Avoiding Gossip / Sweetening Harshness with Holy Words A person should avoid gossiping about any Jew, even the smallest of the small. How much more should he say nothing that denigrates Tzaddikim and pious people! He should not engage in dispute. He should not fool himself into thinking that there is any obligation to speak badly about people. Instead, a person should always speak words of Torah and prayer that express the fear of Heaven. As a result, he sweetens all kinds of strictness, from which speech is drawn. In particular, the true Tzaddikim of the generation have the power to sweeten all harshness and turn it into a Torah of kindness that teaches people about God’s might and the glorious beauty of His sovereignty. No Mitzvah to Speak Poorly of Others “HaShem, all Your creatures will thank You and Your pious ones will bless You. They will tell the glory of Your sovereignty, and they will speak of Your might — to inform people of His mighty deeds, and the honor of the beauty of His sovereignty.”
Master of the world, great in kindness and truth, have compassion on me. Guard me and rescue me from speaking evil words — particularly from gossiping, so that I will not say anything bad about any Jew in the world, even the smallest of the small and the least of the least.
How much more should I say nothing that denigrates the Tzaddikim and pious (and worthy) people of the generation who are engaged in serving You! Have compassion on me, guard me and save me so that no word against their honor will come out of my mouth, Heaven forbid, whether I am in their presence or not. “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking falsehood. And as for those who curse me, may my spirit be silent and like dust to all.”
Master of the entire world, have compassion on me and do not destroy me. Rescue me from engaging in argument and dispute. Have pity on my soul and guard me so that I will not fool myself into thinking that there is any obligation to speak badly about people, because I do not want such “obligations” — neither them nor their reward.
Have pity and mercy on my soul. Rescue me and all Israel from gossip and dispute — particularly from joining the widespread dispute at present among the leaders of the generation and their followers, and the infighting among Torah sages and their followers.
“HaShem, place a guard at my mouth and a watch upon the doorway of my lips. May my heart not turn aside to an evil matter,” so that I do not seek any blemish or imperfection in the service of those who are worthy, or in any Jew, Heaven forbid.
Sweetening Judgment In Your mighty compassion and wondrous kindness, give us the power to sweeten all kinds of harshness that people — in particular, great and important people — experience.
Have compassion on us. Be with us always, so that we will always have the strength to speak true words of Torah, prayer and fear of Heaven, as a result of which we will sweeten all kinds of strictness, from which speech is drawn.
Guard us and rescue us so that all kinds of harshness will not reach us. Have compassion on the great leaders of the generation. Sweeten any harshness that comes to them, and be with them always. In Your vast compassion and kindness, give them the power to sweeten all of the harshness in the world that comes to them.
Guard us and the entire Jewish people — in particular, all the great leaders of the generation — when we lack the power, Heaven forbid, to sweeten the harshness that comes to us. May we guard our souls a great deal so that we will not speak badly of any Jew — particularly the Tzaddikim of the generation and those who are connected to them.
Give the true Tzaddikim of the generation the power to sweeten all harshness and turn it into a Torah of kindness, to teach people about Your might and the glorious beauty of Your sovereignty.
Master of the world, You know hidden things. You alone know everything that occurs in this regard, and how many souls have undergone harsh experiences and lacked the power to sweeten them, as a result of which they stumbled and fell and slandered the Torah and the Tzaddikim.
Like Orphans without a Father As a result, they caused the death of a number of holy and awesome Tzaddikim. And now we remain like orphans without a father, “like a mast at the top of the mountain and like a banner upon the hill.” There is no one to stand up on our behalf. We have no one on whom to rely except our Father in Heaven.
Have compassion on us and on the entire Jewish people. Guard us and rescue us so that we will not blemish speech in any way, which comes through strictness, so that the strictness will not grow in strength, Heaven forbid, leavening our hearts so that we speak badly about any Jew.
In Your vast compassion and kindness, guard and protect them so that they are not blemished by any harsh strictness, so that strictness does not overwhelm them and induce them to speak against the Tzaddikim of the generation and their followers, Heaven forbid.
Rather, pour onto them and onto us power from the choicest of Your awesome Tzaddikim. Help, save and protect them, us and all Israel. Give us the power to sweeten all harshness that affects every individual — even the harshness that affects the great leaders of the generation. May we sweeten all harshness completely and transform it to complete kindness by means of true words of Torah, prayer and fear of Heaven. Help us speak their words always, day and night.
May the following words be realized regarding all of the sages of Israel, “She opens her mouth with wisdom and the Torah of kindness is on her tongue.” May they all learn Torah in order to teach it and guide the nation of HaShem in Your ways, in truth and righteousness, in accordance with Your good will. May they sweeten all harshness, so that all harshness and judgments will no longer affect the Jewish people.
And always draw beneficial kindness onto us, so that we and all Israel will quickly return to You in truth. We will do Your will all the days of our lives, and we will meditate in Your Torah day and night, from now and forever. Amen, selah.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ר"ז - כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים הֵם בְּחִינַת גְּבוּרוֹת]
יוֹדוּךָ יְהֹוָה כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה. כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ. לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרוֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ.
Avoiding Gossip / Sweetening Harshness with Holy Words
A person should avoid gossiping about any Jew, even the smallest of the small. How much more should he say nothing that denigrates Tzaddikim and pious people! He should not engage in dispute. He should not fool himself into thinking that there is any obligation to speak badly about people.
Instead, a person should always speak words of Torah and prayer that express the fear of Heaven. As a result, he sweetens all kinds of strictness, from which speech is drawn.
In particular, the true Tzaddikim of the generation have the power to sweeten all harshness and turn it into a Torah of kindness that teaches people about God’s might and the glorious beauty of His sovereignty.
No Mitzvah to Speak Poorly of Others
“HaShem, all Your creatures will thank You and Your pious ones will bless You. They will tell the glory of Your sovereignty, and they will speak of Your might — to inform people of His mighty deeds, and the honor of the beauty of His sovereignty.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, רַחֵם עָלַי, וְשָׁמְרֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִדִּבּוּרִים רָעִים וּבִפְרָט מִלָּשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁלֹּא אֲדַבֵּר שׁוּם דִּבּוּר רָע עַל שׁוּם בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אֲפִלּוּ עַל הַקָּטָן שֶׁבִּקְטַנִּים וְהַפָּחוּת שֶׁבַּפְּחוּתִים,
Master of the world, great in kindness and truth, have compassion on me. Guard me and rescue me from speaking evil words — particularly from gossiping, so that I will not say anything bad about any Jew in the world, even the smallest of the small and the least of the least.
מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן עַל צַדִּיקֵי וַחֲסִידֵי הַדּוֹר הָעוֹסְקִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ. רַחֵם עָלַי וְשָׁמְרֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא מִפִּי שׁוּם דִּבּוּר נֶגֶד כְּבוֹדָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בֵּין בִּפְנֵיהֶם בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵיהֶם. אֱלֹהַי נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנִי מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתַי מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה וְלִמְקַלְלַי נַפְשִׁי תִדֹּם וְנַפְשִׁי כֶּעָפָר לַכֹּל תִּהְיֶה.
How much more should I say nothing that denigrates the Tzaddikim and pious (and worthy) people of the generation who are engaged in serving You! Have compassion on me, guard me and save me so that no word against their honor will come out of my mouth, Heaven forbid, whether I am in their presence or not. “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking falsehood. And as for those who curse me, may my spirit be silent and like dust to all.”
מָרָא דְּעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, רַחֵם עָלַי, וְאַל תַּשְׁחִיתֵנִי, הַצִּילֵנִי מֵרִיב וּמַחֲלֹקֶת. חוּסָה עַל נַפְשִׁי וְשָׁמְרֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא אַטְעֶה אֶת עַצְמִי לוֹמַר שֶׁהוּא מִצְוָה לְדַבֵּר עַל אֵלּוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, כִּי אֵינִי חָפֵץ בְּמִצְוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ, לֹא הֵן וְלֹא שְׂכָרָן.
Master of the entire world, have compassion on me and do not destroy me. Rescue me from engaging in argument and dispute. Have pity on my soul and guard me so that I will not fool myself into thinking that there is any obligation to speak badly about people, because I do not want such “obligations” — neither them nor their reward.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ וְרוּחֵנוּ וְנִשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ, וְהַצֵּל אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלָּשׁוֹן הָרָע וּמַחֲלֹקֶת, וּבִפְרָט בְּעִנְיַן הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הַשָּׁכִיחַ עַכְשָׁיו בֵּין גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם, וְקַטֵּגוֹרְיָא בֵּין הַתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם.
Have pity and mercy on my soul. Rescue me and all Israel from gossip and dispute — particularly from joining the widespread dispute at present among the leaders of the generation and their followers, and the infighting among Torah sages and their followers.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, בְּעֵת צָרָה הַזֹּאת, וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי דִבּוּרִים רָעִים וּפְגוּמִים.
Master of compassion, have compassion on us at this time of trouble. Guard us and rescue us from all types of evil and blemished words.
שִׁיתָה יְהֹוָה שָׁמְרָה לְפִי נִצְּרָה עַל דַּל שְׂפָתָי. אַל תַּט לִבִּי לְדָבָר רָע. שֶׁלֹּא אֲחַפֵּשׂ וַאֲבַקֵּשׁ לִמְצֹא חַס וְשָׁלוֹם פְּגָם וְחִסָּרוֹן בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַכְּשֵׁרִים, וְלֹא בְּשׁוּם בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל.
“HaShem, place a guard at my mouth and a watch upon the doorway of my lips. May my heart not turn aside to an evil matter,” so that I do not seek any blemish or imperfection in the service of those who are worthy, or in any Jew, Heaven forbid.
וְתֵן בָּנוּ כֹּחַ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַנִּפְלָאִים, לְהַמְתִּיק כָּל מִינֵי גְבוּרוֹת הַבָּאִים לִבְנֵי אָדָם, בִּפְרָט לְהַגְּדוֹלִים וַחֲשׁוּבִים,
Sweetening Judgment
In Your mighty compassion and wondrous kindness, give us the power to sweeten all kinds of harshness that people — in particular, great and important people — experience.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וֶהְיֵה עִמָּנוּ תָמִיד, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל עֹז לְדַבֵּר דִּבּוּרֵי תוֹרָה וּתְפִלָּה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק כָּל מִינֵי גְבוּרוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם שֶׁמֵּהֶם נִמְשָׁךְ הַדִּבּוּר.
Have compassion on us. Be with us always, so that we will always have the strength to speak true words of Torah, prayer and fear of Heaven, as a result of which we will sweeten all kinds of strictness, from which speech is drawn.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי גְבוּרוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יַגִּיעוּ אֵלֵינוּ, וּתְרַחֵם עַל גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר, אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶם מַגִּיעִים הַגְּבוּרוֹת קָשׁוֹת לְהַמְתִּיקָם, וְתִהְיֶה עִמָּם תָּמִיד, וְתִתֶּן לָהֶם כֹּחַ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְהַמְתִּיק כָּל הַגְּבוּרוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַבָּאִים אֲלֵיהֶם.
Guard us and rescue us so that all kinds of harshness will not reach us. Have compassion on the great leaders of the generation. Sweeten any harshness that comes to them, and be with them always. In Your vast compassion and kindness, give them the power to sweeten all of the harshness in the world that comes to them.
וְתִשְׁמֹר אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּפְרָט כָּל גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר, בְּעֵת שֶׁאֵין בָּנוּ כֹּחַ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לְהַמְתִּיק הַגְּבוּרוֹת הַבָּאוֹת אֵלֵינוּ, שֶׁעַל־כָּל־פָּנִים נִשְׁמֹר נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד לִבְלִי לְדַבֵּר סָרָה עַל שׁוּם בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁלֹּא לְדַבֵּר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַל צַדִּיקֵי הַדּוֹר וְהַנִּלְוִים אֲלֵיהֶם.
Guard us and the entire Jewish people — in particular, all the great leaders of the generation — when we lack the power, Heaven forbid, to sweeten the harshness that comes to us. May we guard our souls a great deal so that we will not speak badly of any Jew — particularly the Tzaddikim of the generation and those who are connected to them.
וְתִתֶּן כֹּחַ לְצַדִּיקֵי הַדּוֹר הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁיַּמְתִּיקוּ כָּל הַגְּבוּרוֹת הַקָּשׁוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְיַעֲשׂוּ מֵהֶם תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד לְלַמֵּד בְּתוֹרָתָם לַאֲחֵרִים, לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרוֹתֶיךָ וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתֶךָ:
Give the true Tzaddikim of the generation the power to sweeten all harshness and turn it into a Torah of kindness, to teach people about Your might and the glorious beauty of Your sovereignty.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת, אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, וְכַמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת שָׁקְעוּ בָּזֶה, שֶׁהִגִּיעַ אֲלֵיהֶם גְּבוּרוֹת קָשׁוֹת רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, וְלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶם כֹּחַ לְהַמְתִּיקָם, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִכְשְׁלוּ וְנָפְלוּ וְדִבְּרוּ סָרָה עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הַצַּדִּיקִים,
Master of the world, You know hidden things. You alone know everything that occurs in this regard, and how many souls have undergone harsh experiences and lacked the power to sweeten them, as a result of which they stumbled and fell and slandered the Torah and the Tzaddikim.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה גָּרְמוּ שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקוּ כַּמָּה צַדִּיקִים קְדוֹשִׁים וְנוֹרָאִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאַרְנוּ כִּיתוֹמִים וְאֵין אָב, כַּתֹּרֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר וְכַנֵּס עַל הַגִּבְעָה. וְאֵין מִי יַעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנו, עַל מִי יֵשׁ לָנוּ לְהִשָּׁעֵן עַל אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם.
Like Orphans without a Father
As a result, they caused the death of a number of holy and awesome Tzaddikim. And now we remain like orphans without a father, “like a mast at the top of the mountain and like a banner upon the hill.” There is no one to stand up on our behalf. We have no one on whom to rely except our Father in Heaven.
רַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִפְגֹּם כְּלָל בְּהַדִּבּוּר הַבָּא עַל־יְדֵי הַגְּבוּרוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא יִתְגַּבְּרוּ הַגְּבוּרוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לְהַחֲמִיץ לְבָבֵנוּ לְדַבֵּר סָרָה עַל שׁוּם אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל,
Have compassion on us and on the entire Jewish people. Guard us and rescue us so that we will not blemish speech in any way, which comes through strictness, so that the strictness will not grow in strength, Heaven forbid, leavening our hearts so that we speak badly about any Jew.
וּבְיוֹתֵר תִּשְׁמֹר אֶת גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר וַחֲשׁוּבִים, אֲשֶׁר אֲלֵיהֶם מַגִּיעִים הַגְּבוּרוֹת קָשׁוֹת הַיּוֹצְאִים לָעוֹלָם לִפְעָמִים.
In particular, guard the great and important leaders of the generation, who at times are beset by harsh strictness that comes into the world.
וְשָׁמְרֵם וְהַצִּילֵם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁלֹּא יִפְגְּמוּ בְּהַגְּבוּרוֹת הַקָּשׁוֹת כְּלָל, שֶׁלֹּא יִתְגַּבְּרוּ הַגְּבוּרוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם לְהָבִיא אוֹתָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לְדַבֵּר עָתָק עַל צַדִּיקֵי הַדּוֹר וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן,
In Your vast compassion and kindness, guard and protect them so that they are not blemished by any harsh strictness, so that strictness does not overwhelm them and induce them to speak against the Tzaddikim of the generation and their followers, Heaven forbid.
רַק תַּשְׁפִּיעַ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ כֹּחַ מִגְּדוֹלֵי בְּחִירֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הַנּוֹרָאִים, וְתַעֲזֹר וְתוֹשִׁיעַ וְתָגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ כֹחַ לְהַמְתִּיק כָּל הַגְּבוּרוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַבָּאִים עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, וַאֲפִלּוּ הַגְּבוּרוֹת הַקָּשׁוֹת הַבָּאִים לִגְדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר, כֻּלָּם נִזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק בְּהַמְתָּקוֹת גְּמוּרוֹת לְהָפְכָם לַחֲסָדִים גְּמוּרִים, עַל־יְדֵי דִבּוּרֵי תוֹרָה וּתְפִלָּה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנוּ לְדַבֵּר בָּהֶם תָּמִיד יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה.
Rather, pour onto them and onto us power from the choicest of Your awesome Tzaddikim. Help, save and protect them, us and all Israel. Give us the power to sweeten all harshness that affects every individual — even the harshness that affects the great leaders of the generation. May we sweeten all harshness completely and transform it to complete kindness by means of true words of Torah, prayer and fear of Heaven. Help us speak their words always, day and night.
וִיקֻיַּם בְּכָל חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְּחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ כֻלָּם לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה עַל מְנָת לְלַמְּדָהּ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיּוֹרוּ לְעַם יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֵי יְהֹוָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּים בֶּאֱמֶת וָצֶדֶק כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְיַמְתִּיקוּ כָּל הַגְּבוּרוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ כָּל הַגְּזֵרוֹת וְכָל הַדִּינִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל,
May the following words be realized regarding all of the sages of Israel, “She opens her mouth with wisdom and the Torah of kindness is on her tongue.” May they all learn Torah in order to teach it and guide the nation of HaShem in Your ways, in truth and righteousness, in accordance with Your good will. May they sweeten all harshness, so that all harshness and judgments will no longer affect the Jewish people.
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים תָּמִיד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה אֲנַחְנוּ וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה וְנַעֲשֶׂה רְצוֹנְךָ כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ, וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ נֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
And always draw beneficial kindness onto us, so that we and all Israel will quickly return to You in truth. We will do Your will all the days of our lives, and we will meditate in Your Torah day and night, from now and forever. Amen, selah.