The Miracle of Free Will / Conquering One’s Will by Aligning Oneself with Tzaddikim The power of free will is the greatest wonder of all creation. There is nothing as awesome as the existence of a creature with the power to choose whether he will do God’s will or defy it. A meager human being who is overwhelmed by his desires and bad traits experiences opposing ideas about a number of things. Even if he seeks advice on how to drive away his lusts, his this-worldly desires have weakened the power of his free will. He needs God’s encouragement to turn the power of his free will to choose life, to choose good and reject evil. He must strive to enter into the company of true Tzaddikim until all of his desires for the vanities of this world are nullified and he will bend his shoulder to bear the yoke of Torah, prayer and serving God, and he will be charitable and perform many kind deeds. For 7 Adar, the anniversary of the death of Moses our teacher, peace be upon him The Miracle of Free Will “HaShem, You have investigated me and You know: You know my sitting and my rising, You understand how to attach me [to You] from afar, [You know] my going about and my lying down. You have encompassed me and You have seen all my ways, for there is no word on my tongue [unknown to You], because You know everything, HaShem.”
Master of the world, Giver of the Torah, You Who love Your nation of Israel, You Who choose Your nation of Israel with love — in Your compassion, You gave us free will to choose life or its opposite, Heaven forbid.
This power of free will that You gave man is a wonder of wonders, the greatest wonder of all creation in all worlds (as is taught in a number of holy texts).
There is nothing as wondrous, awesome and concealed in the creation of all worlds as this elevated wonder, this wondrous and hidden innovation: the existence of a creature with Your power of free will to choose the path that he wants, to have the power to do Your will or defy Your will, Heaven forbid.
Regarding this, King David said, “Awesomely have I been formed, wondrous are Your deeds, which my soul knows well.” “Knowledge is hidden from me; I cannot attain it. Where will I go from Your spirit, and where will I flee from Your face?”
When Free Will is Coarsened and Limited And so I come before You, Master of wonders, to help me and save me and be with me always, so that I will bend the power of my free will to You and to Your will; so that I will always, at every moment, choose life in a good and true way, in accordance with Your will and the will of the true Tzaddikim; and I will never veer from Your will, right or left, all the days of my life.
Master of the world, Lord of all, You informed us in Your compassion that the principal power of free will that the Jews possessed when they received the Torah existed because they received it through Moses our teacher, and You did not speak directly with the Jews themselves.
You spoke all Your words with Moses our teacher, and they heard You speak with him. As a result, we have the power of free will regarding all the words of this Torah. Otherwise, everything that HaShem would tell a person directly, he would be forced to do, without any free will.
And so, Moses our teacher did not have the power of free will regarding the commandments of the Torah. Rather, all his free will had to do with “Moses adding one day of his own knowledge” [to determine the time of the giving of the Torah] — that is, You did not explain this to him explicitly, and he had to understand how to act of his own accord. All of the power of his free will resided in that.
And behold, I who am so meager, I who am constantly overwhelmed by desires and bad traits, have free will regarding all the words of the Torah. I need Your encouragement, help and compassion to bend the power of my free will to choose life, to choose good and reject evil.
Now, I am very unclear about how to act, and my mind is confused about many things, because I do not know how to know what You want and how I should act. I think that if I knew what You want, I would certainly act in accordance with Your will.
“HaShem our God, You are our Father. We are the clay and You are our Maker, and all of us are the work of Your hand.” Direct me and teach me what to do and how to act.
Moses our teacher and the other great and awesome Tzaddikim who had free will regarding instances when they were not sure what You wanted, had great power because they were “mighty ones in strength who fulfill His word.” They were literally like angels.
They had completely broken their desires, so they did not have free will regarding desire for anything in the world. And so it was fitting for them to have free will on the level of “Moses adding one day of his own knowledge” — which refers to the things that were unclear to them.
But I am thick and coarse. I have sinned so much against You. My desires still impel me, and I constantly think of how to find advice, strategy and healing to drive them away from me. But the power of my free will is greatly coarsened.
In addition, my desires confuse me a great deal, and I experience confusion and opposing ideas about a number of things, so that I don’t know what to do. How will I find the straight and proper way to really be able to come close to You?
Master of the world, my mind is greatly confused. I have no arguments to set forth and I cannot express my speech well. But You know all the secrets of my heart. So please direct me and teach me how to conduct myself from now on, through all the days of my life.
Teach me counsel. Give me the power to engage in this challenging battle. Rise up to help me and save me so that I will bend my heart to You, to choose good when I know what You want, in accordance with Your holy Torah. May I no longer follow the stubbornness of my evil heart and no longer stray after my heart and eyes.
Rather, may I always bend my free will to go in the way of life, goodness and truth. Illumine my eyes in Your Torah and teach me with Your compassion at every moment, so that I will know the truth and intuit Your will in all things that I am uncertain about.
“HaShem, teach me Your ways. I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; it is for You that I have hoped all the day.” “HaShem, teach me Your ways. Guide me on a path that is straight, despite [my enemies] who gaze upon me.”
Entering into the Company of Tzaddikim Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, bring me into the company of the true Tzaddikim, until all my desires for all the vanities of this world are nullified and I will not have any desire for them at all. Rather, I will bend my shoulder to bear the yoke of Torah, prayer and serving You, and I will be charitable and perform many kind deeds.
Guard me. Deliver me from doubts, confusion and divided counsel. May I always know the truth of Your will regarding everything in the world, because I rely on You in all of my movements, and may I act in accordance with Your will.
“HaShem, teach me the way of Your laws, and I will keep it at every step.” “Guide me in the path of Your mitzvot, for that is what I have desired.” “Extend my heart to Your testimonies and not toward monetary gain.”
Have compassion on me and on all those who depend on me. “May Your hand help me, for I have chosen Your laws.” “May my soul live and praise You, and may Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.”
I have strayed to the left. Please bring me close to You with Your right hand. “Let me know the way of life, the satiety of joy before Your countenance, the pleasantness at Your right hand forever.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ק"צ - וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל הָעָם יַחְדָּו]
יְהֹוָה חֲקַרְתַּנִי וַתֵּדָע, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שִׁבְתִּי וְקוּמִי בַּנְתָּה לְרֵעִי מֵרָחוֹק. אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי זֵרִיתָ וְכָל דְּרָכַי הִסְכַּנְתָּה. כִּי אֵין מִלָּה בִּלְשׁוֹנִי הֵן יְהֹוָה יָדַעְתָּ כֻּלָּהּ.
The Miracle of Free Will / Conquering One’s Will by Aligning Oneself with Tzaddikim
The power of free will is the greatest wonder of all creation. There is nothing as awesome as the existence of a creature with the power to choose whether he will do God’s will or defy it.
A meager human being who is overwhelmed by his desires and bad traits experiences opposing ideas about a number of things. Even if he seeks advice on how to drive away his lusts, his this-worldly desires have weakened the power of his free will. He needs God’s encouragement to turn the power of his free will to choose life, to choose good and reject evil.
He must strive to enter into the company of true Tzaddikim until all of his desires for the vanities of this world are nullified and he will bend his shoulder to bear the yoke of Torah, prayer and serving God, and he will be charitable and perform many kind deeds.
For 7 Adar, the anniversary of the death of Moses our teacher, peace be upon him
The Miracle of Free Will
“HaShem, You have investigated me and You know: You know my sitting and my rising, You understand how to attach me [to You] from afar, [You know] my going about and my lying down. You have encompassed me and You have seen all my ways, for there is no word on my tongue [unknown to You], because You know everything, HaShem.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה. אַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ נָתַתָּ לָנוּ בְּחִירָה, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כֹחַ לִבְחֹר בַּחַיִּים אוֹ לְהֵפֶךְ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Master of the world, Giver of the Torah, You Who love Your nation of Israel, You Who choose Your nation of Israel with love — in Your compassion, You gave us free will to choose life or its opposite, Heaven forbid.
אֲשֶׁר זֶה הָעִנְיָן שֶׁל כֹּחַ הַבְּחִירָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ לְהָאָדָם הוּא פִּלְאֵי פְּלָאוֹת, הַפֶּלֶא הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבְּכָל פְּלָאוֹת בְּרִיּוֹתֶיךָ, שֶׁבָּרָאתָ בְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת (כַּמּוּבָא בְּכַמָּה סִפְרֵי קוֹדֶשׁ),
This power of free will that You gave man is a wonder of wonders, the greatest wonder of all creation in all worlds (as is taught in a number of holy texts).
כִּי אֵין דָּבָר נִפְלָא וְנוֹרָא וְנֶעְלָם וְנִסְתָּר בְּכָל הַבְּרִיאָה שֶׁל כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת, כְּמוֹ זֹאת הַפְּלִיאָה הַנִּשְׂגָּבָה וְהַחִדּוּשׁ הַנִּפְלָא וְהַנֶּעְלָם, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִמְצָא נִבְרָא בָּעוֹלָם בְּכֹחֲךָ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ כֹחַ הַבְּחִירָה לִבְחֹר בַּדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ כֹחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ אוֹ כְּנֶגֶד רְצוֹנְךָ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
There is nothing as wondrous, awesome and concealed in the creation of all worlds as this elevated wonder, this wondrous and hidden innovation: the existence of a creature with Your power of free will to choose the path that he wants, to have the power to do Your will or defy Your will, Heaven forbid.
וְעַל זֶה אָמַר דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, נוֹרָאוֹת נִפְלֵיתִי נִפְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְנַפְשִׁי יֹדַעַת מְאֹד. פְּלִיאָה דַעַת מִמֶּנִּי נִשְׂגְּבָה לֹא אוּכַל לָהּ. אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָח.
Regarding this, King David said, “Awesomely have I been formed, wondrous are Your deeds, which my soul knows well.” “Knowledge is hidden from me; I cannot attain it. Where will I go from Your spirit, and where will I flee from Your face?”
וּבְכֵן בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן הַנִּפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְתִהְיֶה עִמִּי תָמִיד שֶׁאַטֶּה אֶת כֹּחַ בְּחִירָתִי אֵלֶיךָ וְלִרְצוֹנְךָ, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד בְּכָל־עֵת לִבְחֹר בַּחַיִּים בְּדֶרֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהָאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ וְכִרְצוֹן הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְלֹא אַטֶּה מֵרְצוֹנְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי עַד עוֹלָם:
When Free Will is Coarsened and Limited
And so I come before You, Master of wonders, to help me and save me and be with me always, so that I will bend the power of my free will to You and to Your will; so that I will always, at every moment, choose life in a good and true way, in accordance with Your will and the will of the true Tzaddikim; and I will never veer from Your will, right or left, all the days of my life.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֲדוֹן כֹּל, אַתָּה הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ שֶׁעִקָּר כֹּחַ הַבְּחִירָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, הוּא רַק עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁלֹּא דִּבַּרְתָּ עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעַצְמָם אֲלֵיהֶם לְנֹכַח,
Master of the world, Lord of all, You informed us in Your compassion that the principal power of free will that the Jews possessed when they received the Torah existed because they received it through Moses our teacher, and You did not speak directly with the Jews themselves.
רַק כָּל דְּבָרֶיךָ הָיָה עִם מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, וְהֵם שָׁמְעוּ בְּדַבֶּרְךָ עִמּוֹ, וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה יֵשׁ לָנוּ כֹחַ הַבְּחִירָה עַל כָּל דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת, כִּי כֹל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל הָאָדָם בְּעַצְמוֹ הוּא מֻכְרָח לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בְּלִי בְּחִירָה,
You spoke all Your words with Moses our teacher, and they heard You speak with him. As a result, we have the power of free will regarding all the words of this Torah. Otherwise, everything that HaShem would tell a person directly, he would be forced to do, without any free will.
וּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ לֹא הָיָה לוֹ כֹחַ הַבְּחִירָה עַל מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה, רַק כָּל בְּחִירָתוֹ הָיָה בְּעִנְיַן, מֹשֶׁה הוֹסִיף יוֹם אֶחָד מִדַּעְתּוֹ, דְּהַיְינוּ בַּמֶּה שֶׁלֹּא בֵּאַרְתָּ לוֹ בְּפֵרוּשׁ, וְהָיָה מֻכְרָח לְהָבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג, וּבָזֶה הָיָה כָּל כֹּחַ בְּחִירָתוֹ.
And so, Moses our teacher did not have the power of free will regarding the commandments of the Torah. Rather, all his free will had to do with “Moses adding one day of his own knowledge” [to determine the time of the giving of the Torah] — that is, You did not explain this to him explicitly, and he had to understand how to act of his own accord. All of the power of his free will resided in that.
וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בְעָנְיִי אֲשֶׁר הַתַּאֲווֹת וְהַמִּדּוֹת מִתְגַּבְּרִים עָלַי כְּמוֹ שֶׁמִּתְגַּבְּרִים וְרוֹדְפִים אוֹתִי מְאֹד בְּכָל־עֵת, וְיֵשׁ לִי בְּחִירָה גְּדוֹלָה עַל כָּל דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה, וַאֲנִי צָרִיךְ הִתְחַזְּקוּת גָּדוֹל וִישׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים מֵאִתְּךָ תִּתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַטּוֹת כֹּחַ בְּחִירָתִי לַחַיִּים, לִבְחֹר בַּטּוֹב וְלִמְאֹס בָּרָע.
And behold, I who am so meager, I who am constantly overwhelmed by desires and bad traits, have free will regarding all the words of the Torah. I need Your encouragement, help and compassion to bend the power of my free will to choose life, to choose good and reject evil.
וְעַתָּה מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה, אֲשֶׁר נוֹסָף לְכָל זֶה, אֲנִי מְסֻפָּק הַרְבֵּה בְּכַמָּה דְבָרִים אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהֶם, וְדַעְתִּי וַעֲצָתִי חֲלוּקָה מְאֹד בְּהַרְבֵּה דְבָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל לְכַוֵּן בָּהֶם רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהֶם, וְנִדְמֶה לִי שֶׁאִם הָיִיתִי יוֹדֵעַ רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת הָיִיתִי מִתְנַהֵג כִּרְצוֹנְךָ בְּוַדַּאי.
Now, I am very unclear about how to act, and my mind is confused about many things, because I do not know how to know what You want and how I should act. I think that if I knew what You want, I would certainly act in accordance with Your will.
וְעַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אָבִינוּ אָתָּה, אֲנַחְנוּ הַחֹמֶר וְאַתָּה יוֹצְרֵנוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדְךָ כֻּלָּנוּ. הוֹרֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וּמָה אֶפְעַל,
“HaShem our God, You are our Father. We are the clay and You are our Maker, and all of us are the work of Your hand.” Direct me and teach me what to do and how to act.
כִּי מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ וְשַׁאֲרֵי צַדִּיקִים גְּדוֹלִים וְנוֹרָאִים, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם בְּחִירָה בְּעִנְיָנִים כָּאֵלֶּה שֶׁהָיוּ מְסֻפָּקִים בָּהֶם אֵיךְ הוּא רְצוֹנְךָ, הָיָה לָהֶם כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה גְּדוֹלָה, כִּי הָיוּ גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹחַ עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ דְדַמְּיָן לְמַלְאָכִים מַמָּשׁ,
Moses our teacher and the other great and awesome Tzaddikim who had free will regarding instances when they were not sure what You wanted, had great power because they were “mighty ones in strength who fulfill His word.” They were literally like angels.
וּכְבָר שָׁבְרוּ כָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת לְגַמְרֵי וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶם בְּחִירָה מִצַּד הַתַּאֲוָה בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְעַל כֵּן הָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם בְּחִירָה בִּבְחִינַת, מֹשֶׁה הוֹסִיף יוֹם אֶחָד מִדַּעְתּוֹ, שֶׁהֵם הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהָיוּ מְסֻפָּקִים בָּהֶם,
They had completely broken their desires, so they did not have free will regarding desire for anything in the world. And so it was fitting for them to have free will on the level of “Moses adding one day of his own knowledge” — which refers to the things that were unclear to them.
אֲבָל אִישׁ עָב וָגַס כָּמוֹנִי אֲשֶׁר הִרְבֵּתִי לִפְשֹׁעַ נֶגְדְּךָ וַעֲדַיִן הַתַּאֲווֹת רוֹדְפִים אַחֲרַי כָּל כָּךְ, וַאֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּכָל־עֵת לִמְצֹא עֵצָה וְתַחְבֻּלָּה וּתְרוּפָה לִדְחוֹתָם מֵעָלַי, וְכֹחַ בְּחִירָתִי מְגֻשֶּׁמֶת מְאֹד,
But I am thick and coarse. I have sinned so much against You. My desires still impel me, and I constantly think of how to find advice, strategy and healing to drive them away from me. But the power of my free will is greatly coarsened.
מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה, כְּשֶׁנּוֹסָף לָזֶה מְבַלְבְּלִין אוֹתִי הַרְבֵּה, וְכַמָּה סְפֵקוֹת וַחֲלוּקַת הָעֵצָה בְּכַמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהֶם. בַּמֶּה אֶזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא הַדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהַנָּכוֹן בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ:
In addition, my desires confuse me a great deal, and I experience confusion and opposing ideas about a number of things, so that I don’t know what to do. How will I find the straight and proper way to really be able to come close to You?
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מֵרֹב בִּלְבּוּל דַּעְתִּי טַעֲנוֹתַי נִסְתַּתְּמִין וְאֵינִי יָכוֹל לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי הֵיטֵב, אֲבָל אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת לְבָבִי. וְעַתָּה הוֹרֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת וְאֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג מֵעַתָּה כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי,
Master of the world, my mind is greatly confused. I have no arguments to set forth and I cannot express my speech well. But You know all the secrets of my heart. So please direct me and teach me how to conduct myself from now on, through all the days of my life.
לַמְּדֵנִי עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה לְמִלְחָמָה כְּבֵדָה כָּזֹאת. קוּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבִי אֵלֶיךָ לִבְחֹר בַּטּוֹב בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ אֲמִתַּת רְצוֹנְךָ בָּהֶם עַל־פִּי תוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה. וְלֹא אֵלֵךְ עוֹד אַחֲרֵי שְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי הָרָע וְלֹא אָתוּר אַחַר לְבָבִי וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינַי.
Teach me counsel. Give me the power to engage in this challenging battle. Rise up to help me and save me so that I will bend my heart to You, to choose good when I know what You want, in accordance with Your holy Torah. May I no longer follow the stubbornness of my evil heart and no longer stray after my heart and eyes.
רַק אֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל־עֵת לְהַטּוֹת בְּחִירָתִי לְדֶרֶךְ הַחַיִּים וְהַטּוֹב וְהָאֱמֶת, וְתָאִיר עֵינַי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ בְּכָל־עֵת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע הָאֱמֶת וּלְכַוֵּן רְצוֹנְךָ בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֲנִי מְסֻפָּק בָּהֶם.
Rather, may I always bend my free will to go in the way of life, goodness and truth. Illumine my eyes in Your Torah and teach me with Your compassion at every moment, so that I will know the truth and intuit Your will in all things that I am uncertain about.
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ אַהֲלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ. הַדְרִיכֵנִי בַאֲמִתֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנִי כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי אוֹתְךָ קִוִּיתִי כָּל הַיּוֹם. הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי.
“HaShem, teach me Your ways. I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; it is for You that I have hoped all the day.” “HaShem, teach me Your ways. Guide me on a path that is straight, despite [my enemies] who gaze upon me.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, זַכֵּנִי לְהִכָּלֵל בְּצַדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת עַד שֶׁיִּתְבַּטְּלוּ מִמֶּנִּי כָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת וְכָל הַבְלֵי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לִי שׁוּם תַּאֲוָה וְחֶמְדָּה לָהֶם כְּלָל, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְהַטּוֹת שִׁכְמִי לִסְבֹּל עֹל תּוֹרָה וּתְפִלָּה וַעֲבוֹדָה, וּלְהַרְבּוֹת בִּצְדָקָה וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים.
Entering into the Company of Tzaddikim
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, bring me into the company of the true Tzaddikim, until all my desires for all the vanities of this world are nullified and I will not have any desire for them at all. Rather, I will bend my shoulder to bear the yoke of Torah, prayer and serving You, and I will be charitable and perform many kind deeds.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִסְּפֵקוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים וּמֵחֲלוּקַת הָעֵצָה, רַק אֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לֵידַע אֲמִתַּת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כִּי אֲנִי סוֹמֵךְ עָלֶיךָ בְּכָל תְּנוּעוֹתַי וְכִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶעֱשֶׂה.
Guard me. Deliver me from doubts, confusion and divided counsel. May I always know the truth of Your will regarding everything in the world, because I rely on You in all of my movements, and may I act in accordance with Your will.
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דֶּרֶךְ חֻקֶּיךָ וְאֶצֳּרֶנָּה עֵקֶב. הַדְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִיב מִצְוֹתֶיךָ כִּי בוֹ חָפָצְתִּי. הַט לִבִּי אֶל עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ וְאַל אֶל בָּצַע.
“HaShem, teach me the way of Your laws, and I will keep it at every step.” “Guide me in the path of Your mitzvot, for that is what I have desired.” “Extend my heart to Your testimonies and not toward monetary gain.”
רַחֵם רַחֵם מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עָלַי וְעַל כָּל הַתְּלוּיִם בִּי. תְּהִי יָדְךָ לְעָזְרֵנִי כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ בָחָרְתִּי. תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ יַעַזְרוּנִי. תָּעִיתִי כְּשֶׂה אוֹבֵד בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי.
Have compassion on me and on all those who depend on me. “May Your hand help me, for I have chosen Your laws.” “May my soul live and praise You, and may Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.”
תָּעִינוּ לִשְׂמֹאל יְמִינְךָ תְּקָרְבֵנִי. תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת פָּנֶיךָ נְעִימוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח.
I have strayed to the left. Please bring me close to You with Your right hand. “Let me know the way of life, the satiety of joy before Your countenance, the pleasantness at Your right hand forever.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen and amen.