The Power of Thought Thought has such great power that a person can achieve anything that he focuses on intensely. For example, if he concentrates on having money, he will certainly become wealthy. The same holds true regarding any other matter. This thought must be accompanied by the nullification of all sensory impressions. It must be so powerful that if a person were to imagine that he is dying for the sake of sanctifying God’s Name, he might die from the pain. A person must not allow himself to remain in that state, so as not to leave this world before his time. Sanctifying HaShem’s Name When Reciting the Shema “HaShem, I lift my soul to You.”
Master of the world, help me sanctify Your Name at every moment — in particular during the recital of the Shema,7See footnote 5, p. 221. as I accept the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.
May I unify Your Name every evening and morning by joyfully dedicating my soul and my heart to sanctify Your Name. And each time I sanctify and unify Your Name, may I be ready to suffer martyrdom on Your behalf. May I express that readiness by mentally accepting the four types of execution mandated by the Torah: stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.
May I be willing to experience all of these deaths and other torments, too, for the sake of Your great and holy Name. Help me focus on experiencing such martyrdom with all of the power of my thoughts, both deep and superficial.
May I visualize all of these deaths and torments for the sake of Your great and holy Name in every detail, as all of my outer senses are nullified, until I experience them so powerfully and with such verisimilitude that my soul is literally on the verge of leaving my body, and I must gather my strength to moderate that visualization and keep from dying prematurely, since it is not Your desire to take away a person’s soul before its time.
Teach me how to conduct myself in this way, accepting martyrdom with love for the sake of sanctifying Your Name, in accordance with Your beneficent will.
Self-Nullification While Reciting the Shema Master of the world, You revealed to us through Your holy sages that throughout our deep exile — overall and in its every detail — we can rely only on the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim who dedicate their lives to sanctify Your Name. Therefore, help us cleave to these holy Tzaddikim.
All of the secrets of the heart are revealed to You. Therefore, You know that every member of Your nation, the House of Israel, is prepared to sacrifice his life in order to sanctify Your Name.
I, too — poor in deeds and contemptible, possessing powerful physical urges and filled with a multitude of sins — am prepared to die immediately for the sake of sanctifying Your Name. To that end, with all my heart and soul, I accept upon myself stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.
Even if I cannot yet visualize such an experience to the point of literally feeling the pangs of death, I am nevertheless prepared with all my heart to die immediately for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
Help us approach You with love. Swiftly bring us back to You with complete repentance. Raise us ever higher until we achieve all that we have sought from You.
As a result, when our actual end arrives, may we leave the world for the sake of the sanctification of Your Name wholeheartedly, with love and joy. May our deaths atone for all of our sins. May our souls then rise up to You pure and clean, bound in the bond of life. And may we not come before You in shame.
The Merit of the Holy Martyrs Because of our many sins, our dedication to the cause of sanctifying Your Name is so weak that it lacks the power to lift us from our precipitous descent and exile in the physical and spiritual realms, overall and in every detail — “she has descended shockingly, with no one to console her.” This is the state of the Jewish people now, at the end of our bitter exile, which every individual Jew experiences every day.
Recall all of the righteous and holy people, from Abraham our patriarch to the present, who dedicated their lives to the cause of sanctifying Your Name, many of whom suffered terrible and bitter torments and violent deaths.
In particular, recall the merit of Rabbi Akiva, whose flesh was raked with iron combs until, as he recited the Shema and pronounced the word “One,” his soul departed. Recall the merit of his ten colleagues who were tortured by the Roman government, all of whom endured difficult and bitter suffering until their souls left them, for the sake of sanctifying Your Name in holiness and purity. And with them, recall the merit of the holy people in all generations, millions of souls and entire holy communities, who were tormented and gave their lives for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
In the midst of our exile, overall and in every detail, we can rely only on the power and merit of those holy people who gave their souls for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
As King David said, “I said to HaShem, You are my God, my only good is in You; as for the holy and mighty ones who are in the earth, all of my desire is in them.”
Help us in the merit and power of all of the holy Tzaddikim from the earliest days until now, people without number who sacrificed themselves to sanctify Your Name. Our Master and King, in their merit and strength, help us dedicate ourselves to sanctify Your Name with love and awe, with joy and goodness of heart.
Have compassion on Your great and holy honor. Take vengeance in our days, in our sight, for the spilled blood of Your servants. “God of vengeance, HaShem, God of vengeance, appear. Rise up, Judge of the earth; render payment to the proud.”
Quickly redeem us. Bring back our exiles. Gather us swiftly from the four corners of the earth to our land. Our Father in Heaven, sanctify Your Name in Your world by aiding the nation that sanctifies Your Name. Our King, elevate our might and redeem us soon for the sake of Your Name. “Blessed is the One Who sanctifies His Name among the multitudes.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה קצ"ג - דַּע שֶׁהַמַּחֲשָׁבָה יֵשׁ לָהּ תֹּקֶף גָּדוֹל]
אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא.
The Power of Thought
Thought has such great power that a person can achieve anything that he focuses on intensely. For example, if he concentrates on having money, he will certainly become wealthy. The same holds true regarding any other matter.
This thought must be accompanied by the nullification of all sensory impressions. It must be so powerful that if a person were to imagine that he is dying for the sake of sanctifying God’s Name, he might die from the pain. A person must not allow himself to remain in that state, so as not to leave this world before his time.
Sanctifying HaShem’s Name When Reciting the Shema
“HaShem, I lift my soul to You.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לִמְסֹר נַפְשִׁי עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל־עֵת תָּמִיד, וּבִפְרָט בִּשְׁעַת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע, בְּעֵת קַבָּלַת עֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם,
Master of the world, help me sanctify Your Name at every moment — in particular during the recital of the Shema,7See footnote 5, p. 221. as I accept the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.
שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְיַחֵד שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד בָּעֶרֶב וּבַבֹּקֶר בִּמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב, בְּשִׂמְחָה וְחֶדְוָה גְּדוֹלָה. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל עָלַי בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל הָאַרְבַּע מִיתוֹת בֵּית דִּין, סְקִילָה שְׂרֵפָה הֶרֶג וָחֶנֶק, בְּעֵת שֶׁאֲנִי מְיַחֵד שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל יוֹם,
May I unify Your Name every evening and morning by joyfully dedicating my soul and my heart to sanctify Your Name. And each time I sanctify and unify Your Name, may I be ready to suffer martyrdom on Your behalf. May I express that readiness by mentally accepting the four types of execution mandated by the Torah: stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.
שֶׁאֶהְיֶה מְרֻצֶּה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם לָמוּת בְּכָל הַמִּיתוֹת וְלִסְבֹּל כָּל הַיִּסּוּרִים וְהָעִנּוּיִים בִּשְׁבִיל קְדֻשַּׁת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל. וְתַעַזְרֵנִי בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְחַזֵּק אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בְּעִנְיַן הַמְּסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה חֲזָקָה וְתַקִּיפָה בְּכָל הַכֹּחוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה בִּפְנִימִיּוּת וְחִיצוֹנִיּוּת,
May I be willing to experience all of these deaths and other torments, too, for the sake of Your great and holy Name. Help me focus on experiencing such martyrdom with all of the power of my thoughts, both deep and superficial.
וּלְצַיֵּר בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי כָּל הַמִּיתוֹת וְהָעִנּוּיִים בְּצִיּוּר גָּמוּר בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה חֲזָקָה וְתַקִּיפָה בְּבִטּוּל כָּל הַהַרְגָּשׁוֹת עַד שֶׁאַרְגִּישׁ בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי וּמֹחִי צַעַר הַמִּיתָה וְהָעִנּוּיִים מַמָּשׁ כְּאִלּוּ מְמִיתִים וּמְיַסְּרִים אוֹתִי בְּמִיתוֹת וְיִסּוּרִים אֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ בִּשְׁבִיל קְדֻשַּׁת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ, עַד שֶׁכִּמְעַט תֵּצֵא נַפְשִׁי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שׁוּם חִלּוּק אֶצְלִי בֵּין יִסּוּרֵי הַמִּיתָה מַמָּשׁ, וּבֵין יִסּוּרֵי הַצִּיּוּר בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה וְהַקַּבָּלָה בַּלֵּב, עַד שֶׁאֶהְיֶה מֻכְרָח לְהִתְגַּבֵּר לְהַפְסִיק הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה מְעַט, בְּעֵת שֶׁאֶרְאֶה וְאַבְחִין שֶׁקָּרוֹב שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשִׁי מַמָּשׁ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא אָמוּת בְּלֹא עִתִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
May I visualize all of these deaths and torments for the sake of Your great and holy Name in every detail, as all of my outer senses are nullified, until I experience them so powerfully and with such verisimilitude that my soul is literally on the verge of leaving my body, and I must gather my strength to moderate that visualization and keep from dying prematurely, since it is not Your desire to take away a person’s soul before its time.
וְאַתָּה תַעֲזֹר וְתוֹשִׁיעַ לִי וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּזֶה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, לְקַבֵּל הַמְּסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ בְּאַהֲבָה בֶּאֱמֶת בִּשְׁבִיל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, וּלְצַיֵּר בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי הַמִּיתָה וְהַיִּסּוּרִים בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה חֲזָקָה כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁאַרְגִּישׁ צַעַר הַמִּיתָה וְהַיִּסּוּרִים מַמָּשׁ, וּלְהַנִּיחַ בְּסוֹף הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה לְהַפְסִיקָהּ מְעַט מִצִּיּוּר הֶחָזָק שֶׁל יִסּוּרֵי הַמִּיתָה בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַדָּבָר קָרוֹב שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשִׁי לְגַמְרֵי, כִּי אֵין זֶה רְצוֹנְךָ לְסַלֵּק הַנֶּפֶשׁ קֹדֶם הַזְּמַן חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
Teach me how to conduct myself in this way, accepting martyrdom with love for the sake of sanctifying Your Name, in accordance with Your beneficent will.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אֲדוֹן כֹּל, קָדוֹשׁ עַל כָּל הַקְּדֻשּׁוֹת. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֲשֶׁר בְּעֹצֶם תֹּקֶף גָּלוּתֵנוּ עַתָּה בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט, אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם סְמִיכָה כִּי אִם עַל כֹּחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הַמּוֹסְרִים נַפְשָׁם עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת, כַּאֲשֶׁר גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וּבְכֵן רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִכָּלֵל בַּצַּדִּיקִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ,
Self-Nullification While Reciting the Shema
Master of the world, You revealed to us through Your holy sages that throughout our deep exile — overall and in its every detail — we can rely only on the power and merit of the true Tzaddikim who dedicate their lives to sanctify Your Name. Therefore, help us cleave to these holy Tzaddikim.
כִּי לְפָנֶיךָ נִגְלוּ כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת לֵב, וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מְרֻצֶּה בֶּאֱמֶת לִמְסֹר נַפְשׁוֹ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם,
All of the secrets of the heart are revealed to You. Therefore, You know that every member of Your nation, the House of Israel, is prepared to sacrifice his life in order to sanctify Your Name.
כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּאָזְנֵינוּ מִכַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אֲנָשִׁים פְּשׁוּטִים וְקַלֵּי עוֹלָם שֶׁמֵּתוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם וְסָבְלוּ עִנּוּיִים וִיסּוּרִים קָשִׁים בִּשְׁבִיל קְדֻשַּׁת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל.
We ourselves heard about a good number of simple people who died and suffered torments for the sake of sanctifying Your great Name.
וְגַם אָנֹכִי הַדַּל בְּמַעֲשִׂים, הָרָשׁ וְהַנִּבְזֶה בְּעֹצֶם גַּשְׁמִיּוּתִי וְתֹקֶף תַּאֲוָתִי וְרִבּוּי עֲוֹנוֹתַי, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, אֲנִי מְרֻצֶּה בֶּאֱמֶת לָמוּת מִיָּד עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, וְהִנְנִי מְקַבֵּל עָלַי בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ, סְקִילָה שְׂרֵפָה הֶרֶג וָחֶנֶק, בִּשְׁבִיל קְדֻשַּׁת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל.
I, too — poor in deeds and contemptible, possessing powerful physical urges and filled with a multitude of sins — am prepared to die immediately for the sake of sanctifying Your Name. To that end, with all my heart and soul, I accept upon myself stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.
וְאִם אֵינִי זוֹכֶה עֲדַיִן לְמַחֲשָׁבָה זַכָּה וַחֲזָקָה כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁאַרְגִּישׁ צַעַר הַמִּיתָה מַמָּשׁ עַל־יְדֵי הַקַּבָּלָה וְהַצִּיּוּר בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, אֲנִי מְרֻצֶּה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם לָמוּת מִיָּד עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם.
Even if I cannot yet visualize such an experience to the point of literally feeling the pangs of death, I am nevertheless prepared with all my heart to die immediately for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
עַל כֵּן חוּס וְחָנֵּנוּ וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה גַם מְסִירַת נַפְשֵׁנוּ חָשׁוּב וּמְקֻבָּל ומְרֻצֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ בְּתוֹךְ כְּלָלִיּוּת נַפְשׁוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת,
Therefore, accept my dedication, together with that of all those righteous and holy people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Your holy Name.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַּעֲלֶה אוֹתָנוּ מִנְּפִלָתֵנוּ וִירִידָתֵנוּ וְגָלוּתֵנוּ בִּכְלָלִיּוּת וּבִפְרָטִיּוּת, בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת,
In this way, raise us from our descent and exile — overall and in every physical and spiritual detail.
וּתְקָרְבֵנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וְתַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה. וְתַעֲלֶה אוֹתָנוּ מַעְלָה מַעְלָה, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ לְכָל מַה שֶּׁבִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ,
Help us approach You with love. Swiftly bring us back to You with complete repentance. Raise us ever higher until we achieve all that we have sought from You.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְחַזֵּק הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה כָּל כָּךְ בִּשְׁעַת הַמְּסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, עַד שֶׁנַּרְגִּישׁ צַעַר הַמִּיתָה מַמָּשׁ בְּעֵת הַקַּבָּלָה וְהַצִּיּוּר בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה.
May we strengthen our power of mind so much that when we dedicate ourselves to sanctify Your Name, we will feel the pangs of death.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְכַוֵּן תָּמִיד בְּכָל יוֹם בִּשְׁעַת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר, שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹסְרִים נַפְשֵׁנוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה חֲזָקָה וְתַקִּיפָה, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר בִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ אָדוֹן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים.
Every day, when we recite the Shema, may we powerfully visualize that we are sacrificing our lives for the sake of Your holy Name.
עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בְּעֵת שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ קִצֵּנוּ לְהִפָּטֵר מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה אָז לָמוּת מַמָּשׁ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב, בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה. וְתִהְיֶה מִיתָתֵנוּ כַּפָּרָה עַל כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ וְתַעֲלֶה נִשְׁמָתֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ זַכָּה וּנְקִיָּה, וְיִהְיוּ נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ וְרוּחוֹתֵינוּ וְנִשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ צְרוּרִים בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְלָא נֵיעוּל בְּכִסּוּפָא קַמָּךְ:
As a result, when our actual end arrives, may we leave the world for the sake of the sanctification of Your Name wholeheartedly, with love and joy. May our deaths atone for all of our sins. May our souls then rise up to You pure and clean, bound in the bond of life. And may we not come before You in shame.
וְאִם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים וּבִפְשָׁעֵינוּ הָעֲצוּמִים, אֵין כֹּחַ בִּמְסִירַת נַפְשֵׁנוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם לְהַעֲלוֹת אוֹתָנוּ מִנְּפִלוֹתֵינוּ וִירִידוֹתֵינוּ וְגָלוּתֵנוּ, אֲשֶׁר יָרַדְנוּ מַטָּה מַטָּה בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת בִּכְלָלִיּוּת וּבִפְרָטִיּוּת כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וַתֵּרֵד פְּלָאִים, אֵין מְנַחֵם לָהּ. כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲמָד וּמַצָּב שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַתָּה בְּסוֹף הַגָּלוּת הַמַּר הַזֶּה, וּמַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר בְּכָל יוֹם עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּפְרָט.
The Merit of the Holy Martyrs
Because of our many sins, our dedication to the cause of sanctifying Your Name is so weak that it lacks the power to lift us from our precipitous descent and exile in the physical and spiritual realms, overall and in every detail — “she has descended shockingly, with no one to console her.” This is the state of the Jewish people now, at the end of our bitter exile, which every individual Jew experiences every day.
אָנָּא זְכֹר נָא בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, אֵת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהָיוּ מִימוֹת עוֹלָם מִן אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם עַד עַתָּה, שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, וְסָבְלוּ כַּמָּה מִיתוֹת וְעִנּוּיִים מְשֻׁנִּים וְצָרוֹת וִיסּוּרִים קָשִׁים וּמָרִים בִּשְׁבִיל קִדּוּשׁ שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל.
Recall all of the righteous and holy people, from Abraham our patriarch to the present, who dedicated their lives to the cause of sanctifying Your Name, many of whom suffered terrible and bitter torments and violent deaths.
וּבִפְרָט זְכוּת הַצַּדִּיק הַתַּנָא הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה, אֲשֶׁר סָרְקוּ אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ בְּמַסְרֵקוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל, עַד שֶׁיָּצְתָה נִשְׁמָתוֹ בְּאֶחָד. וּזְכוּת חֲבֵרָיו כָּל הָעֲשָׂרָה הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת, אֲשֶׁר כֻּלָּם סָבְלוּ עִנּוּיִים קָשִׁים וּמָרִים, עַד שֶׁיָּצְתָה נִשְׁמָתָם עַל קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, אַשְׁרֵי לָהֶם. וּבְצֵרוּף זְכוּת כָּל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁהָיוּ בְּכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת, שֶׁמֵּתוּ כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת, אֲלָפִים וּרְבָבוֹת, רְבָבוֹת רְבָבוֹת, וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה קְהִילוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, וְסָבְלוּ כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה מִינֵי יִסּוּרִים וְצָרוֹת קָשׁוֹת וְעִנּוּיִים מֵעִנּוּיִים שׁוֹנִים, עַד שֶׁיָּצְאָה נִשְׁמָתָם עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם.
In particular, recall the merit of Rabbi Akiva, whose flesh was raked with iron combs until, as he recited the Shema and pronounced the word “One,” his soul departed. Recall the merit of his ten colleagues who were tortured by the Roman government, all of whom endured difficult and bitter suffering until their souls left them, for the sake of sanctifying Your Name in holiness and purity. And with them, recall the merit of the holy people in all generations, millions of souls and entire holy communities, who were tormented and gave their lives for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
אֶת אֵלֶּה מִזְבְּחוֹת תִּזְכֹּר, וְאֶת אֵלֶּה עֲקֵדוֹת תִּרְאֶה. וּתְשַׁכֵּךְ חֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ מֵעָלֵינוּ וְתַמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים וְכָל הַגְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל.
As You remember their sacrifices, mitigate Your anger, sweeten and nullify all judgments and harsh decrees against us.
וּתְסַבֵּב בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְטוֹבָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא נָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה, רַק נִזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ לְעוֹלָם.
Help us no longer return to our foolishness but come back to You. May we do only Your will, all the days of our lives.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעַתָּה בְּתֹקֶף גָּלוּתֵנוּ בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט, אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם כֹּחַ וְתִקְוָה וּסְמִיכָה, כִּי אִם בִּזְכוּת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם,
In the midst of our exile, overall and in every detail, we can rely only on the power and merit of those holy people who gave their souls for the sake of sanctifying Your Name.
אָמַרְתְּ לַיהֹוָה אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל עָלֶיךָ. לִקְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה וְאַדִּירֵי כָּל חֶפְצִי בָם.
As King David said, “I said to HaShem, You are my God, my only good is in You; as for the holy and mighty ones who are in the earth, all of my desire is in them.”
עָזְרֵנוּ בִּזְכוּתָם, זַכֵּנוּ בְּכֹחַ קְדֻשָּׁתָם שֶׁל כָּל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁהָיוּ מִימוֹת עוֹלָם עַד הֵנָּה, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשׁוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ בְּלִי מִסְפָּר בִּמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ עָצוּם מְאֹד. בִּזְכוּתָם וְכֹחָם עָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה גַּם כֵּן לִמְסֹר נַפְשֵׁנוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְיִרְאָה, בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר בִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹנֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ.
Help us in the merit and power of all of the holy Tzaddikim from the earliest days until now, people without number who sacrificed themselves to sanctify Your Name. Our Master and King, in their merit and strength, help us dedicate ourselves to sanctify Your Name with love and awe, with joy and goodness of heart.
וְתַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה, בְּכֹחָם וּזְכוּתָם שֶׁל כָּל אֵלֶּה הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, זְכוּתָם יָגֵן עָלֵינוּ,
Bring us back to You quickly with complete repentance in the merit of these holy Tzaddikim.
לְהוֹצִיאֵנוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּמִכָּל הַפְּגָמִים וְהַקִּלְקוּלִים שֶׁנָּפַלְנוּ בָהֶם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי עִנְיָנוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ.
Bring us forth quickly from all of our sins, from the blemishes and desolation into which we fell, each one in his own way.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מַה נֹּאמַר וּמַה נְּדַבֵּר וּמַה נִּצְטַדָּק.
Justice and Redemption
Master of the world, what can we say? How can we justify ourselves?
עָלֶיךָ הִשְׁלַכְנוּ אֶת יְהָבֵנוּ, אֵלֶיךָ שִׁטַּחְנוּ כַּפֵּינוּ, עָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ בִּזְכוּת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה.
We cast our burden upon You. We stretch our hands out to You. Help us return to You quickly in the merit of the holy Tzaddikim.
חָנֵּנִי יְהֹוָה כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא כָּל הַיוֹם שַׂמֵּחַ נֶפֶשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא.
“Be gracious to me, God, because I call out to You the entire day. Gladden the soul of Your servant, because I lift my soul to You, God.”
וּתְרַחֵם עַל כְּבוֹדְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ וְתִנְקֹם בְּיָמֵינוּ לְעֵינֵינוּ נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶיךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, אֵל נְקָמוֹת יְהֹוָה אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִיעַ. הִנָּשֵׂא שׁוֹפֵט הָאָרֶץ הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל גֵּאִים.
Have compassion on Your great and holy honor. Take vengeance in our days, in our sight, for the spilled blood of Your servants. “God of vengeance, HaShem, God of vengeance, appear. Rise up, Judge of the earth; render payment to the proud.”
וּתְמַהֵר וְתָחִישׁ לְגָאֳלֵנוּ וְתָשִׁיב נִדָּחֵנוּ וּתְקַבְּצֵנוּ יַחַד מְהֵרָה מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ לְאַרְצֵנוּ. אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, קַדֵּשׁ אֶת שִׁמְךָ בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ עַל עַם מְקַדְּשֵׁי שְׁמֶךָ, וּבִישׁוּעָתְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ תָּשׁוּב וְתָרוּם וְתַגְבִּיהַּ קַרְנֵנוּ לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בְּקָרוֹב לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, בָּרוּךְ הַמְקַדֵּשׁ שְׁמוֹ בָּרַבִּים:
Quickly redeem us. Bring back our exiles. Gather us swiftly from the four corners of the earth to our land. Our Father in Heaven, sanctify Your Name in Your world by aiding the nation that sanctifies Your Name. Our King, elevate our might and redeem us soon for the sake of Your Name. “Blessed is the One Who sanctifies His Name among the multitudes.”