25 Tammuz · Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit of Rabbi Meir of Apta – The "Yodati" Prayer
Rabbi Meir ben Reb Shmuel HaLevi of Apta (1767–1831)
He was a talmid of the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin and served as Rav in the town of Apta after the author of "Ohev Yisrael."
He was born in Apta (today Opatów), Poland. Rabbi Meir, a disciple of Yitzchak of Pinczow, served as rabbi in Stobnica at a young age and afterward in Apta. His teachings are set forth in "Ohr LaShamayim" (1850). Meir's approach was conservative and introduced few innovations. His main significance lay in his rejection of the teachings introduced by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak, the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa, and his school.
He emphasized the central role of tzadikim and stressed the principles of piety, reverence, the unobtrusive performance of the mitzvot, and fellowship and unity within the movement, which he considered the most essential aspects of Chassidus. Meir was succeeded by his son Pinchas (died 1837). Pinchas's son, Yitzchak Menachem of Wolbrom, led a large Chassidic community; he was succeeded by his son Alter Meir David (died 1911).
The author of "Ohr LaShamayim" asked that on the day of his yahrzeit, Jews give tzedakah and light a candle in his memory. In doing so, one should say his name – Reb Meir ben Reb Shmuel HaLevi (zt"l).
It is also said in the name of the "Tiferet Shlomo" – Rebbe Shlomo of Radomsk (zt"l), that it is praiseworthy to recite the special Tefillah for Parnassah composed by the author of "Ohr LaShamayim" – "Yodati".
We all know it from the popular song "Yodati" performed by Avraham Fried.
The "Yodati" Prayer
"Ribon ha'olamim, yadati ki hineni beyadecha levad, kachomer beyad hayotzer. Ve'im gam et'ametz be'eitzot vetachbulot, vechol yoshvei tevel ya'amdu limini lehoshi'ani velitmoch nafshi, mibal'adei uzcha ve'ezratcha ein ezra vishua.
Ve'im chalila yachpetzu kulam lehara, az Atah bechemlatcha tasim einecha alai vetashkif alai letovah mime'on kodshecha. Hine chavalim naflu li ban'imim vishuati va'ah ve'ezrati tigaleh.
Lachen azreni, Ribon ha'olamim, lihyot einai ptuchot lir'ot tamid amitut hadavar hazeh, ve'yihyeh taku'a vekavu'a emunatcha belibi bechol et, leval asur lo bedibur, velo bema'aseh, velo bemachshava la'avod zulatcha chalila, ki im tirdof nafshi retzoncha hatov be'emet.
Gam azreni leval yamish mera'ayonai umilibi gdulatcha ugvuroteicha vehofa'at chiyutcha bechol rega, vekatan erki bein ma'asecha, uma nechshav ani ben yetzurecha, ucheayin ani neged bru'echa – im hayiti naki mikol chet, uma gam avonotai rabu lema'lah mirosh, nekaloti mikol bru'echa? Ki hem osim retzoncha asher lechach notzru, va'ani begova libi meto'av be'einecha.
Azreni lihyot midat hachna'ah veshiflut ruach davuk belibi uvera'ayonai bechol et uvechol rega, vetihyeh yir'atcha al panai levilti echeta, veyismach libi tamid Becha asher bera'atani lichvodecha, ve'ahavatcha tiv'ar bekirbi bechol et, umichochmatcha ta'atzil alai lihyot gdulatcha ugvuratcha, umi'ut erki vecheseron binati.
Velo yigbah libi, velo erdof achar hakavod ugdulah va'osher, ki im tichsof nafshi la'asot retzoncha veha'yashar be'einecha.
Ve'eyheh muchan bechol rega limsor nafshi, ruchi veneshmati vegufi ume'odi al kedushat Shmecha, vehaser kol hamasachim hamavdilim beini levenecha, vehachzireni bitshuvah shlemah lefanecha. Veyunam li kol asher ta'aseh imadi, velo ivalbeleni shum inyan me'avodatcha ha'amitit, velo ta'aleh kin'at adam alai, velo kin'aim al acherim, velo et'aveh leshum davar zulat retzonecha. Vehoreni derech chukecha le'avdecha belev navar vezach uvesimchah veruach nemuchah uve'ahavat amcha Yisrael.
Veyitkadesh Shimcha al yadi ve'al yedei zar'i vezera zar'i ad sof hadorot, velo yimatze pesul banu, chalila, veninatzel michilul Ha-Shem, venizkeh la'asok be'Toratcha lishmah bitmidut mitoch harchava, bitshuvah uveda'at uvesimchah velev tahor, venishamer mikol chet umikol avon, venismach bedivrei Toratcha uvemitzvotecha le'olam va'ed, venizkeh letaken et asher he'evinu, velo nevosh ba'olam hazeh velo nikalem le'olam haba, amen ken yehi ratzon!"
Translation:
"Master of the Universe, I know (yodati) that in Your "hand" I am but clay in the hands of the potter. Even if I use every counsel and stratagem, even if all the inhabitants of the earth stand to defend and support me, without Your strength and help there will be no help or salvation for me! And if, G-d forbid, all should wish to do me harm, You, in Your mercy, will turn Your gaze upon me and watch over me with a kind eye from Your holy abode: 'Behold, my bonds have fallen away, and my salvation has come, and my help has been revealed.'
Therefore help me, Master of the Worlds, that my eyes may be open to see always the truth of this, and that Your faith be rooted and firmly established in my heart at every moment, so that I transgress not in speech, nor in deed, nor in thought, to serve anyone but You, G-d forbid. So that my soul should strive only to fulfill Your will.
And help me to keep constantly in my thoughts and in my heart an awareness of Your Greatness and Might, and Your life-giving Power at every moment, and my own insignificance, and that I am among Your creations, and nothing among the things You have made. And even were I free of sin — yet my transgressions have multiplied. I have raised my head above all Your creations, though they fulfill Your will, for which they were created, while I, in my haughtiness, am repugnant in Your eyes.
And help me to humble myself, to remove the spirit of haughtiness from my heart and my thoughts, and let awe of You be with me always, so that I do not sin, and let my heart always rejoice that You created me for Your glory. And let love for You burn within me, and grant me from Your Wisdom, that Your Greatness and Might, and my own smallness and limited understanding, always be before me, so that my heart does not become haughty, and I do not chase after honor, greatness and wealth, but that my soul strive only to fulfill Your will.
And let me be ready at every moment to give up my body and soul for the sake of Your Holy Name. And remove all the barriers that separate me from You, and let me return to You, and let everything You do with me be pleasing to me, and let nothing distract me from true service of You. And let me not suffer from those who envy me, nor envy others myself, and let me desire nothing but to fulfill Your will. And show us the way of Your Statutes, how to fulfill Your will with a pure heart, in joy and humility, and with love for Your people Israel.
And may Your Name be sanctified through me and my children, and my children's children, until the end of the generations, and may no flaw be found in us, G-d forbid, and may we be spared from desecrating the Holy Name, and may we merit to occupy ourselves with Your Torah for its own sake continually and consciously, in joy and with a pure heart. And may we be guarded from all sins and transgressions, and may we rejoice in the words of Your Torah and Your commandments, and may we merit to repair what we have corrupted, and may we not be shamed in this world nor humiliated in the World to Come, amen, so may it be Your will!"
Link to the song "Yodati" performed by Avraham Fried, set to the words of the prayer by Rabbi Meir of Apta.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1g-xIP7tG0[/embed](Translation and transliteration of the prayer by Zoya Chaya Tigay)