Prayer for a Spiritual Heir that will Carry on the Torch

Parashat Vayelech

Prayer for a Spiritual Heir that will Carry on the Torch

Hashem, thank you for crowning me a leader and head.

I’m grateful for all the years unique people I led.

Yet sometimes at night I entertain certain thoughts of dread,

wondering whether Your cloud will still rest on my bed?

Hashem, what will be with my charge after I’m dead?

Who will continue to care and lead in my stead?

 

I pray that soon my son will find a wife to wed,

who is able to continue the light to spread!

 

Knowing that life is not eternal or long,

I access my years asking what I did wrong.

 

I still feel energetic, healthy and strong,

happy to perpetually keep singing my song!

 

Yet what will be when I no longer can come or go?

Who will continue to tend to the plants that I sow?

 

To whom will I be able to show

how to knead, braid and bake my dough?

 

Although my candle is still aglow,

everyone must realize and know,

just as the sea water has ebbs and flow,

life umph starts in high and ends in low.

 Please Hashem do not forsake me when I will near my end!

I trust that You will be with me, and a replacement send!

 

May it be one who can truly comprehend!

the grand mission and only on You depend!

 

May she learn how to every color blend,

of the many souls that she will befriend!

 May she know how the strings of my tapestry to mend!

 after I’m gone let her continue the light to extend!

Based on Devarim Chapter 31:2-9

 

ספר דברים פרק לא פסוק ב

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם בֶּן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם לֹא אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא וַהָשֵׁם אָמַר אֵלַי לֹא תַעֲבֹר אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה:

“He said to them, ‘Today I am one hundred and twenty years old. I can no longer go or come,’ and Hashem said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan’” (Devarim 31:2).

 

ספר דברים פרק לא פסוק ו חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ אַל תִּירְאוּ וְאַל תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם כִּי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ: (ז) וַיִּקְרָא משֶׁה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לְעֵינֵי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְדֹוָד לַאֲבֹתָם לָתֵת לָהֶם וְאַתָּה תַּנְחִילֶנָּה אוֹתָם:

(ח) וַהָשֵׁם הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ לְפָנֶיךָ הוּא יִהְיֶה עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ לֹא תִירָא וְלֹא תֵחָת:

(ט) וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת וַיִּתְּנָהּ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי הַנֹּשְׂאִים אֶת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית הָשֵׁם וְאֶל כָּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

“Hashem, your G-d He will cross before you; He will destroy these nations from before you so that you will possess them. Yehoshua he will cross before you, as Hashem has spoken. Then Hashem will do to them, as He did to the Amorite kings, Sichon and Og, and to their land, [all of] which He destroyed. And [when] Hashem delivers them before you, you shall do to them according to all the commandments that I have commanded you. ‘Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for Hashem, your G-d He is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you.’ Then Moshe called Yehoshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous!’ For you shall come with this people to the land which Hashem swore to their forefathers to give them. And you shall apportion it to them as an inheritance. Hashem He is the One Who goes before you; He will be with you; He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. Do not fear, and do not be dismayed.’ Then Moshe wrote this Torah, and gave it to the Kohanim, the descendants of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of Hashem, and to all the elders of Israel” (Devarim 31:6-9).

Prayer for Repentance and Starting our Lives Anew

Parashat Nitzavim

Prayer for Repentance and Starting our Lives Anew

 

We are all standing together before You this day!

Working at keeping the negative impulse at bay!

 

Hashem, please help us return, show us the way!

Let our righteousness shine through our lives’ replay!

 

As Your cloud showed the Israelites where to go and stay,

send us a sign to follow, even the tiniest ray!

 

Teach us to keep Your Torah, let us learn to pray,

while still accepting Your decrees, come what may!

 

Hashem, here we are ready, standing before You in our place.

We’ve worked hard on ourselves, so will You please receive our face?

 

We’ve scrubbed the sinful mask, removing every trace.

Please help us Hashem each swarthy sin to erase!

 

On Rosh Hashana, please grant us grace!

Allow us to float in Your holy embrace!

 

Let Michael, Your angel of love, defend our case,

writing us in the Book of Life without disgrace!

 

Our human frailty we readily admit,

Yet, a spark of goodness is within us lit.

 

Please allow us to emerge from the darkest pit!

To Your holiness alone we all yearn to submit,

 

As we accept and renew Your holy brit,

to Your divine mitzvot let us all commit!

 

Hashem when we have done our part,

Please help us circumcise our heart!

 

Allow us to come closer bit by bit!

Let us eternally in Your presence sit!

 

Let us never from Your Presence depart!

Grant us this opportunity to restart!

Based on Devarim Chapter 29:9-12 and 30:1-10

 

ספר דברים פרק כט פסוק ט אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם רָאשֵׁיכֶם שִׁבְטֵיכֶם זִקְנֵיכֶם וְשֹׁטְרֵיכֶם כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל: (י) טַפְּכֶם נְשֵׁיכֶם וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֶיךָ מֵחֹטֵב עֵצֶיךָ עַד שֹׁאֵב מֵימֶיךָ:  

(יא) לְעָבְרְךָ בִּבְרִית הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּבְאָלָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ כֹּרֵת עִמְּךָ הַיּוֹם: (יב) לְמַעַן הָקִים אֹתְךָ הַיּוֹם לוֹ לְעָם וְהוּא יִהְיֶה לְּךָ לֵאלֹהִים כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָךְ וְכַאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב:

You are all standing this day before Hashem your G-d the leaders of your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man of Israel,

10your young children, your women, and your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers,

11that you may enter the covenant of Hashem your G-d, and His oath, which Hashem your G-d, is making with you this day,

12in order to establish you this day as His people, and that He will be your G-d, as He spoke to you, and as He swore to your forefathers to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya’acov.

 

ספר דברים פרק ל פסוק א וְהָיָה כִי יָבֹאוּ עָלֶיךָ כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ בְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִדִּיחֲךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ שָׁמָּה:(ב) וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְקֹלוֹ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשֶׁךָ: (ג) וְשָׁב הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְרִחֲמֶךָ וְשָׁב וְקִבֶּצְךָ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר הֱפִיצְךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ שָׁמָּה: (ד) אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲךָ בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם מִשָּׁם יְקַבֶּצְךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמִשָּׁם יִקָּחֶךָ: (ה) וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יָרְשׁוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְהֵיטִבְךָ וְהִרְבְּךָ מֵאֲבֹתֶיךָ: (ו) וּמָל הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְאֶת לְבַב זַרְעֶךָ לְאַהֲבָה אֶת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ לְמַעַן חַיֶּיךָ: (ז) וְנָתַן הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵת כָּל הָאָלוֹת הָאֵלֶּה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ וְעַל שׂנְאֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר רְדָפוּךָ: (ח) וְאַתָּה תָשׁוּב וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל הָשֵׁם וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם: (ט) וְהוֹתִירְךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ בִּפְרִי בִטְנְךָ וּבִפְרִי בְהֶמְתְּךָ וּבִפְרִי אַדְמָתְךָ לְטֹבָה כִּי יָשׁוּב הָשֵׁם לָשׂוּשׂ עָלֶיךָ לְטוֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׂשׂ עַל אֲבֹתֶיךָ: (י) כִּי תִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו הַכְּתוּבָה בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה כִּי תָשׁוּב אֶל הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשֶׁךָ:

“It will be, when all these things come upon you the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, that you will contemplate in your heart, among all the nations where Hashem your G-d has banished you, and you will return to Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, and you will listen to His voice according to all that I am commanding you this day you and your children. Then, Hashem, your G-d, will bring back your exiles, and He will have mercy upon you. He will once again gather you from all the nations, where Hashem, your G-d, had dispersed you. Even if your exiles are at the end of the heavens, Hashem, your G-d, will gather you from there, and He will take you from there. And Hashem, your G-d, will bring you to the land, which your forefathers possessed, and you [too] will take possession of it, and He will do well with you, and He will make you more numerous than your forefathers. Then Hashem, your G-d, will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, [so that you may] love Hashem your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, for the sake of your life. And Hashem, your G-d, will place all these curses upon your enemies and upon your adversaries, who pursued you. You will then return and listen to the voice of Hashem, and fulfill all His commandments, which I command you this day. And Hashem, your G-d, will make you abundant for good in all the work of your hands, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For Hashem will once again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your forefathers, when you obey Hashem, your G-d, to observe His commandments and His statutes written in this Torah scroll, [and] when you return to Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul” (Devarim 30:1-10).

Prayer Thanks for the Fruits of our Land and for the Rebuilding of the Temple and Final Redemption

 

Parashat Ki Tavo

Prayer Thanks for the Fruits of our Land and for the Rebuilding of the Temple and  Final Redemption
 
Hashem, thank You for the land of love, flowing with milk and honey!
This holy land is worth so much, more than gold, silver, and money!
 
What a privilege to live in Your presence under the skies so sunny!  
 I am enthralled by the trees, flowers, and birds, even by the stray bunny.
 
Your persecuted people have emerged from the dark, dingy shtetl!  
We have entered Your promised land and kept Your command here to settle!
 
We have worked the soil, removed rocks and pebbles, and planted fruit trees.
Now we can sit under the grapevine watching butterflies and bees!
 
Please keep us sound and safe in Your presence to enjoy a breeze!
Hashem will You please grant Your chosen people everlasting peace!
 
We treasure our teamwork with You bringing forth budding shoots.
Please ensure that the effort of our toil will establish roots!
 
How long must we wait until we can bring our first shiny fruits
to Your chosen place – Your Holy House – the aim of all pursuits?
 
Then we will bring You our olives, pomegranates, figs, and grapes,
in beautifully adorned baskets of many different shapes!
 
An ox will go before us, his horns bedecked with gold,
an olive-crown on his head, what a sight to behold!
 
While the flute shall play on our way, Your name will be extolled!
When we arise and go up to Tzion, our dream unfolds!
 
Look down from Your holy dwelling, from the heavens, and bless us all!
May we shine Your light to the nations and grow spiritually tall!
 
Raise us up from the dust and never let us fall!
Please answer us Hashem, every time we call!
 
 We long for the Temple where Your eternal Name can dwell.
Your Presence shining through it will ensure that all is well!
 
We yearn to cleave to Your light and our thirst for Torah quell!
How long do we have to pray and wait, only time will tell? 

Based on Devarim Chapter 26 verse 1-2, 10-11, 15, 17-19

:ספר דברים פרק כו פסוק א וְהָיָה כִּי תָבוֹא אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בָּהּ

(ב) וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תָּבִיא מֵאַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ וְשַׂמְתָּ בַטֶּנֶא וְהָלַכְתָּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם:

“It shall be, when you come into the land which Hashem, your G-d, gives you for an inheritance, and you possess it and settle in it, that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the earth that you will bring from your land, which Hashem, your G-d, is giving you. Then you shall put [them] into a basket and go to the place which Hashem, your G-d, will choose to have His Name dwell there” (Devarim 26:1-2).

ספר דברים פרק כו פסוק י וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי אֶת רֵאשִׁית פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לִּי הָשֵׁם וְהִנַּחְתּוֹ לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ: (יא) וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לְךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּלְבֵיתֶךָ אַתָּה וְהַלֵּוִי וְהַגֵּר אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבֶּךָ:

“And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the earth which you, O Hashem, have given to me. Then, you shall lay it before Hashem, your G-d, and prostrate yourself before Hashem, your G-d. Then, you shall rejoice with all the good that Hashem, your G-d, has granted you and your household you, the Levite, and the stranger who is among you” (Devarim 26:10-11).

ספר דברים פרק כו פסוק טו הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּךָ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵת הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לָנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ:

“Look down from Your holy dwelling, from the heavens, and bless Your people Israel, and the earth which You have given to us, as You swore to our forefathers a land flowing with milk and honey” (Devarim 26:15).

 

ספר דברים פרק כו  פסוק יז אֶת הָשֵׁם הֶאֱמַרְתָּ הַיּוֹם לִהְיוֹת לְךָ לֵאלֹהִים וְלָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו וְלִשְׁמֹר חֻקָּיו וּמִצְוֹתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו וְלִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ: (יח) וַהָשֵׁם הֶאֱמִירְךָ הַיּוֹם לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם סְגֻלָּה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָךְ וְלִשְׁמֹר כָּל מִצְוֹתָיו:

(יט) וּלְתִתְּךָ עֶלְיוֹן עַל כָּל הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִתְהִלָּה וּלְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאָרֶת וְלִהְיֹתְךָ עַם קָדשׁ לַהָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר:

“You have selected Hashem today, to be your G-d, and to walk in His ways, and to observe His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and to obey Him.  Hashem has selected you this day to be His treasured people, as He spoke to you, and so that you shall observe all His mitzvot, and to make you supreme, above all the nations that He made, [so that you will have] praise, a [distinguished] name and glory; and so that you will be a holy people to Hashem, your G-d, as He spoke” (Devarim 26:17-19).

 

How does one set aside bikkurim? A man goes down into his field, he sees a fig that ripened, or a cluster of grapes that ripened, or a pomegranate that ripened, he ties a reed-rope around it and says: “Let these be bikkurim.” Rabbi Shimon says: even so, he must again designate them as bikkurim after they have been plucked from the soil. How were the bikkurim taken up [to Jerusalem]? All [the inhabitants of] the cities of the ma’amad would assemble in the city of the ma’amad, and they would spend the night in the open street, and they would not enter any of the houses. Early in the morning the officer would say: “Let us arise and go up to Zion, into the house of Hashem our G-d” (Yirmeyahu 31:5). Those who lived near [Jerusalem] would bring fresh figs and grapes, while those who lived far away would bring dried figs and raisins. An ox would go in front of them, his horns bedecked with gold and with an olive-crown on its head. The flute would play before them until they would draw close to Jerusalem. When they drew close to Jerusalem they would send messengers in advance, and they would adorn their bikkurim. The governors and chiefs and treasurers [of the Temple] would go out to greet them, and according to the rank of the entrants they would go forth. All the skilled artisans of Jerusalem would stand up before them and greet them saying, “Our brothers, men of such and such a place, we welcome you in peace.” The flute would play before them, until they reached the Temple Mount. When they reached the Temple Mount even King Agrippas would take the basket and place it on his shoulder and walk as far as the Temple Court. When he got to the Temple Court, the Levites would sing the song: “I will extol You, O Hashem, for You have raised me up, and You have not let my enemies rejoice over me” (Tehillim 30:2). The birds [tied to] the basket were [offered] as whole burnt offerings, and those which they held in their hands they gave to the Kohanim. While the basket was still on his shoulder he recites from: “I acknowledge this day before Hashem, your G-d that I have entered the land that Hashem swore to our fathers to assign us” (Devarim 26:3) until he completes the passage (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:1-6).

Prayer for Overcoming Spiritual Enemies and Unlocking the Gate of the Book of Life

Parashat Ki Tetze

Prayer for Overcoming Spiritual Enemies and Unlocking the Gate of the Book of Life
 
Hashem, please give me the strength to go out to war!
Empower me that I will never anymore
be seduced by what I on the surface adore!
Help me restore the purity I had before!
 
Hashem, I feel I cannot go on anymore!
Heal my bleeding heart, which is crushed to the core!
Strengthen me and raise my brokenness from the floor!
Help me overcome and open for me a new door!
 
Hashem why do I not find You here in the field?
Where do You hide amongst the boundless apple yield?
I am longing for an encounter so revealed!
Only by sensing Your presence can I be healed!
 
It is hard to find the light in the dusk!
Please save me from the evil urge so brusque!
I feel muddily impure, blocked by husk,
tainted with the enticing smell of musk.
 
I cry out to You, deliver me from the foe!
The one who keeps pushing me down below.
Please chase him, make him turn around and go!
Frighten him daily, when we the Shofar blow!
 
I am doing my best and I hope that I could
learn to harness the power of evil for good.
Please help me be able to do what I should,
rectifying the things that I misunderstood!
 
Now is the time on heaven’s door to knock.
Let me pass before You with Your beloved flock!
Please help me remove each and every single block
Write me in the Book of Life, let the gate unlock!

Based on Devarim Chapter 21 verse 10-14 with commentary by Ohr Hachayim and Chapter 25:17-19

 

ספר דברים פרק כא פסוק י כִּי תֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ וּנְתָנוֹ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וְשָׁבִיתָ שִׁבְיוֹ:

(יא) וְרָאִיתָ בַּשִּׁבְיָה אֵשֶׁת יְפַת תֹּאַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ בָהּ וְלָקַחְתָּ לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה:

(יב) וַהֲבֵאתָהּ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ וְגִלְּחָה אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת צִפָּרְנֶיהָ:

(יג) וְהֵסִירָה אֶת שִׂמְלַת שִׁבְיָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ וְיָשְׁבָה בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבָכְתָה אֶת אָבִיהָ וְאֶת אִמָּהּ יֶרַח יָמִים וְאַחַר כֵּן תָּבוֹא אֵלֶיהָ וּבְעַלְתָּהּ וְהָיְתָה לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה: (יד) וְהָיָה אִם לֹא חָפַצְתָּ בָּהּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ לְנַפְשָׁהּ וּמָכֹר לֹא תִמְכְּרֶנָּה בַּכָּסֶף לֹא תִתְעַמֵּר בָּהּ תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר עִנִּיתָהּ:

“If you go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem, your G-d, will deliver him into your hands, and you take his captives, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman and you desire her, you may take [her] for yourself as a wife. You shall bring her into your home, and she shall shave her head and let her nails grow. And she shall remove the garment of her captivity from upon herself, and stay in your house, and weep for her father and her mother for a full month. After that, you may be intimate with her and possess her, and she will be a wife for you. It shall be, if you do not desire her, then you shall send her away wherever she wishes, but you shall not sell her for money. You shall not keep her as a servant, because you have afflicted her (Devarim 21:10-14).

 

אור החיים על דברים פרק כא פסוק יא

ואומרו וראית בשביה אשת יפת תואר - אמר אשת סמוך, פירוש נשמת אדם, כי אין הס”מ שולט בנפש עד שתרד מטה ותכנס באדם, ממנו הוא לוקחה בשבי, והנפש תקרא אשה, וקרא לזו יפת תואר, כי הנפש יפה עד מאד, אלא שמתנוולת במעשים הרעים, וכשינוצח היצר אז ישכיל האדם בנפשו מה יפה ומה נעימה היא:

“You see in her captivity a beautiful woman.” The reason the Torah writesאֵשֶׁת /eshet (the possessive form) instead of the more appropriateה, /isha is to alert us that the subject is man’s soul, the one that is inseparable from her ‘mate,’ her body. Satan does not exert any influence on such a soul until it has ‘descended’ and inhabited a body. He is only able to take it into captivity once it has become inseparable from its body. Thisנֶפֶשׁ /nefesh is calledאִשָּׁה, /isha woman. The reason the Torah describes it asיִפָת תֹּאַר, /yifat to’ar – ‘beautiful,’ is because this nefesh is intrinsically very beautiful indeed and it has only disheveled herself by means of the sins committed by the body it inhabits. Once we conquer our evil urge, we will realize how truly beautiful ourנֶפֶשׁ /nefesh really is.

ואמר וחשקת בה - פירוש אז החשק שהיה לו בדברי היצר ובפיתויו ילבישם בה לתקן לה המושכלות, ועולם הקיים שכולו טוב,

וְחָשַׁקְתָּ בָּהּ,  “and you will desire her.” This means that then the time has come when you will truly desire her, i.e., your soul, instead of the desire you had previously displayed for the seductive machinations of your evil urge.  

ואומרו והבאתה אל תוך ביתך, לפי שעל ידי פיתוי הרע מתרחקת הנפש מהגוף, ושוכן חלק רע במקומה, כדרך אומרו טורף נפשו באפו (איוב יח ד), והגוף יקרא בית על דרך אומרם (תענית יא) מי מעיד באדם קורות ביתו שהוא הגוף, וכשנוצח יצרו יביא נפשו לתוך ביתו, ויקרא בעל נפש, ולהיות שהנפש שקנה מקום טמא, צריך לנקותה מתחלואי הרע הנדבק בה, שהוא בחינת שער הראש, והוא אומרו וגלחה את ראשה, גם בחינת הקליפה הרמוזה בצפרנים, אמר כנגדה ועשתה את צפרניה לשון תיקון, ותסיר מסוה הטומאה המתכסה בה הנפש מרוח הטומאה:

וַהֲבָאַת אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ, “and you will bring her into your house.” This is a reference to the fact that the true soul moves (spiritually) further and further away from the body it inhabits as a result of accumulations of the sins committed by the body. In its place a spiritually negative force occupies the void left by the soul. We find a somewhat similar concept in Job 18,4: טוֹרֵף נַפְשׁוֹ בְּאַפּוֹ, “who tears his soul apart in his anger.” The body is called בַּיִת/bayit – ‘house,’ as we learned in Ta’anit 11: “who testifies against man? The walls of his house, i.e., the body.” When the evil urge defeats the soul, it makes itself at home within the body, which used to be the exclusive home of the soul. As a result, the evil urge will become known as the בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ/ba’al nefesh, the force in control of the soul. The soul that man had acquired originally now has to fight back to regain its original position and has to get rid of the symbols of impurity, which have infested it. One such symbol is the hair on his head, and this is why the Torah orders it to shave off the hair on its head. The term קְלִפָּה/klipah – ‘peel,’ which is the best-known simile for the spiritually negative forces, is represented in the body by the nails, which are like a peel. Trimming the nails then is an indication of man’s effort to trim the forces of the קְלִפָּה/klipah.

והוא אומרו והסירה את שמלת שביה מעליה, פירוש שקנתה משבייתה במקום טמא, וזה יהיה על מירוק החטאים, ודרכי התשובה, והכנת הדעת, מול אלהי ישראל ברוך הוא ויבחר מקום מושב לה בית המיוחד לישראל שהוא ”בית המדרש “, והוא אומרו וישבה בביתך ותתודה בבכי על אשר מעלה באביה ואמה, ועל פרידתה מהם, אביה זה הקדוש ברוך הוא אמה היא כנסת ישראל (ברכות לה:), ירח ימים זה שיעור המספיק לשב, או ירמוז, לחודש המיוחד לתשובה שהוא חודש אלול:

וְהֵסִירָה אֶת שִׂמְלַת שִׁבְיָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ, “and she is to remove the garment of her captivity from herself, etc.” This is a reference to garments acquired as a result of her becoming defiled. The removal is to take place by means of eradicating the traces of her sins through penitence, self-flagellation, etc. וְיָשְׁבָה בְּבֵיתֶךָ, “and she is to dwell in your house, etc.,” during which time she is to confess her sins and weep in sorrow over all the trespasses she has committed against her father and mother, i.e., against G-d and the community of Israel whose traditions she has flouted (compare Berachot 35). יֶרַח יָמִים, “for a full month,” which is sufficient for this purpose. The Torah may have in mind the month of Elul, which our sages set aside for penitence prior to the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah.

ואחר כן תבוא אליה - פירוש אתה תכנס ליהנות מאורה, בסוד אומרו נפש עמל עמלה לו (משלי טז כו), ותסייעהו לעמוד בדרך הנאות, ותקרא אתה בעליה שקנית אותה בכח מעשיך, והוא אומרו ובעלתה גם ליום התחיה תהיה מיוחדת לך לחזור לגופך ותעמוד בה, והוא אומרו והיתה לך לאשה:

וְאַחַר כֵּן תָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ, “after that you may join her, etc.” You are now permitted to benefit from her spiritual light. This is the mystical dimension of Proverbs 16,26 נֶפֶשׁ עָמֵל, עָמְלָה לוֹ, - “when someone toils for his soul, he toils on behalf of his true self.” This will assist him to remain on the correct path וּבְעָלְתָה, “and you have become her master.” The reason the Torah describes you as her master is because the moral strength of your actions has rehabilitated her. Eventually, this soul will once more inhabit your body and remain in it performing the task assigned to it. This is what the Torah means with the words וְהָיְתָה לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה, “she may become your wife.”

וחזר הכתוב לצוות על הנפש, שאם האיש לא נטה לבו לקוות להטיב לנפשו ולהתעצם להאיר לה בעולם העליון, על כל פנים יזהר שלא יריע לה כדרך שאמר שלמה (קהלת יב: ז) והרוח תשוב אל האלהים אשר נתנה, ודרשו במסכת שבת (קנב:) תנה לו כמו שנתנה לך, והוא אומרו אם לא חפצת בה ושלחתה לנפשה, פירוש שלא תמסרנה ביד שבאי, אלא בת חורין ואין עליה יד מושל:

The Torah now spells out the alternative. If the man does not make an effort to rehabilitate his soul so that she will radiate the spiritual light she was meant to radiate within him, the very least he must do is to make sure that her status will not deteriorate further. Solomon said in Kohelet 12,7: “and the spirit returns to G-d who gave it.” Our sages in Shabbat 152 comment on this that the reason Solomon added the word “who gave it” [something which is obvious if we speak about ‘returning’ something], is to remind us that it must be returned in the mint condition in which we received it from G-d אִם לֹא חָפַצְתָּ בָּהּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ לְנַפְשָׁהּ, “If you do not desire her you must send her away to be on her own.” This means that you must not hand her over to a prison guard but to give her her freedom (Ohr Hachayim, Devarim 21:11).

 

ספר דברים פרק כה פסוק יז זָכוֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם:

(יח) אֲשֶׁר קָרְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ כָּל הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִים אַחֲרֶיךָ וְאַתָּה עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ וְלֹא יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים:

(יט) וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ תִּמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם לֹא תִּשְׁכָּח:

“You shall remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you went out of Egypt, how he happened upon you on the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he did not fear G-d. [Therefore,] it will be, when Hashem your G-d grants you respite from all your enemies around [you] in the land which Hashem, your G-d, gives to you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget!” (Devarim 25:17-19).