Sweetening Judgments at Their Root / Sanctifying One’s Thoughts / Binding Oneself to Tzaddikim / Rosh HaShanah In order to sweeten the judgments against him, a person must rise to their root, which is the realm of thought. In other words, he must sanctify and purify his thoughts. In order to do that, he must bind himself to the Tzaddikim. Rosh HaShanah is the source of judgments for the entire year to come. And so people travel to spend Rosh HaShanah in the company of Tzaddikim. In this way, they can rectify their thoughts — and that, in turn, sweetens any judgments against them for the coming year. For Rosh HaShanah HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me spend Rosh HaShanah in the company of true Tzaddikim. And, in general, may I always be connected to them. With that bond, may I sanctify my mind and my thoughts.
Deliver me from every sort of foreign thought and mental blemish. Grant me wisdom, knowledge, understanding and insight until I attain complete holiness of thought.
May we receive the holiness of Rosh HaShanah by means of the true Tzaddikim. May we rectify everything that we need to rectify on Rosh HaShanah, which is the source of judgments for the entire year.
May our thoughts always be holy and pure, particularly on Rosh HaShanah. Guard us so that no foreign or external thoughts enter our minds. May we rejoice solely in Your Name — with awe, holiness, purity and clear thoughts — until, strengthened by our connection to the true Tzaddikim, we rectify all that needs to be clarified on Rosh HaShanah, extracting all the sparks of holiness from the depths of the “husks,” sweetening and nullifying all judgments from Your entire nation, the House of Israel.
At that time, write and seal us for peace and a good, long life of truth imbued with the fear of Heaven — a life in which we will keep Your commandments and do Your will with all our hearts, and rectify everything that we blemished from the beginning of our lives until this day.
Traveling to Tzaddikim on Rosh HaShanah Master of the world, every person has an obligation to travel to true Tzaddikim for Rosh HaShanah — but many obstacles on every side prevent us from doing so.
At this time, in the days before the Mashiach comes, our principal support and redemption may be found only in the holy days of Rosh HaShanah. We rely on those days to come close to You and to draw Your Godliness and sovereignty onto ourselves throughout the entire year.
In the merit of the true Tzaddikim, may we please You on the holy days of Rosh HaShanah so that we will gain the power to crown You as our awesome King and close the mouths of our enemies.
Help us break through every obstacle so that we will reach true Tzaddikim on Rosh HaShanah and connect ourselves to them. In that way, may we sanctify our thoughts, sweeten and nullify all judgments, and draw Your kindness to ourselves.
“Every created being will know that You made him, and every creature will understand that You created him, and all that has a soul in his nostrils will say, ‘HaShem, God of Israel, is King and His sovereignty rules over all.’”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה רי"א - מַה שֶּׁהָעוֹלָם נוֹסְעִין עַל רֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה לְצַדִּיקִים]
לְרֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לֵילֵךְ וְלִנְסֹעַ לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וְלִהְיוֹת מְקֻשָּׁר תָּמִיד לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת דַּעְתִּי וּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה.
Sweetening Judgments at Their Root / Sanctifying One’s Thoughts / Binding Oneself to Tzaddikim / Rosh HaShanah
In order to sweeten the judgments against him, a person must rise to their root, which is the realm of thought. In other words, he must sanctify and purify his thoughts.
In order to do that, he must bind himself to the Tzaddikim.
Rosh HaShanah is the source of judgments for the entire year to come. And so people travel to spend Rosh HaShanah in the company of Tzaddikim. In this way, they can rectify their thoughts — and that, in turn, sweetens any judgments against them for the coming year.
For Rosh HaShanah
HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me spend Rosh HaShanah in the company of true Tzaddikim. And, in general, may I always be connected to them. With that bond, may I sanctify my mind and my thoughts.
וְתַחְמֹל עָלַי בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִכָּל מִינֵי מַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פְּגַם הַדַּעַת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וּתְחָנֵּנִי מֵאִתְּךָ חָכְמָה דֵּעָה בִּינָה וְהַשְׂכֵּל, וּתְזַכֵּנִי מְהֵרָה לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת בֶּאֱמֶת.
Deliver me from every sort of foreign thought and mental blemish. Grant me wisdom, knowledge, understanding and insight until I attain complete holiness of thought.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תַּמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
Sweeten and nullify all judgments against me and against Your nation, the House of Israel, from now and forever.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל קְדֻשַּׁת רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וּלְתַקֵּן כָּל הַתִּקּוּנִים שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְתַקֵּן בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹר הַדִּינִים שֶׁל כָּל הַשָּׁנָה.
May we receive the holiness of Rosh HaShanah by means of the true Tzaddikim. May we rectify everything that we need to rectify on Rosh HaShanah, which is the source of judgments for the entire year.
וְתִהְיֶה מַחֲשַׁבְתֵּנוּ קְדוֹשָׁה וּטְהוֹרָה תָמִיד, וּבִפְרָט בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ. אָנָּא רַחוּם, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וּתְזַכֵּנוּ וּתְחָנֵּנוּ אָז לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה בְּיוֹתֵר, וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲלֶה אָז עַל מַחֲשַׁבְתֵּנוּ שׁוּם מַחֲשָׁבָה זָרָה וְחִיצוֹנָה כְּלָל, רַק בְּשִׁמְךָ נָגִיל כָּל הַיּוֹם בְּאֵימָה וּבְיִרְאָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת וְזַכּוֹת וְצַחוֹת בְּתַכְלִית הַזַּכּוּת וְהַבְּהִירוּת, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בְּכֹחַ הִתְקַשְּׁרוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים לְתַקֵּן וּלְבָרֵר כָּל הַבֵּרוּרִים בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, לְבָרֵר כָּל נִיצוֹצוֹת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה מֵעִמְקֵי הַקְּלִפּוֹת, וּלְהַמְתִּיק וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל,
May our thoughts always be holy and pure, particularly on Rosh HaShanah. Guard us so that no foreign or external thoughts enter our minds. May we rejoice solely in Your Name — with awe, holiness, purity and clear thoughts — until, strengthened by our connection to the true Tzaddikim, we rectify all that needs to be clarified on Rosh HaShanah, extracting all the sparks of holiness from the depths of the “husks,” sweetening and nullifying all judgments from Your entire nation, the House of Israel.
וְיֻמְשַׁךְ עָלֵינוּ אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד וִישׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים מֵרֵאשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָׁנָה. וְתִכְתְּבֵנוּ
May only goodness, kindness, salvation and compassion be drawn upon us, “from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.”
וְתַחְתְּמֵנוּ אָז לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים אֲרֻכִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, לְחַיִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים, חַיִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, חַיִּים שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בָּהֶם לִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתֶיךָ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם, וּלְתַקֵּן כָּל מַה שֶּׁפָּגַמְנוּ מֵעוֹדֵנוּ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה,
At that time, write and seal us for peace and a good, long life of truth imbued with the fear of Heaven — a life in which we will keep Your commandments and do Your will with all our hearts, and rectify everything that we blemished from the beginning of our lives until this day.
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ פַּרְנָסָה טוֹבָה וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם וְכָל טוֹב:
And send us a good income, life, peace and everything good.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל הַחִיּוּב לִנְסֹעַ עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, וְגַם אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הַמְּנִיעוֹת שֶׁמִּתְגַּבְּרִים עַל זֶה מִכָּל הַצְּדָדִים.
Traveling to Tzaddikim on Rosh HaShanah
Master of the world, every person has an obligation to travel to true Tzaddikim for Rosh HaShanah — but many obstacles on every side prevent us from doing so.
חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת, וְהוֹרֵנוּ דְּרָכֶיךָ וְהַדְרִיכֵנוּ בַאֲמִתֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנוּ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ וְלִנְסֹעַ לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יָדָם לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה בֶּאֱמֶת.
Help us break through all of these obstacles so that we will travel to true Tzaddikim for Rosh HaShanah and, through them, attain holy thought.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעַכְשָׁיו בְּעִקְבְתָא דִּמְשִׁיחָא, עִקָּר סְמִיכָתֵנוּ וִישׁוּעָתֵנוּ הוּא רַק עַל יְמֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ, וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ אֱלָהוּתְךָ וּמַלְכוּתְךָ עָלֵינוּ מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה עַל כָּל הַשָּׁנָה כֻּלָּהּ.
At this time, in the days before the Mashiach comes, our principal support and redemption may be found only in the holy days of Rosh HaShanah. We rely on those days to come close to You and to draw Your Godliness and sovereignty onto ourselves throughout the entire year.
וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נֵדַע מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה בִּימֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, וְאֵיךְ לְרַצּוֹת אוֹתְךָ אָז כָּרָאוּי, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְלִיכְךָ עָלֵינוּ בְּאֵימָה וּבְיִרְאָה, וְאֵיךְ לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַשּׂוֹנְאִים וְהַמְקַטְרְגִים לִסְתֹּם פִּי מַסְטִינֵנוּ וּמְקַטְרְיגֵנוּ,
In the merit of the true Tzaddikim, may we please You on the holy days of Rosh HaShanah so that we will gain the power to crown You as our awesome King and close the mouths of our enemies.
כִּי אִם בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, עֲלֵיהֶם אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים וּבָהֶם אָנוּ סְמוּכִים, כִּי הֵם יִלָּחֲמוּ לְפָנֵינוּ וְיַכְנִיעוּ וְיַפִּילוּ כָּל שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ וְרוֹדְפֵינוּ, וְיַמְשִׁיכוּ עָלֵינוּ קְדֻשַּׁת רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת,
We rely on the true Tzaddikim to overcome all of our persecutors and draw the holiness of Rosh HaShanah onto us.
עַל כֵּן רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וֶהְיֵה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְנִזְכֶּה לָבוֹא לְצַדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וּלְהִתְקַשֵּׁר אֲלֵיהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת וְלִזְכּוֹת לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת עַל־יָדָם, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים וּלְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים,
Help us break through every obstacle so that we will reach true Tzaddikim on Rosh HaShanah and connect ourselves to them. In that way, may we sanctify our thoughts, sweeten and nullify all judgments, and draw Your kindness to ourselves.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְהַכִּיר וְלָדַעַת רוֹמְמוּתְךָ וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּךָ עָלֵינוּ, וְתִמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ בִּכְבוֹדְךָ מְהֵרָה, וְיֵדַע כָּל פָּעוּל כִּי אַתָּה פְּעַלְתּוֹ,
Help us recognize how exalted You are, our glorious King.
וְיָבִין כָּל יְצוּר כִּי אַתָּה יְצַרְתּוֹ, וְיֹאמַר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נְשָׁמָה בְּאַפּוֹ, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֶלֶךְ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁלָה,
“Every created being will know that You made him, and every creature will understand that You created him, and all that has a soul in his nostrils will say, ‘HaShem, God of Israel, is King and His sovereignty rules over all.’”
וּתְטַהֲרֵנוּ וּתְקַדְּשֵׁנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
Purify and sanctify us in Your supernal sanctity, from now and forever. Amen.