The Rashash's Prayer Against Heavenly Judgments

The Rashash's Prayer Against Heavenly Judgments

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we witness an extraordinary sight: with the Aron Kodesh open, the Chazzan tearfully recites Tehillim 119:89 (ל - lamed) twelve times: - “Le'olam A-donai, devarcha nitzav baShamayim” - (forever, O L-rd, Your word stands firm in Heaven). The great Rashash reveals the secret of this pasuk: on the days when our fate is sealed and a decree is issued for the entire year, these words possess tremendous power. Baal Shem Tov explains that the word “devarcha” (Your word) refers to the utterances through which You created the world: the world was created through ten utterances—“Let there be light,” “Let there be a firmament,” and so on. “Nitzav baShamayim” means that it still stands in Heaven. We pray with these words that, in His mercy, Hashem will preserve and renew the power of these utterances. But Rabbeinu Chida, based on the teachings of the Rashash, reveals an even greater secret hidden in this pasuk. The word “to speak” has two meanings: “dibbur” (strict speech) and “amirah” (a gentler expression). In this pasuk, “devarcha” refers to strict speech—in other words, decrees—while “nitzav baShamayim” (stands firm in Heaven) means: let them remain in Heaven. We ask the Almighty to leave them in Heaven, not bring them down into this world and not actualize them. Rashash reveals that reciting this pasuk twelve times closes the twelve gates through which decrees may descend. This is a powerful prayer against all Heavenly judgments and decrees. It is customary to have kavanah for the Name of Hashem: “Le'olam A-donai” - יי - with the vowels “yud” (kamatz), “hei” (sheva), “vav” (kamatz), “hei” (sheva).  

The Rashash's Prayer Against Heavenly Judgments

לְעוֹלָם יי דְּבָרְךָ נִצָּב בַּשָּׁמָיִם: (יב פעמים) - “Le'olam A-donai, devarcha nitzav baShamayim” - [12 times] (forever, O L-rd, Your word stands firm in Heaven).   יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹקינוּ וֵאלֹקי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. שֶׁיִכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ אֶת־כַּעֲסֶךָ, וְיִגֹּלוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עַל מִדּוֹתֶיךָ, וְתִתְנַהֵג עִמָּנוּ יי אֱלֹקינוּ בְּמִדַּת הַחֶסֶד וּבְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים וּשְׁמֹר וְהַצֵּל אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל רַע וּמַשְׁחִית וּמַגֵּפָה. וּמִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וְיָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה. וּמִכָּל חֹלִי וּמַחֲלָה. וּבַטֵּל מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל כָּל-עַמְּךָ בֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל-גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת וְרָעוֹת. וְתִּקְרַע רו‍ֹעַ גְזָר דִּינֵנוּ וּגְזֹר עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל-עַמְּךָ בֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל גְּזֵרוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ. וְלֹא יִשְׁלֹט בָּנוּ עַיִן הָרָע. וְתַצְלִיחֵנוּ בְּלִמּוּדֵינוּ וּבְכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ אָמֵן נֵצַח סֶלָה וָעֶד: “Yehi ratzon milfanecha A-donai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu. She-yichbeshu rachamecha et ka'asecha, ve-yigolu rachamecha al midotecha, ve-titnaheg imanu A-donai Eloheinu be-middat ha-chesed u-ve-middat ha-rachamim u-shemor ve-hatzel et amcha Yisrael mi-kol ra u-mashchit u-magefah. U-mi-kol tzarah u-tzukah ve-yagon va-anachah. U-mi-kol choli u-machalah. U-vatel me-aleinu u-me'al kol amcha Beit Yisrael kol gezerot kashot ve-ra'ot. Ve-tikra ro'a gezar dineinu u-gzor aleinu ve-al kol amcha Beit Yisrael gezerot tovot be-rov rachamecha. Ve-lo yishlot banu ayin hara ve-tatzlicheinu be-limudeinu u-ve-khol ma'aseh yadeinu. Amen, Netzach, Selah, Va'ed.”   (https://www.naharshalom.co.il/%D7%A1%D7%92%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA/8/%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%A9)