Giving Charity Saves a Person from Licentious Thoughts The elements of the world of holiness have their analog in the realm of impurity. This includes the level of Divine manifestation called Arikh Anpin (literally, the “Long Face”). There is an Arikh Anpin of the “husks,” which appears embodied in a licentious woman. A man who meets such a woman will find it hard to avoid entertaining lustful thoughts about her. No matter what he does, she will not leave his mind. She is “long” in the sense that she reaches out to stand before his thoughts constantly. Giving charity will save this man from the filth and spiritual death of these licentious thoughts. This is not to say that one may rely on giving charity to make himself at home in the presence of women. At the very least, however, even if he does indulge in their company, it will not damage him so much. As for engaging in necessary conversation with women, that will not harm him at all. Charity and Holy Thoughts “God, long-suffering, filled with kindness and truth,” help me give charity with a generous hand to many worthy poor people so that I may fulfill their needs for the sake of Your Name, without any ulterior motives — joyfully, with a good heart and with a pleasant expression.
May I always give a great deal of charity for the sake of Your Name, in accordance with Your beneficent will, until with the power of that holy charity, I will be able to nullify the power gained by wicked people when they give charity. Cause them to stumble by inducing them to give money to unworthy poor people, so that “their hand will not act wisely.”
Draw Your great holiness upon us. Pour onto us strength that comes from the true Tzaddikim, the elders of holiness. In the merit and power of these Tzaddikim, may we overcome the “old and foolish king.” May we expel him and his troops from our border, burn the spirit of impurity from the land, and nullify all types of evil thoughts that pursue people constantly — particularly those people who desire to come close to You.
May we draw onto ourselves the Light of the Face of the King of life, the light of the countenance of holiness that is drawn from the Arikh Anpin of holiness.
Shield us so that we will never be harmed by any “evil woman” or any evil thought — both of which are at the root drawn from the Arikh Anpin of the “husk.”
Protection Against Unholy Thoughts HaShem, filled with compassion, kind and true, rescue us from licentious thoughts, which are the greatest source of impurity and are more bitter than death.
Have compassion on us, we who are so weak in this generation before the coming of the Mashiach. We have descended lower and lower. Lacking assistance, we have sunken into the muddy depths of the water, and the waves have washed over us so that we cannot stand.
Be gracious to us so that we will not be lost. Give us the power to overcome the Arikh Anpin of the “husk” and expel it from our border. May no evil thought, which is drawn from there, come upon us.
In Your righteousness, give us life. Draw our spirit forth from suffering. Only You can identify those who at every moment oppose those of us who desire to return to You. Those people rise up against us and pursue us, “as the one who hunts the partridge in the mountains.”
God, You Who are “great in counsel and mighty in deed,” have compassion on the remnant of Your people. Rescue us from death and redeem us from destruction. “Save my spirit from the sword, my soul from the hand of the dog.”
Send us holy, true advice at every moment, so that we will be saved from all types of evil thoughts, so that they will not arise and enter our hearts. Instead, may we attain holy thoughts.
Avoiding the Company of the Opposite Sex Help us give a great deal of charity for the sake of Your Name. As the verse states, “Charity saves from death.” In the merit of giving such holy charity, save us from evil thoughts, which possess the impurity of death.
Guard me always from mingling with women and from speaking with them at length. May I reduce idle chatter with any woman — even with my wife — as much as possible.
When, at times, it is necessary for me to speak with women, guard me in Your compassion so that I will not come to have any evil thoughts. Save me from gazing at any woman and from having inappropriate thoughts. May I not stray after my heart and my eyes.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה רמ"ב - 'אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין שֶׁל הַקְּלִפָּה' וּצְּדָקָה מַצֶּלֶת מִזֶּה]
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אֵל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, שֶׁתָּחוּס וְתַחְמֹל עָלַי כְּגֹדֶל חֲנִינוֹתֶיךָ, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וּתְזַכֵּנִי לִתֵּן צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה לַעֲנִיִּים הֲגוּנִים הַרְבֵּה לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, בְּלִי שׁוּם פְּנִיוֹת וּבְלִי שׁוּם שְׁקָרִים כְּלָל. וְתִהְיֶה יָדִי פְּתוּחָה לְפַזֵּר וְלִתֵּן לְאֶבְיוֹנִים הֲגוּנִים צְדָקָה הַרְבֵּה, כָּל מַה שֶּׁיֶּחְסַר לָהֶם, בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וּבְחֶדְוָה גְּדוֹלָה וּבְלֵב טוֹב וּבְסֶבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת,
Giving Charity Saves a Person from Licentious Thoughts
The elements of the world of holiness have their analog in the realm of impurity. This includes the level of Divine manifestation called Arikh Anpin (literally, the “Long Face”).
There is an Arikh Anpin of the “husks,” which appears embodied in a licentious woman. A man who meets such a woman will find it hard to avoid entertaining lustful thoughts about her. No matter what he does, she will not leave his mind. She is “long” in the sense that she reaches out to stand before his thoughts constantly.
Giving charity will save this man from the filth and spiritual death of these licentious thoughts. This is not to say that one may rely on giving charity to make himself at home in the presence of women. At the very least, however, even if he does indulge in their company, it will not damage him so much.
As for engaging in necessary conversation with women, that will not harm him at all.
Charity and Holy Thoughts
“God, long-suffering, filled with kindness and truth,” help me give charity with a generous hand to many worthy poor people so that I may fulfill their needs for the sake of Your Name, without any ulterior motives — joyfully, with a good heart and with a pleasant expression.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַרְבּוֹת בִּצְדָקָה תָמִיד לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכֹחַ הַצְּדָקָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל כֹּחַ הַצְּדָקָה שֶׁל הָרְשָׁעִים הַמִּתְנַגְּדִים אֶל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מַכְשִׁילָם בַּעֲנִיִּים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂינָה יְדֵיהֶם תֻּשִּׁיָּה,
May I always give a great deal of charity for the sake of Your Name, in accordance with Your beneficent will, until with the power of that holy charity, I will be able to nullify the power gained by wicked people when they give charity. Cause them to stumble by inducing them to give money to unworthy poor people, so that “their hand will not act wisely.”
וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם שׁוּם כֹּחַ נֶגֶד עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַחֲפֵצִים לְעָבְדְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
May they have no power to act against Your nation, the Jewish people, who desire to serve You.
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ קְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ כֹחַ וְאֹמֶץ מֵהַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים זְקֵנִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה. וּבִזְכוּתָם וְכֹחָם נִזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל מֶלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל, לְגָרֵשׁ אוֹתוֹ וְאֶת חֵילוֹתָיו מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל גְּבוּלֵנוּ, וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה תְּבַעֵר מִן הָאָרֶץ, וּתְבַטֵּל מֵעָלֵינוּ כָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים רָעִים הָרוֹדְפִים אַחֲרֵינוּ בְּכָל־עֵת, וּבְיוֹתֵר אַחֲרֵי הַחֲפֵצִים בֶּאֱמֶת לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן כֹּל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים.
Draw Your great holiness upon us. Pour onto us strength that comes from the true Tzaddikim, the elders of holiness. In the merit and power of these Tzaddikim, may we overcome the “old and foolish king.” May we expel him and his troops from our border, burn the spirit of impurity from the land, and nullify all types of evil thoughts that pursue people constantly — particularly those people who desire to come close to You.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ אוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים, אוֹר הַפָּנִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה הַנִּמְשָׁךְ מֵאָרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דִּקְדֻשָּׁה.
May we draw onto ourselves the Light of the Face of the King of life, the light of the countenance of holiness that is drawn from the Arikh Anpin of holiness.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְגָרֵשׁ וּלְבַטֵּל מֵאִתָּנוּ כָּל הַהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים הַנִּמְשָׁכִין מֵאָרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דִּקְלִפָּה.
Help us eradicate all evil thoughts that derive from the unholy aspect of reality called the Arikh Anpin of the “husk.”
וְתָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא תִפְגַּע בָּנוּ שׁוּם אִשָּׁה רָעָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְשָׁהּ נִמְשֶׁכֶת מִשָּׁם, וְלֹא שׁוּם הִרְהוּר רָע הַנִּמְשָׁךְ מִשָּׁם מֵאָרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דִּקְלִפָּה,
Shield us so that we will never be harmed by any “evil woman” or any evil thought — both of which are at the root drawn from the Arikh Anpin of the “husk.”
אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְחַבֵּא וְלִבְרֹחַ מֵהִרְהוּרִים הָאֵלֶּה הַנִּמְשָׁכִין מִשָּׁם, כִּי בְּכָל צַד שֶׁפּוֹנִים, הֵם מִזְדַמְּנִים וּבָאִים לְשָׁם:
It is impossible to avoid the thoughts that are drawn from there, because they are present wherever we turn.
אָנָּא הַשֵּׁם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, וְרַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, חֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְמוֹתָא, מֵהִרְהוּרֵי נִאוּף, שֶׁהֵם נִקְרָאִים סִטְרָא דְמוֹתָא וְהֵם מָרִים מִמָּוֶת, וְהֵם נִקְרָאִים אֲבִי אֲבוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה.
Protection Against Unholy Thoughts
HaShem, filled with compassion, kind and true, rescue us from licentious thoughts, which are the greatest source of impurity and are more bitter than death.
חוֹמֵל דַּלִים, חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת לְבַל יִדַּח מִמְּךָ נִדָּח. הַצִּילֵנוּ מֵהֶם, שָׁמְרֵנוּ מֵהֶם,
You Who have pity for the poor, You Who devise thoughts so that no one will remain cast away from You, rescue us from these thoughts.
רַחֵם עַל חֲלוּשֵׁי כֹחַ כָּמוֹנוּ הַיּוֹם בַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה, בְּעִקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא, אֲשֶׁר יָרַדְנוּ מַטָּה מָטָּה בְּאֵין עוֹזֵר וְסוֹמֵךְ, טָבַעְנוּ בִּיוֵן מְצוּלָה וְאֵין מָעֳמָד בָּאנוּ בְמַעֲמַקֵּי מַיִם וְשִׁבֹּלֶת שְׁטָפָתְנוּ.
Have compassion on us, we who are so weak in this generation before the coming of the Mashiach. We have descended lower and lower. Lacking assistance, we have sunken into the muddy depths of the water, and the waves have washed over us so that we cannot stand.
חוּסָה עָלֵינוּ כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ, וְתֵן לָנוּ חֲנִינָה וְלֹא נֹאבֵד, וְתֵן לָנוּ כֹחַ לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְגָרֵשׁ וּלְבַטֵּל אָרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דִּקְלִפָּה מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל גְּבוּלֵנוּ, וְלֹא יָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ שׁוּם הִרְהוּר רָע הַנִּמְשָׁךְ מִשָּׁם.
Be gracious to us so that we will not be lost. Give us the power to overcome the Arikh Anpin of the “husk” and expel it from our border. May no evil thought, which is drawn from there, come upon us.
בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תְּחַיֵּינוּ וְתוֹצִיא מִצָּרָה נַפְשֵׁנוּ, כִּי אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ מִי וָמִי עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל שָׁעָה, עַל כָּל הַחֲפֵצִים לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ, שֶׁמִּתְגַּבְּרִים עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּיִחוּד בְּהִתְגַּבְּרוּת גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, וְרוֹדְפִים אַחֲרֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִרְדֹּף הַקֹּרֵא בֶּהָרִים.
In Your righteousness, give us life. Draw our spirit forth from suffering. Only You can identify those who at every moment oppose those of us who desire to return to You. Those people rise up against us and pursue us, “as the one who hunts the partridge in the mountains.”
גְּדוֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה רַחֵם עַל פְּלֵטָה הַנִּשְׁאֶרֶת וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִמָּוֶת וּפְדֵנוּ מִשַּׁחַת, הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי.
God, You Who are “great in counsel and mighty in deed,” have compassion on the remnant of Your people. Rescue us from death and redeem us from destruction. “Save my spirit from the sword, my soul from the hand of the dog.”
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ עֵצוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת אֲמִתִּיּוֹת בְּכָל־עֵת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל בֶּאֱמֶת מִכָּל מִינֵי הִרְהוּרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא יַעֲלוּ וְלֹא יָבוֹאוּ עַל לִבֵּנוּ כְּלָל, וְנִזְכֶּה לִקְדֻשַּׁת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה בֶּאֱמֶת.
Send us holy, true advice at every moment, so that we will be saved from all types of evil thoughts, so that they will not arise and enter our hearts. Instead, may we attain holy thoughts.
מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, הֲקִימֵנוּ וְנִחְיֶה בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ, וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת מִיתַת עוֹלָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
You Who revive the dead, elevate us so that we will live in the light of Your countenance and not die an eternal death.
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְהַרְבּוֹת בִּצְדָקָה לְשִׁמְךָ לְבַד בֶּאֱמֶת, וּבִזְכוּת הַצְּדָקָה דִּקְדֻשָּׁה תַּצִּילֵנוּ מִמָּוֶת, שֶׁהֵם הַהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים שֶׁנִּקְרָאִים טֻמְאַת מֵת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת.
Avoiding the Company of the Opposite Sex
Help us give a great deal of charity for the sake of Your Name. As the verse states, “Charity saves from death.” In the merit of giving such holy charity, save us from evil thoughts, which possess the impurity of death.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי תָמִיד שֶׁלֹּא אֶהְיֶה מְעֹרָב בֵּין הַנָּשִׁים וְלֹא אַרְבֶּה שִׂיחָה עִמָּהֶם, וַאֲפִלּוּ עִם אִשְׁתִּי אֲמַעֵט בְּשִׂיחָה בְּכָל מַה דְּאֶפְשָׁר.
Guard me always from mingling with women and from speaking with them at length. May I reduce idle chatter with any woman — even with my wife — as much as possible.
וּמַה שֶּׁמֻּכְרָח לְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם לִפְעָמִים, תָּגֵן בַּעֲדִי וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא אֶהְיֶה נִלְכַּד עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בְּשׁוּם הִרְהוּר רָע חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. וְתַצִּילֵנִי מֵהִסְתַּכְּלוּת רָעִים וּמֵהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, וְלֹא אָתוּר אַחַר לְבָבִי וְאַחַר עֵינַי.
When, at times, it is necessary for me to speak with women, guard me in Your compassion so that I will not come to have any evil thoughts. Save me from gazing at any woman and from having inappropriate thoughts. May I not stray after my heart and my eyes.
עָזְרֵנוּ כִּי עָלֶיךָ נִשְׁעָנְנוּ, כִּי אֵין לָנוּ עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עַל אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם.
Help us, for we rely on You alone. We have no one on whom to rely but You, our Father in Heaven.
הַצִּילֵנִי מִטִּיט וְאַל אֶטְבָּעָה אִנָּצְלָה מִשֹּׂנְאַי וּמִמַּעֲמַקֵּי מָיִם.
“Rescue me from the mud so that I will not sink. May I be delivered from my enemies and from the depths of the water.”
אַל תִּשְׁטְפֵנִי שִׁבֹּלֶת מַיִם וְאַל תִּבְלָעֵנִי מְצוּלָה וְאַל תֶּאְטַר עָלַי בְּאֵר פִּיהָ.
“May the waves of water not pour over me, may the depths not swallow me up, and may the wellspring not shut its mouth upon me.”
פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי תְּנָה עֻזְּךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן אֲמָתֶךָ.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me. Grant Your might to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant.”
עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה וְיִרְאוּ שׂוֹנְאַי וְיֵבוֹשׁוּ כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי.
“Send me a sign for the good; let my enemies see it and be ashamed, because You, HaShem, help me and console me.”
אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶךָ:
“I will gaze upon Your countenance in righteousness; I will be satisfied when I awaken with Your image.”