Judging Others Favorably / Judging Oneself Favorably / Creating Melodies of Holiness / The Spiritual Tabernacle from Which Schoolchildren Receive Their Breath A person must judge others favorably even if they seem completely bad, and search for even a little bit of good in them. When one finds that good, he raises them up and induces them to repent. One must apply this technique to himself as well. Even if he sees that he is filled with wrongdoing, he must not allow himself to fall. Instead, he must judge himself favorably and search until he finds some good deed that he performed. It is possible that as he examines this deed, he will see that it was imperfect, filled with flaws and ulterior motives. Nevertheless, it must contain a pristine point of goodness. When he finds even a little bit of good in himself and grows joyful, he moves from the side of guilt to the side of merit, and then he can repent. And then he should repeat this process. “I will sing to my God with my being.” By finding good points within himself and gathering them together, a person makes spiritual melodies with his soul, like a musician who plucks the notes that comprise a melody. Then he is able to pray and sing to God. A person who makes such tunes by gathering good points even from Jewish sinners is a Tzaddik. All of these good points desire to come to him and be absorbed into him. After he gathers them all, he stands and prays with them. Every generation has a great Tzaddik who corresponds to Moses. Just as Moses built the Tabernacle, this Tzaddik, too, builds a spiritual tabernacle, and from it, schoolchildren receive their breath, which is without sin. God Knows Each Person from Before He Came into the World “I will praise HaShem while I am alive; I will sing to my God with my being.”
You alone know everything that has occurred under the sun, from the day that Adam was created to this moment — including everything that is happening in our generation, everything that is happening to every Jew in the world, and, in particular, everything that is happening to me. I have been cruel to myself because I am a poor and desolate, blemished, willful and guilty sinner.
You know all that my soul has experienced. From the day that it was emanated, created, formed and made, it passed through various incarnations until it entered my coarse, sinful and blemished body.
You know all that has happened to me from the very beginning: from the state of “nothingness” (before I existed) to the creation of the appearance of the fruit (my neshamah), the creation of the taste of the fruit (my ruach), the creation of its fragrance (my nefesh), the creation by the wise men of the seed (the formation of the seed in my father’s mind), the planting of the seed (the moment of conception), the formation of the fruit (my embryo), the candle burning (my learning Torah in the womb), and the cutting of the fruit from the branch (the cutting of my umbilical cord).
You know everything that occurred to me then and everything that occurred to me afterward until this moment. You know everything that I have done, for good or for bad. In regard to the bad, You know all of my transgressions and blemishes — those that I committed accidentally and those that I committed on purpose, those that occurred against my will and those that I did willingly. And You know of the good points that I have acquired in the course of my lifetime to the present day.
Judging Oneself Favorably Master of the world, You Who desire kindness and are filled with compassion, You Who gaze upon the wicked person with the desire that he will become righteous, You Who judge everyone favorably, help me walk on the proper path so that I will find merit and good points within myself.
May I always judge myself favorably and, in that way, make myself joyous and enter the side of merit. As a result of that, may I attain complete repentance, and then pray with intensity, vitality, fervor and gladness.
Judging Oneself and Others Favorably Master of the world, You know that only due to the dynamics of finding the good within myself, as expressed in Rebbe Nachman’s holy, awesome, elevated and wondrous interpretation of the verse, “I will sing to my God with my being,” do I possess the vitality, hopefulness and ability to speak to You.
But through Rebbe Nachman’s teaching, You taught us that a person must find good points within himself, thus gladdening his soul and never growing despondent.
Therefore, every time sadness attempts to overcome me by reminding me of my grievous sins, weakening my mind and hands as though my hope is gone, keep me from growing dejected. To the contrary, help me find within myself the merit and good points of the good deeds that I have performed throughout the course of my life.
Despite my worthlessness and lowliness, despite the multitude of my blemishes, Your kindness overwhelms me and You help me perform mitzvot and good deeds.
That is true of the entire congregation of Israel. You praise and express affection for all of them in their exile and lowliness, proclaiming that their “temples are like a pomegranate split open” — meaning, say our sages, that all Jews, even the worst sinners, are filled with mitzvot as a pomegranate is filled with seeds.
And so even if the mitzvot that we perform are adulterated with dross, ulterior motives, foreign thoughts and confusion, so that we have never performed even a single mitzvah perfectly, they must contain some good. Every mitzvah that we perform — wearing tzitzit,9Tzitzit are specially spun and tied strings which Jewish men are required to affix to their four-cornered garments, as stipulated in Numbers 15:37-41 and discussed in Menachot 43b. putting on tefilin,1010 See footnote 3, p. 67. keeping the Shabbat, giving charity, performing kind deeds, eating kosher food — contains a good point. As a result of recognizing those good points, may we rejoice for all of our days.
Master of the world, help me follow in the footsteps of the true Tzaddikim who speak on behalf of the entire Jewish people and toil with all their might to find merit and goodness within even the lowliest Jew. When I look at a wicked person, may I seek the good points in him and judge him favorably. As I do so, may I restore him to the side of merit and induce him to repent completely.
The Tzaddikim Who Seek the Good in Everyone Help us come close to the true Tzaddikim who, in their wisdom, constantly seek good points within all Jews, even Jewish sinners. They gather the good points of each individual, bringing him to the side of merit. In that way, they build wondrous and awesome spiritual structures of holiness, raising before You delights that had not arisen from the earliest days.
They are the only ones who know how to pray on behalf of the entire Jewish people. They lead the prayers to help the multitudes fulfill their obligation. They gather all of the good points from every member of the congregation, and as they pray before You with all of this goodness, they transform Your trait of judgment to that of compassion.
They will not allow You to remain silent, but they will pray until You gather us to You, bring us to the side of merit, gladden our spirit always, and restore us to You with complete repentance forever.
Overcoming the Heretics Protect all of the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, from those groups of Jews who are “wise for the sake of evil,” who presently proliferate in the world.
There are heretics who engage in the study of secular subjects and the vulgar languages of the gentiles. They steadily campaign to educate Jewish youth in their evil and bitter ways, in order to distance them from learning the Oral Torah. Instead, they want the youth to learn no more than Tanakh11An acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim (Torah, Prophets, Writings), comprising the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible. and Hebrew grammar, and even that for just a short period every day, followed by secular studies and gentile languages — a course of study that uproots a person from both worlds.
There are other groups of Jews who are wise in their own eyes, who mock those who serve You and learn Your Torah wholeheartedly without worthless studies, as we were taught to do by our holy fathers and rabbis.
Many such groups now rise up against pious Jews and spread a net around their feet in order to drag them away from the straight and welltrodden path. These groups concoct wisdoms that are in truth foolishness and mockery, in order to confuse and weaken those who are straight and wholehearted.
Guarding the Purity of the Children HaShem, You know how damaging these studies are to serving You. Guard the youth of Your nation, the House of Israel, from being caught in the net of these evil camps.
Teach us how to raise our children, how to guard them and rescue their souls from these evil camps, how to educate them for the good in Your holy and true ways, so that they will walk on the straight and true path with a whole heart and simplicity, in accordance with Your will, as we were taught by our holy fathers and rabbis.
May we tell our children and the generations that come after us all that You have done for us from the days of our fathers to the present day, “so that the last generation may know, sons will be born and arise and tell their own sons.”
Have compassion on Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from their childhood, so that the children will receive their breath, which is without sin, from the spiritual tabernacle built by the true Tzaddikim.
The Tzaddikim and the Children Master of the world, many people are trying to damage the breath of the holy mouths of schoolchildren, which is without sin. Shield these children from every sort of education that is wicked and wrong in Your eyes.
May all Jewish children receive the pure breath of their mouths from the holy tabernacle of the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of their souls. May they be educated to serve You and learn Torah for its own sake, studying it day and night until their hearts are opened.
Help them comprehend and keep all of the words of Your Torah with love. Illumine their eyes in Your Torah. Cause their hearts to cling to Your mitzvot. Lengthen their years in goodness and pleasantness. Help them serve You all of their days.
The Tzaddikim Protect the Schoolchildren Master of the world, give us what we ask of You in the merit and power of the true and great Tzaddikim, who are always engaged in judging the world favorably, who look for good points in every Jew — even in the lowest of the low — who gather these good points together and pray together with them in order to sweeten and nullify all judgments.
These Tzaddikim see and understand all levels — overall and in detail — that relate to schoolchildren. They see what the children are learning and from which Tzaddik they receive the breath of their mouths, which is without sin, and how much they receive from him, and the generations that will come forth from them until the coming of the Mashiach.
In the merit and power of those Tzaddikim, help us and all of the children of Your nation, the Jewish people, attain all that we have requested of You, for the good.
May All Jews Be Judged Favorably Master of the world, in the merit of the true Tzaddikim of past generations and of this generation, help me come to the side of merit and return to You completely.
At every moment, give me true counsel to find the good within myself, so that I will gladden my spirit and never allow sadness to touch me. May I be only joyful, with all my heart and soul.
Place joy in my heart as I seek every good point that I have attained from the beginning of my lifetime to this day, with which I have given You pleasure.
In addition, grant me the knowledge and understanding to give joy to Your nation, the Jewish people, by judging them favorably, until all of them will return to You joyfully.
May the verse quickly be realized, “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit in your midst. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My spirit in your midst and cause you to obey My ordinances and keep and perform My laws.”
“I will sing to HaShem with my life; I will sing to my God with my being. May my speech be sweet to Him; I will rejoice in HaShem. Sinners will be erased from the land and the wicked will be no more. My spirit, bless HaShem. Halleluyah!”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה רפ"ב - אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹקַי בְּעוֹדִי]
אֲהַלְלָה יְהֹוָה בְּחַיָּי אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי.
Judging Others Favorably / Judging Oneself Favorably / Creating Melodies of Holiness / The Spiritual Tabernacle from Which Schoolchildren Receive Their Breath
A person must judge others favorably even if they seem completely bad, and search for even a little bit of good in them. When one finds that good, he raises them up and induces them to repent.
One must apply this technique to himself as well. Even if he sees that he is filled with wrongdoing, he must not allow himself to fall. Instead, he must judge himself favorably and search until he finds some good deed that he performed. It is possible that as he examines this deed, he will see that it was imperfect, filled with flaws and ulterior motives. Nevertheless, it must contain a pristine point of goodness. When he finds even a little bit of good in himself and grows joyful, he moves from the side of guilt to the side of merit, and then he can repent. And then he should repeat this process.
“I will sing to my God with my being.” By finding good points within himself and gathering them together, a person makes spiritual melodies with his soul, like a musician who plucks the notes that comprise a melody. Then he is able to pray and sing to God.
A person who makes such tunes by gathering good points even from Jewish sinners is a Tzaddik. All of these good points desire to come to him and be absorbed into him. After he gathers them all, he stands and prays with them.
Every generation has a great Tzaddik who corresponds to Moses. Just as Moses built the Tabernacle, this Tzaddik, too, builds a spiritual tabernacle, and from it, schoolchildren receive their breath, which is without sin.
God Knows Each Person from Before He Came into the World
“I will praise HaShem while I am alive; I will sing to my God with my being.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי בִּדְרָכֶיךָ הַנִּפְלָאִים וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, וֶהְיֵה נָא בְּעֶזְרִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל עֵת לְשַׂמֵּחַ נַפְשִׁי הָאֻמְלָלָה וְהָעֲלוּבָה מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה תָמִיד.
Master of the world, in Your wondrous ways and mighty kindness, help me always gladden my immeasurably pathetic and dejected soul.
כִּי אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ אֶת כָּל הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ מִיּוֹם בְּרִיאַת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, וַאֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עַתָּה בַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה, אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה בִּכְלָלִיּוּת הָעוֹלָם עִם כְּלַל נִשְׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עִמִּי הֶעָנִי וְהָאֶבְיוֹן, הַדַּל וְהַנִּשְׁחָת, הַחוֹטֵא וְהַפָּגוּם, הַפּוֹשֵׁעַ וְהַחַיָּב מְאֹד, הָאַכְזָר עַל עַצְמוֹ כָּזֶה,
You alone know everything that has occurred under the sun, from the day that Adam was created to this moment — including everything that is happening in our generation, everything that is happening to every Jew in the world, and, in particular, everything that is happening to me. I have been cruel to myself because I am a poor and desolate, blemished, willful and guilty sinner.
אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עִם נִשְׁמָתִי וְרוּחִי וְנַפְשִׁי מִיּוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱצְלוּ וְנִבְרְאוּ וְנוֹצְרוּ וְנַעֲשׂוּ, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִמְשְׁכוּ לְתוֹךְ הַגּוּפִים שֶׁנִּתְגַּלְגְּלוּ בָּהֶם בְּכָל הַגִּלְגּוּלִים שֶׁעָבְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם, עַד אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ בְּתוֹךְ גּוּפִי הַזֶּה הַמְגֻשָּׁם, הַחוֹטֵא וְהַפָּגוּם מְאֹד,
You know all that my soul has experienced. From the day that it was emanated, created, formed and made, it passed through various incarnations until it entered my coarse, sinful and blemished body.
אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָבַר עָלַי מִיּוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן שֶׁל הַזָּקֵן הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁזּוֹכֵר לַאו כְּלוּם, וְכָל אֲשֶׁר עָבַר עָלַי בִּימֵי הַזִּכָּרוֹן שֶׁל שְׁאָר הַזְּקֵנִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הַזּוֹכְרִים הַמַּרְאֶה וְהַטַּעַם וְהָרֵיחַ, וְהַחֲכָמִים שֶׁהִמְצִיאוּ אֶת הַגַּרְעִין, וּבָעֵת שֶׁהוֹלִיכוּ הַגַּרְעִין לִטַּע הַפְּרִי, וּבָעֵת שֶׁהִתְחִילָה הַפְּרִי לְהִתְהַוּוֹת וּלְהִתְרַקֵּם, וּבָעֵת שֶׁהָיָה הַנֵּר דּוֹלֵק, וּבָעֵת שֶׁחָתְכוּ הַפְּרִי מִן הָאִילָן,
You know all that has happened to me from the very beginning: from the state of “nothingness” (before I existed) to the creation of the appearance of the fruit (my neshamah), the creation of the taste of the fruit (my ruach), the creation of its fragrance (my nefesh), the creation by the wise men of the seed (the formation of the seed in my father’s mind), the planting of the seed (the moment of conception), the formation of the fruit (my embryo), the candle burning (my learning Torah in the womb), and the cutting of the fruit from the branch (the cutting of my umbilical cord).
אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ הַפֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים,
You alone know the deeper meaning of these matters.
וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עִמִּי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עִמִּי אַחַר כָּךְ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי טוֹב וָרָע, אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְתִּי וּפָגַמְתִּי בְּשׁוֹגֵג וּבְמֵזִיד בְּאֹנֶס וּבְרָצוֹן בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם. וְאֵת כָּל מַה שֶּׁזִכִּיתָנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, לַחֲטֹף אֵיזֶה נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת בַּיָּמִים הָרָעִים הָאֵלֶּה שֶׁעָבְרוּ עָלַי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
You know everything that occurred to me then and everything that occurred to me afterward until this moment. You know everything that I have done, for good or for bad. In regard to the bad, You know all of my transgressions and blemishes — those that I committed accidentally and those that I committed on purpose, those that occurred against my will and those that I did willingly. And You know of the good points that I have acquired in the course of my lifetime to the present day.
וְעַתָּה אַחֲרֵי כָּל הַבָּא עָלַי, וְאַחֲרֵי כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתִי אִם טוֹב וְאִם רָע, הוֹרֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי עַתָּה הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהַנְּתִיב וְהַשְּׁבִיל הָאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה עַל כָּל פָּנִים:
And now, after all that I have experienced and done, whether for good or for bad, teach me how to repent from this moment onward.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, חָפֵץ חֶסֶד, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַצּוֹפֶה לָרָשָׁע וְחָפֵץ בְּהִצָּדְקוֹ, הַדָּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד רַב חֶסֶד וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב, הַמְנַהֵג עוֹלָמוֹ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרִיּוֹתָיו בְּרַחֲמִים. עָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי הַדֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה גַּם עַתָּה לְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא בִּי זְכוּת וּנְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְלָדוּן אֶת עַצְמִי לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד,
Judging Oneself Favorably
Master of the world, You Who desire kindness and are filled with compassion, You Who gaze upon the wicked person with the desire that he will become righteous, You Who judge everyone favorably, help me walk on the proper path so that I will find merit and good points within myself.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת עַצְמִי בְּכָל־עֵת וְלִכְנֹס בְּכַף זְכוּת בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלִזְכּוֹת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה בְּחַיּוּת וְהִתְלַהֲבוּת וּבְשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְחֶדְוָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה,
May I always judge myself favorably and, in that way, make myself joyous and enter the side of merit. As a result of that, may I attain complete repentance, and then pray with intensity, vitality, fervor and gladness.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם בֶּאֱמֶת מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי:
May I emulate the verse, “I will sing to my God with my being.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֵין לִי שׁוּם חַיּוּת וְכֹחַ וְתִקְוָה וּפִתְחוֹן פֶּה לְדַבֵּר לְפָנֶיךָ, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי הַדֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא וְהַנִּשְׂגָּב וְהַנִּפְלָא הַזֶּה, שֶׁגִּלּוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בַּפָּסוּק: אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי.
Judging Oneself and Others Favorably
Master of the world, You know that only due to the dynamics of finding the good within myself, as expressed in Rebbe Nachman’s holy, awesome, elevated and wondrous interpretation of the verse, “I will sing to my God with my being,” do I possess the vitality, hopefulness and ability to speak to You.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת גֹּדֶל עֹצֶם וְרִבּוּי קִלְקוּלִי, אֶת מְרִירוּת דִּמְרִירוּת כְּאֵבִים אֲנוּשִׁים שֶׁל עֲוֹנוֹתַי הָעֲצוּמִים וְהַכְּבֵדִים מְאֹד בְּמַהוּת וְכַמּוּת וְאֵיכוּת,
You know how mighty and vast is my ruination, how concentrated is the bitterness and mortal pains of my sins — in amount and intensity.
אֲשֶׁר כִּמְעַט כִּמְעַט לֹא הָיָה תִּקְוָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי מִכַּף רֶגֶל וְעַד רֹאשׁ אֵין בִּי מְתֹם, פֶּצַע וְחַבּוּרָה וּמַכָּה טְרִיָּה.
My hope was almost gone. From the soles of my feet to the crown of my head, there was nothing whole but only spiritual wounds, blows and lacerations.
אֲבָל אַתָּה הִזְהַרְתָּנוּ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הָאָדָם לְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא בְּעַצְמוֹ נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, וּלְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ וְלִבְלִי לִפֹּל בְּדַעְתּוֹ, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁלֹּא לְיַאֵשׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן בָּעוֹלָם,
But through Rebbe Nachman’s teaching, You taught us that a person must find good points within himself, thus gladdening his soul and never growing despondent.
עַל כֵּן עָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי הַדֶּרֶךְ לִזְכּוֹת לָזֶה בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל־עֵת אֲשֶׁר יִרְצוּ לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עָלַי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם עַצְבוּת וּמָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה וְיָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה, עַל־יְדֵי עֲוֹנוֹתַי וּפְשָׁעַי הָרַבִּים וְהָעֲצוּמִים מְאֹד, וְיִרְצוּ לְהַחֲלִישׁ אֶת דַּעְתִּי וּלְרַשֵּׁל אֶת יָדִי כְּאִלּוּ אָפֵס תִּקְוָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁתַּעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וְהַגְּדוֹלִים, לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם בְּכָל עֹז וְתַעֲצוּמוֹת, וְלִבְלִי לִפֹּל בְּדַעְתִּי בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן בָּעוֹלָם, רַק לְהִתְחַזֵּק וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל הַכֹּחוֹת לְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְעַיֵּן וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא בִּי זְכוּת וּנְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת שֶׁזָּכִיתִי לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה,
Therefore, every time sadness attempts to overcome me by reminding me of my grievous sins, weakening my mind and hands as though my hope is gone, keep me from growing dejected. To the contrary, help me find within myself the merit and good points of the good deeds that I have performed throughout the course of my life.
כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת גַּם בְּעֹצֶם פְּחִיתוּתֵנוּ וְשִׁפְלוּתֵנוּ וּבְעֹצֶם רִבּוּי פְּגָמֵנוּ, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן חַסְדְּךָ גָּבַר עָלֵינוּ, וְזִכִּיתָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ בְּכָל־עֵת לַחֲטֹף בְּכָל פַּעַם אֵיזֶה מִצְוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים.
Despite my worthlessness and lowliness, despite the multitude of my blemishes, Your kindness overwhelms me and You help me perform mitzvot and good deeds.
וְכַאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מְשַׁבֵּחַ וּמְפָאֵר וּמְחַבֵּב אֶת כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגָלוּתָם וְשִׁפְלוּתָם, כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ, אֲפִלּוּ פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מְלֵאִים מִצְוֹת כָּרִמּוֹן.
That is true of the entire congregation of Israel. You praise and express affection for all of them in their exile and lowliness, proclaiming that their “temples are like a pomegranate split open” — meaning, say our sages, that all Jews, even the worst sinners, are filled with mitzvot as a pomegranate is filled with seeds.
וְאִם גַּם הַמִּצְוֹת בְּעַצְמָן שֶׁאָנוּ עוֹשִׂין הֵם מְלֵאִים פְּסֹלֶת, פְּנִיּוֹת וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת וּבִלְבּוּלִים, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא עָשִׂינוּ מֵעוֹלָם שׁוּם מִצְוָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם אֵיזֶה נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, כִּי בְכָל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה שֶׁזָּכִינוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לַעֲשׂוֹת לִפְעָמִים, הֵן צִיצִית אוֹ תְּפִלִּין, אוֹ קַבָּלַת שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים, אוֹ אֵיזֶה צְדָקָה וּגְמִילוּת חֶסֶד, וְהַרְחָקוֹת מַאֲכָלוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, וְכוּ' וְכוּ', בְּוַדַּאי יֵשׁ בְּכָל מִצְוָה וּמַעֲשֶׂה טוֹב אֵיזֶה נְקֻדָּה טוֹבָה עַל כָּל פָּנִים. וְעַל־יְדֵי אֵלּוּ הַנְּקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת רָאוּי לָנוּ לִשְׂמֹחַ כָּל יָמֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם, אֲפִלּוּ בְּעֹצֶם גְּרִיעוּתֵינוּ, מַה שֶּׁזָּכִינוּ לִגְרֹם נַחַת־רוּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ בְּאֵיזֶה נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת שֶׁזָּכִינוּ כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ. וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִזְכֶּה לִכְנֹס לְכַף זְכוּת בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת נַפְשֵׁנוּ תָמִיד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה. כִּי אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי הַדֶּרֶךְ וְצִנּוֹר הַחֶסֶד הַנִּפְלָא הַזֶּה, יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה גַּם לִי, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְכָל פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַגְּרוּעִים מְאֹד, לִזְכּוֹת מֵעַתָּה לִתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת וְלִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה תָמִיד:
And so even if the mitzvot that we perform are adulterated with dross, ulterior motives, foreign thoughts and confusion, so that we have never performed even a single mitzvah perfectly, they must contain some good. Every mitzvah that we perform — wearing tzitzit,9Tzitzit are specially spun and tied strings which Jewish men are required to affix to their four-cornered garments, as stipulated in Numbers 15:37-41 and discussed in Menachot 43b. putting on tefilin,1010 See footnote 3, p. 67. keeping the Shabbat, giving charity, performing kind deeds, eating kosher food — contains a good point. As a result of recognizing those good points, may we rejoice for all of our days.
וְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לָדוּן אֶת כָּל בְּנֵי אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד, וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה רָשָׁע גָּמוּר, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֲחַפֵּשׂ וַאֲבַקֵּשׁ, עַד שֶׁאֶמְצָא בּוֹ גַּם כֵּן נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְדוּנוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת וּלְהַכְנִיסוֹ בְּכַף זְכוּת בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלַהֲשִׁיבוֹ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה. רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הַמְּלִיצִים טוֹב עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּמִיד, הָעוֹסְקִים וְטוֹרְחִים בְּכָל כֹּחָם לְחַפֵּשׂ וְלַחְתֹּר וְלִמְצֹא זְכוּת וָטוֹב בְּכָל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, אֲפִלּוּ בְּהַגָּרוּעַ שֶׁבַּגְּרוּעִים, בִּזְכוּתָם וְכֹחָם זַכֵּנוּ גַּם כֵּן לָבוֹא לָזֶה בֶּאֱמֶת:
Master of the world, help me follow in the footsteps of the true Tzaddikim who speak on behalf of the entire Jewish people and toil with all their might to find merit and goodness within even the lowliest Jew. When I look at a wicked person, may I seek the good points in him and judge him favorably. As I do so, may I restore him to the side of merit and induce him to repent completely.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הָאֵלּוּ, הָעוֹסְקִים בָּזֶה תָמִיד, לְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, אֲפִלּוּ בְּפוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּכֻלָּם מְחַפְּשִׂים וּמוֹצְאִים בְּחָכְמָתָם נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, וּמְלַקְּטִים וּמְקַבְּצִים אוֹתָם אַחַת לְאַחַת לִמְצֹא חֶשְׁבּוֹן וּמַכְנִיסִים גַּם אוֹתָם בְּכַף זְכוּת, וּבוֹנִים מֵהֶם בִּנְיָנִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה נִפְלָאִים וְנוֹרָאִים, וּמַעֲלִים לְפָנֶיךָ שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁלֹּא עָלוּ לְפָנֶיךָ מִימוֹת עוֹלָם,
The Tzaddikim Who Seek the Good in Everyone
Help us come close to the true Tzaddikim who, in their wisdom, constantly seek good points within all Jews, even Jewish sinners. They gather the good points of each individual, bringing him to the side of merit. In that way, they build wondrous and awesome spiritual structures of holiness, raising before You delights that had not arisen from the earliest days.
וְזוֹכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת זְמִירוֹת וְנִגּוּנִים קְדוֹשִׁים עַל־יְדֵי קִבּוּץ הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה מִמְּקוֹמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה.
By gathering together this good, they create holy songs and melodies.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, זַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב לַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֵלּוּ, וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִכָּלֵל בָּהֶם וְלִשְׁמֹעַ תְּפִלָּתָם הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים נוֹרָאִים הָאֵלּוּ,
Clinging to the Holy Tzaddikim
Master of the world, help me come close to these awesome Tzaddikim and hear their holy prayers.
אֲשֶׁר רַק הֵם יוֹדְעִים לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בִּשְׁבִיל כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֵירֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הָרַבִּים יְדֵי חוֹבָתָן, לְקַבֵּץ כָּל הַטּוֹב וְכָל הַנְּקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת מִכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהַמִּתְפַּלְּלִין, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם כָּל הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, וְלַהֲפֹךְ מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים.
They are the only ones who know how to pray on behalf of the entire Jewish people. They lead the prayers to help the multitudes fulfill their obligation. They gather all of the good points from every member of the congregation, and as they pray before You with all of this goodness, they transform Your trait of judgment to that of compassion.
זַכֵּנוּ בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים וְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, שֶׁנִּהְיֶה נִכְלָלִים בִּתְפִלּוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֵלּוּ, וְהֵם יִתְפַּלְּלוּ בַּעֲדֵנוּ תָמִיד.
May we be absorbed into the prayers of these Tzaddikim. May they always pray on our behalf.
וְאַל יִתְּנוּ דֳּמִי לָךְ, עַד אֲשֶׁר תְּרַחֵם גַּם עָלֵינוּ עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, וְתַאַסְפֵנוּ אֵלֶיךָ הַבַּיְתָה, וְתַכְנִיסֵנוּ לְכַף זְכוּת בֶּאֱמֶת, וּתְשַׂמַּח אֶת נַפְשֵׁנוּ תָמִיד, וְתַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
They will not allow You to remain silent, but they will pray until You gather us to You, bring us to the side of merit, gladden our spirit always, and restore us to You with complete repentance forever.
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל זַרְעֵנוּ וְעַל כָּל זֶרַע עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתָגֵן וְתִשְׁמֹר וְתַצִּיל אֶת כָּל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן כָּל הַכִּתּוֹת הָרָעוֹת שֶׁל הַחֲכָמִים לְהָרַע, הַמִּתְפַּשְּׁטִים עַתָּה בָּעוֹלָם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ.
Overcoming the Heretics
Protect all of the children of Your nation, the House of Israel, from those groups of Jews who are “wise for the sake of evil,” who presently proliferate in the world.
הֵן מִכִּתּוֹת הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים הָעוֹסְקִים בְּחָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת וּלְשׁוֹן עִלְּגִים שֶׁל הָעֲכּוּ"ם, הַמִּתְגַּבְּרִים בְּכָל־עֵת לְחַנֵּךְ נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם הָרָעִים וְהַמָּרִים, לְהַרְחִיקָם מִלִּמּוּד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, וְלִבְלִי לִלְמֹד כִּי אִם תַּנַ"ךְ עִם חָכְמַת הַדִּקְדּוּק, וְגַם זֶה רַק שָׁעָה מוּעֶטֶת בַּיּוֹם, וּלְבַלּוֹת עִקָּר הַזְּמַן עַל לִמּוּד חָכְמוֹת חִיצוֹנִיּוֹת וּלְשׁוֹנוֹת הָעוֹקְרִים אֶת הָאָדָם מִשְּׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת.
There are heretics who engage in the study of secular subjects and the vulgar languages of the gentiles. They steadily campaign to educate Jewish youth in their evil and bitter ways, in order to distance them from learning the Oral Torah. Instead, they want the youth to learn no more than Tanakh11An acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim (Torah, Prophets, Writings), comprising the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible. and Hebrew grammar, and even that for just a short period every day, followed by secular studies and gentile languages — a course of study that uproots a person from both worlds.
אוֹי לָעֵינַיִם שֶׁכָּךְ רוֹאוֹת, אוֹי לָאָזְנַיִם שֶׁכָּךְ שׁוֹמְעוֹת.
Woe to the eyes that see this! Woe to the ears that hear this!
וְהֵן מִשְׁאָר כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל חֲכָמִים בְּעֵינֵיהֶם, הַמִּתְלוֹצְצִים מֵהַתְּמִימִים בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם, הָעוֹסְקִים בַּעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ בִּפְשִׁיטוּת בִּתְמִימוּת בְּלִי חָכְמוֹת שֶׁל הֶבֶל, כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹרוּ לָנוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים,
There are other groups of Jews who are wise in their own eyes, who mock those who serve You and learn Your Torah wholeheartedly without worthless studies, as we were taught to do by our holy fathers and rabbis.
אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים קָמִים נֶגְדָּם וּפוֹרְשִׂים רֶשֶׁת לְרַגְלָם, לְהַטּוֹת אוֹתָם מִנִּי דֶרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהַכָּבוּשׁ מִכְּבָר, לִבְדּוֹת מִלִּבָּם חָכְמוֹת שֶׁל שְׁטוּת וְלֵיצָנוּת, לְבַלְבֵּל וּלְהַחֲלִישׁ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, דַּעַת הַתְּמִימִים וְהַיְשָׁרִים בְּלִבּוֹתָם.
Many such groups now rise up against pious Jews and spread a net around their feet in order to drag them away from the straight and welltrodden path. These groups concoct wisdoms that are in truth foolishness and mockery, in order to confuse and weaken those who are straight and wholehearted.
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת כָּל זֶה, כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה מַזִּיקִים לַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ חָכְמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ. רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל זַרְעֵנוּ וְעַל כָּל זֶרַע עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּשְׁמֹר וְהַצֵּל כָּל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל הַכִּתּוֹת הָרָעוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, שֶׁלֹּא יִתָּפְסוּ בְּרִשְׁתָּם בִּימֵי נְעוּרֵיהֶם.
Guarding the Purity of the Children
HaShem, You know how damaging these studies are to serving You. Guard the youth of Your nation, the House of Israel, from being caught in the net of these evil camps.
וְתַעֲזֹר וְתָגֵן וְתוֹשִׁיעַ לָנוּ בְּכָל־עֵת, וְתוֹרֵנוּ וּתְלַמְּדֵנוּ תָמִיד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לֵידַע אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג עִם בָּנֵינוּ וְזַרְעֵנוּ מִקַּטְנוּתָם, אֵיךְ לְשָׁמְרָם וּלְמַלֵּט נַפְשָׁם מִן הַכִּתּוֹת הָרָעוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, וּלְחַנְּכָם לְטוֹבָה בִּדְרָכֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהָאֲמִתִּיִּים, שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ בְּדֶרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהָאֱמֶת, בִּתְמִימוּת וּפְשִׁיטוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, כַּאֲשֶׁר קִבַּלְנוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.
Teach us how to raise our children, how to guard them and rescue their souls from these evil camps, how to educate them for the good in Your holy and true ways, so that they will walk on the straight and true path with a whole heart and simplicity, in accordance with Your will, as we were taught by our holy fathers and rabbis.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהוֹדִיעַ לְכָל בָּנֵינוּ וְדוֹרוֹתֵינוּ הַבָּאִים אַחֲרֵינוּ, וּלְכָל דּוֹרוֹת זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂי יְהֹוָה הַגָּדוֹל, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ מִימֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַד הֵנָּה בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם.
May we tell our children and the generations that come after us all that You have done for us from the days of our fathers to the present day, “so that the last generation may know, sons will be born and arise and tell their own sons.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ, לְהוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם קְדֻשַּׁת אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַטְּהוֹרָה וְהַתְּמִימָה.
“You should make them known to your children and to your children’s children.” May we teach our children our holy, pure and wholehearted faith.
וּתְרַחֵם עַל כָּל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִקַּטְנוּתָם, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְקַבֵּל הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא מֵהַמִּשְׁכָּנוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בּוֹנֶה מִשְׁכָּן קָדוֹשׁ, אֲשֶׁר מִשָּׁם מְקַבְּלִים הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא.
Have compassion on Your entire nation, the House of Israel, from their childhood, so that the children will receive their breath, which is without sin, from the spiritual tabernacle built by the true Tzaddikim.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת כָּל הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה עַכְשָׁיו בָּעוֹלָם בַּדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ בְּעִנְיַן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן, אֲשֶׁר כָּל הָעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם אֶלָּא עַל הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, וְרַבִּים קָמִים עֲלֵיהֶם לְבַלְבֵּל וּלְקַלְקֵּל חַס וְשָׁלוֹם הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ מִנְּעוּרֵיהֶם עַל־יְדֵי חָכְמָתָם הָרָעוֹת. רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ לְמַעַנְךָ, וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵיהֶם וְשָׁמְרֵם וְהַצִּילֵם מִכָּל מִינֵי חִנּוּכִים הָרָעִים שֶׁל כָּל מִינֵי דְרָכִים שֶׁאֵינָם יְשָׁרִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ.
The Tzaddikim and the Children
Master of the world, many people are trying to damage the breath of the holy mouths of schoolchildren, which is without sin. Shield these children from every sort of education that is wicked and wrong in Your eyes.
אַתָּה יְהֹוָה תִּשְׁמְרֵם תִּצְּרֶנּוּ מִן הַדּוֹר זוּ לְעוֹלָם. חֲמֹל עַל פְּלֵטַת יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָנוּ עַל מָה לְּהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עַל זְכוּת הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא. רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ כָּל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יְקַבֵּל הֶבֶל פִּיו שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, מֵהַמִּשְׁכָּן הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת הַשַּׁיָּךְ אֵלָיו כְּפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתוֹ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ עַל־יָדוֹ לֵילֵךְ וּלְהִתְחַנֵּךְ בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְלִכְנֹס בְּתוֹרַת יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ וְלַהֲגוֹת בָּהּ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה. וְתִפְתַּח אֶת לִבָּם בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶךָ,
May all Jewish children receive the pure breath of their mouths from the holy tabernacle of the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of their souls. May they be educated to serve You and learn Torah for its own sake, studying it day and night until their hearts are opened.
וְתִתֶּן לָהֶם בִּינָה בְּלִבָּם לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל, לִשְׁמֹעַ לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּאַהֲבָה, וְהָאֵר עֵינֵיהֶם בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ וְדַבֵּק לִבֵּיהֶם בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ. וְתַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם וּשְׁנוֹתֵיהֶם בַּטּוֹב וּבַנְּעִימִים, וְתִהְיֶה עִמָּהֶם תָּמִיד, וְתַעַזְרֵם וְתוֹשִׁיעֵם שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יְמֵיהֶם לְעוֹלָם:
Help them comprehend and keep all of the words of Your Torah with love. Illumine their eyes in Your Torah. Cause their hearts to cling to Your mitzvot. Lengthen their years in goodness and pleasantness. Help them serve You all of their days.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת, זַכֵּנוּ לִפְעֹל בַּקָּשָׁתֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמִים אֶצְלְךָ, בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ הַצַּדִּיקֵי־אֱמֶת הַגְּדוֹלִים בְּמַעֲלָה, הָעוֹסְקִים לָדוּן אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד, וּלְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֲפִלּוּ בְּהַגָּרוּעַ שֶׁבַּגְּרוּעִים, וּלְקַבֵּץ כָּל הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם כָּל הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ לְהַמְתִּיק וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,
The Tzaddikim Protect the Schoolchildren
Master of the world, give us what we ask of You in the merit and power of the true and great Tzaddikim, who are always engaged in judging the world favorably, who look for good points in every Jew — even in the lowest of the low — who gather these good points together and pray together with them in order to sweeten and nullify all judgments.
אֲשֶׁר אֵלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים רוֹאִים וּמְבִינִים כָּל הַבְּחִינוֹת בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּעִנְיַן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן, כִּי הֵם רוֹאִין הֵיכָן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת קוֹרִין, וּמֵאֵיזֶה צַדִּיק מְקַבֵּל כָּל תִּינוֹק וְתִינוֹק הֶבֶל פִּיו שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ חֵטְא, וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה מְקַבְּלִים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְכָל הַבְּחִינוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּזֶה, וְהַדּוֹר שֶׁיֵּצֵא מֵהֶם עַד הַסּוֹף.
These Tzaddikim see and understand all levels — overall and in detail — that relate to schoolchildren. They see what the children are learning and from which Tzaddik they receive the breath of their mouths, which is without sin, and how much they receive from him, and the generations that will come forth from them until the coming of the Mashiach.
בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ אֵלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים עֲזֹר וְהוֹשִׁיעַ לָנוּ וּלְכָל יַלְדֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְזַכֵּנוּ לִפְעֹל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבִּקַּשְׁנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים:
In the merit and power of those Tzaddikim, help us and all of the children of Your nation, the Jewish people, attain all that we have requested of You, for the good.
מָרָא דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, זַכֵּנִי לִכְנֹס בֶּאֱמֶת לְכַף זְכוּת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. זַכֵּנִי בִּזְכוּת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהָיוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, וּבִזְכוּת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה,
May All Jews Be Judged Favorably
Master of the world, in the merit of the true Tzaddikim of past generations and of this generation, help me come to the side of merit and return to You completely.
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי בְּכָל־עֵת עֵצוֹת אֲמִתִּיּוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת נַפְשִׁי בְּכָל־עֵת עַל־יְדֵי דַרְכֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת, וְלִבְלִי לְהָנִּיחַ אֶת הָעַצְבוּת וְהַמָּרָה שְׁחוֹרָה לִכְנֹס בִּי וְלֹא לִגַּע בִּי כְּלָל, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה תָמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ,
At every moment, give me true counsel to find the good within myself, so that I will gladden my spirit and never allow sadness to touch me. May I be only joyful, with all my heart and soul.
וְתִתֶּן שִׂמְחָה בְּלִבִּי עַל־יְדֵי דַרְכֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת. וְאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ תָּמִיד עַל־יְדֵי כָּל נְקֻדָּה וּנְקֻדָּה טוֹבָה שֶׁזָּכִיתִי מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לִגְרֹם אֵיזֶה נַחַת רוּחַ לְפָנֶיךָ.
Place joy in my heart as I seek every good point that I have attained from the beginning of my lifetime to this day, with which I have given You pleasure.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה גַּם לְשַׂמֵּחַ אֲחֵרִים. וְתוֹרֵנִי וּתְלַמְּדֵנִי דַעַת וּתְבוּנָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָזֶה לְשַׂמֵּחַ נַפְשׁוֹת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־עֵת וּלְדוּנָם לְכַף זְכוּת תָּמִיד, עַד שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ כֻּלָּם לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְשִׂמְחָה,
In addition, grant me the knowledge and understanding to give joy to Your nation, the Jewish people, by judging them favorably, until all of them will return to You joyfully.
וִיקֻיַּם מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם לֵב חָדָשׁ וְרוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, וַהֲסִירוֹתִי אֶת לֵב הָאֶבֶן מִבְּשַׂרְכֶם, וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם לֵב בָּשָׂר, וְעָשִׂיתִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקַּי תֵּלֵכוּ וּמִשְׁפָּטַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם.
May the verse quickly be realized, “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit in your midst. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My spirit in your midst and cause you to obey My ordinances and keep and perform My laws.”
וְנִזְכֶּה לַעֲבֹד אֶת יְהֹוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה וְלָבוֹא לְפָנָיו בִּרְנָנָה,
May we serve You with joy and come before You with singing.
וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֹשָׂיו בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן יָגִילוּ בְמַלְכָּם.
May the verse be realized, “Israel will rejoice in its Maker; the children of Zion will be glad in their King.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, אָשִׁירָה לַיהֹוָה בְּחַיָּי אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי. יֶעֱרַב עָלָיו שִׂיחִי אָנֹכִי אֶשְׂמַח בַּיהֹוָה . יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם, בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְהֹוָה הַלְלוּיָהּ:
“I will sing to HaShem with my life; I will sing to my God with my being. May my speech be sweet to Him; I will rejoice in HaShem. Sinners will be erased from the land and the wicked will be no more. My spirit, bless HaShem. Halleluyah!”