Likutei Tefilot, Volume I 116/ליקוטי תפילות·חלק א קט״ז

1Judging Others FavorablyA person must judge all people favorably, finding merit and good even in those who engage in disputes against him and against the true Tzaddikim.There must be great unity and peace among Jews. Those who cause dispute and oppose truth should repent of their hatred and dispute, and instead seek truth. But some people do not desire peace and do not want to return to truth. Eventually God will overcome them and lower them to the dust, so that they will fall and not rise.Finding Merit in Those Who Engage in DisputeMy Father in Heaven, help me judge every person favorably, even those who engage in disputes against me and against true Tzaddikim, to the extent of insulting them. May I find merit and good in all of these people.

2May I truly fulfill the teaching of our sages, “Do not judge someone else until you have been in his place,” so that all dispute in the world will be nullified, and all Jews will attain great peace and unity.

3You Who are filled with compassion, Master of truth and peace, You know the source of all disputes — particularly the dispute that has arisen in our generations among sages and their followers, as a result of which a number of people have fallen.

4Have compassion on us and on them. Reveal the ultimate truth in the world. Bring about great unity and peace among Jews, the holy nation that You chose.

5Maybe I am responsible for a dispute, Heaven forbid, because those who dispute me are much holier than I am, as a result of which their hearts are at odds with me.

6If that is the case, have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name, and help me truly repent before You until I reach their holiness and the level of the Jewish people as a whole, which is holier and more pure than I am, so that I will reach their place and unite with them in great truth and peace.

7But maybe they dispute me because they are lower than I am, and they are envious of me, and so they attack and oppose me.

8If that is the case, have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name, and help me always judge positively those who oppose me. Teach me, in Your vast compassion, how to find merit and goodness in them — even in the fact that they are disputing me. Then I will raise them and truly bring them to the side of merit.

9In the end, may they unite with me completely, until dispute ceases among all Jews — because when there is oneness, there cannot be dispute.

10Inspire those who cause dispute and oppose truth to repent of their hatred and opposition, and instead seek truth and peace, as the verse states, “Love truth and peace.”

11As for those who continue to hate and engage in dispute, who do not desire peace, who do not want to return to truth, subdue them and lower them to the dust, so that they will fall and not rise.

12“Silence the lips of falsehood, which slander the righteous with pride and contempt.” “May HaShem cut off all smooth lips, the tongue that speaks great things.” “May those who desire my evil be ashamed and destroyed.” “May all my enemies be deeply shamed and frightened. May they suddenly experience shame.”

13Peace in the WorldHave compassion on us for the sake of Your Name. Place peace in the world, because You know how much dispute harms the Jewish people. Have compassion, have compassion, You Who are filled with compassion, and in Your wondrous and awesome ways, draw peace into the world.

14Then “all your children will be learned of HaShem, and your children’s peace will increase.” “May great peace come down upon those who love Your Torah, so that they will not stumble.” “You will see your children’s children, peace upon Israel.”

15“May there be peace within your walls, tranquility in your palaces. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will speak peace to you. For the sake of the House of HaShem our God, I will seek goodness for you.”

16“May HaShem give His nation strength, may HaShem bless His nation with peace.”

17“May He Who makes peace in His heights make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and say, ‘Amen.’”