myself permanently within the world of Torah and Divine service. May I spend all of my days in repentance, so that even during the six days of the week, I will be absorbed into the holiness of the Shabbat. By means of that holiness, may I recognize how lowly I am. Grant me true humility to be even lower in my eyes than I really am. At any rate, may I not rise above myself and overestimate myself, but recognize that I am on a level that is immeasurably humble.
Humility and Loving the Jewish People My Father in Heaven, help me attain the ability to see with the eyes of the Shabbat, so that I will be able to recognize my lowliness.
Help me return to You with complete repentance. Rescue me from egotism, haughtiness and an arrogant spirit. Help me attain true humility until I will see how small I am and how great the holy people of Israel are, and may I dedicate myself to them always.
For the Seventh of Adar, the Yahrtzeit of Moses May we not impede the coming of the Mashiach. A number of times in the past, with our evil deeds and many sins, we obstructed his coming and lengthened the exile.
Keep us from committing any more sins, from engaging in any more evil thoughts, and from suffering any more confusion. Help us attain pure, holy, lucid and proper thoughts.
Bring me close to You. Help me walk before You on a straight path. Transform me from evil to absolute good. Turn my heart to You. Help me attain true and eternal goodness.
“He causes me to lie down upon lush meadows, He leads me alongside the tranquil waters, He restores my spirit. He leads me upon paths of justice for the sake of His Name.”
Send us a true leader, a faithful shepherd like Moses, who will carry us “as the nurse carries the suckling child,” until he will bring us to holiness and repentance.
Quickly redeem us. Bring us our righteous Mashiach. Help us live in accordance with Your beneficent will all the days of our lives. May we realize the verse, “Trust in HaShem and do good. Dwell in the Land and shepherd with faith.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ע"ט - בְּטַח בַּה']
בַּיהֹוָה חָסִיתִי אֵיךְ תֹּאמְרוּ לְנַפְשִׁי נוּדִי הַרְכֶם צִפּוֹר. שָׁקַדְתִּי וָאֶהְיֶה כְּצִפּוֹר בּוֹדֵד עַל גָּג. כָּל הַיּוֹם חֵרְפוּנִי אוֹיְבָי מְהוֹלָלַי בִּי נִשְׁבָּעוּ. כִּי אֵפֶר כַּלֶּחֶם אָכָלְתִּי וְשִׁקֻּוַּי בִּבְכִי מָסָכְתִּי. מִפְּנֵי זַעַמְךָ וְקִצְפֶּךָ כִּי נְשָׂאתַנִי וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי.
Temporary and Permanent Repentance / The Tzaddik Sees His Smallness and the Greatness of the Jewish People / Repentance and the Shabbat / Repentance and Income
A person must make sure that nothing within him prevents the coming of the Mashiach. In other words, he must repent.
There are two types of repentance. The first kind is temporary. A person engages in business and the vanities of this world and, in the midst of that, he thinks of repenting — but then he returns to his original ways. He may flip back and forth repeatedly in this manner — between life and death, kosher and non-kosher, clean and unclean, forbidden and permitted. This type of repentance corresponds to the six days of the week.
The second type of repentance is permanent. In this case, evil is entirely expelled. This type of repentance corresponds to the Shabbat, and is associated with the level of Moses and Mashiach. Thus, Moses carried the staff of God in his hand, with which he transformed reality from evil to good.
On the Shabbat, a Tzaddik repents completely and then he can see how small he is and how great the Jewish people are. That is why every true Tzaddik — principally Moses — dedicates himself to helping the Jewish people.
When a person sees his lowliness, no one can deprive him of his livelihood by attempting to remove him from his place. Because he is humble to the point of nothingness, he has no characteristic corresponding to “place.”
Storm-Tossed by This World
“I have taken refuge in HaShem. How shall you say to my soul, flee to your mountain like a bird?” Yet although “I have been diligent, I remain like a bird alone on the roof. All day long my enemies revile me; those who are crazed against me curse me. I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping, because of Your anger and Your wrath — for You lifted me up and then cast me down.”
כִּי אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ בָּעוֹלָם נָע וָנָד בָּאָרֶץ, וְאֵין לִי שׁוּם מְנוּחָה וְהַשְׁקֵט, כִּי הָרוּחַ סְעָרָה הוֹלֵךְ וְסוֹעֵר, וַאֲנִי מְבֻלְבָּל וּמְטֹרָף מְאֹד יוֹתֵר מִסְּפִינָה הַתּוֹעָה בְּלֶב יָם.
I wander throughout the world without rest or quiet, in the midst of a storm that grows ever wilder. I am tossed about and torn asunder, more so than a ship driven off course in the heart of the sea.
אֶת מְרִירוּת עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע טָעַמְתִּי וְנִתְעָרֵב בִּי מְאֹד הַטּוֹב וְהָרָע יַחַד, וְאֵין לִי שׁוּם מְנוּחָה וְהַשְׁקֵט.
Because I tasted the bitter fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, good and evil have mingled together within me until I have no peace and quiet.
לִפְעָמִים מִתְעוֹרֵר בִּי הַטּוֹב וּמַגִּיעַ לִי הִרְהוּר תְּשׁוּבָה, וַאֲנִי מַתְחִיל לְהַרְגִּיל עַצְמִי בְּדַרְכֵי יְהֹוָה, בְּדַרְכֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְלִכְסֹף לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, אַךְ הוּא לְמִּצְעָר מְאֹד.
Sometimes a little bit of goodness is aroused in me. Then I experience a thought of repentance and I decide to follow the ways of HaShem, the ways of the holy Torah, and I yearn for complete repentance.
וּבְתוֹךְ כָּךְ מִתְעוֹרֵר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֵשׁ הַתַּאֲווֹת, וַאֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ וְתוֹעֶה עוֹלֶה וְיוֹרֵד,
But in the midst of that, my fiery lusts are aroused until I stray.
יוֹרֵד וְעוֹלֶה, וְהַשְׁקֵט לֹא אוּכָל.
And so I rise and descend, descend and rise, and I cannot gain equanimity.
אוֹי לִי מִיִּצְרִי, אוֹי לִי מִיּוֹצְרִי,
Woe to me because of my evil inclination! Woe to me before my Maker!
כְּאֶבֶן הַנָּתוּן בְּתוֹךְ כַּף הַקֶּלַע, כֵּן נַפְשִׁי מְטֹרֶפֶת בִּיוֵן מְצוּלוֹת טִיט עֲכִירַת תַּאֲווֹת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַהֲבָלָיו,
My soul is like a stone shot from a slingshot, like a body flung about by monstrous waves streaked with the mud of the meaningless lusts of this world.
וּבֶאֱמֶת אֵין לִי שׁוּם מָשָׁל וְדִמְיוֹן לְכַנּוֹת וּלְדַמּוֹת עֹצֶם הָרַחֲמָנוּת שֶׁעָלַי מִיּוֹם הֱיוֹתִי עַל הָאֲדָמָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, לֹא שָׁלַוְתִּי וְלֹא שָׁקַטְתִּי וְלֹא נָחְתִּי וַיָּבֹא רוֹגֶז:
I have no way to describe my pitiable state from the day that I entered the world until this day. “I have had no tranquility and no quiet, and have not rested; and trouble has come.”
עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לְהַפִּיל תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שֶׁתַּמְצִיא לִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ מְנוּחָה וְהַשְׁקֵט, וּתְזַכֵּנִי בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
To Live Permanently with God
Therefore, I plead before You, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, to bring me peace and quiet, and may I merit to repent before You with a complete repentance.
אֵל שַׁדַּי יִתֵּן לִי רַחֲמִים, הָאוֹמֵר לְעוֹלָמוֹ דַּי יֹאמַר לְצָרוֹתַי דַּי.
You Who told Your world to cease expanding with the word “Enough!” — tell my troubles, “Enough!”
הָאוֹמֵר לַיָּם עַד פֹּה תָבוֹא, הוּא יִגְעוֹר בְּהַיֵּצֶר הָרַע שֶׁלִּי וּבְכָל הָרוֹדְפִים אוֹתִי שֶׁיִּסְתַּלְּקוּ מִמֶּנִּי וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ מִמֶּנִּי, וְיַנִּיחוּנִי לְעָבְדוֹ בִּקְבִיעוּת בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם, בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת אִוָּשֵׁעַ, בְּהַשְׁקֵט וּבְבִטְחָה תִּהְיֶה גְבוּרָתִי.
You Who told the sea at the shore, “Do not cross this point!” — rebuke my evil inclination and all those who pursue me, so they will leave me alone and cease to exist, and I will be able to serve You with all my heart. May I be saved and gain peace. May I find my power in tranquility and confidence.
וְלֹא אֵלֵךְ עוֹד עִמְּךָ בְּקֶרִי וּבְמִקְרֶה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא אֶהְיֶה כְּגַלְגַּל הַחוֹזֵר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּמַטֶּה הַמִתְהַפֵּךְ פַּעַם כָּשֵׁר וּפַעַם פָּסוּל, פַּעַם טָהוֹר וּפַעַם טָמֵא חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
May I no longer experience You as ruling my life with arbitrary occurrences. May I no longer be like a turning wheel or a flung staff, so that one moment I am worthy and the next moment unworthy, one moment pure and the next moment impure.
רַק אֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת תּוֹרָתִי קֶבַע, וְלִקְבֹּעַ עַצְמִי בִּקְבִיעוּת גָּמוּר בְּתוֹךְ קְדֻשָּׁתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלַעֲבֹד אוֹתְךָ תָמִיד יוֹמָם וְלַיְלָה בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ בִּשְׁנֵי יְצָרַי בֶּאֱמֶת:
Help me make Torah an unchanging part of my life and place myself permanently within Your holiness. May I repent completely and serve You always, day and night, with all my heart and soul, with both my good and evil inclinations.
לְשַׁבַּת־קוֹדֶשׁ
וְתַעֲלֵנִי מְהֵרָה מִטֻּמְאָה לְטָהֳרָה, מֵחֹל לְקֹדֶשׁ, מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַחֹל לִקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ.
The Holy Shabbat
Raise me quickly from impurity to purity, from the mundane to holiness, from the six days of the week to the holy Shabbat.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי לְקַבֵּל שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ בְּשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה וּבְחֶדְוָה רַבָּה וַעֲצוּמָה, וּבְכָל מִינֵי כָּבוֹד וְעֹנֶג שַׁבָּת וּקְדֻשָּׁה וְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
Help me celebrate the holy Shabbat with joy and happiness, honor and delight, and holiness and piety, in accordance with Your beneficent will.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִכָּלֵל בִּקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבָּת תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה שֶׁל שַׁבָּת לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַחֹל.
May I be absorbed into the holiness of the Shabbat always, until I draw that holiness to the six days of the week.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִתְשׁוּבָה שֶׁל שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ, וְלָנוּחַ מֵעַתָּה מִכָּל עִנְיָנֵי חֹל, וְלַהֲפֹךְ פָּנַי לְגַמְרֵי מִתַּאֲווֹת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַהֲבָלָיו, וְלִקְבֹּעַ עַצְמִי בֶּאֱמֶת בְּתוֹךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, בִּמְנוּחָה וְהַשְׁקֵט, בִּמְנוּחַת אַהֲבָה וּנְדָבָה, מְנוּחַת אֱמֶת וֶאֱמוּנָה, מְנוּחַת שָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה וְהַשְׁקֵט וָבֶטַח, מְנוּחָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹצֶה בָהּ,
May I attain the repentance of the holy Shabbat and refrain from all mundane matters. May I turn away entirely from the lusts and vanities of this world and plant myself within holiness, with tranquility and quiet — a tranquility of love and generosity, a tranquility of truth and faith, a tranquility of peace and calm, quiet and confidence, a complete tranquility that You desire.
וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בְּרוּחִי רְמִיָּה כְּלָל וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה לְעוֹלָם:
May there be no falsehood in my spirit. May I never return to foolishness.
וְאִם הִרְבֵּיתִי אַשְׁמָה, עַד אֲשֶׁר חֲטָאַי לֹא יִמַּדּוּ וְלֹא יִסָּפְרוּ, וְכָבְדוּ מֵחוֹל יַמִּים, וְאֵין שׁוּם לָשׁוֹן בָּעוֹלָם לְכַנּוֹת בּוֹ רִבּוּי וְעֹצֶם פְּשָׁעַי וּפְגָמַי נֶגְדְּךָ.
I Have Harmed Myself
My transgressions cannot be measured or counted. They are more numerous than the grains of sand in the sea. There are no words to describe the multitude and intensity of my terrible sins against You.
אוֹי לִי כִּי חָטָאתִי, אוֹי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי, אוֹי לִי, אֵיךְ לֹא חַסְתִּי עַל נַפְשִׁי הַיְקָרָה מְאֹד, אֵיךְ הָיִיתִי אַכְזָר עַל נַפְשִׁי יוֹתֵר מִכָּל מִינֵי רוֹצְחִים וְאַכְזָרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
Woe to me, because I transgressed! Woe, what have I done? How could it be that I did not have pity on my precious spirit? How could it be that I was crueler to my spirit than murderers and sadists?
וְאִלּוּ הָיוּ מִתְקַבְּצִים עָלַי יַחַד כָּל הָרוֹצְחִים וְהַגַּזְלָנִים וְהָאַכְזָרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, לֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִים לַעֲשׂוֹת לִי בְּאֶלֶף שָׁנִים, מַה שֶּׁאָנֹכִי עָשִׂיתִי לִי בְּעַצְמִי עַל־יְדֵי חֵטְא וּפְגַם אֶחָד שֶׁחָטָאתִי נֶגְדְּךָ,
If all of the murderers, thieves and sadists in the world would gather against me, they would not be able to do to me in a thousand years what I did to myself with a single sin.
מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן כִּי חֲטָאַי רַבּוּ מִסַּפֵּר. אוֹי אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, אוֹי לִי, וַי וְאַלְלַי,
And I committed so many sins — so many that they are too numerous to count. Woe is me!
מִי יִתֵּן רֹאשִׁי מַיִם וְעֵינִי מְקוֹר דִּמְעָה, וְאֶבְכֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה עַל חֲלָלַי, כִּי חִלַּלְתִּי אֶת קְדֻשָּׁתִי,
“Who will make my head water and my eye a source of tears?” I will weep day and night over my profanations. I have abused my holiness and torn apart my spirit in my anger.
וְטָרַפְתִּי אֶת נַפְשִׁי בְּאַפִּי וְעִנֵּיתִי אֶת נַפְשִׁי בְּכָל מִינֵי עִנּוּיִם מָרִים וְקָשִׁים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
I oppressed my soul with bitter and hard afflictions.
הֲרֵינִי לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אֲנִי מָלֵא עָוֹן וְאַתָּה מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אֲנִי מָלֵא בִּלְבּוּלִים וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת וְעַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבַּלֵּב, וְאַתָּה מָלֵא טוֹב וָיֹשֶׁר וֶאֱמֶת וָחֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם.
I come before You filled with sin, and You are filled with compassion. I am filled with confusion, evil thoughts and a twisted heart, and You are filled with goodness, decency, truth, kindness, compassion, life and peace.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי פֶּלֶא לְחַיִּים לְבַל אֶהְיֶה כַּמֵּת בְּחַיַּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Renewal and Humility
Master of the world, grant me a miracle so that I will not be like the dead even in my lifetime.
עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, לִתְשׁוּבָה שֶׁל שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ. וְאֶזְכֶּה לִקְבֹּעַ עַצְמִי עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה, וְלִהְיוֹת כָּל יָמַי בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בִּקְבִיעוּת גָּדוֹל, וּלְהִכָּלֵל תָּמִיד גַּם בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה בִּקְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ. וְאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבַּת־קֹדֶשׁ לִרְאוֹת שִׁפְלוּתִי בֶּאֱמֶת, וּתְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, וְאֶהְיֶה שָׁפָל בְּעֵינַי לְמַטָּה מִמַּדְרֵגָתִי הַשְּׁפָלָה מְאֹד, וְעַל כָּל פָּנִים לֹא אֵצֵא מִמְּקוֹמִי וְלֹא אֶטְעֶה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם בְּעַצְמִי. וְאֶהְיֶה מַכִּיר אֶת מְקוֹמִי הַשָּׁפֵל וְנָמוּךְ מְאֹד, בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר,
Help me attain complete repentance — the repentance of the holy Shabbat. Help me place myself permanently within the world of Torah and Divine service. May I spend all of my days in repentance, so that even during the six days of the week, I will be absorbed into the holiness of the Shabbat. By means of that holiness, may I recognize how lowly I am. Grant me true humility to be even lower in my eyes than I really am. At any rate, may I not rise above myself and overestimate myself, but recognize that I am on a level that is immeasurably humble.
וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בְּלִבִּי גַאֲוָה טְמוּנָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִגֵּאוּת וְגַבְהוּת וּמִגַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ תָּמִיד.
May no hidden pride reside in my heart. Save me from egotism, haughtiness and coarseness of spirit.
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, זַכֵּנִי לְעַיִן שֶׁל שַׁבָּת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת שִׁפְלוּתִי בֶּאֱמֶת תָּמִיד,
Humility and Loving the Jewish People
My Father in Heaven, help me attain the ability to see with the eyes of the Shabbat, so that I will be able to recognize my lowliness.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ עֹצֶם שִׁפְלוּתִי בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן מְבַלְבְּלִים דַּעְתִּי מִיַּד בִּפְנִיּוֹת וְגֵאוּת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ מִדַּרְכֵי הָעֲנָוָה.
I am infinitely low. Nevertheless, my ulterior motives and boundless pride confuse my mind so that I do not know anything of humility.
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת לְבָבִי, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת חֶרְפָּתִי וּבָשְׁתִּי וּכְלִמָּתִי נֶגְדְּךָ כָּל צוֹרְרָי.
HaShem, You know my heart. You know how disgrace, shame and humiliation torment me.
הַחֲזִירֵנִי בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִגֵּאוּת וְגַבְהוּת וּמֵרָמוּת רוּחָא. וְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲנָוָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת שִׁפְלוּתִי, וְגַדְלוּת וַחֲשִׁיבוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קָדוֹשׁ, וְלִמְסֹר נַפְשִׁי עֲבוּרָם תָּמִיד:
Help me return to You with complete repentance. Rescue me from egotism, haughtiness and an arrogant spirit. Help me attain true humility until I will see how small I am and how great the holy people of Israel are, and may I dedicate myself to them always.
לְז' אֲדָר הִילּוּלָא דְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע"ה
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וּתְזַכֵּנִי שֶׁמִּצִּדִּי לֹא יִהְיֶה עִכּוּב בִּיאַת מָשִׁיחַ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, אֲשֶׁר כְּבָר גָּרַמְנוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ הָרָעִים עִכּוּב בִּיאַת מָשִׁיחַ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים, וְהֶאֱרַכְנוּ אֶת הַגָּלוּת בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים.
For the Seventh of Adar, the Yahrtzeit of Moses
May we not impede the coming of the Mashiach. A number of times in the past, with our evil deeds and many sins, we obstructed his coming and lengthened the exile.
אֱמֹר לְצָרוֹתֵינוּ דַי,
Now tell our troubles, “Enough!”
וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מֵעַתָּה מֵחֲטָאִים וַעֲוֹנוֹת וּפְשָׁעִים, וּמֵהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים וּמִמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת, וְזַכֵּנוּ לְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת זַכּוֹת, לְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת צַחוֹת וּנְכוֹנוֹת.
Keep us from committing any more sins, from engaging in any more evil thoughts, and from suffering any more confusion. Help us attain pure, holy, lucid and proper thoughts.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, קָרְבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְזַכֵּנִי לָלֶכֶת בְּדַרְכֵי יְשָׁרִים לְפָנֶיךָ. הָפְכֵנִי מֵרַע לְטוֹב גָּמוּר, הַט לְבָבִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, זַכֵּנִי לְטוֹב אֲמִתִּי, לְטוֹב הַנִּצְחִי.
Bring me close to You. Help me walk before You on a straight path. Transform me from evil to absolute good. Turn my heart to You. Help me attain true and eternal goodness.
הָקֵם עַל סֶלַע רַגְלַי כּוֹנֵן אֲשׁוּרָי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת קָבוּעַ לָנֶצַח בַּעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ וּבְיִרְאָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם.
“He sets my feet upon the rock; He firmly establishes my steps.” May I be set forever in Your service, in Your Torah and in the fear of You.
בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל מֵי מְנוּחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי. נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ.
“He causes me to lie down upon lush meadows, He leads me alongside the tranquil waters, He restores my spirit. He leads me upon paths of justice for the sake of His Name.”
וְזַכֵּנִי לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וְלִתְמִימִים וִישָׁרִים בְּלִבּוֹתָם בֶּאֱמֶת.
Help me come close to true Tzaddikim, to wholehearted people whose hearts are upright.
וְתֵן לָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, מַנְהִיג רוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן, כְּמוֹ מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם רַעְיָא מְהֵימְנָא, אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא אוֹתָנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא הָאֹמֵן אֶת הַיֹּנֵק עַד אֲשֶׁר יְבִיאֵנוּ לְתוֹךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְהַתְּשׁוּבָה בֶּאֱמֶת.
Send us a true leader, a faithful shepherd like Moses, who will carry us “as the nurse carries the suckling child,” until he will bring us to holiness and repentance.
וּתְמַהֵר וְתָחִישׁ לְגָאֳלֵנו וְתָבִיא לָנוּ אֶת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ. וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, בְּטַח בַּיהֹוָה וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב שְׁכָן אֶרֶץ וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה.
Quickly redeem us. Bring us our righteous Mashiach. Help us live in accordance with Your beneficent will all the days of our lives. May we realize the verse, “Trust in HaShem and do good. Dwell in the Land and shepherd with faith.”
הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם:
“Bring us back to You, HaShem, and we will return; renew our days as of old.”