We Reveal God’s Sovereignty When We Learn Torah / Torah Study Creates Worlds When a Jews prays or learns Torah, he reveals God’s sovereignty. His breath corresponds to the letter hei, and his voice, which draws out the breath, corresponds to the letter yod. When a person learns Torah or prays with awe and love of God, these two letters join together to form God’s Name. A person who learns halakhah (Jewish law) in this way creates a world; when he learns a tractate, he creates an even greater universe. Yearning for Holiness “My spirit thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God?” “Your compassion is abundant, HaShem. Give me life in accordance with Your judgment.”
Master of the world, help me attain complete, heartfelt repentance motivated by love. Then forgive all my sins so that no impression will be left of them at all. Moreover, may they all be transformed to merits.
May I constantly renew my mind with sanctity and purity, so that I always learn and teach Torah with a mind that is clear and pure. May I swiftly understand everything that I learn, so that I do not need to delve into it at all.
May my mind grow in holiness and energy, with purity and clarity. May I be swift in the work of Heaven and understand everything in the words of Your holy Torah quickly, without any confusion whatsoever.
Knowing When to Study Torah Teach me how to act in every aspect of my life — particularly in my Torah study, so that I will know when to learn Torah and when to set it aside in order to keep my mind fresh and holy, in accordance with Your beneficent will, so that I do not engage in too much learning, which would harm my mind.
As the verse states, “It is a time to act for HaShem, they have violated Your directives.” Our sages explain that this means that “at times, the nullification of Torah is its preservation.”
“I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.” I have no idea how to conduct myself in this matter in accordance with Your will. Therefore, at times I set my learning aside entirely when I shouldn’t do so, and at other times my soul burns so fervently so that I learn without cease — but that, too, is not good, because it is Your will to place boundaries on everything.
Holiness of Mind Therefore, I stretch my hands out to You, my compassionate Father Who knows the secrets of my heart, and plead with You to bless me with holiness of the mind.
Teach me how to act in regard to Torah study and other holy endeavors — in what manner, when, how much — and particularly when to interrupt, in accordance with Your beneficent will, in order to rest my mind, so that I do not end up abandoning my Torah study altogether.
Teach me Your ways, so that in everything that I do, my goal will be ultimate truth. “HaShem, teach me Your ways. Guide me on a path that is straight, despite my enemies who gaze upon me.” “HaShem, teach me Your ways. I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; it is for You that I have hoped all day long.”
HaShem Sustains Us Help me firmly trust that You will give me all that I need in both the physical and spiritual realms. Give me all that I need to sustain my soul and body with holiness and purity, granting me everything in its proper time.
Although I have sinned and acted in destructive ways, thus depriving myself of the right to receive sustenance from You, nevertheless, I trust that in Your kindness, You will not abandon me forever.
HaShem, You are good and do good for the wicked and for the righteous. As the verse states, “HaShem is good to all, and His compassion is on all of His creatures.”
In Your tremendous goodness, You sustain the entire world with grace, kindness and compassion, giving food to all creatures, for Your kindness is eternal.
Trust in God and Abundance Do not repay me in accordance with my transgressions. May my sins never separate me from Your goodness and the flow of abundance that You constantly pour down upon us.
Our God, our Father, our Shepherd, our Sustainer, You Who give sustenance to all, from the greatest beast to the tiniest insect, send me my income. Support me, my family and every one who is dependent on me, with generous and unearned kindness.
Give me everything that I need through honorable and legitimate means. Be generous with me, so that earning a living will not distract me from learning Torah and serving You.
May I never have to depend on the gifts and loans of other people. Instead, open Your full, holy and generous hand so that I will never be ashamed or stumble.
May I always learn Torah and serve You, together with my children, my grandchildren and all of my descendants, as well as Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from now and forever. Amen, selah.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ע"ו - וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה]
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי מָתַי אָבוֹא וְאֵרָאֶה פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים. רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהֹוָה כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי.
We Reveal God’s Sovereignty When We Learn Torah / Torah Study Creates Worlds
When a Jews prays or learns Torah, he reveals God’s sovereignty.
His breath corresponds to the letter hei, and his voice, which draws out the breath, corresponds to the letter yod. When a person learns Torah or prays with awe and love of God, these two letters join together to form God’s Name.
A person who learns halakhah (Jewish law) in this way creates a world; when he learns a tractate, he creates an even greater universe.
Yearning for Holiness
“My spirit thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God?” “Your compassion is abundant, HaShem. Give me life in accordance with Your judgment.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, זַכֵּנִי לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם, וְאֶזְכֶּה לִתְשׁוּבָה מֵאַהֲבָה בֶּאֱמֶת, לְמַעַן תִּמְחוֹל לִי עַל כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתַי וְלֹא יִהְיֶה נִשְׁאָר מֵהֶם שׁוּם רֹשֶׁם כְּלָל, וְיִהְיוּ כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתַי נִתְהַפְּכִין לִזְכֻיּוֹת.
Master of the world, help me attain complete, heartfelt repentance motivated by love. Then forgive all my sins so that no impression will be left of them at all. Moreover, may they all be transformed to merits.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי לְמֹחִין וְשֵׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לְשֵׂכֶל צַח וָזַךְ וְנָקִי מִכָּל סִיג וּפְסֹלֶת כְּכֶסֶף טָהוֹר, כְּכֶסֶף צָרוּף מְזֻקָּק שִׁבְעָתָיִם.
Help me attain a state of mind that is holy, clear, pure and clean of dross, like silver refined seven times.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְחַדֵּשׁ מֹחִי בְּכָל־עֵת בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי תָמִיד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד בְּשֵׂכֶל צַח וָזַךְ. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהָבִין תָּמִיד בִּמְהִירוּת גָּדוֹל בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאֶלְמַד, וְלֹא אֶצְטָרֵךְ לְעַיֵּן כְּלָל,
May I constantly renew my mind with sanctity and purity, so that I always learn and teach Torah with a mind that is clear and pure. May I swiftly understand everything that I learn, so that I do not need to delve into it at all.
וְיִהְיֶה שִׂכְלִי הוֹלֵךְ וְגָדוֹל בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה וּבִזְרִיזוּת גָּדוֹל בְּצַחוּת וּבִבְהִירוּת. וְאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת מָהִיר בִּמְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם, וּלְהָבִין כָּל דָּבָר לַאֲשֻׁרוֹ וְלַאֲמִתָּתוֹ בְדִבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בִּמְהִירוּת גָּדוֹל בְּלִי שׁוּם בִּלְבּוּל כְּלָל:
May my mind grow in holiness and energy, with purity and clarity. May I be swift in the work of Heaven and understand everything in the words of Your holy Torah quickly, without any confusion whatsoever.
וּבְכֵן תְּזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי בְּכָל־עֵת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע בֶּאֱמֶת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּכָל דָּבָר וּבְלִמּוּד הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, אֵיךְ לָתֵת קִצְבָה וּגְבוּל לְלִמּוּדַי שֶׁאֵדַע מָתַי לִלְמֹד וּמָתַי לְבַטֵּל בְּעֵת הַהֶכְרֵח, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם מֹחִי וְשִׂכְלִי בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּדוֹל בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב. וְלֹא יַזִּיק לִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם רִבּוּי הַלִּמּוּד וְהָעֵסֶק חוּץ מֵהַגְּבוּל,
Knowing When to Study Torah
Teach me how to act in every aspect of my life — particularly in my Torah study, so that I will know when to learn Torah and when to set it aside in order to keep my mind fresh and holy, in accordance with Your beneficent will, so that I do not engage in too much learning, which would harm my mind.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיהֹוָה הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ. וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, פְּעָמִים בִּטּוּלָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה זֶהוּ קִיּוּמָהּ.
As the verse states, “It is a time to act for HaShem, they have violated Your directives.” Our sages explain that this means that “at times, the nullification of Torah is its preservation.”
כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ וְלֹא בִינַת אָדָם לִי, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ כְּלָל אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּזֶה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי לִפְעָמִים אֲנִי מִתְבַּטֵּל לְגַמְרֵי מִלִּמּוּדַי יוֹתֵר מֵהָרָאוּי, וְלִפְעָמִים נַפְשִׁי בּוֹעֵר וּמִתְלַהֵב וּמִשְׁתּוֹקֵק מְאֹד לִלְמֹד תָּמִיד בְּלִי הֶפְסֵק וּבִטּוּל כְּלָל, וּבֶאֱמֶת גַּם זֶה אֵינוֹ טוֹב, כִּי רְצוֹנְךָ לָתֵת גְּבוּל לְכָל דָּבָר.
“I am more animal than man, and I lack human understanding.” I have no idea how to conduct myself in this matter in accordance with Your will. Therefore, at times I set my learning aside entirely when I shouldn’t do so, and at other times my soul burns so fervently so that I learn without cease — but that, too, is not good, because it is Your will to place boundaries on everything.
עַל כֵּן אֲנִי מַפִּיל תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ וּפוֹרֵשׂ כַּפַּי אֵלֶיךָ אָבִי אָב הָרַחֲמָן, הָרוֹאֶה וּמַבִּיט וְצוֹפֶה וְיוֹדֵעַ סִתְרֵי תַעֲלוּמוֹת לִבִּי, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים וְהַגְּדוֹלִים מְאֹד, וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלַי שֵׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה,
Holiness of Mind
Therefore, I stretch my hands out to You, my compassionate Father Who knows the secrets of my heart, and plead with You to bless me with holiness of the mind.
וְתַדְרִיכֵנִי בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי בְּכָל־עֵת אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בְּעִנְיָן הַלִּמּוּד וּבְכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה, אֵיךְ וּמָתַי וְכַמָּה לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וְלַעֲסֹק בַּעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וּמָתַי לִפְסֹק וּלְבַטֵּל קְצָת כְּפִי הַהֶכְרֵח כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, כְּדֵי לָתֵת נַיְיחָא לְהַמֹּחִין, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְבַּטֵּל לְגַמְרֵי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי רִבּוּי הָעֵסֶק חוּץ מֵהַמִּדָּה כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ.
Teach me how to act in regard to Torah study and other holy endeavors — in what manner, when, how much — and particularly when to interrupt, in accordance with Your beneficent will, in order to rest my mind, so that I do not end up abandoning my Torah study altogether.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כַּמָּה בִּלְבּוּלִים וּסְפֵיקוֹת יֵשׁ לָנוּ בְּעִנְיָן זֶה, לְכָל אֶחָד לְפִי מַדְרֵגָתוֹ, וְאֵין אִתָּנוּ יוֹדֵעַ עַד מָה לָשִׁית עֵצוֹת בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ בְּעִנְיָן זֶה כְּלָל.
Everyone is unclear about this. There is no one who can give us clear advice.
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ וְהוֹרֵנִי דַּרְכֶּךָ שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְכַוֵּן בְּכָל עִנְיָנֵי הַנְהָגוֹתַי הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי. הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ אֲהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ. הַדְרִיכֵנִי בַאֲמִתֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנִי כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי אוֹתְךָ קִוִּיתִי כָּל הַיּוֹם:
Teach me Your ways, so that in everything that I do, my goal will be ultimate truth. “HaShem, teach me Your ways. Guide me on a path that is straight, despite my enemies who gaze upon me.” “HaShem, teach me Your ways. I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your Name.” “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; it is for You that I have hoped all day long.”
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלַי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, וּתְזַכֵּנִי לְמִדַּת הַבִּטָּחוֹן בֶּאֱמֶת בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּדוֹל. וְאֶהְיֶה חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ בְּבִטָּחוֹן לִבְטֹחַ בֶּאֱמֶת בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁתָּשׁוּב וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ וְתִתֶּן לִי כָּל צָרְכִּי בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת. וְתִתֶּן לִי פַּרְנָסָתִי בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, פַּרְנָסַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּפַרְנָסַת הַגּוּף בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְתִתֶּן לִי כָּל צָרְכִּי בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ וּבִזְמַנּוֹ,
HaShem Sustains Us
Help me firmly trust that You will give me all that I need in both the physical and spiritual realms. Give me all that I need to sustain my soul and body with holiness and purity, granting me everything in its proper time.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ.
As the verse states, “The eyes of all turn hopefully to You, and You give them their food in its time.”
וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתִי, וְקִלְקַלְתִּי מַה שֶּׁקִּלְקַלְתִּי, וּפָגַמְתִּי מַה שֶׁפָּגַמְתִּי, וַהֲרֵעוֹתִי אֶת מַעֲשַׂי וְקִפַּחְתִּי אֶת פַּרְנָסָתִי, אֲשֶׁר לְפִי מַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים אֲנִי רָחוֹק מְאֹד מִפַּרְנָסָה, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֶבְטַח בְּךָ כִּי לֹא תַעַזְבֵנִי לְעוֹלָם בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ, כִּי רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהֹוָה, רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים מְאֹד.
Although I have sinned and acted in destructive ways, thus depriving myself of the right to receive sustenance from You, nevertheless, I trust that in Your kindness, You will not abandon me forever.
וְאַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לָרָעִים וְלַטּוֹבִים, טוֹב לַכֹּל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, טוֹב יְהֹוָה לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו.
HaShem, You are good and do good for the wicked and for the righteous. As the verse states, “HaShem is good to all, and His compassion is on all of His creatures.”
וּבְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל אַתָּה זָן אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּחֵן וּבְחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים, אַתָּה נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדֶּךָ.
In Your tremendous goodness, You sustain the entire world with grace, kindness and compassion, giving food to all creatures, for Your kindness is eternal.
אָנָּא בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמִּי כַּחֲטָאַי וְאַל תִּגְמְלֵנִי כְּמִפְעָלַי, וְאַל יִהְיוּ עֲוֹנוֹתַי מַבְדִּילִים בֵּינִי וּבֵין טוּבְךָ וְשִׁפְעֲךָ הַטּוֹב הַיּוֹרֵד עָלֵינוּ תָמִיד, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים,
Trust in God and Abundance
Do not repay me in accordance with my transgressions. May my sins never separate me from Your goodness and the flow of abundance that You constantly pour down upon us.
חַזְּקֵנִי וְאַמְּצֵנִי לִבְטֹחַ בְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. וְאַל יְבַהֲלוּנִי רַעְיוֹנַי וְאַל יְבַלְבְּלוּ דַּעְתִּי רִבּוּי חֲטָאַי הָעֲצוּמִים, מִלְּהִתְחַזֵּק בְּבִטָּחוֹן חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ בְּךָ תָמִיד,
Strengthen me to trust in You. May my thoughts not bewilder me, and may my transgressions not confuse me and keep me from relying on You.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, בִּטְחוּ בַיהֹוָה עֲדֵי עַד כִּי בְּיָהּ יְהֹוָה צוּר עוֹלָמִים. וְנֶאֱמַר, בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהֹוָה וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה מִבְטַחוֹ.
“Trust in HaShem forever, for HaShem is God, the eternal Rock.” “Blessed is the man who trusts in HaShem; HaShem will be His trust.”
וְאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַבִּטָּחוֹן לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלִי וְצִנּוֹר עַל־יָדוֹ לְקַבֵּל הַשֶּׁפַע טוֹבָה וְהַפַּרְנָסָה וְכָל צָרְכִּי, בְּמוֹעֲדָם וּבִזְמַנָּם קֹדֶם שֶׁאֶצְטָרֵךְ לָהֶם.
May that trust become a conduit through which I receive a flow of goodness and sustenance — all in its proper time and before I feel its lack.
אֱלֹהֵינוּ אָבִינוּ רְעֵנוּ זוּנֵנוּ, הַזָּן וּמְפַרְנֵס וּמְכַלְכֵּל מִקַּרְנֵי רְאֵמִים עַד בֵּיצֵי כִנִּים, פַּרְנְסֵנִי וְכַלְכְּלֵנִי בְּנִדְבַת חֶסֶד וּמַתְּנַת חִנָּם אוֹתִי וְאֶת כָּל בְּנֵי בֵיתִי וְאֶת כָּל הַתְּלוּיִם בִּי וְאֶת כָּל הַנִּלְוִים אֵלַי,
Our God, our Father, our Shepherd, our Sustainer, You Who give sustenance to all, from the greatest beast to the tiniest insect, send me my income. Support me, my family and every one who is dependent on me, with generous and unearned kindness.
וְתֵן לִי כָּל צָרְכִּי בְּכָבוֹד וּבְהֶתֵּר וּבְהַרְחָבָה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא תְבַלְבֵּל אוֹתִי הַפַּרְנָסָה מִתּוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ כְּלָל.
Give me everything that I need through honorable and legitimate means. Be generous with me, so that earning a living will not distract me from learning Torah and serving You.
וְאַל תַּצְרִיכֵנִי לֹא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם, כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּתוּחָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה, שֶׁלֹּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם וְלֹא נִכָּשֵׁל לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
May I never have to depend on the gifts and loans of other people. Instead, open Your full, holy and generous hand so that I will never be ashamed or stumble.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לַעֲסֹק תָּמִיד בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וּבַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי, אֲנִי וְזַרְעִי וְזֶרַע זַרְעִי וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי חֲלָצֵינוּ וְכָל עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
May I always learn Torah and serve You, together with my children, my grandchildren and all of my descendants, as well as Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from now and forever. Amen, selah.