Likutei Tefilot, Volume I 104/ליקוטי תפילות·חלק א ק״ד

1Sweetening Judgments in the Heavenly Courts / Making ConvertsTo gain spiritual redemption, a person gives a pidyon nefesh (literally, “soul-redemption”), a monetary gift to a Tzaddik, with the request that he pray on that person’s behalf. The Tzaddik then sweetens the judgment to which that person is subject. There are twenty-four Heavenly courts, each one with its own type of judgment that must be sweetened in a particular manner.Sometimes, bringing a pidyon nefesh to a Tzaddik does not help. This may be because the Tzaddik does not know the “redemption” germane to each of the twenty-four Heavenly courts. And even when he does know it, he may not know how to implement it. However, there is a universal “redemption” that corresponds to and sweetens the judgments of all twenty-four Heavenly courts. The Tzaddik must perform this “redemption” at a time of favor, such as at the time of Minchah on Shabbat afternoon. However, only one Tzaddik in a generation knows that redemption. And at times even this universal “redemption” does not achieve its designated purpose, because Heaven applies it to another goal: making converts.That was the work of Moses, both in his lifetime and after his death. In his lifetime, he worked to convert the “mixed multitude,” and after his death, he was buried opposite the idolatrous site of Beit Pe’or in order to sweeten the idolatry there and convert its adherents. Appropriately, he passed away at the time of Minchah on Shabbat afternoon.Redemption in the Heavenly Courts“HaShem redeems the spirit of His servants; all those who take refuge in Him will not be condemned as guilty.” “He has redeemed my soul in peace against those who fight me, from the many people arrayed against me.” “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; He will take me.”

2“My lips will rejoice as I sing to You together with my spirit, which You have redeemed.”

3Master of the world, King, Redeemer, Savior, Rescuer, Sustainer, You Who answer us compassionately at every time of trouble and oppression, we have no one on whom to rely but You.

4In the merit of our holy fathers, illumine us with Your favor. Sweeten and nullify all of the judgments against Your nation, the House of Israel.

5Redeem our souls from all of the holy decrees and judgments of the twenty-four Heavenly courts — whether before or after such decrees have been finalized.

6Redeem our spirit from all of these judgments. Sweeten and nullify all judgments, sufferings and decrees that are passed there regarding Your nation, the House of Israel — whether pertaining to their body, soul or money, regarding all of them or some of them.

7No one but the Tzaddik of the generation knows how to bring about a redemption that will nullify all of the judgments of Your holy courts.

8Even a person who does know how to bring about some redemption and nullify the judgment of a particular court does not know how to nullify all of the judgments of all twenty-four courts. As a result, he may at times fail to bring about a redemption.

9Redemption and Minchah on Shabbat AfternoonHave compassion on us in the merit of the great Tzaddikim who correspond to the level of Moses, and who have the power to bring about a redemption that will nullify all of the judgments in all twenty-four courts.

10Always illuminate us with Your Divine favor — specifically, at the time of Minchah on Shabbat afternoon.

11Redeem our spirits and rescue us from all troubles. Sweeten and nullify all of the decrees and judgments of all twenty-four holy courts.

12Rescue me from every type of sickness, pain, discomfort and poverty in the merit of Moses, who passed away on the Shabbat at the time of Minchah, and in the merit of all of the Tzaddikim who are on his level, who know how to bring about a redemption that will sweeten the judgments within all twenty-four courts.

13Destroying HeresyArouse Your compassion to crush and uproot all heresy from the world — particularly, from all of Your people, the House of Israel, wherever they may be.

14Bring a constant flow of Divine favor into the world. Transform destruction into Divine favor in the merit of Moses, who dedicated himself all the days of his life to transform people by raising them from corruption and heresy and connecting them to Your supernal will.

15Even now, after he has passed away, he continues to stand and pray on behalf of all those who are in exile and far from faith, in order to transform them and bring them close to You, to nullify all heresy and atheism, and to raise the world from destruction to Divine favor — in particular, to inspire non-Jews to convert, and sinful Jews to repent.

16In a Time of HeresyHaShem, You Who devise thoughts so that no one will be exiled from You, You Who turn Your heart to every generation, have compassion on us in the merit of Moses and of all of the Tzaddikim who correspond to his level, who work to sweeten the judgments of all twenty-four Heavenly courts in order to nullify all decrees in all worlds, to eradicate heresy, to inspire people to become converts, and to draw faith into the world.

17Have pity on us at this time of trouble, when heresy and atheism are so widespread that there is no way to turn aside from them. Almost every day, a number of people are trapped in the web of the heretics, who educate young people in the evil ways of secular studies, such as non-Jewish languages.

18We can rely only on You, our Father in Heaven, and in the power of Moses and all of the great Tzaddikim, who know how to draw down favor, sweeten all judgments, and transform destruction into favor.

19May Holy Faith SpreadTeach us how to arouse all of these Tzaddikim to engage in our rectification and in the rectification of the entire world. May they not remain silent at a time as bitter and grotesque as that of our generation, which has no equal throughout all of history. O heavens, act on our behalf! O heavens, awaken to the troubles of Israel!

20Due to our many sins, no one clearly appreciates the bitter painfulness of these oppressive times.

21And even if a person does appreciate some of the bitterness, he still does not know how to pray, to sweeten judgment and to nullify it.

22We can rely only on You, our Father in Heaven, and on the merit of our fathers and rabbis, the holy Tzaddikim, without whose prayers on our behalf we would not be able to exist for even a moment.

23Teach us how to arouse them and add to their strength so that they will be able to sweeten all of the judgments and decrees in all twentyfour Heavenly courts and transform all heresy from destruction to favor, so that holy faith will spread in the world and converts and penitents will increase.

24With the Help of the TzaddikimGod, You Who are filled with compassion, “great in counsel and mighty in deed,” Master of wonders, act in accordance with Your wonders and empower Your awesome Tzaddikim to bring about redemptions and engage in extraordinary and miraculous prayer.

25In this way, may they nullify all of the judgments and decrees of all twenty-four Heavenly courts that affect our physical and spiritual wellbeing — our bodies, souls and finances. And may they also sweeten anger against the entire world as they remove idolatry and heresy, transform destruction into favor, and inspire many people to become converts and penitents.

26“You can do everything; no purpose can be withheld from You.” You alone do great wonders. Save us in Your mighty compassion and Your wondrous ways.

27Seeking Peace from a Time of TroublesMaster of the world, grant us perfect faith. Remove every sort of heresy and confusion regarding our belief.

28Rescind all difficult decrees. Be kind to us without any admixture of judgment, so that we will return to You quickly and completely.

29We are living in a time of evil and bitter troubles that have touched our spirit, so that every individual feels a pain that is so overwhelming that “the strength of the porter has collapsed.”

30In addition to that, we perceive, although more distantly, the measureless troubles of the Jewish people — particularly their spiritual misfortunes, due to the fact that modern thinkers and evil, accursed heretics are working to extend their influence.

31And we suffer as well from increased dispute among good Jews, altercations among Torah scholars and those who are attached to them. “There is no peace for those who go out and for those who come in.”

32Gaining Salvation and GoodnessWith the power of the acts of redemption that sweeten the judgments of the twenty-four Heavenly courts, may we gain salvation and goodness, and may we inspire people to return to You with holy faith.

33I hope in Your salvation at every moment, as a servant stands before his master and a son before his father, “until HaShem will gaze down and see from Heaven.” Have compassion on me, on those who depend on me, on my children, on my descendants and on all Israel.

34Quickly nullify all judgments. Rescue us from all suffering. Eradicate all heresy and confusions in the realm of faith that affect not only the Jewish people, but the entire world.

35Strengthen and revive us. Keep us faithful to You always. Help us swiftly return to You with all our hearts. May we never turn aside from Your will, either to the right or the left.

36Redeem my soul from perishing in the pit so that my living spirit may behold the light.

37“Redeem me from the oppression of man, and I will keep Your laws.” “I will place my spirit in Your hand. You have redeemed me, HaShem, God of truth.” “I will proceed in my simplicity; redeem me and be gracious to me.” “Approach my soul, redeem it against my enemies, deliver me.”

38“With HaShem is kindness, and much redemption is with Him; He will redeem Israel from all of its sins.” “Arise, help us, and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.” “God, redeem Israel from all of its oppressors.”

39“HaShem, my prayer comes before You at a time of favor; God, in Your vast kindness, answer me, in the truth of Your salvation.”