Great Tzaddikim Achieved Their Greatness Through Hitbodedut / One Should Turn the Torah He Learns into Prayers There is no greater spiritual practice than hitbodedut, in which a person sets aside at least an hour a day to be alone in a room or in a field and speak to God in his own words, employing logic and persuasion, expressing regret and repentance for the past, and pleading with God to allow him to truly serve Him and come close to Him. A person should pray to God for whatever he lacks in serving Him. Even if he cannot say anything, his preparation and his standing before God with the desire to speak are themselves good. A person can even turn his inability to pray into a prayer. And when a person engages in this practice, God will give him the inspiration to say the words that God wishes to hear. A person should accustom himself to engage in this practice every day, and then be carefree the rest of the day. This is a great practice and a wonderful way to come close to God. A number of well-known Tzaddikim reported that they attained their greatness only because of this practice. And it is something that anyone can do. In particular, it is an excellent practice in hitbodedut to turn a teaching of a true Tzaddik into a prayer. Turning such teachings into prayers causes great delight in Heaven. Pouring Forth Our Speech Before God “A prayer for the poor person, when he is wrapped [in distress] and pours forth his speech before HaShem.”
Master of the world, help me always express all of my speech before You, every day and at every moment. Help me and save me so that I will increase my speech from me to You, my Maker, and spend the greater part of the day and night on this, all of the days of my life.
Have compassion on me and open my mouth at every moment. Send me true and holy words from Your holy dwelling place in Heaven to plead, pray and beg before You on behalf of my soul with new words at every moment.
Help me always increase my pleading with proper words of placation and conciliation, putting forth and explaining my case with gracious and supplicating words, so that I will always arouse Your vast compassion and You will help me come close to You at every moment.
As a result, although so many years have already passed, I still have not been saved from the many troubles of my soul. “And You, HaShem, how long?” When will You begin to save me truly and completely?
Nevertheless, I am still so far away from You. The great extent of my distance from You, and the paucity of what I am and what my character is, are impossible for anyone to express or estimate. Only You know these things, HaShem my God.
There are no words on my tongue to express my speech before You properly and engage in a great deal of conversation and prayer to You, in accordance with everything that is hidden and concealed in my heart.
This can only occur if, with the aid of Your compassion and salvation, I find favor in Your eyes from now on — so that You will open for me anew the gates of prayer, the gates of supplication and request, the gates of true eloquence, the gates of hitbodedut, the gates of conversation and holy words, the gates of seeking favor and pleading.
May that occur in such a way that from now on I will express all of my speech to You with new words of supplication, conciliation and appeasement at every moment, pouring forth my heart like water before Your countenance at every moment, HaShem.
You know my heart: how much I need to begin to cry out, clamor, pray and plead to You, to weep with a bitterness of soul and pour forth my heart like water before You.
I must prostrate myself until my soul expires, with actual self-sacrifice, to seek my soul from You, because of the transgressions, sins and offenses that I committed so willingly before You, from my beginning until this day.
What shall I say? “I will cause my sleep to flee because of the bitterness of my spirit.” “Who will make my head water and my eye a source of tears? Then I would weep day and night” because of the bitterness of spirit that I inflicted upon my soul without cause.
Woe to me and to my soul. Woe! What have I done? My heart, my heart mourns its losses! My core, my core, mourns its losses! Woe! What shall I say? How shall I speak? How can I justify myself?
If not for Your vast compassion and lovingkindness, who knows what would have been? Protect us, Compassionate One! “If Your Torah had not been my delight, I would have been lost in my affliction.”
Therefore, I come to You Who are filled with compassion, so that You will pour onto me new, true words from the source of holy speech. From now on may I express all of my speech to You at every moment with words of favor and true pleading.
From now on may I renew my days that have passed in a dark and dreary exile, and no longer return to my foolishness. Help me, You Who are filled with compassion. Save me, You Who are filled with salvation.
Turning Torah into Prayers Open my mind’s eye and my consciousness to the path of truth and true wholeheartedness, so that I will clearly know the true and proper way to create lovely and true prayers out of Torah teachings, in accordance with Your will and in accordance with the will of those who fear You, the true Tzaddikim, who revealed these Torah insights to the world.
May I construct lovely and holy prayers regarding all of the matters that their holy words talk about or merely hint at. May I understand them quickly.
May I truly go on the path of serving You with all of the words of their teachings, walking upon the way of holiness in accordance with the insights of each teaching for a period of time.
May I implore, beg, pray and speak to You during all that time to attain the way of Divine service discussed in that teaching, and to truly perform everything mentioned in it. May all of my service of You during that time be in accordance with that teaching.
Afterward, may I proceed for a certain amount of time with another teaching, until I proceed in this way with all of the Torah insights that these Tzaddikim revealed to the world. May I truly be attuned to their intent and implement these teachings fully.
Although I am extremely far from this at present, in Your eyes, nothing is far, because nothing is beyond You. “You can do everything; no purpose can be withheld from You.” You bring about new things at every moment that were never before accomplished.
Teach Me What to Say Help me! Save me! At present, I have no strength to do anything but stretch my hands out to Your compassion — and that, too, I do not truly deserve.
I do not know how I will find the true point that touches upon my heart at every moment, such that I will constantly conduct myself in accordance with Your good will.
I do not know how to recite true prayers and lovely conversations before You, or how to truly connect myself to the true point that touches upon my heart at each moment, such that I may return to You and truly be in accordance with Your good will always.
Strong and firm Unique One, Primal One, strengthen me and fortify me in prayer and conversation before You always. “My God, open my lips and my mouth will speak Your praise.” “HaShem, please accept the offerings of my mouth and teach me Your judgments.”
I will hope in You, God. I will pray before Your countenance and ask You to help me speak to You clearly. As part of the congregation of the nation, I will sing of Your might, praying on my behalf and on behalf of Your purposes. “A man prepares his heart, and then HaShem provides the smoothness of his tongue.”
Teach me what to say. Help me understand what to ask for. Tell me how to please You. Teach me in truth the ways of hitbodedut and conversation with You, Master of compassion. May I pray to You in my own words so that I will always converse with You as a man speaks to his friend.
Arouse Your compassion for us, Your children. Send holy words that are drawn from the ten types of melody to me and to all those who desire, yearn and strive to express their conversation before You.
With these ten types of melody, King David composed the Book of Psalms, which is based on the words of his holy conversations that he poured forth to You at every moment.
And we are assured of the power of all of the Tzaddikim who arranged songs, praises, prayers and conversations before You, until they attained all ten types of melody with the ultimate perfection.
I, as well as all those who wish to express their conversation before You, rely on their power alone in the hope that we, too, will speak holy, true words drawn from the ten types of melody, in accordance with Your will.
We wish to pray a great deal, and always express all of our conversation before You at every moment truthfully and wholeheartedly, so that we will conquer You at every moment.
Begin redeeming us and quickly bring us to a complete redemption that is not followed by exile — a redemption of soul, body and money, overall and in every detail.
May we turn away from evil entirely and always do what is good in Your eyes. May we truly set firmly in Your holiness, and always rise from level to level with great holiness, in accordance with Your good will.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה כ"ה - הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת הִיא מַעֲלָה עֶלְיוֹנָה וּגְדוֹלָה מִן הַכֹּל]
תְּפִלָּה לְעָנִי כִי יַעֲטֹף וְלִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה יִשְׁפֹּךְ שִׂיחוֹ.
Great Tzaddikim Achieved Their Greatness Through Hitbodedut / One Should Turn the Torah He Learns into Prayers
There is no greater spiritual practice than hitbodedut, in which a person sets aside at least an hour a day to be alone in a room or in a field and speak to God in his own words, employing logic and persuasion, expressing regret and repentance for the past, and pleading with God to allow him to truly serve Him and come close to Him. A person should pray to God for whatever he lacks in serving Him. Even if he cannot say anything, his preparation and his standing before God with the desire to speak are themselves good. A person can even turn his inability to pray into a prayer. And when a person engages in this practice, God will give him the inspiration to say the words that God wishes to hear. A person should accustom himself to engage in this practice every day, and then be carefree the rest of the day.
This is a great practice and a wonderful way to come close to God. A number of well-known Tzaddikim reported that they attained their greatness only because of this practice. And it is something that anyone can do.
In particular, it is an excellent practice in hitbodedut to turn a teaching of a true Tzaddik into a prayer. Turning such teachings into prayers causes great delight in Heaven.
Pouring Forth Our Speech Before God
“A prayer for the poor person, when he is wrapped [in distress] and pours forth his speech before HaShem.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עָזְרֵנִי לְפָרֵשׁ כָּל שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת תָּמִיד. זַכֵּנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּשִׂיחָה בֵּינִי לְבֵין קוֹנִי, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְבַלּוֹת רֹב הַיּוֹם וְהַלַּיְלָה עַל עִנְיָן זֶה כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי.
Master of the world, help me always express all of my speech before You, every day and at every moment. Help me and save me so that I will increase my speech from me to You, my Maker, and spend the greater part of the day and night on this, all of the days of my life.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְתִפְתַּח אֶת פִּי בְּכָל עֵת, וְתִשְׁלַח לִי דִּבּוּרִים אֲמִתִּיִּים וּקְדוֹשִׁים מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְהַעְתִּיר וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְבַקֵּשׁ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ עַל נַפְשִׁי בְּכָל־עֵת בְּדִבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים.
Have compassion on me and open my mouth at every moment. Send me true and holy words from Your holy dwelling place in Heaven to plead, pray and beg before You on behalf of my soul with new words at every moment.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי תָמִיד לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּעֶתֶר, בְּדִבְרֵי רִצּוּי וּפִיּוּס וְטַעֲנוֹת וַאֲמַתְלָאוֹת נְכוֹנוֹת, בְּדִבְרֵי־חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים עָלַי שֶׁתּוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּכָל עֵת לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ.
Help me always increase my pleading with proper words of placation and conciliation, putting forth and explaining my case with gracious and supplicating words, so that I will always arouse Your vast compassion and You will help me come close to You at every moment.
וְאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל פַּעַם לַעֲלוֹת מִדַּרְגָא לְדַרְגָּא, לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל עֵת בְּהִתְקָרְבוּת גָּדוֹל יוֹתֵר.
May I constantly rise from level to level and approach You at every moment.
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, יֶהֱמוּ מֵעֶיךָ וְרַחֲמֶיךָ עָלַי,
Help me and save me, You Who are filled with compassion. Arouse Your empathy and compassion on my behalf.
כִּי יָדַעְתָּ, כִּי זֶה כַּמָּה נִכְסֹף נִכְסַפְתִּי לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ וְלָשׁוּב מִמְּצוּלוֹת יָם שֶׁנִּלְכַּדְתִּי בָּהֶם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים.
You know that I so strongly yearn to come close to You and return from the depths of the sea in which I have been trapped because of my many sins.
וַאֲנִי רוֹצֶה לַחְתֹּר בְּכָל עֵת לְהִתְבּוֹדֵד וּלְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא זָכִיתִי לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ כָּרָאוּי,
I want to strive at every moment to engage in hitbodedut and express my speech to You, but I still have not properly done so.
וְעַל כֵּן עֲדַיִן לֹא נוֹשַׁעְתִּי מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשִׁי הַמְּרֻבִּים מְאֹד מְאֹד, וּכְבָר עָבְרוּ מִשְּׁנוֹתַי מַה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ, וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה עַד מָתָי, מָתַי תַּתְחִיל לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי יְשׁוּעָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת.
As a result, although so many years have already passed, I still have not been saved from the many troubles of my soul. “And You, HaShem, how long?” When will You begin to save me truly and completely?
כִּי אִם אָמְנָם רַבּוֹת עָשִׂיתָ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי עִמִּי, נִפְלָאוֹת וְנוֹרָאוֹת, חֲסָדִים גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר,
HaShem my God, You have performed wondrous and awesome deeds for me. You have extended great and mighty kindnesses without measure on my behalf.
אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לִי כֹּחַ עַד הֵנָּה לְצַפּוֹת לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ, וּלְהִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּצֵל קְדֻשַּׁת צַדִּיקֶיךָ הַנֶּאֱמָנִים בֶּאֱמֶת.
You have given me the strength to hope for Your salvation and take refuge in the holy shade of Your truly faithful Tzaddikim.
אֲבָל אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן עֲדַיִן אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִמְּךָ מְאֹד מְאֹד, וְגֹדֶל רִחוּקִי וְעִנְיָנִי וּמַהוּתִי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְבָאֵר וּלְשַׁעֵר, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ,
Nevertheless, I am still so far away from You. The great extent of my distance from You, and the paucity of what I am and what my character is, are impossible for anyone to express or estimate. Only You know these things, HaShem my God.
וּלְהַרְבּוֹת בְּשִׂיחָה וּתְפִלָּה לְפָנֶיךָ אֵין בִּלְשׁוֹנִי מִלָּה לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ הֵיטֵב כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צָפוּן וְגָנוּז בִּלְבָבִי,
There are no words on my tongue to express my speech before You properly and engage in a great deal of conversation and prayer to You, in accordance with everything that is hidden and concealed in my heart.
כִּי אִם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וּבִישׁוּעָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, אִם אֶזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ מֵעַתָּה, שֶׁתִּפְתַּח לִי מֵעַתָּה מֵחָדָשׁ שַׁעֲרֵי תְפִלָּה, שַׁעֲרֵי תְחִנָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה, שַׁעֲרֵי מְלִיצָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, שַׁעֲרֵי הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, שַׁעֲרֵי שִׂיחָה וְדִבּוּרִים קְדוֹשִׁים, שַׁעֲרֵי חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים,
This can only occur if, with the aid of Your compassion and salvation, I find favor in Your eyes from now on — so that You will open for me anew the gates of prayer, the gates of supplication and request, the gates of true eloquence, the gates of hitbodedut, the gates of conversation and holy words, the gates of seeking favor and pleading.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְפָרֵשׁ כָּל שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּדִבְרֵי תַחֲנוּנִים וְרִצּוּיִים וּפִיּוּסִים חֲדָשִׁים בְּכָל פַּעַם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁפֹּךְ לִבִּי כַמַּיִם נוֹכַח פָּנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה בְּכָל עֵת.
May that occur in such a way that from now on I will express all of my speech to You with new words of supplication, conciliation and appeasement at every moment, pouring forth my heart like water before Your countenance at every moment, HaShem.
כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת לְבָבִי, כַּמָּה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהַתְחִיל לִצְעֹק וְלִזְעֹק וּלְהִתְפַּלֵל וּלְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ, וְלִבְכּוֹת בְּמַר נֶפֶשׁ וְלִשְׁפֹּךְ לִבִּי כַמַּיִם לְפָנֶיךָ,
You know my heart: how much I need to begin to cry out, clamor, pray and plead to You, to weep with a bitterness of soul and pour forth my heart like water before You.
וּלְהִשְׁתַּטֵּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ בִּכְלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ, בִּמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת, לְבַקֵּשׁ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ עַל נַפְשִׁי, עַל כָּל הַחֲטָאִים וְהָעֲוֹנוֹת וְהַפְּשָׁעִים שֶׁהִרְבֵּיתִי מְאֹד לִפְשֹׁעַ נֶגְדֶּךָ, מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
I must prostrate myself until my soul expires, with actual self-sacrifice, to seek my soul from You, because of the transgressions, sins and offenses that I committed so willingly before You, from my beginning until this day.
מָה אֲדַבֵּר, אֶדַּדֶּה כָל שְׁנוֹתַי עַל מַר נַפְשִׁי. מִי יִתֵּן רֹאשִׁי מַיִם וְעֵינִי מְקוֹר דִּמְעָה וְאֶבְכֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה, עַל מַר נַפְשִׁי אֲשֶׁר גָּמַלְתִּי לְנַפְשִׁי בְּחִנָּם,
What shall I say? “I will cause my sleep to flee because of the bitterness of my spirit.” “Who will make my head water and my eye a source of tears? Then I would weep day and night” because of the bitterness of spirit that I inflicted upon my soul without cause.
בִּשְׁבִיל תַּאֲוָה קַלָּה הָעוֹבֶרֶת כְּצֵל עוֹבֵר, מָרַדְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר מָרַדְתִּי, וּבָאתִי לְמַה שֶּׁבָּאתִי וְאִבַּדְתִּי מַה שֶּׁאִבַּדְתִּי.
For the sake of a slight desire that passes like a fleeting shadow, I rebelled against You. I came to what I came to, and I lost what I lost.
אוֹיָה עָלַי וְעַל נַפְשִׁי, אוֹי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי, לִבִּי לִבִּי עַל חַלְלֵיהֶם, מֵעַי מֵעַי עַל חַלְלֵיהֶם. אוֹי וַאֲבוֹי, מָה אוֹמַר מָה אֲדַבֵּר מַה אֶצְטַדָּק,
Woe to me and to my soul. Woe! What have I done? My heart, my heart mourns its losses! My core, my core, mourns its losses! Woe! What shall I say? How shall I speak? How can I justify myself?
לוּלֵא רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים כְּבָר הָיָה מַה שֶּׁהָיָה רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, לוּלֵי תוֹרָתְךָ שַׁעֲשׁוּעָי אָז אָבַדְתִּי בְעָנְיִי:
If not for Your vast compassion and lovingkindness, who knows what would have been? Protect us, Compassionate One! “If Your Torah had not been my delight, I would have been lost in my affliction.”
עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שֶׁתַּשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי דִּבּוּרִים חֲדָשִׁים אֲמִתִּיִּים מִמְּקוֹר הַדִּבּוּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לִשְׁפֹּךְ כָּל שִׂיחִי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל עֵת בְּדִבְרֵי חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים אֲמִתִּיִּים,
Therefore, I come to You Who are filled with compassion, so that You will pour onto me new, true words from the source of holy speech. From now on may I express all of my speech to You at every moment with words of favor and true pleading.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְרַצּוֹת וּלְפַיֵּס אוֹתְךָ, שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה מֵעַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר.
May I please and placate You so that from now on, in Your vast compassion, You will help me follow Your laws and keep Your mitzvot.
שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְחַדֵּשׁ יָמַי שֶׁעָבְרוּ בְּחֹשֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה מְנֻדָּח, וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה. עָזְרֵנִי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מָלֵא יְשׁוּעוֹת:
From now on may I renew my days that have passed in a dark and dreary exile, and no longer return to my foolishness. Help me, You Who are filled with compassion. Save me, You Who are filled with salvation.
וְתִפְתַּח אֶת עֵינֵי שִׂכְלִי וְדַעְתִּי בְּדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת וְהַתְּמִימוּת הָאֲמִתִּי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע הֵיטֵב הַדֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת וְהַנָּכוֹן, אֵיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהַתּוֹרוֹת תְּפִלּוֹת נָאוֹת וַאֲמִתִּיּוֹת, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ וְכִרְצוֹן יְרֵאֶיךָ הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר גִּלּוּ אֵלּוּ הַחִדּוּשֵׁי תוֹרָה בָּעוֹלָם.
Turning Torah into Prayers
Open my mind’s eye and my consciousness to the path of truth and true wholeheartedness, so that I will clearly know the true and proper way to create lovely and true prayers out of Torah teachings, in accordance with Your will and in accordance with the will of those who fear You, the true Tzaddikim, who revealed these Torah insights to the world.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיַּעֲלוּ שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים גְּדוֹלִים לְפָנֶיךָ, עַד שֶׁתְּעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, וּתְשִׁיבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
May I do so in such a way that great delight will rise to You, and You will arouse Your compassion completely and truly bring me back to You.
עָזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְכַוֵּן כַּוָּנָתָם הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאֶלְמַד בְּסִפְרֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים,
Help me so that I will intuit the holy intention of the true Tzaddikim in everything that I learn in their holy books.
וּלְסַדֵּר תְּפִלּוֹת נָאוֹת וּקְדוֹשׁוֹת עַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הַנֶּאֱמָרִים וְהַמְרֻמָּזִים בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ לָהֶם מְהֵרָה.
May I construct lovely and holy prayers regarding all of the matters that their holy words talk about or merely hint at. May I understand them quickly.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁפֹּךְ שִׂיחִי לְפָנֶיךָ עַל־יְדֵי כָּל תּוֹרָה וְתוֹרָה שֶׁגִּלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים בָּעוֹלָם.
May I pour forth my conversation to You using all of the teachings that the true Tzaddikim revealed to the world.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ בַּעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת עִם כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתָם, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵיזֶה זְמַן עַל פִּי חִדּוּשֵׁי תוֹרָה אַחַת,
May I truly go on the path of serving You with all of the words of their teachings, walking upon the way of holiness in accordance with the insights of each teaching for a period of time.
וּלְהַפְצִיר וּלְהַעְתִּיר וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְלָשׂוּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל אוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ וּלְהַשִּׂיג הָעֲבוֹדָה הַנֶּאֱמָרָה בְּאוֹתָהּ הַתּוֹרָה לְקַיֵּם בֶּאֱמֶת אֵת כָּל הַנֶּאֱמַר שָׁם, וְתִהְיֶה כָּל עֲבוֹדָתִי בְּכָל אוֹתָהּ הָעֵת וְהַזְּמַן עַל פִּי אוֹתָהּ הַתּוֹרָה.
May I implore, beg, pray and speak to You during all that time to attain the way of Divine service discussed in that teaching, and to truly perform everything mentioned in it. May all of my service of You during that time be in accordance with that teaching.
וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ זְמַן מְסֻיָּם עִם חִדּוּשֵׁי תוֹרָה אֲחֶרֶת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ עִם כָּל חִדּוּשֵׁי תּוֹרָתָם שֶׁגִּלּוּ בָּעוֹלָם, וּלְכַוֵּן כַּוָּנָתָם בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלִזְכּוֹת לְקַיְּמָם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת.
Afterward, may I proceed for a certain amount of time with another teaching, until I proceed in this way with all of the Torah insights that these Tzaddikim revealed to the world. May I truly be attuned to their intent and implement these teachings fully.
וְאִם אֲנִי רָחוֹק מִזֶּה מְאֹד מְאֹד עַתָּה, בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֵין שׁוּם דָּבָר רָחוֹק, כִּי מִמְּךָ לֹא יִפָּלֵא כָּל דָּבָר, הֵן כֹּל תּוּכָל וְלֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמְּךָ מְזִמָּה, וְאַתָּה עֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת בְּכָל עֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא נַעֲשׂוּ מֵעוֹלָם:
Although I am extremely far from this at present, in Your eyes, nothing is far, because nothing is beyond You. “You can do everything; no purpose can be withheld from You.” You bring about new things at every moment that were never before accomplished.
עָזְרֵנִי עָזְרֵנִי, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, כִּי עַתָּה אֵין לִי שׁוּם כֹּחַ כִּי אִם לִשְׁטֹחַ כַּפַּי לְרַחֲמֶיךָ, וְגַם זֶה אֵינִי זוֹכֶה בֶּאֱמֶת כָּרָאוּי,
Teach Me What to Say
Help me! Save me! At present, I have no strength to do anything but stretch my hands out to Your compassion — and that, too, I do not truly deserve.
רַק מֵרָחוֹק אֲקַוֶּה וַאֲצַפֶּה בְּכָל עֵת לִישׁוּעָתְךָ הַשְּׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת. וְאַתָּה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי,
However, from my distance, I hope for and constantly look toward Your true, complete salvation. Treat me in a way that is good in Your eyes.
כִּי אֵין אִתִּי יוֹדֵעַ עַד מָה, אֵיךְ לְדַבֵּר וּמַה לְּדַבֵּר, וּבְאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ אֶזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ לְכָל מַה שֶּׁבִּקַשְׁתִּי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.
I do not know anything: how to speak, what to say, or how I will attain everything that I have asked of You.
וּבְאֵיזֶה עִנְיָן אֶזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא הַנְּקֻדָּה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית בְּכָל עֵת הַשַּׁיָּךְ לְלִבִּי בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעֵת וְהַשָּׁעָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
I do not know how I will find the true point that touches upon my heart at every moment, such that I will constantly conduct myself in accordance with Your good will.
וּלְסַדֵּר תְּפִלָּה אֲמִתִּיִּית וְשִׂיחָה נָאָה לְפָנֶיךָ, וּלְקַשֵּׁר עַצְמִי בֶּאֱמֶת לְהַנְּקֻדָּה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית הַשַּׁיָּךְ לְלִבִּי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ וְלִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת תָּמִיד:
I do not know how to recite true prayers and lovely conversations before You, or how to truly connect myself to the true point that touches upon my heart at each moment, such that I may return to You and truly be in accordance with Your good will always.
יָחִיד קַדְמוֹן, חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ, חַזְּקֵנִי וְאַמְּצֵנִי בִּתְפִלָּה וְשִׂיחָה לְפָנֶיךָ תָמִיד. אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ. נִדְבוֹת פִּי רְצֵה נָא יְהֹוָה וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי.
Strong and firm Unique One, Primal One, strengthen me and fortify me in prayer and conversation before You always. “My God, open my lips and my mouth will speak Your praise.” “HaShem, please accept the offerings of my mouth and teach me Your judgments.”
אוֹחִילָה לָאֵל אֲחַלֶּה פָנָיו אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן. אֲשֶׁר בִּקְהַל עָם אָשִׁירָה עֻזּוֹ אַבִּיעָה רְנָנוֹת בַּעֲדִי וּבְעַד מִפְעָלָיו. לְאָדָם מַעַרְכֵי־לֵב וּמֵיהֹוָה מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן.
I will hope in You, God. I will pray before Your countenance and ask You to help me speak to You clearly. As part of the congregation of the nation, I will sing of Your might, praying on my behalf and on behalf of Your purposes. “A man prepares his heart, and then HaShem provides the smoothness of his tongue.”
הוֹרֵנִי מַה שֶּׁאֲדַבֵּר, הֲבִינֵנִי מַה שֶּׁאֶשְׁאַל, הוֹדִיעֵנִי אֵיךְ לְרַצוֹתְךָ, לַמְּדֵנִי בֶּאֱמֶת דַּרְכֵי הַהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת וְהַשִּׂיחָה עִמְּךָ בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, בְּלָשׁוֹן שֶׁמְּדַבְּרִים בּוֹ, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה שִׂיחָתִי לְפָנֶיךָ תָמִיד כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ.
Teach me what to say. Help me understand what to ask for. Tell me how to please You. Teach me in truth the ways of hitbodedut and conversation with You, Master of compassion. May I pray to You in my own words so that I will always converse with You as a man speaks to his friend.
הוֹרֵנִי בְּאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ אֶזְכֶּה לְנַצֵּחַ אוֹתְךָ שֶׁתָּשִׁיב פָּנֶיךָ אֵלֵינוּ וְתַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Teach me how to conquer You so that You will turn Your face back to us and help us truly return to You in complete repentance.
כִּי כְבָר גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ שֶׁזֶּה רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְנַצֵּחַ אוֹתְךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, זַמְּרוּ לְמִי שֶׁמְּנַצְּחִין אוֹתוֹ וְשָׂמֵחַ.
You have revealed to us that You want us to conquer You. As our sages said, “Sing to the One Who rejoices when He is conquered.”
יְּעוֹרְרוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עַל בָּנֶיךָ וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי וְעַל כָּל הַחֲפֵצִים וּמִתְגַּעְגְּעִים וְחוֹתְרִים לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתָם לְפָנֶיךָ, דִּבּוּרִים קְדוֹשִׁים הַנִּמְשָׁכִים מֵעֲשָׂרָה מִינֵי זִמְרָה,
Arouse Your compassion for us, Your children. Send holy words that are drawn from the ten types of melody to me and to all those who desire, yearn and strive to express their conversation before You.
אֲשֶׁר עַל־יָדָם חִבֵּר דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, סֵפֶר 'תְּהִלִּים' מִדִּבְרֵי שִׂיחָתוֹ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁשָּׁפַךְ לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל עֵת.
With these ten types of melody, King David composed the Book of Psalms, which is based on the words of his holy conversations that he poured forth to You at every moment.
כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ כִּי אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ יוֹדְעִים שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁל הָעֲשָׂרָה מִינֵי זִמְרָה, רַק אָנוּ בְטוּחִים בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם,
You know that we do not know of any of the ten types of melody. But we are assured of the power and merit of King David.
וּבְכֹחַ כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁסִּדְּרוּ שִׁירוֹת וְתִשְׁבָּחוֹת וּתְפִלּוֹת וְשִׂיחוֹת לְפָנֶיךָ, עַד שֶׁזָּכוּ לְהַשִּׂיג כָּל הָעֲשָׂרָה מִינֵי זִמְרָה בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת,
And we are assured of the power of all of the Tzaddikim who arranged songs, praises, prayers and conversations before You, until they attained all ten types of melody with the ultimate perfection.
בְּכֹחָם לְבַד נִשְׁעַנְתִּי גַּם אָנֹכִי וְכָל הַחֲפֵצִים לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתָם לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁנִזְכֶּה גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ לְדַבֵּר דִּבּוּרִים קְדוֹשִׁים אֲמִתִּיִּים כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַנִּמְשָׁכִים מֵעֲשָׂרָה מִינֵי זִמְרָה,
I, as well as all those who wish to express their conversation before You, rely on their power alone in the hope that we, too, will speak holy, true words drawn from the ten types of melody, in accordance with Your will.
וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל הַרְבֵּה וּלְפָרֵשׁ כָּל שִׂיחָתֵנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ תָמִיד בְּכָל עֵת בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם. בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יָדָם לְנַצֵּחַ אוֹתְךָ בְּכָל עֵת,
We wish to pray a great deal, and always express all of our conversation before You at every moment truthfully and wholeheartedly, so that we will conquer You at every moment.
שֶׁתַּתְחִיל וְתִגְמֹר מְהֵרָה לְגָאֳלֵנוּ גְאוּלָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁאֵין אַחֲרֶיהָ גָּלוּת, גְּאֻלַּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַגּוּף וְהַמָּמוֹן, בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט,
Begin redeeming us and quickly bring us to a complete redemption that is not followed by exile — a redemption of soul, body and money, overall and in every detail.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָסוּר מֵרַע לְגַמְרֵי וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ תָמִיד, וְלִהְיוֹת קְבוּעִים בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלַעֲלוֹת בְּכָל פַּעַם מִדַּרְגָא לְדַרְגָא בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
May we turn away from evil entirely and always do what is good in Your eyes. May we truly set firmly in Your holiness, and always rise from level to level with great holiness, in accordance with Your good will.
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.”