A Tzaddik and His Students / Receiving a Double Spirit of One’s Teacher’s Greatness / Potentiality and Actuality / The Two Yods in the Divine Names / Transforming God’s Wrath into the Spirit of Messianic Times / Separating the “Hands” of Being / Perfecting Speech / Calling Out To God / Overcoming the Wicked / Attaining Truth / Praying without Ulterior Motives / Yearning to Perform a Mitzvah / Heightening Holy Desire / Overcoming Obstacles / Never Being Satisfied with Less than Doing God’s Will A Tzaddik and his close students may be compared to a tree trunk and its branches. These close students feel all the Tzaddik’s ascents and descents, even when they are not in his presence. And at the time that he leaves this world, they can receive a double portion of his spirit. What makes that possible? The Tzaddik possesses a supernal spirit and a lower spirit. Shortly before he dies, his supernal spirit comes down and unites with his lower spirit. This supernal spirit then rises, taking him and his lower spirit with it. Before it does so, however, it brings about a great supernal illumination affecting those present at his deathbed — especially his close students. Since they share the same spiritual root as he, his supernal spirit is theirs as well — and so, when it descends, they cling to it and can receive a double portion. This concept of the supernal spirit and lower spirit appears in other contexts as well. Something not yet brought into being contains within itself potentiality and actuality in an as-yet undifferentiated state. When the potentiality blossoms into actuality, the two are separated and individuated. This is alluded to by the shape of the Hebrew letter aleph, which is comprised of two yods separated by a vav. These two yods allude to the states of potentiality and actuality. One yod, representing potentiality, begins God’s Name, YHVH (the Tetragrammaton); the other yod, representing actuality, ends God’s Name, Adonoy. Initially, the two yods were blended. But as the universe went from potential to actual, they were separated by the vav, which represents a doorway, an opening. Potentiality and actuality correspond to the supernal spirit and the lower spirit. These two spirits come into full being when we, through our service of God, mitigate His wrath, as it were, and transform it into the purified atmosphere, or spirit, of Messianic times. Then reality is fully realized, and everything that had been in potential is actualized. Related to that, our circumstances blossom as God sends down an abundance of income with a broad and generous hand. Initially, this Messianic spirit preceded being. Then, as creation began, it was revealed on the level of “hands,” which relate to being — for hands are the organs of action. However, the hands were still blended and undifferentiated — that is, they had not been separated. Creation reaches its completion only when this potential is fully actualized. Then the hands separate and one can differentiate between right and left. This dynamic of potentiality and actuality operates in the realms of human action as well. In terms of wrong action, when a person thinks of sinning, his sin is in a state of potentiality. Should he commit the sin, he brings it into actuality. In terms of the holy realm of right action, a person goes from potentiality to actuality by perfecting his speech, which is the bridge that links thought to action. Speech is imperfect at present, since the world is not calling to God. But in the future, speech will be perfected so that even non-Jews will call out in God’s Name. Related to that, all people will recognize the greatness and beauty of Tzaddikim and worthy people. This will also be a time of great judgment regarding each individual’s every action — for God forgets nothing — and the difference between the righteous and wicked will grow clear. At that time, the wicked will be cast down. This level of Messianic times must be drawn into our present world, so that the wicked will experience a downfall now, as well. This occurs when speech is perfected and all call out in God’s Name. To perfect speech, we must attain truth. A person attains truth by not being dependent on others. When a person needs others, he is apt to act in a false, sycophantic manner. Particularly when he prays in public — that is, as he expresses himself to God in speech — he may find himself acting in ways designed to impress others. Even if he doesn’t need others for his income, he may need them for honor and the like. Sometimes, even if he wants to pray earnestly, he finds himself trying to please those around him. He may rationalize his behavior, but by doing so, he gilds falsehood with truth. When a person is not dependent on others, however, he is linked directly to truth. Then the Messianic perfection of the letters of speech is drawn into this world. But it is not enough for the letters of speech to be perfected. A person must also express them. Sometimes, these letters of speech are stuck in his throat; to express them, he needs vowels. (In Hebrew, only consonants have letters; vowels are added with other symbols.) This allows the letters to proceed from potentiality to actuality. A person draws vowels to speech when he yearns to perform a mitzvah. One cannot do anything without desire, so before a person performs a holy deed, he is given the desire to do so. Desire is heightened when an obstacle is put in his way. When a Jew must work on improving his Jewishness, particularly when he must do something great and essential, such as going to a true Tzaddik, he is faced with obstacles. These obstacles are meant to increase his desire. The greater the desired object, the greater the desire. A person should not content himself with the argument that since he wants to do something but cannot, God considers it as though he did it. That argument is true. But if a person really wants to do the mitzvah, it is no consolation to him that God considers it as though he did it. Instead, he will make an effort to overcome the obstacles, which were created solely to intensify his desire. God of all spirits, Ruler of Heavenly and earthly beings, You Who hold the souls of the living and the dead, You “Whose hand holds the spirit of every living creature and the breath of every human being,” help me to draw down onto myself a spirit of the true life of holiness from the true Tzaddikim, who comprise our very lives.
Bring me before them to attend to their needs and to be as intimately connected with them as a branch is connected to the tree — so much so that I will feel all the ascents and descents that they experience.
And when their time comes to leave the world, may I stand beside them as their holy souls ascend, so that I may receive a double spiritual portion as “their spirit comes upon us, doubled.”
Closeness to God Master of the world, I know that am asking a great deal of You. But You are good and do good, and You have taught us through Your Tzaddikim to pray for this very thing. You have generously promised us that You will certainly fulfill Your goals by bringing us to the ultimate state of perfection where we are close to You — in accordance with what is fitting for You, even if we are unworthy.
Therefore, as long as my spirit is within me, I bow down before You and plead with You, HaShem my God and the God of my fathers, God of all the Tzaddikim, to answer me and help me bring into being everything that I need to serve You, until I am in accordance with Your desire all of my days, forever.
May I never need anyone for anything, be it income, honor, status or appointment to a position. May I hope and trust in You alone. May I rely only on You to never abandon me, to generously give me everything from Your holy hand even before I need it.
May I never require people’s gifts and loans. Have compassion on me, I who am impoverished and far from earning a living. My merciful and righteous Father, “Shepherd of Israel, Who gives bread to all flesh, Whose kindness is forever,” help me to repay my debts quickly.
Open Your hand to me, a poor and impoverished person. Fulfill all my needs in both the material and spiritual realms. In particular, help me soon to repay my debts, which have overwhelmed me until I do not know what to do. And keep me from ever again falling into debt.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Send me my income generously and not with constriction, so that I may receive it in a permissible and not forbidden manner, comfortably and without difficulty, and thus be able to do Your will.
May all my worship and prayer be genuine and without any falsehood or ulterior motives, so that I will never say a single word of prayer or make any movement in prayer designed to impress others, Heaven forbid. May I never gild falsehood with truth and never deceive myself. Instead, may I recite all the prayers with ultimate truth, for the sake of Your Name alone, in accordance with Your desire.
No Ulterior Motives Master of the world, HaShem, true God, You Who desire truth and are close to those who call out to You, arise and help me. Give me the strength and wisdom to eliminate all foreign thoughts, falsehoods and ulterior motives that come to confuse me when I am praying. You know the multitude of obstacles that upset my prayer. Particularly when I pray among many other people, I am assailed by an endless number of ulterior, false motives, and I do not know what to do.
I desire strongly to pray with ultimate truth, “solely to HaShem alone.” But what can I do? My sins have made me subject to a great many ulterior motives which perturb my prayer with foreign thoughts and confusions, too many to count. Against my will, ulterior motives — coarse or subtle, revealed or hidden, on various levels and in various ways, too many to be delineated — enter my mind.
Every day, these ulterior confusions and thoughts arise in my every prayer and gain in strength. Even when I pray by myself, I am beset by these ulterior motives, and how much more when I pray with others — particularly in another city, when these false motives grow particularly powerful, so much so that I cannot even express one honest, genuine word of prayer.
Have compassion on me. Guide me to truth, so that I will not be dependent on others in any way, so that I will have no desire for honor, praise, acclamation, money or anything else. May I not place my trust in any person at all, but know and believe in the ultimate truth: that everything comes from You.
“Wealth and honor are before You, and You rule over everyone. All flesh is grass and all of a person’s kindness is like the herbage of the field.” “What can anyone do against me?”
And may I realize the truth within the verses, “Do not trust in princes, in man who has no salvation. When his spirit leaves, he returns to his plot of earth. On that day, his thoughts perish. Fortunate is the person whose help is the God of Jacob, who hopes in HaShem his God.”
Do not allow me to deceive myself and gild falsehood with truth. May the forces of evil have no power to affect my mind with their twisted schemes as they attack me and attempt to persuade me to clap my hands or exclaim the words of prayer with ulterior motives, while, at the same time, I deceive myself that I need to do so.
Heaven forbid that I should do such a thing. HaShem, keep me far from all ulterior motives and falsehoods — whether they are completely false motives and I am attempting to gain others’ praise or money, or whether they are gilded with truth. “May I not place any disgraceful matter before my eyes. I hate crooked dealings — may such not cling to me. May a twisted heart depart from me; may I know of no evil.”
May my sole intent — for instance, my movements in prayer — be for the sake of Your great Name alone. May I act only with utter truth and in accordance with Your desire, until I attain truth as You desire. In this way, may I draw illumination down from the World to Come so that truth is revealed in this world, just as it will be revealed in the future on the day of great and awesome judgment, when You will judge Your world, “the small and great alike.”
At that time, You will enter into judgment with all flesh. You will take an accounting of our every deed, of every detail, of everything great and small, overlooking nothing. At that time, You will not ignore the most trivial matter. Instead, “God will bring a person to judgment for everything hidden, whether good or evil.”
At that point, everything will be recalled. “You recall all the deeds of the world and take account of all creatures from the earliest times. All hidden matters are revealed before You, a multitude of hidden matters since creation. There is no forgetting before Your throne of glory, and nothing is hidden before Your eyes. You recall every deed, and no creature is concealed from You. Everything is revealed and known to You, HaShem our God. You Who look and gaze to the end of all generations, You bring about the decreed time of remembrance, when every spirit and soul will be taken into account and many beings and a multitude of creatures without number will be remembered. You have made this known from the beginning of creation; You have revealed it from the earliest times.”
Who will not give an accounting of himself on that great and awesome day? “The day of HaShem is very great and awesome” — there is none like it — “who can abide it?” HaShem, You take note of every person’s deeds, plans and aims.
Fortunate is the person who does not forget You, the human being who gains strength in You. Those who seek You will never stumble, and those who take refuge in You will never be ashamed, when You recall all deeds and seek out the actions of all people.
At that time, everyone will recognize the greatness of the Tzaddikim and worthy people and all those who were associated with them — their loveliness, radiance, splendor and precious beauty.
Fortunate are they and fortunate is their portion. How vast is the goodness that You have hidden away for them. “God, no eye has seen besides Yours what You do for those who await Him.”
The essence of the great beauty of the children of Israel — that is to say, the Tzaddikim and worthy people — will be visible on that day of great judgment. “You will return and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.”
Then the essence of truth will be revealed and everyone will be judged by the trait of truth, which cannot tolerate the wicked enemies and persecutors of Your nation, the Jewish people, who worship You and are wholly Yours.
Then all people will return to serve You and all human beings will call out in Your Name. As the verse states, “I will give the nations a clear speech so that all of them will call in the Name of HaShem, and serve Him with one accord.”
Attaining Truth Compassionate God, help me to attain even now the trait of truth in accordance with Your desire. May truth be revealed so that the wicked will experience defeat in this world, just as they will in future times. May everyone return to serve You, calling out Your Name in truth and drawing down the perfection of speech from the World to Come to this world.
Holy Speech and Deeds God, help me fashion holy vowels for holy speech. May I bring words forth from the narrowness of the throat, until with the holiness of perfected speech I will bring into actuality all Divine service and acts of worship.
You know the many obstacles that stand in the way of all of the holy deeds that I must perform—there is no holy act that doesn’t have many obstacles to overcome—in particular, when it comes to drawing close to true Tzaddikim, and most important, to the point of truth within them—something so great that my entire Jewishness depends on it. To prevent my reaching that point of truth, these obstacles gain in strength and multiply without number, forming a powerful barrier.
But You have taught us that there are no obstacles, because the purpose of every obstacle is to whet our appetite and increase our longing and desire to do Your will. And so the greater the obstacle, the more we have to strengthen ourselves and increase our holy desire until the obstacles are all scattered and we can attain the holy object of our longing.
HaShem my God, You Who desire my good, I have come to ask You to help me actualize this holy desire. May I yearn and long for You, and serve You in the most powerful way. May my yearning grow ever stronger every day until it overcomes all the obstacles standing before me.
In this way, may I fashion holy vowels for the letters and thus perfect holy speech, until I bring forth into actuality all holy deeds that I must perform in this world, in accordance with Your good and holy desire.
Breaking All the Barriers God, may I desire You so powerfully that I will never content myself with failure in the face of overwhelming obstacles, even though You consider such an attempt as though one had succeeded.
HaShem, may I never content myself with this. May I never accept the difficulty of my circumstances as an excuse. Instead, may I possess an overwhelming drive to bring into actuality all holy matters.
God, be with me every time I am inspired to do something of a holy nature, whether great or small. Help me always to experience a yearning that does not diminish. May I strengthen myself so much that my soul is ready to expire.
May my yearning increase so that it can meet and overcome obstacles and I can break down all the barriers that stand in the way of my performing holy deeds and actualizing all my desires to serve You. In every way that I wish to serve You, HaShem, may I act with the passion of my whole heart until I succeed and do everything that is in accordance with Your desire.
Forgive Us God, in Your graciousness, mitigate Your anger against me and against Your entire nation, the House of Israel. And help me to quickly eradicate my trait of anger, so that nothing will ever make me angry.
In this way, may the spirit of the Mashiach be drawn upon us. May he come soon to redeem us forever. And may a great life force of holiness, coming from above and below, be drawn upon us.
Open Your hand and satisfy us with Your favor. Revive us with Your compassion. Generously provide us with our sustenance before we need it, for our eyes are turned to You alone.
Guard us from every sort of flaw and sin. May we contemplate the teaching of our Sages, “Where have we come from? From a malodorous drop. Where are we going to? To a place of dust and worms. And before Whom shall we give an accounting of ourselves? Before the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.”
Guide me so that I will quickly regret and repent of all the sins and misdeeds that I have committed — whether by accident or on purpose, against my will or willfully, in thought, speech or deed, in potentiality or in actuality.
Be with me from this moment on. Help me to turn away from evil, so that I will no longer disobey Your words and Your will in the slightest way. Help me to keep all Your commandments lovingly, so that I will bring into actuality all holy matters, as You desire.
In this way, may I draw down abundance and a new life force into actuality at every moment. May all worlds be renewed and maintained through me, by means of the new life force that I draw down at every moment from the two yods in Your holy Names, YHVH and Adonoy.
“God, create a pure heart within me, renew a proper spirit within me. Do not cast me aside from before You, do not take the spirit of Your holiness away from me. Bring back to me the joy of Your salvation, support me with a generous spirit, for You are the God of my salvation. May Your good spirit guide me in a pleasant land.”
Answer Us God, Compassionate Father, act for the sake of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who revealed Your Divinity in the world and toiled all their lives to bring people back from sin and serve You. In their merit, You chose and elevated their offspring from all the nations, and You gave us Your holy Torah through Your prophet Moses, the faithful one of Your house.
Act for their sake and for the sake of all the great, true Tzaddikim who came after them, all of whom toiled throughout their lives with a single goal: to bring Your straying children back to You. You know the desire of their hearts and the suffering they endured throughout their lives for our sake.
HaShem, You Who recall our compassionate forefathers, act for their sake and bring their goals to fruition. Help them to bring into actuality all that they began and desired to accomplish for our sake.
Our King, do not send us away empty-handed. Graciously answer us. Hear the voice of our prayer, for You compassionately heed the prayer of every individual of Your nation, the Jewish people.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ס"ו - וִיהִי נָא פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחֲךָ]
אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחוֹת, שַׁלִּיט בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים וּבַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נַפְשׁוֹת הַחַיִּים וְהַמֵּתִים, אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי וְרוּחַ כָּל בְּשַׂר אִישׁ. רַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתֵן לִי רוּחַ טוֹבָה, רוּחַ נָכוֹן, רוּחַ חַיִּים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה. זַכֵּנִי לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי רוּחַ חַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה מֵהַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֵינוּ.
A Tzaddik and His Students / Receiving a Double Spirit of One’s Teacher’s Greatness / Potentiality and Actuality / The Two Yods in the Divine Names / Transforming God’s Wrath into the Spirit of Messianic Times / Separating the “Hands” of Being / Perfecting Speech / Calling Out To God / Overcoming the Wicked / Attaining Truth / Praying without Ulterior Motives / Yearning to Perform a Mitzvah / Heightening Holy Desire / Overcoming Obstacles / Never Being Satisfied with Less than Doing God’s Will
A Tzaddik and his close students may be compared to a tree trunk and its branches. These close students feel all the Tzaddik’s ascents and descents, even when they are not in his presence. And at the time that he leaves this world, they can receive a double portion of his spirit. What makes that possible?
The Tzaddik possesses a supernal spirit and a lower spirit. Shortly before he dies, his supernal spirit comes down and unites with his lower spirit. This supernal spirit then rises, taking him and his lower spirit with it. Before it does so, however, it brings about a great supernal illumination affecting those present at his deathbed — especially his close students. Since they share the same spiritual root as he, his supernal spirit is theirs as well — and so, when it descends, they cling to it and can receive a double portion.
This concept of the supernal spirit and lower spirit appears in other contexts as well. Something not yet brought into being contains within itself potentiality and actuality in an as-yet undifferentiated state. When the potentiality blossoms into actuality, the two are separated and individuated.
This is alluded to by the shape of the Hebrew letter aleph, which is comprised of two yods separated by a vav. These two yods allude to the states of potentiality and actuality. One yod, representing potentiality, begins God’s Name, YHVH (the Tetragrammaton); the other yod, representing actuality, ends God’s Name, Adonoy. Initially, the two yods were blended. But as the universe went from potential to actual, they were separated by the vav, which represents a doorway, an opening.
Potentiality and actuality correspond to the supernal spirit and the lower spirit. These two spirits come into full being when we, through our service of God, mitigate His wrath, as it were, and transform it into the purified atmosphere, or spirit, of Messianic times. Then reality is fully realized, and everything that had been in potential is actualized. Related to that, our circumstances blossom as God sends down an abundance of income with a broad and generous hand.
Initially, this Messianic spirit preceded being. Then, as creation began, it was revealed on the level of “hands,” which relate to being — for hands are the organs of action. However, the hands were still blended and undifferentiated — that is, they had not been separated. Creation reaches its completion only when this potential is fully actualized. Then the hands separate and one can differentiate between right and left.
This dynamic of potentiality and actuality operates in the realms of human action as well.
In terms of wrong action, when a person thinks of sinning, his sin is in a state of potentiality. Should he commit the sin, he brings it into actuality.
In terms of the holy realm of right action, a person goes from potentiality to actuality by perfecting his speech, which is the bridge that links thought to action.
Speech is imperfect at present, since the world is not calling to God. But in the future, speech will be perfected so that even non-Jews will call out in God’s Name. Related to that, all people will recognize the greatness and beauty of Tzaddikim and worthy people. This will also be a time of great judgment regarding each individual’s every action — for God forgets nothing — and the difference between the righteous and wicked will grow clear. At that time, the wicked will be cast down.
This level of Messianic times must be drawn into our present world, so that the wicked will experience a downfall now, as well. This occurs when speech is perfected and all call out in God’s Name.
To perfect speech, we must attain truth. A person attains truth by not being dependent on others. When a person needs others, he is apt to act in a false, sycophantic manner. Particularly when he prays in public — that is, as he expresses himself to God in speech — he may find himself acting in ways designed to impress others. Even if he doesn’t need others for his income, he may need them for honor and the like.
Sometimes, even if he wants to pray earnestly, he finds himself trying to please those around him. He may rationalize his behavior, but by doing so, he gilds falsehood with truth.
When a person is not dependent on others, however, he is linked directly to truth. Then the Messianic perfection of the letters of speech is drawn into this world.
But it is not enough for the letters of speech to be perfected. A person must also express them. Sometimes, these letters of speech are stuck in his throat; to express them, he needs vowels. (In Hebrew, only consonants have letters; vowels are added with other symbols.) This allows the letters to proceed from potentiality to actuality.
A person draws vowels to speech when he yearns to perform a mitzvah. One cannot do anything without desire, so before a person performs a holy deed, he is given the desire to do so. Desire is heightened when an obstacle is put in his way. When a Jew must work on improving his Jewishness, particularly when he must do something great and essential, such as going to a true Tzaddik, he is faced with obstacles. These obstacles are meant to increase his desire. The greater the desired object, the greater the desire.
A person should not content himself with the argument that since he wants to do something but cannot, God considers it as though he did it. That argument is true. But if a person really wants to do the mitzvah, it is no consolation to him that God considers it as though he did it. Instead, he will make an effort to overcome the obstacles, which were created solely to intensify his desire.
God of all spirits, Ruler of Heavenly and earthly beings, You Who hold the souls of the living and the dead, You “Whose hand holds the spirit of every living creature and the breath of every human being,” help me to draw down onto myself a spirit of the true life of holiness from the true Tzaddikim, who comprise our very lives.
זַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, לְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם וְלַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵיהֶם לְשָׁרְתָם וּלְשַׁמְּשָׁם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל צָרְכֵיהֶם. וְאֶהְיֶה מְקֻשָּׁר בָּהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת בְּהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת גָּדוֹל בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, כְּמוֹ עֲנָפִים בָּאִילָן, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַרְגִּישׁ בְּעַצְמִי כָּל הָעֲלִיּוֹת וְהַיְרִידוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם בְּכָל עֵת.
Bring me before them to attend to their needs and to be as intimately connected with them as a branch is connected to the tree — so much so that I will feel all the ascents and descents that they experience.
וְנִזְכֶּה בָּעֵת שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ זְמַנָּם לְהִסְתַּלֵּק מִן הָעוֹלָם לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים וְשָׁנִים לַעֲמֹד אֶצְלָם בְּעֵת יְצִיאַת נִשְׁמָתָם הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְמַעְלָה לְמַעְלָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל פִּי שְׁנַיִם, וִיהִי נָא פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחָם אֵלֵינוּ:
And when their time comes to leave the world, may I stand beside them as their holy souls ascend, so that I may receive a double spiritual portion as “their spirit comes upon us, doubled.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הִקְשֵׁיתִי לִשְׁאוֹל, אֲבָל אַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב, וְגִלִּיתָ אָזְנֵינוּ עַל־יְדֵי צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל זֶה. עַל כֵּן מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ אֶת לִבּוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ עַל כָּל אֵלֶּה, כִּי כְבָר הִבְטַחְתָּנוּ בְּכַמָּה הַבְטָחוֹת שֶׁבְּוַדַּאי תִּגְמוֹר רְצוֹנְךָ וְחֶפְצְךָ עִמָּנוּ לַהֲבִיאֵנוּ לְתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת וּלְקָרְבֵנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כַּאֲשֶׁר נָאֶה לְךָ, לֹא כְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ וְלֹא כְּמִפְעָלֵינוּ.
Closeness to God
Master of the world, I know that am asking a great deal of You. But You are good and do good, and You have taught us through Your Tzaddikim to pray for this very thing. You have generously promised us that You will certainly fulfill Your goals by bringing us to the ultimate state of perfection where we are close to You — in accordance with what is fitting for You, even if we are unworthy.
עַל כֵּן כָּל עוֹד נַפְשֵׁנוּ וְרוּחֵנוּ בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ, נִשְׁתַּטֵּחַ וְנִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אֱלֹהֵי כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים עֲנֵנוּ, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהַתְחִיל וְלִגְמֹר וּלְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יָמֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם:
Therefore, as long as my spirit is within me, I bow down before You and plead with You, HaShem my God and the God of my fathers, God of all the Tzaddikim, to answer me and help me bring into being everything that I need to serve You, until I am in accordance with Your desire all of my days, forever.
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלַי וּתְזַכֵּנִי לֶאֱמֶת בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ לִי כָּל פַּרְנָסָתִי מִיָּדְךָ הָרְחָבָה וְהַמְּלֵאָה.
Open Your Hand
Compassionate God, lead me to pure truth. Send me an abundant flow of sustenance from Your broad and generous hand.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא אֶהְיֶה נִצְרָךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלַָם, שֶׁלֹּא אֶצְטָרֵךְ לְפַרְנָסָתָם. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לִי שׁוּם תַּאֲוָה לְשׁוּם כָּבוֹד וְהִתְפָּאֲרוּת וְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת וַחֲשִׁיבוּת וְהִתְמַנּוּת כְּלָל. רַק כָּל בִּטְחוֹנִי וְשִׂבְרִי וְתִקְוָתִי יִהְיֶה בְּךָ לְבַד, בְּךָ אֶבְטַח וְאֶשָּׁעֵן תָּמִיד כִּי לֹא תַעַזְבֵנִי לְעוֹלָם. וְתִתֶּן לִי כָּל צָרְכֵי פַּרְנָסָתִי וְכָל מַחְסוֹרִי בְּרֶוַח קֹדֶם שֶׁאֶצְטָרֵךְ לָהֶם מִתַּחַת יָדְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
May I never need anyone for anything, be it income, honor, status or appointment to a position. May I hope and trust in You alone. May I rely only on You to never abandon me, to generously give me everything from Your holy hand even before I need it.
וְאַל תַּצְרִיכֵנִי לֹא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם. וּתְרַחֵם עַל עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן כָּמוֹנִי, הָרָחוֹק מִפַּרְנָסָה כָּמוֹנִי, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי מְהֵרָה חוּשָׁה לְסַלֵּק וּלְשַׁלֵּם כָּל הַהַלְוָאוֹת וְהַחוֹבוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי חַיָּב עַד הֵנָּה. אָבִי רַחוּם צַדִּיק, רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
May I never require people’s gifts and loans. Have compassion on me, I who am impoverished and far from earning a living. My merciful and righteous Father, “Shepherd of Israel, Who gives bread to all flesh, Whose kindness is forever,” help me to repay my debts quickly.
פְּתַח יָדְךָ לְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן וְדַל כָּמוֹנִי, וּתְמַלֵּא לִי כָּל מַחְסוֹרַי בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת. וְתַעַזְרֵנִי מְהֵרָה לְסַלֵּק כָּל הַחוֹבוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי חַיָּב מִכְּבָר, כִּי הִשְׂתָּרְגוּ עָלוּ עַל צַוָּארִי הִכְשִׁילוּ כֹחִי, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת, וְתַצִּילֵנִי מֵעַתָּה מֵחוֹבוֹת וְהַלְוָאוֹת.
Open Your hand to me, a poor and impoverished person. Fulfill all my needs in both the material and spiritual realms. In particular, help me soon to repay my debts, which have overwhelmed me until I do not know what to do. And keep me from ever again falling into debt.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתַי לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים, וְתֵן לִי פַּרְנָסָתִי מֵאִתְּךָ בְּרֶוַח וְלֹא בְּצִמְצוּם, בְּהֶתֵּר וְלֹא בְּאִסּוּר, בְּנַחַת וְלֹא בְּצַעַר, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name. Send me my income generously and not with constriction, so that I may receive it in a permissible and not forbidden manner, comfortably and without difficulty, and thus be able to do Your will.
וְאֶזְכֶּה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה כָּל עֲבוֹדָתִי וּתְפִלָּתִי בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, בְּלִי שׁוּם שְׁקָרִים וּפְנִיּוֹת כְּלָל, וְלֹא אֲכַוֵּן בְּשׁוּם קוֹל וּתְנוּעָה בִּתְפִלָּתִי בִּשְׁבִיל שׁוּם בֶּן אָדָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא אֲחַפֶּה אֶת הַשֶּׁקֶר בֶּאֱמֶת וְלֹא אַטְעֶה אֶת עַצְמִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל תְּפִלָּתִי בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
May all my worship and prayer be genuine and without any falsehood or ulterior motives, so that I will never say a single word of prayer or make any movement in prayer designed to impress others, Heaven forbid. May I never gild falsehood with truth and never deceive myself. Instead, may I recite all the prayers with ultimate truth, for the sake of Your Name alone, in accordance with Your desire.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת, הֶחָפֵץ בָּאֱמֶת וְקָרוֹב לְקוֹרְאָיו בֶּאֱמֶת, קוּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִי, וְתֵן לִי כֹחַ וּגְבוּרָה וְחָכְמָה וּבִינָה וְשֵׂכֶל וְעֵצָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל וּלְסַלֵּק מֵעָלַי כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת, וְכָל הַשְּׁקָרִים וְכָל הַפְּנִיּוֹת הַבָּאִים עַל הַמֹּחַ בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה לְבַלְבֵּל אֶת תְּפִלָּתִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר הַמּוֹנְעִים וּמְעַכְּבִים אֶת תְּפִלָּתִי, וּבִפְרָט כְּשֶׁאֲנִי עוֹמֵד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל בֵּין הָעוֹלָם בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם הַרְבֵּה, שֶׁאָז נוֹפְלִים עָלַי פְּנִיּוֹת וּשְׁקָרִים הַרְבֵּה בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת וּמַה לִּפְעֹל,
No Ulterior Motives
Master of the world, HaShem, true God, You Who desire truth and are close to those who call out to You, arise and help me. Give me the strength and wisdom to eliminate all foreign thoughts, falsehoods and ulterior motives that come to confuse me when I am praying. You know the multitude of obstacles that upset my prayer. Particularly when I pray among many other people, I am assailed by an endless number of ulterior, false motives, and I do not know what to do.
כִּי רְצוֹנִי וְכוֹסְפִי חָזָק מְאֹד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ בִּלְתִּי לַיהֹוָה לְבַדּוֹ. וּמָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וַעֲוֹנוֹתַי גָּרְמוּ שֶׁבָּאִים עָלַי פְּנִיּוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים גְּדוֹלִים וְרַבִּים מְאֹד, וּמְבַלְבְּלִים אֶת תְּפִלָּתִי מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּכַמָּה וְכַמָּה מַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים שׁוֹנִים, אֲשֶׁר עָצְמוּ מִסַּפֵּר. וּבְעַל כָּרְחִי עוֹלִים עַל דַּעְתִּי כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּנִיּוֹת גַּסּוֹת וְדַקּוֹת גְּלוּיוֹת וְנִסְתָּרוֹת, בְּכַמָּה וְכַמָּה בְּחִינוֹת וּבְכַמָּה אֳפַנִּים שׁוֹנִים אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְפוֹרְטָם.
I desire strongly to pray with ultimate truth, “solely to HaShem alone.” But what can I do? My sins have made me subject to a great many ulterior motives which perturb my prayer with foreign thoughts and confusions, too many to count. Against my will, ulterior motives — coarse or subtle, revealed or hidden, on various levels and in various ways, too many to be delineated — enter my mind.
וּבְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם וּבְכָל תְּפִלָּה וּתְפִלָּה מִתְחַדְּשִׁים וּמִתְגַּבְּרִים פְּנִיּוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת, וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי מִתְפַּלֵּל לְבַדִּי בָּאִים עַל דַּעְתִּי פְּנִיּוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, וּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן כְּשֶׁאֲנִי עוֹמֵד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים רַבִּים וּבִפְרָט בְּעִיר אַחֶרֶת וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר, שֶׁאָז מִתְגַּבְּרִים הַפְּנִיּוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים בְּיוֹתֵר מְאֹד מְאֹד, עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵינִי יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר אֲפִלּוּ דִּבּוּר אֶחָד בַּתְּפִלָּה כָּרָאוּי בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ.
Every day, these ulterior confusions and thoughts arise in my every prayer and gain in strength. Even when I pray by myself, I am beset by these ulterior motives, and how much more when I pray with others — particularly in another city, when these false motives grow particularly powerful, so much so that I cannot even express one honest, genuine word of prayer.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל וְרַחֵם עָלַי וְעָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לֶאֱמֶת גָּמוּר, שֶׁלֹּא אֶהְיֶה בִּכְלָל נִצְרָךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת כְּלָל בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן וּבְחִינָה בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לִי שׁוּם רָצוֹן וְתַאֲוָה לֹא לִכְבוֹד בְּנֵי אָדָם וְלֹא לִשְׁבָחָם וְהִתְפָּאֲרוּתָם, וְלֹא לְמָמוֹנָם וְלֹא לְשׁוּם דָּבָר בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל. וְלֹא אָשִׂים בִּטְחוֹנִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם בְּשׁוּם בֶּן אָדָם כְּלָל, רַק אֵדַע וְאַאֲמִין בְּהָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ כִּי מִמְּךָ הַכֹּל,
Have compassion on me. Guide me to truth, so that I will not be dependent on others in any way, so that I will have no desire for honor, praise, acclamation, money or anything else. May I not place my trust in any person at all, but know and believe in the ultimate truth: that everything comes from You.
וְהָעֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְאַתָּה מוֹשֵׁל בַּכֹּל. כָּל הַבָּשָׂר חָצִיר וְכָל חַסְדּוֹ כְּצִיץ הַשָּׂדֶה, וּמַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לִי אָדָם.
“Wealth and honor are before You, and You rule over everyone. All flesh is grass and all of a person’s kindness is like the herbage of the field.” “What can anyone do against me?”
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם בֶּאֱמֶת מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים בְּבֶן אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה, תֵּצֵא רוּחוֹ יָשׁוּב לְאַדְמָתוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָבְדוּ עֶשְׁתּוֹנוֹתָיו. אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ שִׂבְרוֹ עַל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו. וְנֶאֱמַר,
And may I realize the truth within the verses, “Do not trust in princes, in man who has no salvation. When his spirit leaves, he returns to his plot of earth. On that day, his thoughts perish. Fortunate is the person whose help is the God of Jacob, who hopes in HaShem his God.”
בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהֹוָה וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה מִבְטַחוֹ.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in HaShem — HaShem will be his trust.”
בִּטְחוּ בַיהֹוָה עֲדֵי עַד כִּי בְּיָהּ יְהֹוָה צוּר עוֹלָמִים.
“Trust in HaShem forever, for in God HaShem will you find the Rock of Ages.”
וְיִבְטְחוּ בְךָ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶךָ כִּי לֹא עָזַבְתָּ דּוֹרְשֶׁיךָ יְהֹוָה:
“Those who know Your Name will trust in You, because You have not abandoned those who seek You, HaShem.”
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לְבַל אַטְעֶה אֶת עַצְמִי וְלֹא אֲחַפֶּה אֶת הַשֶּׁקֶר בָּאֱמֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה שׁוּם כֹּחַ לְהַבַּעַל דָּבָר וְהַקְּלִפּוֹת לְסַבֵּב מְסִבּוֹת בְּדַעְתִּי בִּמְזִמּוֹתֵיהֶם וּבְנִכְלֵיהֶם, וּבְדַרְכֵי הָעַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם, לְהִתְגּוֹלֵל וּלְהִתְנַפֵּל עַל דַּעְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה תְנוּעָה וְהַמְחָאַת כָּף וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה, אוֹ לְהוֹצִיא שׁוּם קוֹל וְדִבּוּר בִּשְׁבִיל אֵיזֶה פְּנִיָּה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּלְהַטְעוֹת אֶת עַצְמִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּאִלּוּ בֶּאֱמֶת אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לָזֶה.
Do not allow me to deceive myself and gild falsehood with truth. May the forces of evil have no power to affect my mind with their twisted schemes as they attack me and attempt to persuade me to clap my hands or exclaim the words of prayer with ulterior motives, while, at the same time, I deceive myself that I need to do so.
חָלִילָה לִּי מֵעֲשׂוֹת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה, יְהֹוָה הֱיֵה עוֹזֵר לִי, וַחֲדַל וּמְנַע אוֹתִי מִכָּל מִינֵי פְּנִיּוֹת וּשְׁקָרִים, הֵן מִפְּנִיּוֹת שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר גָּמוּר בִּשְׁבִיל הִתְפָּאֲרוּת בְּנֵי אָדָם מַמָּשׁ אוֹ בִּשְׁבִיל מָמוֹנָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְהֵן מִפְּנִיּוֹת שְׁקָרִים הַמְצֻפִּים בָּאֱמֶת. לֹא אָשִׁית לְנֶגֶד עֵינַי דְּבַר בְּלִיָּעַל עֲשֹׂה סֵטִים שָׂנֵאתִי לֹא יִדְבַּק בִּי. לֵבָב עִקֵּשׁ יָסוּר מִמֶּנִּי רָע לֹא אֵדָע.
Heaven forbid that I should do such a thing. HaShem, keep me far from all ulterior motives and falsehoods — whether they are completely false motives and I am attempting to gain others’ praise or money, or whether they are gilded with truth. “May I not place any disgraceful matter before my eyes. I hate crooked dealings — may such not cling to me. May a twisted heart depart from me; may I know of no evil.”
לֹא יֵשֵׁב בְּקֶרֶב בֵּיתִי עֹשֵׂה רְמִיָּה דּוֹבֵר שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִכּוֹן לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי.
“May a person who acts falsely not sit within my house; may anyone who speaks falsehood not stand before my eyes.”
רַק אֶזְכֶּה שֶׁכָּל כַּוָּנָתִי וּתְנוּעוֹתַי בִּתְפִלָּתִי יִהְיֶה רַק לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱמֶת שֶׁאַתָּה חָפֵץ בּוֹ. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הֶאָרָה מֵעַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה הָאֱמֶת בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא בְּיוֹם הַדִּין הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עָתִיד לָדוּן בּוֹ אֶת עוֹלָמְךָ, קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל שָׁם הוּא,
May my sole intent — for instance, my movements in prayer — be for the sake of Your great Name alone. May I act only with utter truth and in accordance with Your desire, until I attain truth as You desire. In this way, may I draw illumination down from the World to Come so that truth is revealed in this world, just as it will be revealed in the future on the day of great and awesome judgment, when You will judge Your world, “the small and great alike.”
כִּי תָבוֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר, וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִקַּח דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן מֵאִתָּנוּ, וְלָדוּן אוֹתָנוּ עַל כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר, עַל כָּל פְּרָט וּפְרָט, עַל כָּל דָּבָר גָּדוֹל וְקָטֹן, כִּי אֵין אַתָּה וַתְּרָן כְּלָל, וְאָז לֹא תְּוַתֵּר שׁוּם דָּבָר קָטָן, כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים יָבִא בְמִשְׁפָּט עַל כָּל נֶעְלָם אִם טוֹב וְאִם רָע,
At that time, You will enter into judgment with all flesh. You will take an accounting of our every deed, of every detail, of everything great and small, overlooking nothing. At that time, You will not ignore the most trivial matter. Instead, “God will bring a person to judgment for everything hidden, whether good or evil.”
וְהַכֹּל יִהְיֶה נִזְכָּר לְהָאָדָם אָז. כִּי אַתָּה זוֹכֵר כָּל מַעֲשֵׂי עוֹלָם וּפוֹקֵד כָּל יְצוּרֵי קֶדֶם, לְפָנֶיךָ נִגְלוּ כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת וַהֲמוֹן נִסְתָּרוֹת שֶׁמִבְּרֵאשִׁית, אֵין שִׁכְחָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְּבוֹדֶךָ וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ, אַתָּה זוֹכֵר אֶת כָּל הַמִּפְעָל וְגַם כָּל הַיְצוּר לֹא נִכְחַד מִמֶּךָּ, הַכֹּל גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, כִּי תָבִיא חֹק זִכָּרוֹן לְהִפָּקֵד כָּל רוּחַ וָנָפֶשׁ, לְהִזָּכֵר מַעֲשִׂים רַבִּים וַהֲמוֹן בְּרִיּוֹת לְאֵין תַּכְלִית, מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּזֹאת הוֹדָעְתָּ וּמִלְּפָנִים אוֹתָהּ גִּלִּיתָ,
At that point, everything will be recalled. “You recall all the deeds of the world and take account of all creatures from the earliest times. All hidden matters are revealed before You, a multitude of hidden matters since creation. There is no forgetting before Your throne of glory, and nothing is hidden before Your eyes. You recall every deed, and no creature is concealed from You. Everything is revealed and known to You, HaShem our God. You Who look and gaze to the end of all generations, You bring about the decreed time of remembrance, when every spirit and soul will be taken into account and many beings and a multitude of creatures without number will be remembered. You have made this known from the beginning of creation; You have revealed it from the earliest times.”
מִי לֹא יִהְיֶה נִפְקַד אָז בַּיּוֹם הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא הַהוּא, כִּי גָּדוֹל יוֹם יְהֹוָה וְנוֹרָא מְאֹד מֵאֵין כָּמֹהוּ, וּמִי יְכִילֶנוּ, כִּי זֵכֶר כָּל הַיְצוּר יִהְיֶה נִזְכָּר לְפָנֶיךָ אָז, מַעֲשֵׂה אִישׁ וְתַחְבּוּלוֹתָיו וְיִצְרֵי מַעַלְלֵי אִישׁ,
Who will not give an accounting of himself on that great and awesome day? “The day of HaShem is very great and awesome” — there is none like it — “who can abide it?” HaShem, You take note of every person’s deeds, plans and aims.
אַשְׁרֵי אִישׁ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁכָּחֶךָּ וּבֶן אָדָם יִתְאַמֶּץ בָּךְ, כִּי דוֹרְשֶׁיךָ לְעוֹלָם לֹא יִכָּשֵׁלוּ, וְלֹא יִכָּלְמוּ לָנֶצַח כָּל הַחוֹסִים בָּךְ, כִּי זֵכֶר כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים לְפָנֶיךָ בָּא וְאַתָּה דוֹרֵשׁ מַעֲשֵׂה כֻלָּם.
Fortunate is the person who does not forget You, the human being who gains strength in You. Those who seek You will never stumble, and those who take refuge in You will never be ashamed, when You recall all deeds and seek out the actions of all people.
וְאָז יִרְאוּ הַכֹּל אֶת גְּדֻלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וְכָל הַנִּלְוִים עֲלֵיהֶם, אֶת הוֹדָם וְזִיוָם וְתִפְאַרְתָּם וְאֶת יְקָר תִּפְאֶרֶת גְּדֻלָּתָם,
At that time, everyone will recognize the greatness of the Tzaddikim and worthy people and all those who were associated with them — their loveliness, radiance, splendor and precious beauty.
אַשְׁרֵיהֶם אַשְׁרֵי חֶלְקָם, מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לָהֶם, עַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתְךָ יַעֲשֶׂה לִמְחַכֵּה לוֹ.
Fortunate are they and fortunate is their portion. How vast is the goodness that You have hidden away for them. “God, no eye has seen besides Yours what You do for those who await Him.”
כִּי עִקָּר גְּדֻלַּת מַעֲלַת תִּפְאֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים בֶּאֱמֶת, יִרְאוּ אָז בְּיוֹמָא דְדִינָא רַבָּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְשַׁבְתֶּם וּרְאִיתֶם בֵּין צַדִּיק לְרָשָׁע בֵּין עוֹבֵד אֱלֹהִים לַאֲשֶׁר לֹא עֲבָדוֹ.
The essence of the great beauty of the children of Israel — that is to say, the Tzaddikim and worthy people — will be visible on that day of great judgment. “You will return and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.”
וְאָז יִתְגַּלֶּה עֶצֶם הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, וּתְשַׁלֵּם לְכָל אֶחָד כְּמִשְׁפָּטוֹ עַל־יְדֵי מִדַּת הָאֱמֶת שֶׁאֵינָה יְכוֹלָה לִסְבֹּל אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים וְאֶת הַשּׂוֹנְאִים וְהָרוֹדְפִים אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל יְרֵאֶיךָ וּתְמִימֶיךָ,
Then the essence of truth will be revealed and everyone will be judged by the trait of truth, which cannot tolerate the wicked enemies and persecutors of Your nation, the Jewish people, who worship You and are wholly Yours.
וְאָז יָשׁוּבוּ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם אֵלֶיךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, וְכָל בְּנֵי בָשָׂר יִקְרְאוּ בִשְׁמֶךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד:
Then all people will return to serve You and all human beings will call out in Your Name. As the verse states, “I will give the nations a clear speech so that all of them will call in the Name of HaShem, and serve Him with one accord.”
זַכֵּנוּ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים גַּם עַתָּה לְמִדַּת הָאֱמֶת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, וְנִזְכֶּה לֶאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְיִתְגַּלֶּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מַפָּלָה לְהָרְשָׁעִים גַּם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא עַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּלּוּת הָאֱמֶת, עַד אֲשֶׁר יָשׁוּבוּ כֻלָּם לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, וְיִקְרְאוּ כֻלָּם בְּשִׁמְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיִהְיֶה נִשְׁלַם הַדִּבּוּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שְׁלֵמוּת הַדִּבּוּר מֵעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה:
Attaining Truth
Compassionate God, help me to attain even now the trait of truth in accordance with Your desire. May truth be revealed so that the wicked will experience defeat in this world, just as they will in future times. May everyone return to serve You, calling out Your Name in truth and drawing down the perfection of speech from the World to Come to this world.
וּבְכֵן תְּזַכֵּנוּ וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת נְקֻדּוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת לְהַדִּבּוּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא הַדִּבּוּר מִמֵּצַר הַגָּרוֹן, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת הַדִּבּוּר הַשָּׁלֵם לְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל כָּל הָעֲבוֹדוֹת וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.
Holy Speech and Deeds
God, help me fashion holy vowels for holy speech. May I bring words forth from the narrowness of the throat, until with the holiness of perfected speech I will bring into actuality all Divine service and acts of worship.
כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ מִכָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְאֵין שׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָנוּ מְנִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת עָלָיו, וּבִפְרָט כְּשֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר גָּדוֹל שֶׁכָּל יַהֲדוּתֵנוּ תָּלוּי בּוֹ, שֶׁהוּא לְהִתְקָרֵב בֶּאֱמֶת לְהַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן כְּשֶׁרוֹצִים לְהִתְקָרֵב לִנְקֻדַּת הָאֱמֶת שֶׁבֵּין הַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁאָז מִתְגַּבְּרִים וּמִתְרַבִּים הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהָעִכּוּבִים עָלֵינוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ, וּמִשְׁתַּטְּחִים וּמַפְסִיקִים בְּפָנֵינוּ מְאֹד, וְאֵין רוֹצִים לְהָנִיחַ אוֹתָנוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב לִנְקֻדַּת הָאֱמֶת.
You know the many obstacles that stand in the way of all of the holy deeds that I must perform—there is no holy act that doesn’t have many obstacles to overcome—in particular, when it comes to drawing close to true Tzaddikim, and most important, to the point of truth within them—something so great that my entire Jewishness depends on it. To prevent my reaching that point of truth, these obstacles gain in strength and multiply without number, forming a powerful barrier.
אֲבָל כְּבָר הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֵין שׁוּם מְנִיעָה בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, וְכָל הַמְּנִיעוֹת הֵם רַק בִּשְׁבִיל הַחֵשֶׁק, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְגַּבֵּר הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַכִּסּוּפִין וְהַגַּעְגּוּעִים יוֹתֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנֶךָ. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁהַמְּנִיעוֹת מִתְגַּבְּרִין יוֹתֵר, צְרִיכִין לְהִתְגַבֵּר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַחֵשֶׁק גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר, כְּדֵי שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי הִתְגַּבְּרוּת הַחֵשֶׁק יִשָּׁבְרוּ כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת, וְיִזְכּוּ לְהַשִּׂיג הַנֶּחְשָׁק הַקָּדוֹשׁ.
But You have taught us that there are no obstacles, because the purpose of every obstacle is to whet our appetite and increase our longing and desire to do Your will. And so the greater the obstacle, the more we have to strengthen ourselves and increase our holy desire until the obstacles are all scattered and we can attain the holy object of our longing.
וְעַל זֶה בָּאתִי לְבַקֵּשׁ מִמְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי, הֶחָפֵץ בְּטוֹבָתֵנוּ, קוּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לְחֵשֶׁק דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ וּלְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק וְלַחֲשֹׁק וְלִכְסֹף לְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּחֵשֶׁק נִמְרָץ וְכִסּוּפִין גְּדוֹלִים בֶּאֱמֶת. וְיִהְיֶה הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַכִּסּוּפִין הוֹלְכִים וּמִתְגַּבְּרִים וּמִתְחַזְּקִים בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה. עַד שֶׁיִּתְגַּבֵּר הַחֵשֶׁק כְּפִי תֹקֶף הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לְשַׁבְּרָם, עַד שֶׁיִּתְגַבֵּר הַחֵשֶׁק עַל הַמְּנִיעוֹת, וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת מִפְּנֵי הַחֵשֶׁק הֶחָזָק וְהַכִּסּוּפִין הַגְּדוֹלִים.
HaShem my God, You Who desire my good, I have come to ask You to help me actualize this holy desire. May I yearn and long for You, and serve You in the most powerful way. May my yearning grow ever stronger every day until it overcomes all the obstacles standing before me.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת נְקֻדּוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת לְהָאוֹתִיּוֹת לְהַשְׁלִים הַדִּבּוּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּזֶה הָעוֹלָם כְּפִי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ.
In this way, may I fashion holy vowels for the letters and thus perfect holy speech, until I bring forth into actuality all holy deeds that I must perform in this world, in accordance with Your good and holy desire.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְחֵשֶׁק וְכִסּוּפִין גְּדוֹלִים וַחֲזָקִים כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִרְצֶה לִפְטֹר עַצְמֵנוּ עִם טַעֲנַת הָאֹנֶס וְהַמְּנִיעָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ, וְלֹא נְקַרֵר אֶת דַּעְתֵּנוּ בְּמַה שֶׁנֶּחְשָׁב כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂינוּ, מֵאֲחַר שֶׁהָיִינוּ חֲפֵצִים לַעֲשׂוֹת רַק שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ אֹנֶס:
Breaking All the Barriers
God, may I desire You so powerfully that I will never content myself with failure in the face of overwhelming obstacles, even though You consider such an attempt as though one had succeeded.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, עָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִפְטֹר עַצְמֵנוּ בָּזֶה, כִּי אֵין אָנוּ רוֹצִים לָצֵאת עִם טַעֲנַת הָאֹנֶס שֶׁנֶּחְשָׁב עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂינוּ, כִּי אֵין אָנוּ חֲפֵצִים לִפְטֹר עַצְמֵנוּ בְּשׁוּם מְנִיעָה וְאֹנֶס, רַק זַכֵּנוּ וְעָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ חֵשֶׁק וְכִסּוּפִין חֲזָקִין כָּאֵלּוּ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל יָדָם תָּמִיד לְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אַל הַפֹּעַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה,
HaShem, may I never content myself with this. May I never accept the difficulty of my circumstances as an excuse. Instead, may I possess an overwhelming drive to bring into actuality all holy matters.
וּבְכָל פַּעַם שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְעוֹרֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵיזֶה דָּבָר גָּדוֹל וְקָטָן שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, תִּהְיֶה עִמָּנוּ וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְחֵשֶׁק וְכִסּוּפִין חֲזָקִים וַחֲדָשִׁים בְּכָל פַּעַם, וְלֹא נַרְפֶּה אֶת הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַכִּסּוּפִין וְהַגַּעֲגּוּעִים כְּלָל, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַזֵּק וּלְהִתְאַמֵּץ בְּכָל עֵת לְהִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ וְלִכְסֹף וְלַחְשֹׁק וּלְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק בִּתְשׁוּקָה נִפְלָאָה וּבְחֵשֶׁק נִמְרָץ בִּכְלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ,
God, be with me every time I am inspired to do something of a holy nature, whether great or small. Help me always to experience a yearning that does not diminish. May I strengthen myself so much that my soul is ready to expire.
וּכְפִי תֹקֶף הַמְּנִיעָה וְהָאֹנֶס, כֵּן יִתְגַּבֵּר הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַכִּסּוּפִין יוֹתֵר, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהָעִכּוּבִים מִכָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, עַד שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל מַמָּשׁ כָּל חֶפְצֵינוּ בְּעִסְקֵי שָׁמַיִם, וּבְכָל מַעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר נִרְצֶה לְהָחֵל בַּעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה, בְּכָל לְבָבֵנוּ נַעֲשֶׂה וְנַצְלִיחַ, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּפֹעַל מַמָּשׁ כָּל מַה שֶּׁהוּא רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת:
May my yearning increase so that it can meet and overcome obstacles and I can break down all the barriers that stand in the way of my performing holy deeds and actualizing all my desires to serve You. In every way that I wish to serve You, HaShem, may I act with the passion of my whole heart until I succeed and do everything that is in accordance with Your desire.
וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ וְחָנֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק וּלְשַׁכֵּךְ חֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר מְהֵרָה מִדַּת הַכַּעַס מֵאִתָּנוּ, וְאַל יִחַר אַפֵּנוּ עַל שׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל וּלְהַמְתִּיק כָּל מִינֵי חֲרוֹן אַף מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
Forgive Us
God, in Your graciousness, mitigate Your anger against me and against Your entire nation, the House of Israel. And help me to quickly eradicate my trait of anger, so that nothing will ever make me angry.
וְאַל יֶעְשַׁן אַפְּךָ בָּנוּ, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְבָרֵר וּלְהַמְתִּיק וּלְזַכֵּךְ הֶעָשָׁן שֶׁל הַחֲרוֹן אַף, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשָׂה מִמֶּנּוּ רוּחַ נַיְחָא, רוּחַ אֲוִירִי, רוּחַ דִּקְדֻשָּׁה.
May Your anger not smoke against us. May we clarify, soften and purify that smoke until it turns into a gentle spirit of holiness.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ רוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ עָלֵינוּ, וְתָבִיא לָנוּ אֶת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ, וִימַהֵר וְיָחִישׁ לְגָאֳלֵנוּ גְאֻלַּת עוֹלָם. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ עָלֵינוּ חַיּוּת גָּדוֹל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, רוּחַ חַיִּים דִּלְעֵלָּא וְרוּחַ חַיִּים דִּלְתַתָּא.
In this way, may the spirit of the Mashiach be drawn upon us. May he come soon to redeem us forever. And may a great life force of holiness, coming from above and below, be drawn upon us.
וְתִפְתַּח אֶת יָדְךָ וְתַשְׂבִּיעֵנוּ בִּרְצוֹנְךָ, וּתְחַיֵּינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ פַּרְנָסוֹתֵנוּ בְּרֶוַח, קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּצְטָרֵךְ לָהֶם, כִּי עֵינֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ, לְךָ לְבַד עֵינֵינוּ תְלוּיוֹת, חוּס וְחָנֵּנוּ וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ,
Open Your hand and satisfy us with Your favor. Revive us with Your compassion. Generously provide us with our sustenance before we need it, for our eyes are turned to You alone.
וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן.
May the verse be realized in us, “You open Your hand and satisfy the will of every living thing.”
וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, מִכָּל מִינֵי פְּגָמִים וַעֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים וְלֹא נָבוֹא לִידֵי עֲבֵרָה, שֶׁהֵם, מֵאַיִן בָּאנוּ מִטִּפָּה סְרוּחָה, וּלְאָן אָנוּ הוֹלְכִים לִמְקוֹם עָפָר רִמָּה וְתוֹלֵעָה, וְלִפְנֵי מִי אָנוּ עֲתִידִין לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
Guard us from every sort of flaw and sin. May we contemplate the teaching of our Sages, “Where have we come from? From a malodorous drop. Where are we going to? To a place of dust and worms. And before Whom shall we give an accounting of ourselves? Before the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.”
וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה מְהֵרָה לְהִתְחָרֵט וְלָשׁוּב בֶּאֱמֶת עַל כָּל הָעֲבֵרוֹת וְהַפְּגָמִים שֶׁעָבַרְנוּ עַד הֵנָּה בְּשׁוֹגֵג וּבְמֵזִיד בְּאֹנֶס וּבְרָצוֹן, בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה, בְּכֹחַ וּבְפֹעַל.
Guide me so that I will quickly regret and repent of all the sins and misdeeds that I have committed — whether by accident or on purpose, against my will or willfully, in thought, speech or deed, in potentiality or in actuality.
עַל הַכֹּל תִּמְחֹל וּתְכַפֵּר וְתִסְלַח לָנוּ חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלֹחַ, לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵינוּ כִּי רַב הוּא.
HaShem, gracious and forgiving God, for the sake of Your Name, forgive my sin, for it is great.
וְתִהְיֶה עִמָּנוּ מֵעַתָּה וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָסוּר מֵרָע, לִבְלִי לַעֲבֹר עוֹד עַל דְּבָרֶיךָ וְעַל רְצוֹנְךָ אֲפִלּוּ תְנוּעָה קַלָּה, וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לְקַיֵּם כָּל מִצְוֹתֶיךָ בְּאַהֲבָה, וּלְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהֵם רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Be with me from this moment on. Help me to turn away from evil, so that I will no longer disobey Your words and Your will in the slightest way. Help me to keep all Your commandments lovingly, so that I will bring into actuality all holy matters, as You desire.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ שֶׁפַע וְחַיּוּת חָדָשׁ בְּכָל עֵת מִלְמַעְלָה לְמַטָּה מִן הַכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל. וְיִתְחַדְּשׁוּ וְיִתְקַיְּמוּ כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת עַל יָדֵינוּ, עַל־יְדֵי הַחַיּוּת הֶחָדָשׁ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ בְּכָל עֵת מִשְׁנֵי הַיּוּדִין שֶׁל שְׁנֵי שְׁמוֹתֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁהֵם שֵׁם הָעֶצֶם וְשֵׁם הַכִּנּוּי (כָּזֶה: יאהדונהי).
In this way, may I draw down abundance and a new life force into actuality at every moment. May all worlds be renewed and maintained through me, by means of the new life force that I draw down at every moment from the two yods in Your holy Names, YHVH and Adonoy.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחָם שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים עָלֵינוּ.
May I draw down onto myself a double portion of the spirit of the true Tzaddikim.
לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי. אַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל תִּקַּח מִמֶּנִּי. הָשִׁיבָה לִי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה תִסְמְכֵנִי. כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי. רוּחֲךָ טוֹבָה תַּנְחֵנִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִישׁוֹר:
“God, create a pure heart within me, renew a proper spirit within me. Do not cast me aside from before You, do not take the spirit of Your holiness away from me. Bring back to me the joy of Your salvation, support me with a generous spirit, for You are the God of my salvation. May Your good spirit guide me in a pleasant land.”
אָבִינוּ אָב הָרַחֲמָן, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, אֲשֶׁר הִתְחִילוּ לְגַלּוֹת אֱלָהוּתְךָ בָּעוֹלָם. וְיָגְעוּ וְטָרְחוּ כָּל יְמֵיהֶם לְהָשִׁיב רַבִּים מֵעָוֹן וּלְקָרֵב כָּל הָעוֹלָם לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר בִּזְכוּתָם בָּחַרְתָּ בְּזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְרוֹמַמְתָּנוּ מִכָּל הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת, וְנָתַתָּ לָּנוּ תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה נְבִיאֶךָ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתֶךָ.
Answer Us
God, Compassionate Father, act for the sake of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who revealed Your Divinity in the world and toiled all their lives to bring people back from sin and serve You. In their merit, You chose and elevated their offspring from all the nations, and You gave us Your holy Torah through Your prophet Moses, the faithful one of Your house.
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעֲנָם וּלְמַעַן כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהָיּוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, אֲשֶׁר כֻּלָּם יָגְעוּ וְטָרְחוּ כָּל יְמֵיהֶם וְשָׂמוּ כָּל מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם לְהָשִׁיב אֵלֶיךָ אֶת בָּנֶיךָ שֶׁנִּתְרַחֲקוּ מִמְּךָ בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם, לַהֲשִׁיבָם אֵלֶיךָ וּלְקָרְבָם לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת לְבָבָם בֶּאֱמֶת וִיגִיעָתָם וְטִרְחָם וְעָנְיָם וְצָרָתָם וַעֲמָלָם שֶׁסָּבְלוּ כָּל יְמֵיהֶם בִּשְׁבִילֵנוּ:
Act for their sake and for the sake of all the great, true Tzaddikim who came after them, all of whom toiled throughout their lives with a single goal: to bring Your straying children back to You. You know the desire of their hearts and the suffering they endured throughout their lives for our sake.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, זוֹכֵר חַסְדֵּי אָבוֹת, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעֲנָם וּמַלֵּא חֶפְצָם וּרְצוֹנָם, וְעָזְרֵם וְהוֹשִׁיעֵם שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לִגְמֹר עִמָּנוּ וּלְהוֹצִיא מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר הִתְחִילוּ וְרָצוּ וְחָשְׁקוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּנוּ.
HaShem, You Who recall our compassionate forefathers, act for their sake and bring their goals to fruition. Help them to bring into actuality all that they began and desired to accomplish for our sake.
לֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ כִּי אִם לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעֲנָם עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ מְהֵרָה לְכָל מַה שֶּׁבִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.
Do so not for us, but for You and for them. May we quickly achieve everything that we have asked of You.
וּמִלְּפָנֶיךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ רֵיקָם אַל תְּשִׁיבֵנוּ חָנֵּנוּ וַעֲנֵנוּ וּשְׁמַע קוֹל תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ, כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלַּת כָּל פֶּה עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרַחֲמִים,
Our King, do not send us away empty-handed. Graciously answer us. Hear the voice of our prayer, for You compassionately heed the prayer of every individual of Your nation, the Jewish people.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:
Blessed are You, Who hears prayer.