To Attach Oneself to God, One Must Create Original Torah Thoughts / By Inspiring Others, a Person Inspires Himself A person must ask God to teach him how to pray with new and beautiful words that will please and appease Him, so that God will help him walk in His ways and guard His commandments. At first, however, this person’s mind may be so confused that he remains silent. He realizes that the obstacle resides within himself: in his stubbornness, wrong desires and foolishness. In order to break free, he must keep his thoughts focused on the Torah and on serving God, until he will constantly create true, original Torah thoughts. As a result, his heart will be attached to God and remain in accordance with His good will. He will rectify all of the blemishes that he created with the fire of his heart and the fervor of the Side of Evil. He will expel his spirit of foolishness and uncleanness, and subjugate his will to God. Also, to the degree that he brings holy fervor into other people’s hearts, he will burn the spirit of foolishness and evil thoughts out of his own heart. This occurs in the merit of the great and perfect Tzaddikim. Then he will speak new words to God at all times. He will engage in a great deal of prayerful conversation between himself and God every day of his life. Bringing Beautiful Words to God “God, create a pure heart within me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Master of the world, You Who listen to the voice of our prayers and our pleas, teach me how to bring You new and beautiful words to please You and appease You, so that You will help me walk in Your ways and guard Your commandments.
I know that the obstacle is in me, because I am stubborn and I have wrong desires and a great deal of foolishness. But I do not know how to break free of all this.
I have nothing new to say. “There is no word on my tongue because You know everything, HaShem.” “I am mute and still, I am silent even about goodness, and my pain is intense.” “I am silent, I cannot open my mouth, for You have brought this about.”
My Father in Heaven, You know that all of my hope is in You and all of my prayer, supplications and cries are to You. But how do I find new words, as I need to each and every day, to please You, so that You will return me to You soon?
I have come to seek Your face, HaShem my God and God of my fathers. Have pity, compassion and mercy on a person as misused as I am, a person as contemptible and disgraceful as myself. Send me the spirit of Your holiness. At every moment, place new, pleasant and beautiful words in my mouth with which I can please You, so that You will quickly bring me back to You in complete repentance.
Always remind me and strengthen me to hold on to my thoughts so that they do not stray at all, but only focus on Your Torah and on serving You, until I will constantly create true, original Torah ideas and my mind will be involved at every moment in Your holy Torah.
As a result of the movements of my intellect, may my heart be inflamed with holy fervor until it attaches itself to You and remains in accordance with Your good will.
Especially at the time that I am engaged in learning Torah, performing mitzvot, praying and practicing hitbodedut,2Literally, “self-seclusion,” a form of prayer/meditation recommended by Rebbe Nachman in which a person sets a time and place to speak to God in his own language. may I experience holy fervor for You in a measured fashion, in accordance with Your good will.
Help me expel from within myself the spirit of foolishness in every form, eradicate the spirit of uncleanness, and subjugate my will to You until my heart is pure.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who have pity on the poor and consider my rectification even now, open Your mouth to a person as mute as I am. Teach me what to say. Help me understand what to ask for.
Have compassion on me and help me so that I will engage in a great deal of prayer conversation between me and You every day of my life. At all times, send me new, holy and beautiful words.
You Who are filled with compassion, give me new words so that I will rescue my soul from everything I need rescuing from — in this world and in the World to Come. May I return to You with all my heart, in accordance with Your good will. May I no longer return to foolishness. “If I have acted sinfully, I will no longer do so.”
In the Merit of the Tzaddikim Renew Your compassion to me in the merit of the great and perfect Tzaddikim on whom we always rely, who renewed themselves at every moment of every day.
I would not restrain my mouth from telling You everything that comes into my mouth. But Your compassion precedes me and helps me refrain from saying anything that is not in accordance with Your will.
I have sinned a great deal against You, and followed the hardness of my evil heart. I sinned and created many blemishes before You as a result of the heat and fervor of the heart of the Side of Evil.
I have not overcome, expelled or removed the drive of the evil thoughts of my heart. Because of my many sins, my heart is filled with a spirit of foolishness, evil thoughts, alien ideas and much confusion. As a result, I cannot get close to You.
You are compassionate, holy and awesome. You purify the unclean. Purify my heart quickly. Have mercy on my past, and help me and save me in the future. Help me banish and remove from my heart all evil musings, all confused ideas and all types of blemished thoughts.
Holy Fervor Compassionate God, help me attain holy fervor of the heart so that I will act for the sake of our forefathers and rabbis, the true Tzaddikim, who bring all Jews merit as numerous as the everlasting stars. May I be among those who give the world merit.
May I judge everyone favorably and bring many people close to serve You and fear You and Your Torah — to inflame, illuminate and proclaim Your truth to the children of Israel, Your nation.
Receiving from the Tzaddikim May I always receive and draw into my heart holy fervor from our rabbis, the Tzaddikim, who attach themselves to You, HaShem our God — You Who are a great and awesome, consuming fire.
They receive fire from above — flames of fire, a flame of God — to inflame the heart of the Jewish people with holy fervor. All their words are like fiery coals.
Have mercy on Your nation, the Jewish people, so that their holy fire will never go out. “An eternal fire will be burned on the Altar. It will not be extinguished.”
May all of us always receive their holy fire to inflame the hearts of the children of Israel, Your nation, with holy fervor for Your sake, to serve You in a graduated and measured way, in accordance with Your good will.
To the degree that You help me bring holy fervor into other people’s hearts, may I increase and draw to myself multiple amounts of the heat of the heart and holy fervor through our forefathers and our rabbis, Your righteous ones who do Your will, all of Your servants who are a flaming fire.
As a result, may I eradicate, banish and remove from my heart the spirit of foolishness and all evil thoughts, until I quickly attain purity of the heart.
May the verse be realized for me and for all the Jewish people, “Place me as a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as harsh as Sheol. Its flames are flames of fire, a flame of God. Many waters cannot extinguish the love and rivers cannot overflow it. If a person were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be scorned.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה קנ"ו - לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי]
לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי.
To Attach Oneself to God, One Must Create Original Torah Thoughts / By Inspiring Others, a Person Inspires Himself
A person must ask God to teach him how to pray with new and beautiful words that will please and appease Him, so that God will help him walk in His ways and guard His commandments.
At first, however, this person’s mind may be so confused that he remains silent. He realizes that the obstacle resides within himself: in his stubbornness, wrong desires and foolishness.
In order to break free, he must keep his thoughts focused on the Torah and on serving God, until he will constantly create true, original Torah thoughts.
As a result, his heart will be attached to God and remain in accordance with His good will. He will rectify all of the blemishes that he created with the fire of his heart and the fervor of the Side of Evil. He will expel his spirit of foolishness and uncleanness, and subjugate his will to God.
Also, to the degree that he brings holy fervor into other people’s hearts, he will burn the spirit of foolishness and evil thoughts out of his own heart.
This occurs in the merit of the great and perfect Tzaddikim.
Then he will speak new words to God at all times. He will engage in a great deal of prayerful conversation between himself and God every day of his life.
Bringing Beautiful Words to God
“God, create a pure heart within me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שׁוֹמֵעַ וּמַאֲזִין וּמַקְשִׁיב לְקוֹל תְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ וְשִׂיחוֹתֵינוּ וְתַחֲנוּנֵינוּ. לַמְּדֵנִי אֵיךְ אֶקַּח עַתָּה דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים וְיָפִים לְרַצּוֹתְךָ וּלְפַיֶּסְךָ, שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר.
Master of the world, You Who listen to the voice of our prayers and our pleas, teach me how to bring You new and beautiful words to please You and appease You, so that You will help me walk in Your ways and guard Your commandments.
כִּי זֶה כַּמָּה שֶׁאֲנִי צוֹעֵק וּמִתְחַנֵּן וּמַרְבֶּה בִּתְפִלּוֹת וְשִׂיחוֹת, וְכָל כַּוָּנָתִי בְּכֻלָּם, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה. וַעֲדַיִן לֹא נוֹשָׁעְתִּי.
I have cried out for so long, and pleaded and prayed with the sole aim of truly returning to You soon — but still I am not saved.
וַאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהַמְּנִיעָה מִמֶּנִּי, מֵחֲמַת קַשְׁיּוּת עָרְפִּי וְתַאֲווֹתַי הָרָעוֹת וּכְסִילוּת דַּעְתִּי הַמְּרֻבָּה. אֲבָל אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ אֵיךְ לָצֵאת מִכָּל זֶה,
I know that the obstacle is in me, because I am stubborn and I have wrong desires and a great deal of foolishness. But I do not know how to break free of all this.
וְדִבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים אָפְסוּ מִמֶּנִּי, כִּי אֵין מִלָּה בִּלְשׁוֹנִי הֵן יְהֹוָה יָדַעְתָּ כֻלָּהּ. נֶאֱלַמְתִּי דוּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי מִטּוֹב וּכְאֵבִי נֶעְכָּר. נֶאֱלַמְתִּי לֹא אֶפְתַּח פִּי כִּי אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ.
I have nothing new to say. “There is no word on my tongue because You know everything, HaShem.” “I am mute and still, I am silent even about goodness, and my pain is intense.” “I am silent, I cannot open my mouth, for You have brought this about.”
וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁכָּל תִּקְוָתִי וְתוֹחַלְתִּי, הִיא עַל תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים וּצְעָקָה וְשַׁוְעָה אֵלֶיךָ. אֲבָל אֵיךְ לוֹקְחִים דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְרַצּוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת שֶׁתְּשִׁיבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ מְהֵרָה:
My Father in Heaven, You know that all of my hope is in You and all of my prayer, supplications and cries are to You. But how do I find new words, as I need to each and every day, to please You, so that You will return me to You soon?
אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, אֵיךְ שֶׁהוּא וְאֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה, אֲנִי עַל מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹד בְּעֶזְרָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, לִצְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ תָמִיד.
My Father in Heaven, whatever may be, I will always stand alert and cry out to You.
אַךְ בָּאתִי לְחַלּוֹת פָּנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתָּחוֹס וּתְרַחֵם וְתַחְמֹל עָלַי, עַל נִרְדָּף כָּמוֹנִי, עַל נִבְזֶה וְנִמְאָס כָּמוֹנִי. וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי רוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ מֵאִתְּךָ, וְתִשְׁלַח בְּפִי בְּכָל־עֵת דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים נָאִים וְיָפִים, שֶׁאוּכַל לְרַצּוֹתְךָ בָּהֶם, שֶׁתַּחֲזִירֵנִי בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת לְפָנֶיךָ מְהֵרָה.
I have come to seek Your face, HaShem my God and God of my fathers. Have pity, compassion and mercy on a person as misused as I am, a person as contemptible and disgraceful as myself. Send me the spirit of Your holiness. At every moment, place new, pleasant and beautiful words in my mouth with which I can please You, so that You will quickly bring me back to You in complete repentance.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וּתְחַזְּקֵנִי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְדַבֵּק מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי תָמִיד בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
Focus on the Torah
Have compassion on me, save me, help me and strengthen me so that I will always attach my thoughts to Your holy Torah.
וְתַזְכִּירֵנִי וּתְאַמְּצֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ תָמִיד, לֶאֱחֹז אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לְבַל תֵּצֵא חוּצָה כְּלָל, רַק לַחְשֹׁב תָּמִיד מַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל־עֵת חִדּוּשִׁין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא אֲמִתִּיִּים,
Always remind me and strengthen me to hold on to my thoughts so that they do not stray at all, but only focus on Your Torah and on serving You, until I will constantly create true, original Torah ideas and my mind will be involved at every moment in Your holy Torah.
וְיִתְנַעֲנַע שִׂכְלִי בְּכָל־עֵת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי תְנוּעוֹת הַשֵּׂכֶל לְהוֹלִיד חוֹם בַּלֵּב, שֶׁיִּתְחַמֵּם לְבָבִי בַּחֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לְהִתְדַּבֵּק בְּךָ וְלִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
As a result of the movements of my intellect, may my heart be inflamed with holy fervor until it attaches itself to You and remains in accordance with Your good will.
וּבִפְרָט בְּעֵת עִסְקִי בְּתוֹרָה וּמִצְווֹת וּתְפִלָּה וְהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְלַהֵב אֵלֶיךָ בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה בְּהַדְרָגָה וּבְמִדָּה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
Especially at the time that I am engaged in learning Torah, performing mitzvot, praying and practicing hitbodedut,2Literally, “self-seclusion,” a form of prayer/meditation recommended by Rebbe Nachman in which a person sets a time and place to speak to God in his own language. may I experience holy fervor for You in a measured fashion, in accordance with Your good will.
עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַחֲמִימוּת וְהַהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לְתַקֵּן כָּל הַפְּגָמִים שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ עַל־יְדֵי תַבְעֵרַת הַלֵּב וַחֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא.
As a result of that holy fervor, may I rectify all of the blemishes that I created with the fire of my heart and the fervor of the Side of Evil.
וְאֶזְכֶּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וִישׁוּעָתֶךָ, לְגָרֵשׁ כָּל הָרוּחַ שְׁטוּת מִמֶּנִּי, וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה תְּבַעֵר מִמֶּנִּי וּמִקִּרְבִּי. וְתִכֹּף אֶת יִצְרִי לְהִשְׁתַּעְבֶּד לָךְ, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְטָהֳרַת הַלֵּב בֶּאֱמֶת,
Help me expel from within myself the spirit of foolishness in every form, eradicate the spirit of uncleanness, and subjugate my will to You until my heart is pure.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְדַבֵּר וְלָשׂוּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים בְּכָל פַּעַם:
Speaking New Words to God
As a result, may I speak new words before You at all times.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, הַחוֹשֵׁב בְּתִקּוּנִי גַם עַתָּה, פְּתַח פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם כָּמוֹנִי, הוֹרֵנִי מַה שֶּׁאֲדַבֵּר הֲבִינֵנִי מַה שֶּׁאֶשְׁאַל.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who have pity on the poor and consider my rectification even now, open Your mouth to a person as mute as I am. Teach me what to say. Help me understand what to ask for.
אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ.
“My God, open my lips and my mouth will speak Your praise.”
רַחֵם עָלַי וֶהְיֵה בְּעֶזְרִי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּשִׂיחָה, זוֹ תְפִלָּה, בֵּינִי לְבֵין קוֹנִי בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי. וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים קְדוֹשִׁים וְיָפִים בְּכָל פַּעַם,
Have compassion on me and help me so that I will engage in a great deal of prayer conversation between me and You every day of my life. At all times, send me new, holy and beautiful words.
תֶּן לִי דִבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַצִּיל נַפְשִׁי עַל־יָדָם מִמַּה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִנָּצֵל בָּזֶה וּבַבָּא, וְלָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה, אִם אָוֶן פָּעַלְתִּי לֹא אוֹסִיף.
You Who are filled with compassion, give me new words so that I will rescue my soul from everything I need rescuing from — in this world and in the World to Come. May I return to You with all my heart, in accordance with Your good will. May I no longer return to foolishness. “If I have acted sinfully, I will no longer do so.”
רַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמִים חֲדָשִׁים, בִּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הַשְּׁלֵמִים, אֲשֶׁר אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים עֲלֵיהֶם תָּמִיד, שֶׁזָּכוּ לְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל פַּעַם בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה.
In the Merit of the Tzaddikim
Renew Your compassion to me in the merit of the great and perfect Tzaddikim on whom we always rely, who renewed themselves at every moment of every day.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁכָּל סְמִיכוּתֵנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם, וּבְגֹדֶל כֹּחָם יֵשׁ לָנוּ עַל מַה לִּסְמֹךְ עַתָּה גַם עַתָּה, אֲפִלּוּ בְּעֹצֶם פְּחִיתוּתֵנוּ וּגְרִיעוּתֵנוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
You know that I depend only on them. In my lowly and unworthy state, I rely on their great power.
הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בִּזְכוּתָם וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. הֲשִׁיבֵנִי וְאָשׁוּבָה כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהָי.
Save me in their merit. Purify my heart to serve You in truth. “Bring me back and I will return, for You are my God.”
כִּי גָלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר מָלֵאתִי מִלִּים, אַךְ אֵינִי יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיאָם בַּפֶּה. תֶּן לִי דִבּוּר שֶׁל תְּשׁוּבָה,
You know that although I am filled with words, I cannot bring them out of my mouth. Give me speech of repentance.
כִּי אֲנִי לֹא אֶחְשֹׂךְ פִּי מִלְּדַבֵּר לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל מַה שֶּׁיָּבוֹא לְתוֹךְ פִּי. אַךְ רַחֲמֶיךָ יְקַדְּמוּנִי וְיַעַזְרוּנִי, שֶׁלֹּא אוֹמַר דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא כִּרְצוֹנְךָ חָלִילָה,
I would not restrain my mouth from telling You everything that comes into my mouth. But Your compassion precedes me and helps me refrain from saying anything that is not in accordance with Your will.
כִּי אַתָּה חָפֵץ חֶסֶד וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב, וְאַתָּה חָפֵץ בְּתִקּוּנִי וּבְטוֹבָתִי גַם עַתָּה, עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ
You desire kindness. You do much good. You desire my rectification and my good even now. Help me and save me for the sake of Your Name.
כִּי מֵרֹב בִּלְבּוּל דַּעְתִּי, עַל כֵּן דְּבָרַי גַּם עַתָּה לָעוּ.
Overcoming Confusion
My mind is so confused that my words are swallowed up.
אֲבָל אֲנִי מֻכְרָח וּמְחֻיָּב לְדַבֵּר וְלָשׂוּחַ וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל עוֹד נַפְשִׁי בִּי, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה בְּקִרְבִּי, וְאַתָּה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי:
But I must speak and plead to You as long as my soul is within me. Treat me in the way that is proper in Your eyes.
רַחֵם עָלַי וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁיִּטָּהֵר לְבָבִי מְהֵרָה, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִטָּהֳרַת הַלֵּב בֶּאֱמֶת.
Have compassion on me. Help me and save me so that my heart will be purified soon, because You know how far I am from a purified heart.
כִּי הִרְבֵּיתִי לִפְשֹׁעַ נֶגְדְּךָ וְהָלַכְתִּי אַחֲרֵי שְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי הָרָע, וְחָטָאתִי וּפָגַמְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ הַרְבֵּה עַל־יְדֵי חֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת הַלֵּב דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא,
I have sinned a great deal against You, and followed the hardness of my evil heart. I sinned and created many blemishes before You as a result of the heat and fervor of the heart of the Side of Evil.
וְלֹא הִתְגַּבַּרְתִּי עַל יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבִּי הָרָעִים לְגָרְשָׁם וּלְסַלְּקָם מִמֶּנִּי, עַד אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים, לִבִּי מָלֵא רוּחַ שְׁטוּת וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת וְרַעְיוֹנִים זָרִים וּבִלְבּוּלִים הַרְבֵּה, אֲשֶׁר מֵחֲמַת זֶה אֵינִי זוֹכֶה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ.
I have not overcome, expelled or removed the drive of the evil thoughts of my heart. Because of my many sins, my heart is filled with a spirit of foolishness, evil thoughts, alien ideas and much confusion. As a result, I cannot get close to You.
רַחֲמָן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, קָדוֹשׁ וְנוֹרָא, מְטַהֵר טְמֵאִים, טַהֵר לִבִּי מְהֵרָה, מְחֹל לִי עַל הֶעָבַר, וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לְהַבָּא, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְגָרֵשׁ וּלְסַלֵּק מִלְּבָבִי כָּל הַהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים וְכָל הָרַעְיוֹנִים הַמְבֻלְבָּלִים, וְכָל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת פְּגוּמוֹת שֶׁבַּלֵּב,
You are compassionate, holy and awesome. You purify the unclean. Purify my heart quickly. Have mercy on my past, and help me and save me in the future. Help me banish and remove from my heart all evil musings, all confused ideas and all types of blemished thoughts.
הַכֹּל אֶזְכֶּה לְבַעֵר וּלְגָרֵשׁ וּלְסַלֵּק מִלְּבָבִי, וְאֶתְגַּבֵּר וְאֶתְחַזֵּק וְאֶתְאַמֵּץ בְּכָל־עֵת לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
May I eradicate, banish and remove all of them from my heart, and strengthen myself at every moment to turn my heart to You.
רַחֲמָן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, זַכֵּנִי לַחֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת הַלֵּב דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וַעֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכֹחָם לִהְיוֹת גַּם כֵּן בִּכְלָל מַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים.
Holy Fervor
Compassionate God, help me attain holy fervor of the heart so that I will act for the sake of our forefathers and rabbis, the true Tzaddikim, who bring all Jews merit as numerous as the everlasting stars. May I be among those who give the world merit.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לָדוּן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת, וּלְקָרֵב אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וּלְיִרְאָתְךָ וּלְתוֹרָתֶךָ, לְבַאֵר וּלְהָאִיר וּלְהוֹדִיעַ אֲמִתָּתְךָ לְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ.
May I judge everyone favorably and bring many people close to serve You and fear You and Your Torah — to inflame, illuminate and proclaim Your truth to the children of Israel, Your nation.
וְיִכָּנְסוּ דְבָרַי הָאֲמִתִּיִּים בִּלְבָבָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר יִתְחַמֵּם לְבָבָם בַּחֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
May my words enter their hearts until their hearts are inflamed with a great, holy fervor to return to You.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִמָּשֵׁךְ עָלַי בְּכָל פַּעַם חֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר,
As a result, may more holy fervor constantly flow into me.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ בְּלִבִּי בְּכָל פַּעַם חֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים, אֲשֶׁר הֵם דְּבֵקִים בְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה, אֵל גָּדוֹל וְנוֹרָא.
Receiving from the Tzaddikim
May I always receive and draw into my heart holy fervor from our rabbis, the Tzaddikim, who attach themselves to You, HaShem our God — You Who are a great and awesome, consuming fire.
וְהֵם מְקַבְּלִים אֵשׁ שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ שַׁלְהֶבֶת־יָהּ, לְהַלְהִיב וּלְחַמֵּם לְבַב יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּחֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְכָל דִּבְרֵיהֶם כְּגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ.
They receive fire from above — flames of fire, a flame of God — to inflame the heart of the Jewish people with holy fervor. All their words are like fiery coals.
חֲמֹל עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁתַּבְעֵרַת אֵשׁ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁלָּהֶם לֹא תִכְבֶּה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא תִכְבֶּה.
Have mercy on Your nation, the Jewish people, so that their holy fire will never go out. “An eternal fire will be burned on the Altar. It will not be extinguished.”
וְנִזְכֶּה כֻלָּנוּ לְקַבֵּל מֵאֵשׁ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁלָּהֶם בְּכָל פַּעַם לְחַמֵּם וּלְהַלְהִיב לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה אֵלֶיךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּהַדְרָגָה וּבְמִדָּה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
May all of us always receive their holy fire to inflame the hearts of the children of Israel, Your nation, with holy fervor for Your sake, to serve You in a graduated and measured way, in accordance with Your good will.
וְכָל מַה שֶּׁתְּזַכֵּנִי לְהַכְנִיס חֲמִימוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה בְּלֵב אֲחֵרִים, אֶזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתּוֹסֵף עָלַי וְיֻמְשַׁךְ עָלַי בְּכִפְלֵי כִפְלַיִם מִלְמַעְלָה, חֲמִימוּת הַלֵּב וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה עַל־יְדֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ צַדִּיקֶיךָ עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנֶךָ מְשָׁרְתֶיךָ אֵשׁ לוֹהֵט.
To the degree that You help me bring holy fervor into other people’s hearts, may I increase and draw to myself multiple amounts of the heat of the heart and holy fervor through our forefathers and our rabbis, Your righteous ones who do Your will, all of Your servants who are a flaming fire.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְבַעֵר וּלְגָרֵשׁ וּלְסַלֵּק מִלְּבָבִי כָּל הָרוּחַ שְׁטוּת וְכָל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת וְרַעְיוֹנִים רָעִים, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מְהֵרָה לְטָהֲרַת הַלֵּב בֶּאֱמֶת.
As a result, may I eradicate, banish and remove from my heart the spirit of foolishness and all evil thoughts, until I quickly attain purity of the heart.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְדַבֵּר דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים בְּכָל פַּעַם לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת לְרַצּוֹתְךָ שֶׁתְּקָרְבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ מְהֵרָה,
As a result, may I always speak new, holy and pure words to You to please You, so that You will bring me close to You.
וְאֶהְיֶה דָבוּק בְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת תָּמִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְכֶם הַיּוֹם,
May I always truly be attached to You. As the verse states, “You who are attached to HaShem your God are alive, all of you, today.”
וִיקֻיַּם בִּי וּבְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, שִׂימֵנִי כַחוֹתָם עַל לִבֶּךָ, כַּחוֹתָם עַל זְרוֹעֶךָ, כִּי עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה קָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָה, רְשָׁפֶיהָ רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ שַׁלְהֶבֶת־יָהּ. מַיִם רַבִּים לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְכַבּוֹת אֶת הָאַהֲבָה וּנְהָרוֹת לֹא יִשְׁטְפוּהָ, אִם יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת כָּל הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה, בּוֹז יָבוּזוּ לוֹ.
May the verse be realized for me and for all the Jewish people, “Place me as a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as harsh as Sheol. Its flames are flames of fire, a flame of God. Many waters cannot extinguish the love and rivers cannot overflow it. If a person were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be scorned.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”