The Resolve to Serve God Even at the Price of Martyrdom In order for a person to serve God properly, and particularly when he sees that he is not praying well, he should remind himself that that he would be willing to die rather than betray his religion. This thought awakens an inner peace, which is a blending of kindness and might. And now he can pray properly, connecting his thoughts to his words of prayer. Peace Among Jews Master of peace, You Who have made peace and created everything, help us always grasp the trait of peace.
May great peace rest upon people — particularly upon husband and wife. May people not engage in any disputes, nor even entertain dispute in their hearts.
Just as You make peace in Your heavens by wondrously bonding the opposites of fire and water, so too, draw peace down to us and to the entire world so that all opposites will bind together in peace and love, with a unified intent to come close to You and to Your Torah. May all opposites join into a single unit to do Your will wholeheartedly.
Sanctifying God’s Name Through Prayer May I always dedicate myself to sanctifying Your Name — particularly when I recite the Shema19See footnote 5, p. 221 and when I pray.
May I then fill my mind with a strong yearning to sacrifice my soul and die in order to sanctify Your great, holy and awesome Name. May I be aflame with the flames of love, so that I overcome my evil inclination and give You all of my body, soul and might.
May I always pray with great intent, with holiness and purity, inserting all of my thoughts and awareness into the words of prayer, firmly connecting my thought to my speech, not expressing a single word of prayer without intent.
Send us wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and save us in every way. When we learn Your Torah, open our hearts so that we have the ability to understand it. Enlighten our eyes with its light so that we will be able to create new insights.
Draw upon us a wondrous illumination from the Torah that You will reveal to the entire world in the future through our righteous Mashiach. As the verse states, “You will draw water with joy from the wellsprings of salvation” — which the Aramaic translation renders as, “You will receive new instruction.”
The Wellsprings of Salvation Master of the world, send abundant salvation at every moment from the holy wellsprings of salvation that never cease flowing.
Rescue me in the merit of these Tzaddikim, who have the power to shield and rescue all those who take refuge in them from the grave or worse, and lead them to eternal life. May I begin from this moment on to abandon my evil ways and contemptible thoughts, and instead draw wisdom and salvation onto myself.
May I never again return to my foolishness. Rather, may I bring all of my intelligence and awareness to Your holy Torah. May I firmly connect my thought to Torah and prayer, so that it never in the slightest leaves their circle of influence.
Quickly rescue me from the stormy waters, from the depths of the sea, from the muddy chasms where there is no place to stand, from chaos and emptiness, darkness and the abyss.
Due to my measureless distance from You, my evil inclination gains strength at every moment, creating endless impediments, confusion and crookedness in my heart. And so I require wondrous salvation at every moment.
Open the wellsprings so that salvation will flow anew for us at every moment. Sanctify and purify us from all of the pollution, stains and blemishes of this world.
May the verse quickly be realized, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for God, HaShem, is my strength and song; He has saved me. You will draw water with joy from the wellsprings of salvation.”
Please bless me and Your entire nation, the Jewish people, at every moment with Your beneficent peace. Establish for us the verse, “HaShem will give strength to His nation; HaShem will bless His nation with peace.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה פ' - ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן]
אֲדוֹן הַשָּׁלוֹם, מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלּוֹ, עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל. עָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה תָמִיד לֶאֱחֹז בְּמִדַּת הַשָּׁלוֹם,
The Resolve to Serve God Even at the Price of Martyrdom
In order for a person to serve God properly, and particularly when he sees that he is not praying well, he should remind himself that that he would be willing to die rather than betray his religion.
This thought awakens an inner peace, which is
a blending of kindness and might. And now he can
pray properly, connecting his thoughts to his words
of prayer.
Peace Among Jews
Master of peace, You Who have made peace and created everything, help us always grasp the trait of peace.
וְיִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל בֶּאֱמֶת בֵּין כָּל אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ וּבֵין אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שׁוּם מַחֲלֹקֶת אֲפִלּוּ בָּלֵב, בֵּין כָּל בְּנֵי אָדָם,
May great peace rest upon people — particularly upon husband and wife. May people not engage in any disputes, nor even entertain dispute in their hearts.
כִּי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמֶךָ, וְאַתָּה מְחַבֵּר שְׁנֵי הֲפָכִים יַחַד, אֵשׁ וּמַיִם, וּבְנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם. כֵּן תַּמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּתְחַבְּרוּ כָּל הַהֲפָכִים יַחַד בְּשָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל וּבְאַהֲבָה גְּדוֹלָה, וְיֻכְלְלוּ כֻלָּם בְּדֵעָה אַחַת וְלֵב אֶחָד לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְתוֹרָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיֵעָשׂוּ כֻלָּם אֲגֻדָּה אֶחָת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם,
Just as You make peace in Your heavens by wondrously bonding the opposites of fire and water, so too, draw peace down to us and to the entire world so that all opposites will bind together in peace and love, with a unified intent to come close to You and to Your Torah. May all opposites join into a single unit to do Your will wholeheartedly.
יְהֹוָה שָׁלוֹם, בָּרְכֵנוּ בַשָּׁלוֹם, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת וְכָל הַהַשְׁפָּעוֹת וְכָל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת:
God of peace, bless us with peace, and, in this way, draw down onto us blessing, abundance and salvation.
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לִמְסֹר נַפְשִׁי עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם בֶּאֱמֶת, וּבִפְרָט בִּשְׁעַת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִלָּה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְלוֹמַר קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע בִּמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת.
Sanctifying God’s Name Through Prayer
May I always dedicate myself to sanctifying Your Name — particularly when I recite the Shema19See footnote 5, p. 221 and when I pray.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל בְּדַעְתִּי בְּרָצוֹן חָזָק בֶּאֱמֶת לִמְסֹר נַפְשִׁי לָמוּת עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, לְהִתְלַהֵב בְּשַׁלְהוֹבִין דִרְחִימוּתָא, וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרִי, לִמְסֹר כָּל גּוּפִי וְנַפְשִׁי וּמְאֹדִי בִּשְׁבִיל לְקַדֵּשׁ שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא,
May I then fill my mind with a strong yearning to sacrifice my soul and die in order to sanctify Your great, holy and awesome Name. May I be aflame with the flames of love, so that I overcome my evil inclination and give You all of my body, soul and might.
וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה אֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה בֶּאֱמֶת, לְהַכְנִיס כָּל מֹחִי וּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי וְדַעְתִּי לְתוֹךְ דִּבּוּרֵי הַתְּפִלָּה, וּלְקַשֵּׁר הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה אֶל הַדִּבּוּר בְּקֶשֶׁר אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק, וְלֹא אוֹצִיא שׁוּם דִּבּוּר שֶׁל הַתְּפִלָּה בְּלֹא כַוָּנָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה שֶׁתִּשְׁתַּעֲשֵׁעַ עִם תְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ תָמִיד,
May I always pray with great intent, with holiness and purity, inserting all of my thoughts and awareness into the words of prayer, firmly connecting my thought to my speech, not expressing a single word of prayer without intent.
וְיִהְיֶה לְךָ נַחַת רוּחַ וְשַׁעֲשׁוּעִים גְּדוֹלִים מִתְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ, וְיַעֲלוּ וְיֵרָצוּ תְּפִלּוֹתֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ לִהְיוֹת כֶּתֶר עַל רֹאשְׁךָ.
God, take delight in our prayers always, accept them, and place them as a crown upon Your head.
וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ עָלֵינוּ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה וָדַעַת, וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בְּכָל מִינֵי יְשׁוּעוֹת, וְתִפְתַּח אֶת לִבֵּנוּ בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וְנִזְכֶּה לְהָבִין הֵיטֵב בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנִּלְמַד שָׁם, וְתָאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בִּמְאוֹר תּוֹרָתֶךָ. וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁים אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,
Send us wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and save us in every way. When we learn Your Torah, open our hearts so that we have the ability to understand it. Enlighten our eyes with its light so that we will be able to create new insights.
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ הֶאָרָה נִפְלָאָה מֵהַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עָתִיד לְגַלּוֹת עַל־יְדֵי מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה. וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ, וּתְקַבְּלוּן אוּלְפַן חֲדָת:
Draw upon us a wondrous illumination from the Torah that You will reveal to the entire world in the future through our righteous Mashiach. As the verse states, “You will draw water with joy from the wellsprings of salvation” — which the Aramaic translation renders as, “You will receive new instruction.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שְׁלַח לִי יְשׁוּעוֹת רַבּוֹת בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה, כִּי אַתָּה גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְךָ מַעְיָנוֹת שֶׁל יְשׁוּעָה שֶׁאֵינָם נִפְסָקוֹת לְעוֹלָם כַּמַּעְיָן הַנּוֹבֵעַ שֶׁאֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵק,
The Wellsprings of Salvation
Master of the world, send abundant salvation at every moment from the holy wellsprings of salvation that never cease flowing.
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי יְשׁוּעוֹת שְׁלֵמוֹת וַאֲמִתִּיּוֹת מִמַּעְיָנוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה.
The true Tzaddikim joyfully draw from the waters of the Torah, which are the wellsprings of salvation.
זַכֵּנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּכֹחַ וּזְכוּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת מַעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה, שֶׁזָּכוּ לְהַשִּׂיג וּלְגַלּוֹת וְלִשְׁאֹב מֵימֵי הַתּוֹרָה בְּשָׂשׂוֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם כֹּחַ גָּדוֹל לָנֶצַח, לַעֲזֹר וּלְהָגֵן וּלְהוֹשִׁיעַ לְכֹל הַחוֹסִים בָּהֶם, לְהַצִּילָם מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּיּוֹת וּמִתַּחְתָּיו וּלְזַכּוֹתָם לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם לָעַד וְלָנֶצַח, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם. עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי בִּזְכוּתָם, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ מֵעַתָּה, לְהַתְחִיל מֵעַתָּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלַי חָכְמָה וִישׁוּעָה אֲמִתִּיִּית לַעֲזֹב דַּרְכִּי הָרָע וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתַי הַמְגֻנּוֹת,
Rescue me in the merit of these Tzaddikim, who have the power to shield and rescue all those who take refuge in them from the grave or worse, and lead them to eternal life. May I begin from this moment on to abandon my evil ways and contemptible thoughts, and instead draw wisdom and salvation onto myself.
וְלֹא אָשׁוּב לְאִוַּלְתִּי, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיס כָּל חָכְמָתִי וְדַעְתִּי בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וּלְקַשֵּׁר מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי אֶל הַתּוֹרָה וְהַתְּפִלָּה תָמִיד בְּקֶשֶׁר אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק, וְלִבְלִי לְהַנִּיחַ אֶת הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה לָצֵאת חוּץ כְּלָל אֲפִלּוּ כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה.
May I never again return to my foolishness. Rather, may I bring all of my intelligence and awareness to Your holy Torah. May I firmly connect my thought to Torah and prayer, so that it never in the slightest leaves their circle of influence.
וּתְמַהֵר לְהוֹצִיאֵנִי וּלְהַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּיִם הַזֵּדוֹנִים, מִמְּצוּלוֹת יָם, מִיוֵן מְצוּלָה וְאֵין מָעֳמָד, מִתֹּהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ וּתְהוֹם.
Quickly rescue me from the stormy waters, from the depths of the sea, from the muddy chasms where there is no place to stand, from chaos and emptiness, darkness and the abyss.
וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע בִּישׁוּעוֹת נִפְלָאוֹת מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה,
Send me help at every moment from the wellsprings of salvation.
כִּי גָלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ בַּעַל הַיְּשׁוּעוֹת, שֶׁבְּעֹצֶם רִחוּקִי מִמְּךָ בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, וְהַיֵּצֶר הָרָע מִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל־עֵת בְּכַמָּה מִינֵי הִתְגַּבְּרוּת וּמְנִיעוֹת וְעִכּוּבִים וּבִלְבּוּלִים וְעַקְמִימִיּוּת שֶׁבַּלֵּב עַד אֵין מִסְפָּר, אֲנִי צָרִיךְ יְשׁוּעוֹת רַבּוֹת וְנִפְלָאוֹת בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע,
Due to my measureless distance from You, my evil inclination gains strength at every moment, creating endless impediments, confusion and crookedness in my heart. And so I require wondrous salvation at every moment.
שֶׁתִּפְתַּח לָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, מַעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַיְשׁוּעָה נוֹבַעַת וּמִתְחַדֶּשֶׁת לָנוּ בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל בְּכָל־עֵת מִמַּה שֶּׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִין לְהִנָּצֵל, בְּדַרְכֵי יְשׁוּעוֹתֶיךָ הַנִּפְלָאוֹת הַמִּתְחַדְּשִׁים וְנוֹבְעִים בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה, וּתְקַדְּשֵׁנוּ וּתְטַהֲרֵנוּ עַל־יָדָם מִכָּל הַטֻּמְאוֹת וּמִכָּל הַגִּלּוּלִים וּמִכָּל הַכְּתָמִים וּמִכָּל הַפְּגָמִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם.
Open the wellsprings so that salvation will flow anew for us at every moment. Sanctify and purify us from all of the pollution, stains and blemishes of this world.
וְקַיֵּם לָנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם מִכֹּל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶם וּמִכָּל גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם אֲטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם:
Fulfill for us the verse, “I will sprinkle pure waters upon you and purify you; of all of your contaminations and all your idols will I purify you.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעוֹת, מַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּרַחֲמִים,
Rescue from All of Our Problems
Master of the world, You Who cause salvation to blossom, fulfill our requests.
וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מְהֵרָה בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִוָּשַׁע בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
Save me quickly from all of my problems in both the physical and spiritual realms, so that from this moment on, I will return to You.
וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מְהֵרָה מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְהֹוָה וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה. וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה.
May the verse quickly be realized, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for God, HaShem, is my strength and song; He has saved me. You will draw water with joy from the wellsprings of salvation.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה עַל עַמְּךָ בִּרְכָתֶךָ סֶלָה.
“To HaShem is salvation; Your blessing rests upon Your nation.”
יְהֹוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה הַמֶּלֶךְ יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ.
“HaShem, save; King, answer us on the day that we call.”
וְטוֹב יִהְיֶה בְּעֵינֶיךָ לְבָרְכֵנוּ וּלְבָרֵךְ אֶת כָּל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה בִּשְׁלוֹמְךָ הַטּוֹב, וְקַיֵּם לָנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, יְהֹוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְהֹוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם.
Please bless me and Your entire nation, the Jewish people, at every moment with Your beneficent peace. Establish for us the verse, “HaShem will give strength to His nation; HaShem will bless His nation with peace.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
“May He Who makes peace in His heights, in His compassion make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and say, ‘Amen.’”