Holy Judgment Increases a Person’s Desire for God / Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah When a person is subject to judgment, if that judgment is harsh and impure, that means that God is hiding His countenance from him, and that person cannot pray properly. But if that judgment is holy, then he is able to pray properly. Holy judgment works as follows. When God initially draws a person to Him, He causes him suffering that appears to drive him away. That suffering is meant to increase his desire to reach God. This holy judgment corresponds to a diminished state of consciousness, or speech without knowledge. This is associated with Hoshana Rabbah.12The seventh day of Sukkot, marked by the public recital of prayers asking God for salvation and the beating of willow branches to symbolize the elimination of sin. On that day, we take a cluster of willow branches, which, our sages state, are reminiscent of the lips. These are lips that speak without knowledge — that is to say, a person learns words of Torah but does not understand them. The Zohar states that God loves these words and plants them as willows upon a river bank. A person must “sweeten” holy judgment in order to proceed to a full state of consciousness, which he does by learning Torah. The wisdom of Torah corresponds to speech with knowledge. This is associated with the festival of Simchat Torah13Literally, “Joy of the Torah,” the celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings, during which Jews publicly dance with the Torah scrolls and read from the last chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy and the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. (which follows Hoshana Rabbah). God created the world with His wisdom, which is His Torah. Our goal must be to reveal God’s glory by means of that wisdom. Learning Torah for Its Own Sake HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me heal my spirit quickly and raise it to its root with holiness and purity.
Help me learn Your Torah for its own sake day and night, until I know and understand it clearly. May I learn, teach, perform and keep all of the words of Your Torah with love.
First, rescue me from all harsh judgments that derive from the pollution of the Serpent, which is the Side of Evil. Then give me a holy mind with which to learn Your Torah so that I will sweeten all judgments that come through holiness, which are only for the good.
May I sweeten these holy judgments until they are transformed into complete kindness and, moreover, it is no longer possible for any harsh judgments from the Side of Evil to descend from them.
God’s Intent is Always Benevolent Master of the world, I know and believe that all of the judgments and sufferings, impediments and confusions that prevent us from serving You, which we experience at every moment — whether as a nation or as individuals — have all been sent from You for our good.
Even if we think that they are evil, Your intent is always benevolent. Even when You push someone away from You, You do so in order to bring him close to You.
And so, when You rebuke us, hurt us, test us and refine us, it is for our good. As the verse states, “As a man punishes his son, so does HaShem your God punish you.”
But because of the weakness of our spirit — due to the multitude of our sins and the mire and grossness of our physicality — we cannot bear Your judgments, not even Your holy judgments. Instead, we are so confused and troubled that “the strength of the porter has collapsed” and, as a result, we have grown far from You.
This is particularly true of me because I am so spiritually impoverished. Only You know all that I have gone through from the beginning of my life until today.14At this point, you may describe all of the impediments, confusions, sufferings, temptations, tests and refinements that you have experienced throughout your life, and all of the sins that you have committed — everything that causes your heart pain.
In all of these experiences, Your intent was for the good, and You were testing and refining me. But because of the smallness and foolishness of my mind and the grime of my physicality, I have not been able to withstand the slightest test or process of refinement.
May the power of compassion that the true Tzaddikim attained after much struggle sweeten all judgments against me, my family, those who depend on me, and the entire Jewish people. Only the power and merit of the Seven Shepherds15This term refers to the early leaders of the Jewish people, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. and, more generally, of all the Tzaddikim who dwell in the dust, can shield us and speak on our behalf in this troubled generation prior to the coming of the Mashiach.
May we act in accordance with the wisdom and compassion of the Tzaddikim and thus sweeten all types of judgment until we eradicate them and come close to You.
May I, as well as all of the Jewish people, gain a new heart and a new spirit of holiness. May I abandon my evil ways and my wrong and confused thoughts.
From now on, may I think only of learning Torah and serving You in holiness and purity — of clinging to You, to Your true Tzaddikim and to Your holy Torah, so that I will clearly know and understand the truth of Your holy Torah.
In this way — and with the aid of Your compassion and salvation, for which nothing is too wondrous — may I heal my spirit of its pains, ills and mortal wounds, which I myself caused with my many sins.
Heal Us and We Will Be Healed HaShem, You are the true, faithful and compassionate Healer. Heal my wounds and the pains of my spirit and body. Quickly send complete healing to all the sick of Your nation, the House of Israel.16If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone who is ill, add here, “and in particular, [name], son/daughter of [mother’s name].”
Swiftly heal us, HaShem, and we will be healed. Save us and we will be saved. You are the object of our praise. We rely only on You and Your compassion. Treat us in accordance with Your beneficent will, for we are in great distress.
On whom can we rely, our Father in Heaven? Help us pray fervently to You every day. Do not send us any suffering that prevents us from praying, and do not remove Your kindness from us. As the verse states, “Blessed is God, Who has not removed my prayer and His kindness from me.”
For Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah Help us attain the holiness of Hoshana Rabbah, which corresponds to the level of speech without knowledge, and of Simchat Torah, which corresponds to the level of speech with knowledge.
In that spirit, may we learn Your holy Torah even when we do not understand it clearly. And may You in Your compassion accept even this kind of Torah learning, and rejoice in the words of our Torah although we do not understand them. Use that energy to plant from them spiritual willow trees.
Then open the eyes of our intellect and illumine our eyes in the light of Your Torah so we will go forth from darkness to light, comprehending all of its words clearly, knowing its laws and ways, and learning properly, until we will plant a Tree of Life whose canopy brings healing.
Every year, help us keep all of the holy mitzvot of Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah. May we rejoice and be sanctified on these holy and awesome days. As we do so, may we may complete the rectifications begun on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, and attain even more rectifications.
The Prayers of Hoshana Rabbah On the holy day of Hoshana Rabbah, help us walk around the bimah seven times holding the lulav and etrog,17On Hoshana Rabbah, synagogue worshippers circle the bimah (reader’s platform) seven times holding their lulav and etrog and reciting special prayers, in remembrance of the seven circuits made by the Kohanim around the Temple Altar on this day. in accordance with Your beneficent will.
May we pray the prayers of Hoshanah Rabbah from the depths of our heart, crying out for Your salvation on this holy and awesome day when Your judgment, which began on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, comes to its completion.
May we then perform Your holy prophets’ custom of beating the willow branches on the ground with holiness and joy, and, in this way, sweeten all judgments so as to bring about a unification of God and His Divine Presence on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.18Shemini Atzeret is a biblical festival that falls immediately after Sukkot. It is characterized by a public prayer for rain and dancing with the Torah scrolls in celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings (Simchat Torah). Outside the Land of Israel, Shemini Atzeret is a two-day holiday, with the prayer for rain on the first day and the Simchat Torah celebrations on the second day.
Dancing with Infinite Joy On Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, may we rejoice over the fact that we merited to be of the seed of Israel and received the holy Torah through Your prophet Moses, the faithful one of Your House.
May no stranger or impediment have the power to interfere in our joy on these holy days. May we cling to You in eternal love and with a joy that has no end.
May we finish learning the Five Books of Moses and begin them anew with love, awe and joy, accepting upon ourselves the resolution to learn Your Torah day and night for its own sake, and to keep all of its words with love.
God’s Glory Will Fill the Earth You Who are filled with compassion, fulfill our requests for good. By means of learning Torah in holiness and purity until we truly understand it, may we raise our spirit to its root of holy wisdom.
May we recognize You and reveal Your Godliness to the entire world. May we always work to enhance and sanctify Your honor, so that Your glory will fill the earth.
“Blessed is HaShem, God, the God of Israel, Who does wonders alone. Blessed is the Name of His glory forever, and may His glory fill the entire earth. Amen and amen.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ע"ד - רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם]
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתַּעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מְהֵרָה לְרַפְּאוֹת אֶת נַפְשִׁי רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה, וּלְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ לִמְקוֹם שָׁרְשָׁהּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה.
Holy Judgment Increases a Person’s Desire for God / Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah
When a person is subject to judgment, if that judgment is harsh and impure, that means that God is hiding His countenance from him, and that person cannot pray properly. But if that judgment is holy, then he is able to pray properly.
Holy judgment works as follows.
When God initially draws a person to Him, He causes him suffering that appears to drive him away. That suffering is meant to increase his desire to reach God.
This holy judgment corresponds to a diminished state of consciousness, or speech without knowledge. This is associated with Hoshana Rabbah.12The seventh day of Sukkot, marked by the public recital of prayers asking God for salvation and the beating of willow branches to symbolize the elimination of sin. On that day, we take a cluster of willow branches, which, our sages state, are reminiscent of the lips. These are lips that speak without knowledge — that is to say, a person learns words of Torah but does not understand them. The Zohar states that God loves these words and plants them as willows upon a river bank.
A person must “sweeten” holy judgment in order to proceed to a full state of consciousness, which he does by learning Torah. The wisdom of Torah corresponds to speech with knowledge. This is associated with the festival of Simchat Torah13Literally, “Joy of the Torah,” the celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings, during which Jews publicly dance with the Torah scrolls and read from the last chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy and the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. (which follows Hoshana Rabbah).
God created the world with His wisdom, which is His Torah. Our goal must be to reveal God’s glory by means of that wisdom.
Learning Torah for Its Own Sake
HaShem, my God and God of my fathers, help me heal my spirit quickly and raise it to its root with holiness and purity.
וּתְזַכֵּנִי לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לִשְׁמָהּ תָּמִיד יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְיַגֵּעַ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין אוֹתָהּ עַל בּוּרְיָהּ וַאֲמִתָּתָהּ. וְאֶזְכֶּה לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד, לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּאַהֲבָה:
Help me learn Your Torah for its own sake day and night, until I know and understand it clearly. May I learn, teach, perform and keep all of the words of Your Torah with love.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, וּתְבַטֵּל מֵעָלַי כָּל מִינֵי דִינִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
Sweetening Holy Judgments
Do not treat me in accordance with my sins, but nullify every sort of judgment against me.
וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי תָמִיד מִכָּל הַדִּינִים הַקָּשִׁים הַנִּמְשָׁכִין מִסִּטְרָא דִמְסָאֲבָא מִזֹּהֲמַת הַנָּחָשׁ. אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים מְאֹד, אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמִּי כַּחֲטָאַי וְלֹא תִגְמֹל עִמִּי כַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי. וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְשָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִדִּינִים הַקָּשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ הַנִּמְשָׁכִין דֶּרֶךְ הַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא. וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרִי, וְתִתֶּן לִי דַעַת וְשֵׂכֶל דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק גַּם כָּל הַדִּינִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הַנִּמְשָׁכִין דֶּרֶךְ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינוֹת גְּבוּרוֹת יִצְחָק, אֲשֶׁר כָּל אֵלּוּ הַדִּינִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הֵם לְטוֹבָה,
First, rescue me from all harsh judgments that derive from the pollution of the Serpent, which is the Side of Evil. Then give me a holy mind with which to learn Your Torah so that I will sweeten all judgments that come through holiness, which are only for the good.
גַּם אוֹתָם אֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְתִּיק שֶׁיִּתְהַפְּכוּ לַחֲסָדִים גְּמוּרִים, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל מֵהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שׁוּם דִּינִים קָשִׁים רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן:
May I sweeten these holy judgments until they are transformed into complete kindness and, moreover, it is no longer possible for any harsh judgments from the Side of Evil to descend from them.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יָדַעְתִּי וַאֲנִי מַאֲמִין שֶׁכָּל הַדִּינִים וְהַיִּסּוּרִים הָעוֹבְרִים עָלֵינוּ בִּכְלָלִיּוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִפְרָטִיּוּת מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל זְמַן, וְכָל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים הַמּוֹנְעִים וּמְבַלְבְּלִים אוֹתָנוּ מֵעֲבוֹדָתְךָ, כֻּלָּם נִשְׁלָחִים מֵאִתְּךָ לְטוֹבָתֵנוּ.
God’s Intent is Always Benevolent
Master of the world, I know and believe that all of the judgments and sufferings, impediments and confusions that prevent us from serving You, which we experience at every moment — whether as a nation or as individuals — have all been sent from You for our good.
וְאִם אֲנַחְנוּ חוֹשְׁבִים אוֹתָם לְרָעוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֱלֹהִים חֲשָׁבָהּ לְטוֹבָה, כִּי כַוָּנָתְךָ תָמִיד לְטוֹבָה, כִּי הַהִתְרַחֲקוּת הוּא עִקָּר הַהִתְקָרְבוּת,
Even if we think that they are evil, Your intent is always benevolent. Even when You push someone away from You, You do so in order to bring him close to You.
וְאַתָּה מוֹכִיחַ וּמְיַסֵּר וּמְנַסֶּה וּמְצָרֵף אוֹתָנוּ לְטוֹבָתֵנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יְיַסֵּר אִישׁ אֶת בְּנוֹ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְיַסְּרֶךָּ.
And so, when You rebuke us, hurt us, test us and refine us, it is for our good. As the verse states, “As a man punishes his son, so does HaShem your God punish you.”
אֲבָל מֵרִבּוּי חֲלִישׁוּת נַפְשֵׁנוּ, מֵרִבּוּי עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ, וּמֵעֹצֶם עֲכִירַת וְגַשְׁמִיּוּת גּוּפֵנוּ, אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִים לְקַבֵּל אֲפִלּוּ דִּינֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, כִּי הַיִּסּוּרִים וְהַמְּנִיעוֹת מְבַלְבְּלִים וּמַטְרִידִים אוֹתָנוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד, עַד אֲשֶׁר כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל, עַד אֲשֶׁר עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְרַחַקְנוּ מִמְּךָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְרַחַקְנוּ,
But because of the weakness of our spirit — due to the multitude of our sins and the mire and grossness of our physicality — we cannot bear Your judgments, not even Your holy judgments. Instead, we are so confused and troubled that “the strength of the porter has collapsed” and, as a result, we have grown far from You.
וּבִפְרָט אָנֹכִי הַדַּל וְהָאֶבְיוֹן וְכוּ', אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָבַר עָלַי מִיַּלְדוּתִי, מֵעוֹדִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וְכוּ' (וִיפָרֵשׁ כָּל שִׂיחָתוֹ כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים וְהַיִּסּוּרִים וְהַהֲסָתוֹת וְהַנִּסְיוֹנוֹת וְהַצֵּרוּפִים שֶׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו מֵעוֹדוֹ, וְכָל הַמִּכְשׁוֹלוֹת וְהַחֲטָאִים וְהַפְּשָׁעִים שֶּׁנִּכְשַׁל בָּהֶם וְכוּ' וְכוּ'. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי מַה שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ בְּנַפְשׁוֹ אֶת נִגְעֵי לְבָבוֹ וּמַכְאוֹבָיו)
This is particularly true of me because I am so spiritually impoverished. Only You know all that I have gone through from the beginning of my life until today.14At this point, you may describe all of the impediments, confusions, sufferings, temptations, tests and refinements that you have experienced throughout your life, and all of the sins that you have committed — everything that causes your heart pain.
וּבְוַדַּאי בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁעָבַר עָלַי, בְּכֻלָּם כַּוָּנָתְךָ הָיָה לְטוֹבָה, לְנַסּוֹתֵנִי וּלְצָרְפֵנִי עַל־יְדֵי אֵלּוּ הָעִנְיָנִים דַּיְקָא. אֲבָל מֵעֹצֶם קַטְנוּת וּשְׁטוּת דַּעְתִּי וַעֲכִירַת גּוּפִי, לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לַעֲמֹד בְּשׁוּם בְּחִינָה דַּקָּה וְנִסָּיוֹן קַל וְצֵרוּף כָּל שֶׁהוּא.
In all of these experiences, Your intent was for the good, and You were testing and refining me. But because of the smallness and foolishness of my mind and the grime of my physicality, I have not been able to withstand the slightest test or process of refinement.
בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי פָּקַדְתָּ לַּיְלָה צְרַפְתַּנִי בַל תִּמְצָא זַמּוֹתִי בַּל יַעֲבָר פִּי:
“You tested my heart, visiting me at night; You refined me and did not find any wrong thoughts; my thought does not contradict the words of my mouth.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הָאוֹמֵר לְעוֹלָמוֹ דַּי יֹאמַר לְצָרוֹתַי דַּי.
Gaining a New Spirit of Holiness
Master of the world, You Who told Your world to cease growing by proclaiming, “Enough!” tell my troubles, “Enough!”
וִירַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמָיו הַמְּרֻבִּים, בְּרַחֲמָיו הַגְּדוֹלִים, בְּכֹחַ הָרַחֲמִים שֶׁחָתְּרוּ וְהִשִּׂיגוּ כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְיַמְתִּיק וִיבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים מֵעָלַי וּמֵעַל כָּל בְּנֵי בֵיתִי וּמֵעַל כָּל הַנִּלְוִים אֵלַי וּמֵעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּי אֵין מִי שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנוּ עַתָּה בַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה בְּעוּקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא, בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה, בְּעֵת צָרָה הַזֹּאת, כִּי אִם כֹּחַ וּזְכוּת כָּל הַשִּׁבְעָה רוֹעִים וְכָל הַצַּדִּיקִים שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר, כֹּחָם וּזְכוּתָם הַגָּדוֹל יָגֵנוּ עָלֵינוּ וְיַמְלִיצוּ טוֹב בַּעֲדֵנוּ,
May the power of compassion that the true Tzaddikim attained after much struggle sweeten all judgments against me, my family, those who depend on me, and the entire Jewish people. Only the power and merit of the Seven Shepherds15This term refers to the early leaders of the Jewish people, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. and, more generally, of all the Tzaddikim who dwell in the dust, can shield us and speak on our behalf in this troubled generation prior to the coming of the Mashiach.
וְיַעֲשׂוּ כְּחָכְמָתָם הַגְּדוֹלָה וּכְרַחֲמֵיהֶם הַמְּרֻבִּים, וְיַמְתִּיקוּ וִיבַטְּלוּ מֵעָלֵינוּ כָּל מִינֵי דִינִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת.
May we act in accordance with the wisdom and compassion of the Tzaddikim and thus sweeten all types of judgment until we eradicate them and come close to You.
וְיִהְיֶה נִמְשַׁךְ עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵב חָדָשׁ וְרוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה דִקְדֻשָּׁה. וְאֶשְׁכַּח לְגַמְרֵי דַרְכִּי הָרָע וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתַי הָרָעוֹת וְהַמְבֻלְבָּלוֹת מְאֹד.
May I, as well as all of the Jewish people, gain a new heart and a new spirit of holiness. May I abandon my evil ways and my wrong and confused thoughts.
וְאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לַחְשֹׁב רַק בְּתוֹרָה וַעֲבוֹדָה, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְלִהְיוֹת דָּבוּק בְּךָ וּבְצַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל בּוּרְיָהּ וַאֲמִתָּתָהּ.
From now on, may I think only of learning Torah and serving You in holiness and purity — of clinging to You, to Your true Tzaddikim and to Your holy Torah, so that I will clearly know and understand the truth of Your holy Torah.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה לְרַפְּאוֹת אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל מַכְאוֹבֶיהָ וְתַחֲלוּאֶיהָ וּמַכּוֹתֶיהָ הָאֲנוּשׁוֹת וְהָרַבּוֹת וְהָעֲצוּמוֹת מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר, אֲשֶׁר הִרְבֵּיתִי לְהַחֲלוֹתָהּ וּלְהַכּוֹתָהּ לְיַסְּרָהּ וּלְהַכְאִיבָהּ עַל־יְדֵי רִבּוּי עֲוֹנוֹתַי וּפְשָׁעַי הָעֲצוּמִים וְהָרַבִּים מְאֹד,
In this way — and with the aid of Your compassion and salvation, for which nothing is too wondrous — may I heal my spirit of its pains, ills and mortal wounds, which I myself caused with my many sins.
אֲשֶׁר אֵין שׁוּם דֶּרֶךְ לְרַפֹּאתָהּ כִּי אִם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְבַד וּבִישׁוּעָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה וְהָעֲצוּמָה, כִּי מִמְּךָ לֹא יִפָּלֵא כָּל דָּבָר. רוֹפֵא אֱמֶת, רוֹפֵא חִנָּם, רוֹפֵא נֶאֱמָן וְרַחֲמָן, רַחֵם עָלַי וְהַעֲלֵה מְהֵרָה אֲרוּכָה וּמַרְפֵּא לְכָל תַּחֲלוּאֵי וּמַכְאוֹבֵי נַפְשִׁי וְגוּפִי בְּרוּחָנִיּות וְגַשְׁמִיּוּת, וּשְׁלַח מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל חוֹלֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל (וּבִפְרָט וְכוּ').
Heal Us and We Will Be Healed
HaShem, You are the true, faithful and compassionate Healer. Heal my wounds and the pains of my spirit and body. Quickly send complete healing to all the sick of Your nation, the House of Israel.16If you wish at this point to pray on behalf of someone who is ill, add here, “and in particular, [name], son/daughter of [mother’s name].”
אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהֶם וְלָנוּ חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה, רְפָאֵנוּ יְהֹוָה וְנֵרָפֵא הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. כִּי אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם סְמִיכָה וְתִקְוָה כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ לְבַד, עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים לְבַד, וְכִרְצוֹנְךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ כִּי בְצָרָה גְּדוֹלָה אֲנָחְנוּ,
Swiftly heal us, HaShem, and we will be healed. Save us and we will be saved. You are the object of our praise. We rely only on You and Your compassion. Treat us in accordance with Your beneficent will, for we are in great distress.
עַל מִי לָנוּ לְהִשָּׁעֵן עַל אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ לַעֲסֹק בִּתְפִלָּה תָמִיד, וּלְהַרְבּוֹת בִּתְפִלּוֹת וּתְחִנּוֹת וּבַקָּשׁוֹת בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם, וְלֹא תִשְׁלַח עָלֵינוּ יִסּוּרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בִּטּוּל תְּפִלָּה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא שׁוּם יִסּוּרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא תָסִיר תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ וְחַסְדְּךָ מֵאִתָּנוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא הֵסִיר תְּפִלָּתִי וְחַסְדּוֹ מֵאִתִּי:
On whom can we rely, our Father in Heaven? Help us pray fervently to You every day. Do not send us any suffering that prevents us from praying, and do not remove Your kindness from us. As the verse states, “Blessed is God, Who has not removed my prayer and His kindness from me.”
לְהוֹשַׁעְנָה רַבָּה וּלְשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה
וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לִקְדֻשַּׁת הוֹשַׁעְנָא רַבָּא וְשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת דִּבּוּר בְּלֹא דֵעָה וְדִבּוּר בְּדֵעָה.
For Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah
Help us attain the holiness of Hoshana Rabbah, which corresponds to the level of speech without knowledge, and of Simchat Torah, which corresponds to the level of speech with knowledge.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִלְמֹד וְלַהֲגוֹת בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָמִיד. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעֵת וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ זוֹכִין לְהָבִין דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ עַל בּוּרְיָן, נִזְכֶּה לְהִתְיַּגֵּעַ וְלַעֲסֹק וְלַהֲגוֹת בָּהֶם וְלִלְמֹד אֲפִלּוּ בְּלִי הֲבָנָה. וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, תְּקַבֵּל גַּם אֶת עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה וְתִשְׂמַח בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָתֵנוּ אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁהֵם בְּלֹא הֲבָנָה. וְתִטַּע מֵהֶם אִילָנִין רַבְרְבִין סַחֲרָנִין דְּהַהוּא נַחֲלָא הַנִּקְרָאִין עַרְבֵי נַחַל.
In that spirit, may we learn Your holy Torah even when we do not understand it clearly. And may You in Your compassion accept even this kind of Torah learning, and rejoice in the words of our Torah although we do not understand them. Use that energy to plant from them spiritual willow trees.
וּתְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים עָלֵינוּ, וְתִהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ וְתִפְקַח אֶת עֵינֵי שִׂכְלֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לָצֵאת מֵחֹשֶׁךְ לְאוֹר. וְתָאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בִּמְאוֹר תּוֹרָתְךָ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ עַל בּוּרְיָן וַאֲמִתָּתָן, וְלֵידַע כָּל דִּינֵי וּמִשְׁפְּטֵי הַתּוֹרָה וְכָל דַּרְכֵי הַתּוֹרָה, וּלְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל בָּהּ בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִנְטֹעַ אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי לְעֵלָּא דְּכֹלָּא אַסְוָתָא.
Then open the eyes of our intellect and illumine our eyes in the light of Your Torah so we will go forth from darkness to light, comprehending all of its words clearly, knowing its laws and ways, and learning properly, until we will plant a Tree of Life whose canopy brings healing.
וּתְזַכֵּנוּ בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה לְקַיֵּם כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת הַנּוֹהֲגוֹת בַּיָּמִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה, שֶׁהֵם הוֹשַׁעְנָה רַבָּא וְשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה. וְנִזְכֶּה לִשְׂמֹחַ בָּהֶם בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְחֶדְוָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה בְּתַכְלִית הַשִּׂמְחָה בִּשְׁלֵמוּת בֶּאֱמֶת, וּלְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְתַקֵּן כָּל הַתִּקּוּנִים הָאֵלֶּה וְיוֹתֵר מִזֶּה בַּיָּמִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הַנּוֹרָאִים הָאֵלּוּ, שֶׁהֵם גְּמַר הַחֲתִימָה וְהַתִּקּוּן שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם כִּפּוּר.
Every year, help us keep all of the holy mitzvot of Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah. May we rejoice and be sanctified on these holy and awesome days. As we do so, may we may complete the rectifications begun on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, and attain even more rectifications.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם הַשִּׁבְעָה הַקָּפוֹת שֶׁל יוֹם הוֹשַׁעְנָא רַבָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ עִם הָאַרְבַּע מִינִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְנוֹרָאִים בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב.
The Prayers of Hoshana Rabbah
On the holy day of Hoshana Rabbah, help us walk around the bimah seven times holding the lulav and etrog,17On Hoshana Rabbah, synagogue worshippers circle the bimah (reader’s platform) seven times holding their lulav and etrog and reciting special prayers, in remembrance of the seven circuits made by the Kohanim around the Temple Altar on this day. in accordance with Your beneficent will.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִצְעֹק וְלִזְעֹק אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלּוֹת הַהוֹשַׁעְנוֹת בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם מֵעוּמְקָא דְלִבָּא כָּרָאוּי לִצְעֹק לִישׁוּעָתְךָ, בַּיּוֹם הַנּוֹרָא הַהוּא, יוֹם גְּמַר הַדִּין הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא וְהָאָיֹם מְאֹד מְאֹד.
May we pray the prayers of Hoshanah Rabbah from the depths of our heart, crying out for Your salvation on this holy and awesome day when Your judgment, which began on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, comes to its completion.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת חֲבָטַת הָעֲרָבָה מִנְהַג נְבִיאֶךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה. וּלְהַמְתִּיק עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה כָּל הַדִּינִים בְּתַכְלִית הַהַמְתָּקָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשָׂה יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים עַל יָדֵינוּ בְּיוֹם שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת וְשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשִׁים:
May we then perform Your holy prophets’ custom of beating the willow branches on the ground with holiness and joy, and, in this way, sweeten all judgments so as to bring about a unification of God and His Divine Presence on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.18Shemini Atzeret is a biblical festival that falls immediately after Sukkot. It is characterized by a public prayer for rain and dancing with the Torah scrolls in celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings (Simchat Torah). Outside the Land of Israel, Shemini Atzeret is a two-day holiday, with the prayer for rain on the first day and the Simchat Torah celebrations on the second day.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִשְמֹחַ בִּשְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת וְשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה בְּחֶדְוָה רַבָּה וְשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה עַד אֵין סוֹף, שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לִהְיוֹת מִזֶּרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְקַבֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה נְבִיאֶךָ, נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתֶךָ.
Dancing with Infinite Joy
On Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, may we rejoice over the fact that we merited to be of the seed of Israel and received the holy Torah through Your prophet Moses, the faithful one of Your House.
אַשְׁרֵינוּ מַה טּוֹב חֶלְקֵנוּ וּמַה נָּעִים גּוֹרָלֵנוּ וּמַה יָּפָה יְרֻשָּׁתֵנוּ.
How fortunate are we! How good is our portion, how sweet our fate, and how beautiful our inheritance.
אַשְׁרֵינוּ שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לְכָל הַטּוֹב הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא הַזֶּה,
How fortunate are we to have attained this awesome goodness.
זַכֵּנוּ וְעָזְרֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ הַשִּׂמְחָה הַזֹּאת בְּלִבֵּנוּ בְּכָל הַשָּׁנָה כֻּלָּה, וּבִפְרָט בְּיוֹם שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ.
Help us draw this appreciation into our hearts throughout the year, particularly on the holy day of Simchat Torah.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִשְׂמֹחַ תָּמִיד בַּשִּׂמְחָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת כָּרָאוּי לִשְׂמֹחַ בָּזֶה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְנִזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם הַהַקָּפוֹת עִם הַסִּפְרֵי תוֹרָה בַּיָּמִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וַעֲצוּמָה עַד אֵין סוֹף,
May we then dance with infinite joy as we hold the Torah scrolls.
וְלֹא יִתְעָרֵב זָר בְּשִׂמְחָתֵנוּ, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְשׁוּם מוֹנֵעַ וּמְעַכֵּב לְבַלְבֵּל וּלְעַכֵּב חַס וְשָׁלוֹם שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ הָעֲצוּמָה בַּיָּמִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ, נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָּךְ בִּדְבֵקוּת נִפְלָא וּבְהִתְקָרְבוּת גָּדוֹל, בְּאַהֲבָה רַבָּה וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם, בְּשִׂמְחָה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ קֵץ וְתַכְלִית.
May no stranger or impediment have the power to interfere in our joy on these holy days. May we cling to You in eternal love and with a joy that has no end.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְסַיֵּם אָז אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וּלְהַתְחִילָהּ מֵחָדָשׁ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְיִרְאָה וּבְשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה. וּלְקַבֵּל עָלֵינוּ מֵחָדָשׁ לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָתְךָ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה לִשְׁמָהּ, וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּאַהֲבָה.
May we finish learning the Five Books of Moses and begin them anew with love, awe and joy, accepting upon ourselves the resolution to learn Your Torah day and night for its own sake, and to keep all of its words with love.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וּמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַעֲלוֹת נַפְשֵׁנוּ לְשָׁרְשָׁהּ שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהוּא חָכְמָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־יְדֵי עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהָבִינָהּ בֶּאֱמֶת.
God’s Glory Will Fill the Earth
You Who are filled with compassion, fulfill our requests for good. By means of learning Torah in holiness and purity until we truly understand it, may we raise our spirit to its root of holy wisdom.
וְנִזְכֶּה לְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּלְגַלּוֹת אֱלָהוּתְךָ בָּעוֹלָם, וְיִתְגַּדֵּל וְיִתְקַדֵּשׁ כְּבוֹדְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל יָדֵינוּ תָמִיד, וּכְבוֹדְךָ יִמָּלֵא כָל הָאָרֶץ, יְהִי כְבוֹד יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם יִשְׂמַח יְהֹוָה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו.
May we recognize You and reveal Your Godliness to the entire world. May we always work to enhance and sanctify Your honor, so that Your glory will fill the earth.
רוּמָה עַל שָׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ.
“May the glory of HaShem last forever. May HaShem rejoice in His deeds.” “High over the heavens is God; over all the earth is Your glory.”
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת לְבַדּוֹ. וּבָרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדוֹ לְעוֹלָם וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹדוֹ אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ אָמֵן וְאָמֵן:
“Blessed is HaShem, God, the God of Israel, Who does wonders alone. Blessed is the Name of His glory forever, and may His glory fill the entire earth. Amen and amen.”