Travel / Faith and trust / Exile and redemption / Torah study If a person had perfect faith that God can provide him with all his needs, he would not need to go traveling anywhere. All the journeys one has to make are due to a lack of sufficient faith. The exertions of travel rectify the flaws in the higher worlds caused by lack of faith. Inadequate faith is considered akin to idolatry, which causes the rains to be withheld, resulting in economic hardship. This leads people to neglect their Torah study, since, “If there is no bread, there is no Torah.” May it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that You will have compassion on me and be with me at all times — when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey, when I lie down and when I rise up, when I go out and when I come in.
Let me know where I should travel and which places I should include in my route, how long I should stay away, and all the details of the actual journeys — whether I should take the main road or a minor road, the long route or a shorter route. Compassionate God, teach me everything I should know, and lead me along a straight path each time.
Master of all, “great in counsel and mighty in deeds, Whose eyes are open to all the paths of men,” and Who knows and understands their thoughts and secrets, arouse Your true compassion for me. Help me and teach me what I should do regarding travel at all times. Just as You were with the Jewish people in the desert, and all their journeys were at Your command — as it is written, “By HaShem’s command they encamped, and by HaShem’s command they traveled” — so too, have compassion on me and be with me always.
In You alone I put my trust in everything I do. By Your command I will encamp in my home, and by Your command I will go traveling. When I go out and when I return, protect me and give me a life of goodness and peace from now on and forever.
Always have compassion on me whenever it is Your will that I should go traveling. Be with me at all times. Send me in peace, lead me in peace, and bring me to my destination for a good life and peace.
Rescue me from all enemies and attackers lurking on the road. Grant me favor, lovingkindness and compassion in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Deal with me kindly always.
Compassionate God, protect me from stumbling and sinning in any way. Save me from all kinds of evil and wrongful thoughts, and from looking at what I shouldn’t, especially while on the road.
Lead me on a straight path “HaShem, teach me Your way and lead me on level ground because of those who lie in wait for me.” “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; in You I put my hope throughout the day.”
“HaShem is good and upright; therefore, He will guide sinners on the path. He will lead humble ones in justice and teach the humble His way. All the ways of HaShem are lovingkindness and truth to those who guard His covenant and His testimonies.”
“HaShem, teach me Your way; I will go in Your truth, unify my heart to fear Your Name.” “My soul clings to the dust; revive me in accordance with Your word.” “I have told You of my ways and You have answered me; teach me Your laws. Let me understand the path of Your precepts, and I will tell of Your wonders.” “My soul has melted away from grief; sustain me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of falsehood and grant me Your Torah. I have chosen the path of faith, I have set Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your testimonies, HaShem; do not put me to shame.
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דֶּרֶךְ מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אָרוּץ כִּי תַרְחִיב לִבִּי.
I will run the way of Your commandments, for You have opened my heart.”
“HaShem, teach me the way of Your laws and I will keep it at every step. Give me understanding so I will guard Your Torah and keep it with all my heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for this is my desire. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to illicit gain. Turn my eyes away from looking at vanity; revive me with Your ways.”
“Uphold Your word to Your servant regarding fear of You. Turn away my disgrace, which I dreaded, for Your ordinances are good. Behold, I have longed for Your precepts; in Your righteousness, give me life.”
In Your great compassion, have pity on me. “Be gracious to me, HaShem; see my misery because of those who hate me, You who raise me up from the gates of death.” For You know the bitterness in my heart and how confused I am. “You know my path; on this route that I am traveling they have concealed a trap for me. Look at my right hand and see, for I have no one who recognizes me; I have no way to flee, no one cares for my soul.”
Help me! Save me! Be with me at all times, and rescue me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors, both when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey.
Every time it is Your will that I should travel, let me go on my way with great holiness and purity, and with holy and pure thoughts. May I be protected from all evil.
Faith Let the journeys I make rectify my lack of faith in the past. Let my “exile” and the exertions of traveling atone for any flaws I caused in the worlds above through my lack of faith. Please, HaShem, are Your eyes not directed to faith? “All Your commandments are faith. They have persecuted me falsely — help me.” Deal kindly with me and fill me with holy faith in You from now on and forever. Don’t let doubts of any kind enter my mind.
Help me from now on to return to You in complete and wholehearted repentance. God of forgiveness, You Who are kind and abundantly forgiving, compassionately pardon and forgive me for all the harm caused by my inadequate faith.
Help me correct in my lifetime all the damage I have caused to holy faith from my youth until today, whether in this incarnation or another. Let me rectify everything completely, quickly, swiftly and speedily. From now on may I have holy, genuine and perfect faith, just as You desire.
Exile and redemption Have compassion on Yourself and on Your children, who have been wanderers and refugees for so many hundreds of years in this great exile. They are like a scattered flock with no one to gather them in. The Shekhinah is also in exile with them, as it were: “Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.” Because of the pressures of the times, Your nation, the Jewish people, are wanderers and refugees, unsettled and confused. Master of the entire world, see their plight and their suffering. Have mercy on their tribulations. Gather our exiled brothers from the four corners of the earth. Bring back our scattered ones from among the nations and gather in our dispersed from the edges of the earth. Bring us to Zion, Your city, in joy. Grant that I should travel to the Land of Israel in my lifetime, quickly, swiftly and speedily.
Torah study Help me and enable me to devote myself to Your holy Torah for its own sake, continually, day and night. Help me repent completely and quickly rectify in my lifetime all the damage I have caused through the great sin of neglecting my Torah studies. I have neglected my studies for many days and years.
Have compassion on me! Let me make amends for my neglect, and from now on let me devote myself to Your Torah and Your service for their own sake at all times, truthfully and wholeheartedly. Let me give no sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my brow except the absolute minimum necessary for my health.
Rescue me from the snare of the trappers. Save me “like a hind from the hand and like a bird from the hand of the trapper.” Help me, for I rely on You. You have already begun to help me considerably, and it would not be fitting for You to abandon me.
Do it for Your sake and for the sake of the true tzaddikim, “the holy ones who are in the earth.” I’m relying only on their merit and I take refuge in their strength.
Help me to have perfect faith and trust in You at all times. Let me not undertake any activity or any business or any journey with the intention of trying to make money.
Just let me know and believe with perfect faith and firm trust that You will support me and provide me with everything I need for my livelihood, without my having to leave my home and travel at all, and without my having to make any effort or engage in any activity at all. May all my travels and activities be for no other purpose than to serve You. Let me only carry out Your will and have no thought of personal gain in any of my journeys or activities. For everything belongs to You: the soul is Yours and the body is Yours. Without You, I won’t lift my hand or foot to engage in any kind of business or travel anywhere in the world. “For You are my God; let Your good spirit lead me on level ground.”
You Yourself send me my livelihood in great plenty before I need it, so I will always be able to devote myself to Your Torah and Your service without the distraction of having to invest great effort in earning a living.
Open Your treasury of goodness for us and give rain in its proper time, for blessing, life and contentment. Send plenty into the world and let prices be low. Don’t let the Jewish people have to depend on one another or on any other nation. Draw peace into the world, and may the verse be fulfilled, “He makes your borders peaceful and sates you with the cream of the wheat.” Be my help at all times, so I can spend all my days in the true and enduring good — the study of Torah and devotion to God — in the way You desire.
May I not veer right or left from Torah teachings. Always guide me and teach me which path to follow and what I should do. “Do not abandon me, HaShem my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to my aid, God of my salvation.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה מ - אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל]
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עָלַי וְתִהְיֶה עִמִּי תָמִיד בְּשִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵיתִי, וּבְלֶכְתִּי בַדֶּרֶךְ, בְּשָׁכְבִי וּבְקוּמִי, בְּצֵאתִי וּבְבוֹאִי.
Travel / Faith and trust / Exile and redemption / Torah study
If a person had perfect faith that God can provide him with all his needs, he would not need to go traveling anywhere. All the journeys one has to make are due to a lack of sufficient faith. The exertions of travel rectify the flaws in the higher worlds caused by lack of faith. Inadequate faith is considered akin to idolatry, which causes the rains to be withheld, resulting in economic hardship. This leads people to neglect their Torah study, since, “If there is no bread, there is no Torah.”
May it be Your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that You will have compassion on me and be with me at all times — when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey, when I lie down and when I rise up, when I go out and when I come in.
וְתוֹרֵנִי וְתַדְרִיכֵנִי בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי תָמִיד בְּכָל עֵת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּעִנְיָנֵי הַנְּסִיעוֹת לַדְּרָכִים, אִם אֶסַּע וְאִם אֶחְדָּל, וְאֵיךְ לִסַּע וּמָתַי לִסַּע,
Always give me true guidance as to what I should do regarding travel. Help me know whether to travel or not, and how and when to travel.
וּלְהֵיכָן וּלְאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם וָעִיר לִנְסֹעַ, וְכַמָּה אֶתְעַכֵּב בְּדַרְכִּי, וְכָל פְּרָטֵי הַנְּסִיעוֹת לְאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ גָּדוֹל וְקָטָן אָרוֹךְ וְקָצָר, הַכֹּל תּוֹדִיעֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְתוֹלִיכֵנִי בְּדֶרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר תָּמִיד בְּכָל עֵת.
Let me know where I should travel and which places I should include in my route, how long I should stay away, and all the details of the actual journeys — whether I should take the main road or a minor road, the long route or a shorter route. Compassionate God, teach me everything I should know, and lead me along a straight path each time.
אֲדוֹן כֹּל, גְּדֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה אֲשֶׁר עֵינֶיךָ פְּקֻחוֹת עַל כָּל דַּרְכֵי בְּנֵי־אָדָם וְיוֹדֵעַ וּמֵבִין מַחְשְׁבוֹתָם וְסוֹדָם, יֵעוֹרְרוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים עָלַי, וְזַכֵּנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי תָמִיד בְּכָל עֵת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּעִנְיָנֵי נְסִיעוֹת לַדְּרָכִים, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהָיִיתָ עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהָיוּ כָּל נְסִיעָתָם עַל פִּיךָ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, עַל פִּי יְהֹוָה יַחֲנוּ וְעַל פִּי יְהֹוָה יִסָּעוּ, כֵּן תְּרַחֵם עָלַי וְתִהְיֶה תָמִיד עִמִּי,
Master of all, “great in counsel and mighty in deeds, Whose eyes are open to all the paths of men,” and Who knows and understands their thoughts and secrets, arouse Your true compassion for me. Help me and teach me what I should do regarding travel at all times. Just as You were with the Jewish people in the desert, and all their journeys were at Your command — as it is written, “By HaShem’s command they encamped, and by HaShem’s command they traveled” — so too, have compassion on me and be with me always.
וַאֲנִי מוֹסֵר עַצְמִי עָלֶיךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת עִם כָּל תְּנוּעוֹתַי תָּמִיד, עַל פִּיךָ אֶחֱנֶה בְּבֵיתִי וְעַל פִּיךָ אֶסַּע, וְתִשְׁמֹר צֵאתִי וּבֹאִי לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם,
In You alone I put my trust in everything I do. By Your command I will encamp in my home, and by Your command I will go traveling. When I go out and when I return, protect me and give me a life of goodness and peace from now on and forever.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי תָּמִיד בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁאֲנִי מֻכְרָח לִנְסֹעַ לְאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ עַל פִּי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עִמִּי תָמִיד, וְתוֹלִיכֵנִי לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַדְרִיכֵנִי לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַגִּיעֵנִי לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצִי לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם,
Always have compassion on me whenever it is Your will that I should go traveling. Be with me at all times. Send me in peace, lead me in peace, and bring me to my destination for a good life and peace.
וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וְתִתְּנֵנִי לְחֵן ולְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאַי וְתִגְמְלֵנִי חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים תָּמִיד,
Rescue me from all enemies and attackers lurking on the road. Grant me favor, lovingkindness and compassion in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Deal with me kindly always.
וּתְשִׁיבֵנִי לְשָׁלוֹם לְבֵיתִי, שָׁלוֹם בְּגוּפִי וּבְנַפְשִׁי וּבְמָמוֹנִי ובְתוֹרָתִי,
Bring me home in peace, whole in my body and soul, and with all my possessions and my Torah intact.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ מִכָּל מִכְשׁוֹל חֵטְא וְעָוֹן, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים רָעִים וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת וּמִכָּל הִסְתַּכְּלוּת רָעִים תָּמִיד, וּבִפְרָט בְּעֵת הִלּוּכִי בַּדֶּרֶךְ.
Compassionate God, protect me from stumbling and sinning in any way. Save me from all kinds of evil and wrongful thoughts, and from looking at what I shouldn’t, especially while on the road.
וְתַצִּילֵנִי וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ מִסַּכָּנַת דְּרָכִים לְעוֹלָם, בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת בְּגוּף וָנֶפֶשׁ וּמָמוֹן:
Always protect me from danger on the road, physical and spiritual, whether to my body, my soul or my possessions.
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי. הַדְרִיכֵנִי בַאֲמִתֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנִי כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי אוֹתְךָ קִוִּיתִי כָּל הַיּוֹם.
Lead me on a straight path
“HaShem, teach me Your way and lead me on level ground because of those who lie in wait for me.” “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; in You I put my hope throughout the day.”
טוֹב וְיָשָׁר יְהֹוָה עַל כֵּן יוֹרֶה חַטָּאִים בַּדָּרֶךְ, יַדְרֵךְ עֲנָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט וִילַמֵּד עֲנָוִים דַּרְכּוֹ. כָּל אָרְחוֹת יְהֹוָה חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת לְנוֹצְרֵי בְרִיתוֹ וְעֵדוֹתָיו.
“HaShem is good and upright; therefore, He will guide sinners on the path. He will lead humble ones in justice and teach the humble His way. All the ways of HaShem are lovingkindness and truth to those who guard His covenant and His testimonies.”
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ אַהֲלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ. דָּבְקָה לֶעָפָר נַפְשִׁי חַיֵּנִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ. דְּרָכַי סִפַּרְתִּי וַתַּעֲנֵנִי לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. דֶּרֶךְ פִּקּוּדֶיךָ הֲבִינֵנִי וְאָשִׂיחָה בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ. דָּלְפָה נַפְשִׁי מִתּוּגָה קַיְּמֵנִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ. דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁקֶר הָסֵר מִמֶּנִּי וְתוֹרָתְךָ חָנֵּנִי. דֶּרֶךְ אֱמוּנָה בָחָרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ שִׁוִּיתִי. דָּבַקְתִּי בְעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אַל תְּבִישֵׁנִי.
“HaShem, teach me Your way; I will go in Your truth, unify my heart to fear Your Name.” “My soul clings to the dust; revive me in accordance with Your word.” “I have told You of my ways and You have answered me; teach me Your laws. Let me understand the path of Your precepts, and I will tell of Your wonders.” “My soul has melted away from grief; sustain me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of falsehood and grant me Your Torah. I have chosen the path of faith, I have set Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your testimonies, HaShem; do not put me to shame.
דֶּרֶךְ מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אָרוּץ כִּי תַרְחִיב לִבִּי.
I will run the way of Your commandments, for You have opened my heart.”
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דֶּרֶךְ חֻקֶּיךָ וְאֶצֳּרֶנָּה עֵקֶב. הֲבִינֵנִי וְאֶצְּרָה תּוֹרָתֵֶךָ וְאֶשְׁמְרֶנָּה בְכָל לֵב. הַדְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִיב מִצְוֹתֶיךָ כִּי בוֹ חָפָצְתִּי. הַט לִבִּי אֶל עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ וְאַל אֶל בָּצַע. הַעֲבֵר עֵינַי מֵרְאוֹת שָׁוְא בִּדְרָכֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי.
“HaShem, teach me the way of Your laws and I will keep it at every step. Give me understanding so I will guard Your Torah and keep it with all my heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for this is my desire. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to illicit gain. Turn my eyes away from looking at vanity; revive me with Your ways.”
הָקֵם לְעַבְדְּךָ אִמְרָתֶךָ אֲשֶׁר לְיִרְאָתֶךָ. הַעֲבֵר חֶרְפָּתִי אֲשֶׁר יָגֹרְתִּי כִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ טוֹבִים. הִנֵּה תָּאַבְתִּי לְפִקּוּדֶיךָ בְּצִדְקָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי:
“Uphold Your word to Your servant regarding fear of You. Turn away my disgrace, which I dreaded, for Your ordinances are good. Behold, I have longed for Your precepts; in Your righteousness, give me life.”
חוּסָה עָלַי כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ, חָנְנֵנִי יְהֹוָה רְאֵה עָנְיִי מִשּׂוֹנְאָי מְרוֹמְמִי מִשַּׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת, כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת מְרִירוּת לִבִּי וּפִזּוּר נַפְשִׁי, וְאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ נְתִיבָתִי בְּאֹרַח זוּ אֲהַלֵּךְ טָמְנוּ פַח לִי. הַבֵּט יָמִין וּרְאֵה וְאֵין לִי מַכִּיר אָבַד מָנוֹס מִמֶּנִּי אֵין דּוֹרֵשׁ לְנַפְשִׁי.
In Your great compassion, have pity on me. “Be gracious to me, HaShem; see my misery because of those who hate me, You who raise me up from the gates of death.” For You know the bitterness in my heart and how confused I am. “You know my path; on this route that I am traveling they have concealed a trap for me. Look at my right hand and see, for I have no one who recognizes me; I have no way to flee, no one cares for my soul.”
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי, חוּס וְחָנֵּנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִנָּצֵל, מַלְּטֵנִי מִמַּה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִמָּלֵט,
Have pity and compassion on me! Have pity and be kind to me! Save me where I need salvation, and free me where I need redemption!
חַלְּצֵנִי יְהֹוָה מֵאָדָם רָע מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים תִּנְצְרֵנִי.
“Save me, HaShem, from a wicked man; preserve me from a violent man.”
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וֶהְיֵה עִמִּי תָמִיד, וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִיַּד אוֹיְבַי וּמֵרוֹדְפַי, בְּשִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵיתִי וּבְלֶכְתִּי בַדֶּרֶךְ.
Help me! Save me! Be with me at all times, and rescue me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors, both when I sit in my home and when I go out on a journey.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁאֶהְיֶה מֻכְרָח לִנְסֹעַ וְלֵילֵךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ עַל פִּי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הִלּוּכִי וּנְסִיעָתִי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה וּבְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת וּטְהוֹרוֹת, וְאֶהְיֶה נִשְׁמָר מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע.
Every time it is Your will that I should travel, let me go on my way with great holiness and purity, and with holy and pure thoughts. May I be protected from all evil.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי וְתַעַזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי נְסִיעוֹתַי לְתַקֵּן אֶת פְּגָם הָאֱמוּנָה, וְהַגָּלוּת וְהַטִּלְטוּל שֶׁלִּי בַּדֶּרֶךְ יְכַפֵּר עַל פְּגָם הָאֱמוּנָה שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה גָּרַמְתִּי טִלְטוּל לְמַעְלָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, עֵינֶיךָ הֲלוֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה, כָּל מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי. עָזְרֵנִי וְחָנֵּנִי וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי אֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, וְלֹא יָבוֹא עָלַי שׁוּם כְּפִירָה וּבִלְבּוּל בְּדַעְתִּי כְּלָל,
Faith
Let the journeys I make rectify my lack of faith in the past. Let my “exile” and the exertions of traveling atone for any flaws I caused in the worlds above through my lack of faith. Please, HaShem, are Your eyes not directed to faith? “All Your commandments are faith. They have persecuted me falsely — help me.” Deal kindly with me and fill me with holy faith in You from now on and forever. Don’t let doubts of any kind enter my mind.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם. וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תִּמְחֹל וּתְכַפֵּר וְתִסְלַח אֱלוֹהַּ סְלִיחוֹת חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלֹחַ, עַל כָּל הַפְּגָמִים שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי בֶּאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
Help me from now on to return to You in complete and wholehearted repentance. God of forgiveness, You Who are kind and abundantly forgiving, compassionately pardon and forgive me for all the harm caused by my inadequate faith.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי לְתַקֵּן בְּחַיַּי כָּל הַפְּגָמִים הָאֵלֶּה, עַל כָּל מַה שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי בֶּאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה מִנְּעוּרַי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל אַחֵר, הַכֹּל אֶזְכֶּה לְתַקֵּן בִּשְׁלֵמוּת חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה, וְאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לֶאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבִשְׁלֵמוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב:
Help me correct in my lifetime all the damage I have caused to holy faith from my youth until today, whether in this incarnation or another. Let me rectify everything completely, quickly, swiftly and speedily. From now on may I have holy, genuine and perfect faith, just as You desire.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלֶיךָ וְעַל בָּנֶיךָ הַנָּעִים וְנָדִים בְּגָלוּת גָּדוֹל זֶה כַּמָּה מֵאוֹת שָׁנִים, צֹאן נִדָּח וְאֵין מְקַבֵּץ, וְהַשְּׁכִינָה כִּבְיָכוֹל עִמָּהֶם בַּגָּלוּת, כְּצִפּוֹר נוֹדֶדֶת מִן קִנָּהּ כֵּן אִישׁ נוֹדֵד מִמְּקוֹמוֹ, וּבְצוֹק הָעִתִּים עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל נָעִים וְנָדִים מְטֹרָפִים וּמְבֻלְבָּלִים. מָרָא דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, רְאֵה עָנְיָם וַעֲמָלָם, וַחֲמֹל עַל טִלְטוּלָם, קַבֵּץ נִדָּחֵינוּ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ, וְקָרֵב פְּזוּרֵינוּ מִבֵּין הַגּוֹיִם וּנְפוּצוֹתֵינוּ כַּנֵּס מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ וַהֲבִיאֵנוּ לְצִיּוֹן עִירְךָ בְּרִנָּה, וְזַכֵּנִי לֵילֵךְ וְלִנְסֹעַ וְלָבוֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחַיַּי חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה.
Exile and redemption
Have compassion on Yourself and on Your children, who have been wanderers and refugees for so many hundreds of years in this great exile. They are like a scattered flock with no one to gather them in. The Shekhinah is also in exile with them, as it were: “Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.” Because of the pressures of the times, Your nation, the Jewish people, are wanderers and refugees, unsettled and confused. Master of the entire world, see their plight and their suffering. Have mercy on their tribulations. Gather our exiled brothers from the four corners of the earth. Bring back our scattered ones from among the nations and gather in our dispersed from the edges of the earth. Bring us to Zion, Your city, in joy. Grant that I should travel to the Land of Israel in my lifetime, quickly, swiftly and speedily.
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לִשְׁמָהּ תָּמִיד יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה. וְתַעַזְרֵנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה וּלְתַקֵּן מְהֵרָה בְּחַיַּי אֵת כָּל הַפְּגָמִים שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי נֶגְדְּךָ עַל־יְדֵי חֵטְא וְעָוֹן הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁל בִּטּוּל תּוֹרָה, אֲשֶׁר הָיִיתִי בָּטֵל מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה יָמִים וְשָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה.
Torah study
Help me and enable me to devote myself to Your holy Torah for its own sake, continually, day and night. Help me repent completely and quickly rectify in my lifetime all the damage I have caused through the great sin of neglecting my Torah studies. I have neglected my studies for many days and years.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְתַקֵּן כָּל הַפְּגָמִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְזַכֵּנִי מֵעַתָּה לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וּבַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ לִשְׁמָהּ תָּמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם, וְלֹא אֶתֵּן שֵׁנָה לְעֵינָי וּלְעַפְעַפַּי תְּנוּמָה כִּי אִם בְּתַכְלִית הַמִּעוּט וְהַהֶכְרַח הַגָּדוֹל בִּשְׁבִיל קִיּוּם הַגּוּף.
Have compassion on me! Let me make amends for my neglect, and from now on let me devote myself to Your Torah and Your service for their own sake at all times, truthfully and wholeheartedly. Let me give no sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my brow except the absolute minimum necessary for my health.
הַצִּילֵנִי מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים, הַצִּילֵנִי כִּצְבִי מִיָּד וּכְצִפּוֹר מִיַּד יָקוּשׁ עָזְרֵנִי כִּי עָלֶיךָ נִשְׁעָנְתִּי, כִּי כְּבָר הִתְחַלְתָּ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי הַרְבֵּה וְאֵין נָאֶה לְךָ לְעָזְבֵנִי.
Rescue me from the snare of the trappers. Save me “like a hind from the hand and like a bird from the hand of the trapper.” Help me, for I rely on You. You have already begun to help me considerably, and it would not be fitting for You to abandon me.
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעַן הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה, אֲשֶׁר בִּזְכוּתָם לְבַד נִשְׁעָנְתִּי וּבְכֹחָם חָסִיתִי:
Do it for Your sake and for the sake of the true tzaddikim, “the holy ones who are in the earth.” I’m relying only on their merit and I take refuge in their strength.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי שֶׁאֶהְיֶה שָׁלֵם בֶּאֱמוּנָה וּבְבִטָּחוֹן בְּךָ תָמִיד, וְלֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה שׁוּם פְּעֻלָּה וְלֹא אֶעֱסֹק בְּשׁוּם עֵסֶק וְלֹא אֶסַּע שׁוּם נְסִיעָה בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָה כְּלָל,
Help me to have perfect faith and trust in You at all times. Let me not undertake any activity or any business or any journey with the intention of trying to make money.
רַק אֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה וּבְבִטָּחוֹן חָזָק שֶׁאַתָּה תְּכַלְכְּלֵנִי, וְתַזְמִין לִי פַּרְנָסָתִי בִּשְׁלֵמוּת בְּבֵיתִי בְּלִי שׁוּם נְסִיעָה וְטִלְטוּל בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, וּבְלִי שׁוּם עֲשִׂיָּה וְעוּבְדָא וְעֵסֶק כְּלָל, וְכָל נְסִיעָתִי לְאֵיזֶה דֶרֶךְ וְכָל עֲסָקַי וּפְעֻלֹּתַי לֹא יִהְיוּ כִּי אִם לְשִׁמְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת, וְכִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶעֱשֶׂה, וְלֹא אֲכַוֵּן בִּנְסִיעָתִי וַעֲסָקַי שׁוּם תּוֹעֶלֶת עַצְמִי כְּלָל, כִּי הַכֹּל שֶׁלְּךָ, הַנְּשָׁמָה שֶׁלְּךָ וְהַגּוּף שֶׁלְּךָ, וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ לֹא אָרִים אֶת יָדַי וְאֶת רַגְלַי לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם עֵסֶק וְשׁוּם נְסִיעָה בָּעוֹלָם, כִּי אַתָּה אֱלוֹהָי רוּחֲךָ טוֹבָה תַּנְחֵנִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִישׁוֹר.
Just let me know and believe with perfect faith and firm trust that You will support me and provide me with everything I need for my livelihood, without my having to leave my home and travel at all, and without my having to make any effort or engage in any activity at all. May all my travels and activities be for no other purpose than to serve You. Let me only carry out Your will and have no thought of personal gain in any of my journeys or activities. For everything belongs to You: the soul is Yours and the body is Yours. Without You, I won’t lift my hand or foot to engage in any kind of business or travel anywhere in the world. “For You are my God; let Your good spirit lead me on level ground.”
וְתַזְמִין לִי פַּרְנָסָתִי מֵאִתְּךָ לְבַד בְּהַרְחָבָה גְּדוֹלָה קֹדֶם שֶׁאֶצְטָרֵךְ לָהּ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאוּכַל לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ תָמִיד, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לִי שׁוּם בִּלְבּוּל חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי טִרְדַּת הַפַּרְנָסָה כְּלָל.
You Yourself send me my livelihood in great plenty before I need it, so I will always be able to devote myself to Your Torah and Your service without the distraction of having to invest great effort in earning a living.
וְתִפְתַּח לָנוּ אוֹצָרְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְתִתֵּן הַמָּטָר בְּעִתּוֹ לִבְרָכָה וּלְחַיִּים וְלָשֹׂבַע, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ שֹׂבַע וָזוֹל בָּעוֹלָם וְלֹא יִצְטָרְכוּ עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל זֶה לָזֶה וְלֹא לְעַם אַחֵר. וְתַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, הַשָּׂם גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם חֵלֶב חִטִּים יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ. וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ תָמִיד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְבַלּוֹת יָמֵינוּ בַּטּוֹב הָאֲמִתִּי בַּטּוֹב הַנִּצְחִי, לַעֲסֹק כָּל יָמֵינוּ בַּתּוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
Open Your treasury of goodness for us and give rain in its proper time, for blessing, life and contentment. Send plenty into the world and let prices be low. Don’t let the Jewish people have to depend on one another or on any other nation. Draw peace into the world, and may the verse be fulfilled, “He makes your borders peaceful and sates you with the cream of the wheat.” Be my help at all times, so I can spend all my days in the true and enduring good — the study of Torah and devotion to God — in the way You desire.
וְלֹא נָסוּר מִדִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל. וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי תָמִיד אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אֵלֵךְ בָּהּ וְאֶת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה. אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי אַל תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי. חוּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִי יְהֹוָה תְּשׁוּעָתִי:
May I not veer right or left from Torah teachings. Always guide me and teach me which path to follow and what I should do. “Do not abandon me, HaShem my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to my aid, God of my salvation.”