Prayer “Adon Olam” with the Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov

Prayer “Adon Olam” with the Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov

“Adon Olam” is a prayer recited before Shacharit, after the morning blessings. The author of this hymn praising the Creator of the world was Rabbi Shlomo ibn Gabirol, a Sephardic sage from Spain. He also authored the renowned hymn “Keter Malchut”, recited on Yom Kippur. Moroccan Jews sing “Adon Olam” during the wedding ceremony. The Sephardic version of the prayer contains 15 lines, while the Ashkenazi version has 10. Some sages associated the 10 lines of the hymn with the 10 sefirot. The Shelah HaKadosh (may his merit protect us), in his book “Shnei Luchot HaBrit” (The Two Tablets of the Covenant), writes that the words “Adon Olam” refer to אין סוף — “Ein Sof,” since the gematria of אדון עולם is 207, the same as the gematria of the expression “Ein Sof.” Furthermore, the expression “Adon Olam” is equal to the word אור — “Or” (light), which also has a gematria of 207. The Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov: How to Be Saved in a Time of Trouble The Sages teach that reciting this prayer in the morning provides protection from all misfortunes throughout the day, as well as protection in times of trouble. There is an interesting connection: on communal fast days (Ta'anit), the chazzan recites the insertion “Aneinu,” which concludes with the blessing: - “Baruch Atah Ad-nai, ha-oneh le-amo Yisrael be-et tzara” — (Blessed are You, G-d, Who answers in a time of trouble). The ninth verse of “Adon Olam” reads: - “Vehu Eli vehai go'ali, ve-tzur chevli be-yom tzara” — (He is my G-d and my Redeemer, the stronghold of my destiny on the day of trouble). In this connection, the Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov in the prayer “Adon Olam” are of particular interest. The Besht explains that a tzadik is the chariot of the Light of “Ein Sof,” and that when a Jew recites the prayer “Adon Olam” sincerely and with kavanah, he can channel Divine power through his soul, spirit, and body into this world. According to the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, through meditation during prayer, one can change the order of the letters in a word and thereby change the meaning of the words. In this way, negative influence can be transformed into positive influence. The Baal Shem Tov demonstrated this using a line from “Adon Olam”: “Vehu Eli vehai go'ali, ve-tzur chevli be-yom tzara” — (He is my G-d and my Redeemer, the stronghold of my destiny on the day of trouble). By rearranging the three letters of the word צרה “tzara” (trouble), one obtains the word צהר “tsohar”, meaning “boundary,” “limit,” “the highest point of something,” or “light in the heavens” — (“tsohar” is one of the 13 synonyms for the word “light”). Thus, the thought is directed toward “the light at the end of the tunnel.” As the prophet Yirmiyahu said (30:7): “Alas! How great is that day; there is none like it! It is a time of trouble for Jacob, yet he shall be saved from it.” The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the trouble itself is the source of salvation; the trouble that appears to be the “end” becomes the point from which a way out emerges once again. Meditation on Hebrew letters and words can help change reality, allowing us to transform “trouble” into “the light at the end of the tunnel”—a way out of an impasse. The Prayer “Adon Olam”

1. ADON OLAM ASHER MALACH, BETEREM KOL YETZIR NIVRA.
2. LE'ET NA'ASAH VEHEFTZO KOL, AZAI MELECH SHEMO NIKRA.
3. VE'ACHAREI KICHLOT HAKOL, LEVADO YIMLOCH NORA.
4. VEHU HAYAH VEHU HOVEH, VEHU YIHYEH BETIF'ARAH.
5. VEHU ECHAD VE'EIN SHENI, LEHAMSHILO ULEHACHBIRAH.
6. BELI RESHIT BELI TACHLIT, VELO HA'OZ VEHA'MISRAH.
7. BELI ERECH BELI DIMYON, BELI SHINUI UTEMURAH.
8. BELI CHIBUR BELI FERUD, GEDOL KOACH UGEVURAH.
9. VEHU ELI VECHAI GO'ALI, VETZUR CHEVLI BE-ET TZARA [צרה - צהר] — (rearrange the letters of the word “tzara” (trouble) in your mind and read “tsohar” (one of the 13 types of light; seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, a way out).
10. VEHU NISI UMANUSI, MENAT KOSI BEYOM EKRA.
11. VEHU ROFEH VEHU MARPEH, VEHU TZOFEH VEHU EZRA.
12. BEYADO AFKID RUCHI, BE'ET ISHAN VE'A'IRAH.
13. VE'IM RUCHI GEVYATI, AD-NAI LI VELO IRA.
14. BEMIKDASHO TAGEL NAFSHI, MESHICHENU YISHLAH MEHERAH.
15. VE'AZ NASHIR BEVEIT KODSHI, AMEN AMEN SHEM HANORA.

Translation:

1. Master of the Universe, Who reigned before the world was created;
2. When everything was made according to His will, then His name was proclaimed “King”;
3. And after the world comes to an end, He alone, the Awesome One, will reign;
4. For He was, He is, and He will be forever in His glory;
5. He is One, and there is no other who can compare to Him;
6. He has neither beginning nor end. His is the power and the dominion.
7. He is whole and indivisible, supreme in strength and might;
8. He has no comparison or likeness; He is unchanging and irreplaceable;
9. He is my G-d and my Redeemer, the stronghold of my destiny in a time of trouble;
10. He is my banner and my refuge, my support on the day I call upon Him;
11. He is the Healer and healing itself; He foresees and helps;
12. Into His hand I entrust my spirit before I sleep and upon awakening;
13. And together with my spirit, my body as well. G-d is with me, and I shall not fear;
14. In His Temple my soul will rejoice; He will soon send us the Mashiach;
15. And we will sing in the house of holiness: “Amen! Amen! The Awesome Name!”

(Compiled by the site's editorial staff based on the book “Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah” and the siddur “Tefillat Moshe”)