The Tzaddik is Revealed and Concealed / God is Revealed and Concealed / The Snake and the Ant / The Tzaddik Battles the Ideologies of the Heretics In Breslov circles, this lesson is known as, “The Mystical Intentions of the Circumcision.” While the lesson does not speak explicitly about circumcision, it does explain the Kabbalistic intentions. Therefore, this prayer contains many references to guarding and maintaining a pure moral lifestyle, which is implied in the covenant (of circumcision). Sometimes the Tzaddik is revealed to the world; at other times, he is concealed. He is concealed in that he is so exalted. People cannot understand him, and so he must contain his wisdom in small packets so they will be able to receive from him. Moreover, the Tzaddik may be concealed in that people may question and even attack him. God too reveals and hides Himself. He is revealed in that we must cling to Him. Yet the more we cling to Him, the more we must realize how truly far we are from Him. Sometimes the Tzaddik reveals God’s providence by accepting abundance and Heavenly favor. At other times, he conceals God’s providence in that he refuses these and instead accepts suffering. The Tzaddik works unceasingly to make sure that God’s presence is revealed in the world. He can be compared to an ant resting in the mouth of a snake. The snake represents heretical thinkers. Sometimes the snake can do nothing more than crawl. This metaphor tells us that the ideology of the heretics is not developed. They can harm only those who are close to them, such as their own students and colleagues. Furthermore, their words do not enter deeply into other people’s minds, but merely cling to the surface. But when the populace speaks evil words, particularly when they slander Tzaddikim and other great people, the snake gains wings with which to fly. This means that the minds of the heretics grow swift, allowing them to develop their heretical ideologies, which fly throughout the world and harm many people. The ant in the mouth of the snake is the just and righteous Tzaddik of the generation who enters into those heretical ideologies in order to battle them. In doing so, he suffers greatly. He is attacked by confusion and false belief, and his faith in God is attacked. Whether the snake crawls or flies, the ant suffers and fights — but especially when the snake flies. The ant can relax only when the snake is gliding — i.e., when the heretics are at rest, such as when they eat and sleep. HaShem, You Who guard the covenant in Your lovingkindness, guide me from this moment on to guard my holy covenant and cause no more spiritual damage whatsoever.
You Who pity the impoverished person, have pity on me. “What will I do on the day of God’s visitation?” “When He takes an account, what shall I answer Him?” Woe! “Who among us will dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us will dwell with the eternal conflagrations?”
Where will I run? Where will I go for help? Where will I hide my shame? I ask the Tzaddikim of this and previous generations, who are compassionate and gracious, to pray to You on my behalf. God, I am in need of Your compassion, because there is no one as pitiful as a person who, as I have done, causes spiritual damage — particularly, damage to the covenant.
Master of the World, have compassion on me and on everyone who is far from You, for the sake of Your Name and for the sake of the true Tzaddikim who guard the covenant.
From this moment on, may I return to You completely, so that I will no longer fall prey to foolishness. May the Tzaddikim rectify all the damage that I have done to the holy covenant. I myself am unable to do so, and so I rely on their merit and ability.
Help me to grow close to them and receive holiness and purity from them, so that from this moment on, I will return to You completely, turning away from evil and doing good in Your eyes forever.
May I entertain no doubts about them — even when their ways are incomprehensible to me, raising questions in my mind and heart that lead to puzzlement and confusion.
HaShem, may my sins not alienate me from the Tzaddikim. Guide me to strengthen myself with a constant and complete faith in them, knowing and believing that all their ways are correct and proper, and that they are righteous and justified in everything they do — although I cannot understand their awesome and exalted ways.
May these Tzaddikim always have pity on me and draw me close to them, lowering themselves to my level, diminishing and concealing their great light until I can access it. And may I have the strength to receive the great wisdom that they bring to this world.
HaShem, in the merit of the Tzaddikim and with the aid of their spiritual might, help me to recognize You and come close to You here in this world. And the closer I come, the more may I recognize how far away from You I still remain.
May Your wondrous greatness grow apparent to me, including the knowledge that one cannot, ever, comprehend You; as Elijah states, “No one knows You at all.”
Grant my heart the ability to approach You in a measured fashion, so that I will gain a knowledge of You from afar — a knowledge that cannot be expressed, but which is imagined by each individual in his heart. As the verse states, “Her husband is known in the gates” — people know You in accordance with what they imagine in their hearts.
Seeking the Good of the Tzaddikim HaShem, in accordance with Your desire, may I never spurn the sufferings that I experience. May I continuously draw onto myself the light of the countenance of Your beneficent will, and channel all goodness to the world.
May I be protected by the merit of the true Tzaddikim, who have suffered a great deal for the sake of the Jewish people. For their sake, send goodness, kindness, salvation and compassion — in the form of children, life and sustenance — to all Jews, and particularly to the offspring of these Tzaddikim who have suffered great privations for the sake of the Jewish people.
Have compassion on these Tzaddikim and send them only goodness. Rescue them from every sort of suffering, worry and fear. Send them a complete and Heavenly healing for all their illnesses, pains and wounds.
God, please heal them, revive them and pray on their behalf always. Give them length of days filled with the goodness of physical and spiritual bounty. Grant them success in all the work of their hands.
Pour forth on them an abundance of goodness, wealth, honor and life, so that they will attain both Torah and this-worldly success, and serve You all the days of their lives with love, fear and joy out of a breadth of heart. Send that same abundance to their children and their children’s children for all generations — because, as Your holy sages have stated, a person’s merits accrue to all his descendants.
Have compassion on them from this moment on. Send them every sort of salvation. Give them children, life and sustenance in abundance. Elevate them higher and higher, and grant them every sort of joy. Enhance their names forever, so that they, “the fruit of the land, will be glorious and splendid.”
Bestow all blessings upon them and lengthen their days and years. May their branches spread forth; may they be as glorious as the olive tree. “May they bring forth fruit in old age; may they be filled with sap and freshness.”
Guarding One’s Speech God, in Your compassion, help me to guard my mouth and my tongue from every sort of evil and blemished speech. May I never speak a word of falsehood, slander, gossip, mockery, sycophancy, chatter or profanity, nor anything else that might cause anyone shame, upset or distress.
Master of the World, in Your compassion, protect me from every sort of blemished speech. “God, keep my tongue from speaking evil and my lips from expressing falsehood.” “HaShem, place a guard at my mouth and a watch upon the doorway of my lips.”
Overcoming the Evil Ideologies of the Heretics In this way, overcome and crush the evil ideologies of the philosophers and heretics, which are so damaging to the world. “They sharpen their tongues like vipers; the venom of the spider is under their lips.”
Have compassion on [us all, because we are like] the ant that lies between the snake’s fangs. Who could be expected to bear such pain and suffering? “And You, HaShem, how long? When will You arise?” Have compassion on us. Look at our suffering, take up our cause, hurry to redeem us fully and quickly for the sake of Your Name. Rescue us from the evil ideologies of the heretics and philosophers. Conceal us in the shadow of Your holy wings and increase the strength of the wings of holiness.
Remove the wings of the serpents — the philosophers and heretics who dedicate their minds to evil purposes — so that their ideologies will not spread throughout the world and worm their way into people’s minds and hearts, and so that they themselves will not be able to develop and deepen their ideologies.
Reduce, weaken and nullify their evil ideas in every realm and reveal the wisdom of the true sages, so that everyone will recognize that You are HaShem, God alone, supernal, higher than any king in the world.
Remove the idols from the land and cut down the gods. Uproot and nullify every evil ideology. In their place, strengthen and spread the true wisdom of our holy Torah, so that we will recognize You with perfect faith and serve You with all our hearts, all the days of our lives, forever.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ס"ג - סוֹד כַּוָּנַת הַמִּילָה]
שׁוֹמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד, רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמְךָ, וְזַכֵּנִי מֵעַתָּה לִשְׁמֹר אֶת הַבְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁלֹּא אֶפְגֹּם עוֹד מֵעַתָּה שׁוּם פְּגָם בִּבְרִית קֹדֶשׁ,
The Tzaddik is Revealed and Concealed / God is Revealed and Concealed / The Snake and the Ant / The Tzaddik Battles the Ideologies of the Heretics
In Breslov circles, this lesson is known as, “The Mystical Intentions of the Circumcision.” While the lesson does not speak explicitly about circumcision, it does explain the Kabbalistic intentions. Therefore, this prayer contains many references to guarding and maintaining a pure moral lifestyle, which is implied in the covenant (of circumcision).
Sometimes the Tzaddik is revealed to the world; at other times, he is concealed. He is concealed in that he is so exalted. People cannot understand him, and so he must contain his wisdom in small packets so they will be able to receive from him. Moreover, the Tzaddik may be concealed in that people may question and even attack him.
God too reveals and hides Himself. He is revealed in that we must cling to Him. Yet the more we cling to Him, the more we must realize how truly far we are from Him. Sometimes the Tzaddik reveals God’s providence by accepting abundance and Heavenly favor. At other times, he conceals God’s providence in that he refuses these and instead accepts suffering.
The Tzaddik works unceasingly to make sure that God’s presence is revealed in the world. He can be compared to an ant resting in the mouth of a snake. The snake represents heretical thinkers. Sometimes the snake can do nothing more than crawl. This metaphor tells us that the ideology of the heretics is not developed. They can harm only those who are close to them, such as their own students and colleagues. Furthermore, their words do not enter deeply into other people’s minds, but merely cling to the surface.
But when the populace speaks evil words, particularly when they slander Tzaddikim and other great people, the snake gains wings with which to fly. This means that the minds of the heretics grow swift, allowing them to develop their heretical ideologies, which fly throughout the world and harm many people.
The ant in the mouth of the snake is the just and righteous Tzaddik of the generation who enters into those heretical ideologies in order to battle them. In doing so, he suffers greatly. He is attacked by confusion and false belief, and his faith in God is attacked.
Whether the snake crawls or flies, the ant suffers and fights — but especially when the snake flies. The ant can relax only when the snake is gliding — i.e., when the heretics are at rest, such as when they eat and sleep.
HaShem, You Who guard the covenant in Your lovingkindness, guide me from this moment on to guard my holy covenant and cause no more spiritual damage whatsoever.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת עַצְמִי בַּמֻּתָּר לִי, בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וְהַפְּרִישׁוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת.
Guide me to sanctify myself enormously even in those matters that are permitted to me, restraining my behavior in accordance with Your desire.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וּתְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְתַקֵּן בְּחַיַּי כָּל הַפְּגָמִים הָרַבִּים וְהָעֲצוּמִים מְאֹד שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי בִּבְרִית קֹדֶשׁ מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
Help me to rectify the many significant blemishes that I have brought about in this area of my life to this day.
חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי, כִּי מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְיוֹם פְּקֻדָּה, וְכִי יִפְקֹד מָה אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ, אוֹי מִי יָגוּר לִי אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה, מִי יָגוּר לִי מוֹקְדֵי עוֹלָם,
You Who pity the impoverished person, have pity on me. “What will I do on the day of God’s visitation?” “When He takes an account, what shall I answer Him?” Woe! “Who among us will dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us will dwell with the eternal conflagrations?”
אָנָה אֶבְרַח, אָנָה אָנוּס לְעֶזְרָה, אָנָה אוֹלִיךְ אֶת חֶרְפָּתִי, כָּל בַּעֲלֵי חֶמְלָה וַחֲנִינָה הַחַיִּים וְהַמֵּתִים, בַּקְשׁוּ רַחֲמִים בַּעֲדִי, חִמְלוּ עַל צָרִיךְ לְחֶמְלָה כָּמוֹנִי, כִּי אֵין רַחֲמָנוּת בָּעוֹלָם כַּאֲשֶׁר עַל הַפּוֹגֵם נֶגֶד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּבִפְרָט בִּפְגַּם הַבְּרִית:
Where will I run? Where will I go for help? Where will I hide my shame? I ask the Tzaddikim of this and previous generations, who are compassionate and gracious, to pray to You on my behalf. God, I am in need of Your compassion, because there is no one as pitiful as a person who, as I have done, causes spiritual damage — particularly, damage to the covenant.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל כָּל הָרְחוֹקִים מִמְּךָ הַצְּרִיכִים לְרַחֲמִים רַבִּים. רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ לְמַעַן הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַבְּרִית,
Master of the World, have compassion on me and on everyone who is far from You, for the sake of Your Name and for the sake of the true Tzaddikim who guard the covenant.
וְזַכֵּנוּ מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ וְלֹא נָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה. וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיְּתַקְּנוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים כָּל מַה שֶּׁפָּגַמְנוּ בִּבְרִית קֹדֶשׁ, כִּי אֵין בְּיָדֵינוּ לְתַקֵּן פְּגָם אֶחָד מִפְּגַם הַבְּרִית, רַק עַל זְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים וְעַל כֹּחָם הַגָּדוֹל אָנוּ סְמוּכִים.
From this moment on, may I return to You completely, so that I will no longer fall prey to foolishness. May the Tzaddikim rectify all the damage that I have done to the holy covenant. I myself am unable to do so, and so I rely on their merit and ability.
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַבְּרִית בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת.
Finding and Bonding with True Tzaddikim
God, bring me close to the true Tzaddikim who guard the covenant.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹדִיעֵנוּ מֵהֶם, וְאַל תַּסְתִּיר אוֹתָם מִלְּפָנֵינוּ.
In Your compassion, teach me who they are. Do not keep them hidden from me.
זַכֵּנוּ לֵידַע מֵהֶם וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְקַבֵּל מֵהֶם קְדֻשָּׁה וְטָהֳרָה בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ, לָסוּר מֵרָע וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ תָמִיד.
Help me to grow close to them and receive holiness and purity from them, so that from this moment on, I will return to You completely, turning away from evil and doing good in Your eyes forever.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין בְּהַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים תָּמִיד, וְאַל יִתְבַּלְבֵּל דַּעְתֵּנוּ וְאַל יִתְעַקֵּם שִׂכְלֵנוּ וְלִבֵּנוּ, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה קָשֶׁה לָנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם כְּלָל,
HaShem, help me to believe always in the true Tzaddikim with a lucid consciousness.
אֲפִלּוּ בְּעֵת שֶׁהֵם מִתְרַחֲקִים מֵאִתָּנוּ, וְדַרְכֵיהֶם נִפְלָאָה מֵעֵינֵינוּ מְאֹד, עַד שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים עֲלֵיהֶם קֻשְׁיוֹת וּתְמִיהוֹת, וְנִתְעַקֵּם וְנִתְבַּלְבֵּל הַמֹּחַ מֵרִבּוּי הַפְּלִיאוֹת שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים עָלָיו בְּלִבֵּנוּ:
May I entertain no doubts about them — even when their ways are incomprehensible to me, raising questions in my mind and heart that lead to puzzlement and confusion.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְאַל יִגְרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ לְהִתְרַחֵק מֵהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה תָמִיד לְהַאֲמִין בָּהֶם תָּמִיד, לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁכָּל דַּרְכֵיהֶם יְשָׁרִים וּנְכוֹנִים מְאֹד, וְהֵם צַדִּיקִים וִישָׁרִים בְּכָל דַּרְכֵיהֶם וּתְנוּעוֹתֵיהֶם, רַק שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָנוּ לְהַשִּׂיג דַּרְכֵיהֶם הַנּוֹרָא וְנִשְׂגָּב מְאֹד.
HaShem, may my sins not alienate me from the Tzaddikim. Guide me to strengthen myself with a constant and complete faith in them, knowing and believing that all their ways are correct and proper, and that they are righteous and justified in everything they do — although I cannot understand their awesome and exalted ways.
וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיְּרַחֲמוּ עָלֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים, וִיקָרְבוּ אוֹתָנוּ בְּכָל פַּעַם וְיוֹרִידוּ עַצְמָן אֵלֵינוּ, וְיַלְבִּישׁוּ וִיכַסּוּ אוֹרָם הַגָּדוֹל בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה לָנוּ אוֹרָם הַנִּפְלָא עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, וְיִהְיֶה לָנוּ כֹחַ לִינֹק וְלִשְׁאֹב מֵחָכְמָתָם הַגְּדוֹלָה.
May these Tzaddikim always have pity on me and draw me close to them, lowering themselves to my level, diminishing and concealing their great light until I can access it. And may I have the strength to receive the great wisdom that they bring to this world.
וְיִתְקָרְבוּ עַצְמָן אֶל הָעוֹלָם, וִירַחֲמוּ עָלֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה ובְחֶמְלָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְכָל מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיהֶם יִהְיוּ לְקָרְבֵנוּ וְלֹא לְרַחֲקֵנוּ חָלִילָה. לְמַעַן נִזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת דְּבוּקִים עִמָּהֶם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
May they think only of how to draw people close to them and never thrust anyone away, so that we may continuously cling to them.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בְּכֹחָם וּזְכוּתָם שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְנִזְכֶּה לָדַעַת וּלְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁנִּתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ יוֹתֵר, נִזְכֶּה לֵידַע בְּכָל פַּעַם גֹּדֶל רִחוּקֵנוּ מִמְּךָ,
HaShem, in the merit of the Tzaddikim and with the aid of their spiritual might, help me to recognize You and come close to You here in this world. And the closer I come, the more may I recognize how far away from You I still remain.
וְיִתְנוֹצֵץ לָנוּ בְּכָל פַּעַם נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדֻלָּתְךָ, אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשִּׂיג וְלָדַעַת מִמְּךָ כְּלָל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אֵלִיָּהוּ, לֵית מַאן דְּיָדַע בָּךְ כְּלָל.
May Your wondrous greatness grow apparent to me, including the knowledge that one cannot, ever, comprehend You; as Elijah states, “No one knows You at all.”
וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ שִׁעוּר בְּלִבֵּנוּ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהַשִּׂיג מֵרָחוֹק יְדִיעַת אֱלָהוּתְךָ, אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר מִזֶּה, כִּי אִם כָּל חַד כְּפוּם מַה דִּמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּיהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, נוֹדַע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ, כָּל חַד לְפוּם מַה דִּמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּיהּ:
Grant my heart the ability to approach You in a measured fashion, so that I will gain a knowledge of You from afar — a knowledge that cannot be expressed, but which is imagined by each individual in his heart. As the verse states, “Her husband is known in the gates” — people know You in accordance with what they imagine in their hearts.
וּבְכֵן תְּזַכֵּנוּ לִבְלִי לִבְעֹט בְּיִסּוּרִין הַמֻּכְרָחִים לְקַבֵּל עָלֵינוּ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר פְּנֵי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב עָלֵינוּ תָמִיד, וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ כָּל טוּב לְהָעוֹלָם תָּמִיד.
Seeking the Good of the Tzaddikim
HaShem, in accordance with Your desire, may I never spurn the sufferings that I experience. May I continuously draw onto myself the light of the countenance of Your beneficent will, and channel all goodness to the world.
וְנִזְכֶּה שֶׁיָּגֵנוּ עָלֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁסָּבְלוּ יִסּוּרִים רַבִּים בִּשְׁבִיל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבִזְכוּתָם תַּמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ כָּל טוּב וָחֶסֶד וִישׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים, בָּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי, וְרַב טוּב לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וּבִפְרָט עַל בְּנֵיהֶם וְזַרְעָם שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁסָּבְלוּ יִסּוּרִים רַבִּים בִּשְׁבִיל כְּלָל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
May I be protected by the merit of the true Tzaddikim, who have suffered a great deal for the sake of the Jewish people. For their sake, send goodness, kindness, salvation and compassion — in the form of children, life and sustenance — to all Jews, and particularly to the offspring of these Tzaddikim who have suffered great privations for the sake of the Jewish people.
רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְתֵן לָהֶם כָּל טוּב, וְהַצִּילֵם מִכָּל מִינֵי צַעַר וְיִסּוּרִים וּמִכָּל מִינֵי דְאָגוֹת וּפְחָדִים. וְתִשְׁלַח לָהֶם רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְכָל תַּחֲלוּאֵיהֶם וּלְכָל מַכְאוֹבֵיהֶם וּלְכָל מַכּוֹתֵיהֶם, וְתָסִיר מֵהֶם כָּל מִינֵי מַחֲלָה.
Have compassion on these Tzaddikim and send them only goodness. Rescue them from every sort of suffering, worry and fear. Send them a complete and Heavenly healing for all their illnesses, pains and wounds.
אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהֶם, וְתַחֲלִימֵם וּתְחַיֵּם וְתִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעֲדָם תָּמִיד. וְתִתֶּן לָהֶם חַיִּים אֲרֻכִּים, חַיִּים טוֹבִים בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת. וְתַצְלִיחֵם בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם,
God, please heal them, revive them and pray on their behalf always. Give them length of days filled with the goodness of physical and spiritual bounty. Grant them success in all the work of their hands.
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁפַע טוֹבָה, עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד וְחַיִּים, וְיִזְכּוּ לְתוֹרָה וּגְדֻלָּה בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד. וְיַעַבְדוּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְיִרְאָה וּבְשִׂמְחָה, מִתּוֹךְ הַרְחָבַת הַלֵּב כָּל יְמֵיהֶם לְעוֹלָם, הֵם וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם וְצֶאֱצָאֵי צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּתַבְתָּ לָנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁאָדָם זוֹכֶה, זוֹכֶה לוֹ וּלְדוֹרוֹתָיו וּלְדוֹרוֹת דּוֹרוֹתָיו עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת.
Pour forth on them an abundance of goodness, wealth, honor and life, so that they will attain both Torah and this-worldly success, and serve You all the days of their lives with love, fear and joy out of a breadth of heart. Send that same abundance to their children and their children’s children for all generations — because, as Your holy sages have stated, a person’s merits accrue to all his descendants.
זְכֹר אַל תִּשְׁכַּח כָּל הַיִּסּוּרִים שֶׁסָּבְלוּ עַד הֵנָּה, וֶאֱמֹר לְצָרוֹתֵיהֶם דַּי, וְאַל תּוֹסִיף עוֹד לְיַסְּרָם.
Remember, do not forget, all the suffering that these Tzaddikim have endured. Put an end to their troubles and cause them no more affliction.
רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם מֵעַתָּה וְתוֹשִׁיעֵם בְּכָל מִינֵי יְשׁוּעוֹת, וְתִתֶּן לָהֶם בָּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי בְּשֶׁפַע גָּדוֹל, וּתְרוֹמֵם קַרְנָם וּמַזָּלָם לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה, וּתְשַׂמְּחֵם בְּכָל מִינֵי שְׂמָחוֹת, וּתְגַדֵּל שְׁמָם עַד עוֹלָם, וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּפְרִי הָאָרֶץ לְגָאוֹן וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת.
Have compassion on them from this moment on. Send them every sort of salvation. Give them children, life and sustenance in abundance. Elevate them higher and higher, and grant them every sort of joy. Enhance their names forever, so that they, “the fruit of the land, will be glorious and splendid.”
וּתְבָרְכֵם בְּכָל הַבְּרָכוֹת וְתַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם וּשְׁנוֹתֵיהֶם, יֵלְכוּ יוֹנְקוֹתָם וִיהִי כַזַּיִת הוֹדָם. עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ:
Bestow all blessings upon them and lengthen their days and years. May their branches spread forth; may they be as glorious as the olive tree. “May they bring forth fruit in old age; may they be filled with sap and freshness.”
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וּתְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁמֹר אֶת פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי דִבּוּרִים רָעִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא מִפִּינוּ לְעוֹלָם שׁוּם דִּבּוּר שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר וּלְשׁוֹן הָרָע וּרְכִילוּת וְלֵיצָנוּת וַחֲנִיפוּת וּדְבָרִים בְּטֵלִים וְנִבּוּל פֶּה, וְלֹא שׁוּם דִּבּוּר הַגּוֹרֵם לְבַיֵּשׁ פְּנֵי חֲבֵרֵנוּ אוֹ לְצַעֲרוֹ וּלְקַנְטְרוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא שׁוּם דִּבּוּר פָּגוּם שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם:
Guarding One’s Speech
God, in Your compassion, help me to guard my mouth and my tongue from every sort of evil and blemished speech. May I never speak a word of falsehood, slander, gossip, mockery, sycophancy, chatter or profanity, nor anything else that might cause anyone shame, upset or distress.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי דִּבּוּרִים פְּגוּמִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. אֱלֹהַי, נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנֵנוּ מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתֵנוּ מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה. שִׁיתָה יְהֹוָה שָׁמְרָה לְפִינוּ נִצְּרָה עַל דַּל שְׂפָתֵנוּ.
Master of the World, in Your compassion, protect me from every sort of blemished speech. “God, keep my tongue from speaking evil and my lips from expressing falsehood.” “HaShem, place a guard at my mouth and a watch upon the doorway of my lips.”
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַּכְנִיעַ וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וּתְכַלֶּה וְתַעֲקֹר וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל מִינֵי חָכְמוֹת הָרָעוֹת שֶׁל הַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים, אֲשֶׁר חָכְמָתָם הָרָעָה מַזֶּקֶת לְהָעוֹלָם מְאֹד מְאֹד כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ. שָׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֹנָם כְּמוֹ נָחָשׁ חֲמַת עַכְשׁוּב תַּחַת שְׂפָתֵימוֹ סֶלָה.
Overcoming the Evil Ideologies of the Heretics
In this way, overcome and crush the evil ideologies of the philosophers and heretics, which are so damaging to the world. “They sharpen their tongues like vipers; the venom of the spider is under their lips.”
רַחֵם עַל הַנְּמָלָה הַמֻּנַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ פִּי הַנָּחָשׁ בֵּין שִׁנֶּיהָ. מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַבִּיטָה בְעָנְיָהּ וּמַכְאוֹבָהּ הַקָּשֶׁה. אוֹי מִי יָכוֹל לִסְבֹּל צַעַר וּמַכְאוֹב כָּזֶה. וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה עַד מָתָי, מָתַי תָּקוּם וּתְרַחֵם עָלֶיהָ. רְאֵה נָא בְעָנְיֵנוּ וְרִיבָה רִיבֵנוּ וּמַהֵר לְגָאֳלֵנוּ גְאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה מְהֵרָה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ. וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִכָּל מִינֵי חָכְמוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁל הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים וְהַפִּילוֹסוֹפִים שֶׁלֹּא יַגִּיעוּ עָלֵינוּ, וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנוּ, וְתַגְבִּיר כֹּחַ הַכְּנָפַיִם דִּקְדֻשָּׁה,
Have compassion on [us all, because we are like] the ant that lies between the snake’s fangs. Who could be expected to bear such pain and suffering? “And You, HaShem, how long? When will You arise?” Have compassion on us. Look at our suffering, take up our cause, hurry to redeem us fully and quickly for the sake of Your Name. Rescue us from the evil ideologies of the heretics and philosophers. Conceal us in the shadow of Your holy wings and increase the strength of the wings of holiness.
וְתַעֲקֹר וְתָסִיר וּתְבַטֵּל כַּנְפֵי הַנָּחָשׁ שֶׁהֵם הַחֲכָמִים לְהָרַע הַחוֹקְרִים פִּילוֹסוֹפְיָא וְאֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם שׁוּם כֹּחַ לָעוּף בְּחָכְמָתָם לְמֵרָחוֹק, וְלֹא תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט חָכְמָתָם בָּעוֹלָם, וְגַם לֹא תְעוֹפֵף חָכְמָתָם בָּעֹמֶק לְתוֹךְ הַמֹּחַ וְהַלֵּב, וְגַם לֹא תְעוֹפֵף חָכְמָתָם בְּעַצְמָן, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לָעוּף בְּחָכְמָתָם לַחֲקִירוֹת עֲמוּקוֹת,
Remove the wings of the serpents — the philosophers and heretics who dedicate their minds to evil purposes — so that their ideologies will not spread throughout the world and worm their way into people’s minds and hearts, and so that they themselves will not be able to develop and deepen their ideologies.
רַק תְּמַעֵט וְתַחֲלִישׁ חָכְמָתָם בְּכָל הַבְּחִינוֹת, עַד שֶׁתִּתְבַּטֵּל חָכְמָתָם הָרָעָה לְגַמְרֵי מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְתִתְגַּלֶּה חָכְמָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית שֶׁל חַכְמֵי הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר יַכִּירוּ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם כִּי אַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַדְּךָ עֶלְיוֹן לְכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ,
Reduce, weaken and nullify their evil ideas in every realm and reveal the wisdom of the true sages, so that everyone will recognize that You are HaShem, God alone, supernal, higher than any king in the world.
אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, אֶת הַיָּם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּם.
“You made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.”
וְתַהֲפֹךְ לְכָל הָעַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד.
Give all the nations “a clear speech, so that all of them will call out in the Name of HaShem and serve Him with one accord.”
וְתַעֲבִיר גִּלּוּלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּרוֹת יִכָּרֵתוּן, וְכָל חָכְמוֹת רָעוֹת תְּבַטֵּל וְתַעֲקֹר מִן הָעוֹלָם. וְתִתְגַּבֵּר וְתִתְחַזֵּק וְתִתְפַּשֵּׁט חָכְמָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית בָּעוֹלָם, הִיא חָכְמַת תּוֹרָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, לֵידַע וּלְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלַעֲבֹד אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ לְעוֹלָם,
Remove the idols from the land and cut down the gods. Uproot and nullify every evil ideology. In their place, strengthen and spread the true wisdom of our holy Torah, so that we will recognize You with perfect faith and serve You with all our hearts, all the days of our lives, forever.
וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
May the verse soon be realized, “HaShem will be king over all the earth. On that day, HaShem will be one and His Name will be one.” Amen and amen.