ליקוטי תפילות א:קלט | Prayer for Truth in Light of Opposition (Liqutei Tefilot Ⅰ:139), by Reb Noson of Nemyriv adapted from the teachings of Rebbe Naḥman (ca. 1820s)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=43102

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Date: 2022-03-05

Last Updated: 2023-01-28

Categories: Torah Study

Tags: 19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., חסידות Ḥasidut, חסידי ברצלב Ḥasidei Bratslav (Breslov)

Excerpt: Often, when people refer to "Rebbe Naḥman's Prayer for Peace," they are referring to a more recent prayer combining portions of a number of prayers of Reb Noson of Nemyriv, sometimes also including from this one: Liqutei Tefilot Ⅰ:139, a prayer for the spiritual illumination of the Jewish people in the context of opposition to Ḥasidut. Reb Noson of Nemirov adapted his teḥinot from the teachings of Rebbe Naḥman of Bratslav in Liqutei Moharan Ⅰ:228. . . .


Content:
Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
סוֹמֵךְ יְהֹוָה לְכָל הַנּוֹפְלִים
וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל הַכְּפוּפִים. (תהלים קמה:יד)
HaShem supports all who fall,
and straightens all who are bent over.” (Psalms 145:14)
חוּס וַחֲמֹל וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ
וְעַל כָּל נַפְשׁוֹת עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
הַמֻּנָּחִים בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁמֻּנָּחִים,
וְגַלֵּה לָהֶם וְלָנוּ אֶת הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת שֶׁבַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה,
שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם כֹּחַ לְתַקֵּן נַפְשׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל
וְלַהֲשִׁיבָם אֵלֶיךָ וּלְתוֹרָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
וְזַכֵּנוּ כֻלָּנוּ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת,
Have pity, mercy and compassion on us
and on all the souls of your people, the House of Yisrael,
wherever they may be.
Reveal to them and to us the true tsadiqim in this generation
who have the power to rectify the souls of Yisrael.
Truly bring these souls back to you and to your Torah.
Help all of us, the House of Yisrael, truly come close to them.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל עֹצֶם הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁבַּדּוֹרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ
עַל הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת
וְעַל סִפְרֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים
וְעַל כָּל הַנִּלְוִים עֲלֵיהֶם
וְהַנִּקְרָאִים עַל שְׁמָם הַקָּדוֹשׁ.
You know how strong opposition is in these generations
against the true tsadiqim,
their holy books,
and everyone who is attached to them
and is one of their followers.
אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָבַר בְּעִנְיַן זֶה,
וּמַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַתָּה עֲדַיִן בְּעִנְיַן זֶה,
כִּי נַעֲשָׂה קַטֵיגוֹרְיָא גְּדוֹלָה
בֵּין הַתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם,
וַעֲדַיִן הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת בִּמְקוֹמָהּ עוֹמֶדֶת וּמִתְעוֹרֶרֶת וּמִתְגַּבֶּרֶת בְּכָל פַּעַם יוֹתֵר,
You know everything that has occurred in this matter,
and that is still occurring,
since great opposition has been sown
among the Torah scholars and their followers,
and the dispute is strong, fiery and intensifying.
וּבְוַדַּאי כַּוָּנָתְךָ לְטוֹבָה,
כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְקָרְבוּ הַנְּפָשׁוֹת אֶל הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת
מִתּוֹךְ יִסּוּרִים וּמְנִיעוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת,
כִּי אֵין רָאוּי לְקָרְבָם מִתּוֹךְ גְּדֻלָּה
רַק מִתּוֹךְ מַחֲלֹקֶת
וְיִסּוּרִים וּמְנִיעוֹת רַבּוֹת,
כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹדַעְתָּנוּ עַל־יְדֵי חֲכָמֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים
שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל זֶה אֵין מְקַבְּלִים גֵּרִים לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְכוּ׳.
Certainly your intent is for the good:
so that people will come close to the true tsadiqim
out of the midst of suffering and obstacles.
It is not proper for people to come close to them out of comfort.
Rather, they should experience opposition,
suffering and many obstacles.
As you have informed us through your holy sages,
that is why we do not accept converts in the days of the Moshiaḥ, and so forth.
אֲבָל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת וְהַמְּנִיעוֹת הוּא יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי
שֶׁקָּשֶׁה לְסוֹבְלוֹ,
וְקָשֶׁה מְאֹד לְשׁוּם נֶפֶשׁ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל
לְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת וּלְדַרְכֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים,
מִגֹּדֶל עֹצֶם הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת
וְהַמְּנִיעוֹת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר.
But the dispute and the obstacles are too much.
They are difficult to bear.
It is very hard for a soul of Yisrael
to come close to the true tsadiqim and their holy ways
because of the intense dispute
and countless obstacles.
וְעַתָּה מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, אֲדוֹן כֹּל,
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים,
יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת,
צוֹפֶה נִסְתָּרוֹת,
בּוֹחֵן כְּלָיוֹת וָלֵב,
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
וְהָקֵל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת וְהַשְׁקֵט הָרִיב,
וְתַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם.
What shall we do, our Father in Heaven, Master of all,
you who are filled with compassion,
you who know secrets,
you who gaze upon what is hidden,
you who investigate the heart?
Have compassion on us and upon all Yisrael.
Alleviate the dispute and silence the opposition,
and draw peace into the world.
כִּי בְצוֹק הָעִתִּים הַלָּלוּ
אֲפִלּוּ אִם (יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם) בְּעֵת הַשָּׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל,
עֲדַיִן רַבּוּ הַמְּנִיעוֹת עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר,
וּבְוַדַּאי כָּל יְמֵי הַגָּלוּת
צָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְהִתְקָרֵב אֶל הָאֱמֶת
מִתּוֹךְ יִסּוּרִים וּמְנִיעוֹת,
אֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם.
In these difficult times,
even (if there will be) a time of great peace,
the obstacles that everyone faces have increased immeasurably.
Certainly, during all the days of the exile,
every individual must reach out to the truth
in the midst of suffering and obstacles,
even if there is peace in the world.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים,
וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ נֵלֵךְ
וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ (וּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ) נִשְׁמֹר,
וְגַלֵּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם מְהֵרָה.
Have compassion on us, you who are filled with compassion,
Help us follow your rules
and fulfill your judgments (and your mitsvot).
Quickly reveal the truth to the world.
יַכִּירוּ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם אֶת אוֹר הַנִּפְלָא וְהַנּוֹרָא,
שֶׁאַתָּה מֵאִיר בָּעוֹלָם
עַל־יְדֵי הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר
מִיּוֹם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה עַד (הַיּוֹם) הַדּוֹר הַזֶּה,
May everyone recognize the wondrous and awesome light
that you shine into the world
through the true tsadiqim in every generation,
since the day that the Torah was given until (today,) this generation.
וּבִפְרָט אוֹר הָאֱמֶת
שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקֵי אֱמֶת שֶׁבַּדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ
שֶׁאָנוּ צְרִיכִים לְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם
וְלֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם כְּדֵי לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ
וּלְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
In particular, may everyone recognize the light of truth
of the true tsadiqim in these generations.
We need to draw close to them and follow their ways
in order to return to you
and truly recognize you.
שְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ הֵמָּה יַנְחוּנִי,
יְבִיאוּנִי אֶל הַר קָדְשְׁךָ
וְאֶל מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ. (תהלים מג:ג)
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ
אֲהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ,
יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ. (תהלים פו:יא)
“Send your light and your truth to guide me;
they will bring me to your Holy Mountain
and to your dwelling place.” (Psalms 43:3)
“HaShem, teach me your ways.
I will walk in your truth.
Unite my heart to revere your Name.” (Psalms 86:11)
כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת
וּדְבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד,
וּבְוַדַּאי תִּגְמֹר הַכֹּל
כִּרְצוֹנְךָ.
For you, Elohim, are true
and your word is true and lasts forever,
and you will certainly complete everything
according to your will.
רַחֵם עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם בָּחַרְתָּ,
וּמַהֵר לְגַלּוֹת הָאֱמֶת
לְמַעַן תַּצִּיל וְתִשְׁמֹר כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל
מִמַּה שֶּׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְהַצִּילָם וּלְשׁוֹמְרָם,
Have compassion on your people, Yisrael, whom you chose,
and quickly reveal the truth to them
for the sake of rescuing and guarding souls of Yisrael
from all that You need to rescue and guard them from.
וּבִפְרָט לְשׁוֹמְרָם מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים, מֵהָרְשָׁתוֹת וְהַמִּכְמוֹרוֹת
שֶׁפָּרְשׂוּ עַתָּה הַכּוֹפְרִים וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים
עַל נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
עַל־יְדֵי בָּתֵּי חִנּוּכָם הָרָעָה.
In particular, guard them from the traps and nets
that the heretics and nonbelievers now spread out
for the youth of the House of Yisrael
through their evil schools.
תֶּן לָהֶם כְּפָעֳלָם
וּכְרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם
כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם תֵּן לָהֶם,
הָשֵׁב גְּמוּלָם לָהֶם. (תהלים כח:ד)
וְהַצֵּל וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשׁוֹת עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל
שֶׁלֹּא יִלָּכְדוּ בְּרִשְׁתָּם וּבִמְצוּדָתָם.
“Reply to them in keeping with their deeds
and according to the evil of their endeavors;
repay them in accordance with the acts of their hands;
turn their recompense back upon them.” (Psalms 28:4)
Save and guard the souls of your nation, the House of Yisrael,
so that they will not be trapped in the evildoers’ net and trap.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים,
וְגַלֵּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם מְהֵרָה,
שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם לֵידַע אֲמִתַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים
וְרוּם מַעֲלַת תָּקְפָּם וּגְדֻלָּתָם,
וְגֹדֶל עֹצֶם כֹּחָם לְהָשִׁיב כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם אֵלֶיךָ.
Have compassion on us in the merit of our holy forefathers and our rabbis.
Quickly reveal the truth in the world
so that everyone will know the truth of the holy tsadiqim
and their elevated might and greatness,
and their great power to bring all people in the world to you.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ,
לְמַעַן רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים,
לְמַעַנְךָ עֲשֵׂה וְלֹא לָנוּ,
רְאֵה עֲמִידָתֵנוּ דַּלִּים וְרֵקִים.
מִתְרַצֶּה בְּרַחֲמִים
וּמִתְפַּיֵּס בְּתַחֲנוּנִים הִתְרַצֵּה וְהִתְפַּיֵּס לְדוֹר עָנִי
כִּי אֵין עוֹזֵר.
Have compassion on us for the sake of your Name,
for the sake of your generous compassion.
Act for your sake and not for ours.
Look upon our poverty and emptiness.
In your compassion, be placated.
In your graciousness, be appeased on behalf of this poor generation,
because there is no one else to help.
רְאֵה כִּי אָזְלַת יָד
וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב. (דברים לב:לו)
וְאַתָּה הִבְטַחְתָּנוּ, כִּי אֵין דּוֹר יָתוֹם,
וּבְוַדַּאי גַּם עַתָּה נִמְצָאִים צַדִּיקִים הַמְּאִירִים לָאָרֶץ וְלַדָּרִים עָלֶיהָ,
אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לָהֶם כֹּחַ לְהָשִׁיב כָּל (יִשְׂרָאֵל) הָעוֹלָם אֵלֶיךָ,
אֲבָל בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים
נֶעֶלְמוּ מֵעֵינֵינוּ.
See, “the [enemy’s] hand gains strength
and there is no savior to strengthen [us].” (Deuteronomy 32:36)
You promised us that no generation would be orphaned.
Certainly now as well, there are true tsadiqim on earth
who have the power to bring all (Yisrael) the world to you.
But because of our many sins,
they are hidden from our eyes.
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ,
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל עֹז לְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַמְּנִיעוֹת
וּלְהִתְקָרֵב לְצַדִּיקִים
וְלִירֵאִים אֲמִתִּיִּים
וּלְכָל הַנִּלְוִים אֲלֵיהֶם.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִינֹק וְלִשְׁאֹב מִמַּעְיְנֵי חָכְמָתָם
וּלְקַבֵּל עַמְקוּת עֵצוֹתֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת וְהָאֲמִתִּיּוֹת,
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
In your compassion,
help us gain the strength to break all obstacles
and come close to tsadiqim,
to God-fearing people,
and to all those who are attached to them.
May we draw from the wellsprings of their wisdom
and receive the depth of their holy and true counsel,
so that we will come dose to you in truth,
from now and forever.
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי
וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ
יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי. (תהלים יט:טו)
“May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before you,
HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalms 19:15)
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו (איוב כה:ב)
הוּא בְּרַחֲמָיו יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ
וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
May the one who makes peace in the heights, (Job 25:2)
in their compassion make peace upon us
and upon all Yisrael,
and say, Amen.

Often, when people refer to “Rebbe Naḥman’s Prayer for Peace,” they are referring to a more recent prayer combining portions of a number of prayers of Reb Noson of Nemyriv, sometimes also including from this one: Liqutei Tefilot Ⅰ:139, a prayer for the spiritual illumination of the Jewish people in the context of opposition to Ḥasidut. Reb Noson of Nemirov adapted his teḥinot from the teachings of Rebbe Naḥman of Bratslav in Liqutei Moharan Ⅰ:228.

The text of Liqutei Tefilot here is copied from the Sefaria Project. (Thank you!) The English translation presented here is adapted from that provided in The Fiftieth Gate vol. 5 (Breslov Research Institute 2014). I have added citations and arranged the translation in a linear format, phrase by phrase, with some occasional small stylistic edits to the translation. (For example, I prefer “livelihood” for parnasah over ‘income’.) –Aharon Varady

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Co-authors:

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