The Prayer of the Holy Ari

The Prayer of the Holy Ari

“Gal einai ve'abita niflaot miToratecha” — (open my eyes so that I may behold wonders from Your Torah). (Tehillim 119:18) The disciples of the Ari transmitted the following prayer, which the Holy Ari would recite to the L-rd: “Ruler of the universe and Master of masters! Father of mercy and forgiveness! We thank You, our G-d and L-rd, and the G-d of our fathers, bowing humbly before You for bringing us close to Your Torah and to the service of holiness, and for granting us a share in understanding the secrets of the holy Torah. What are we, and what is our life worth, that You have shown us such great kindness? Therefore, we offer our supplication before You: forgive all our transgressions and sins, and let our iniquities not separate us from You. May it be Your will, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, to prepare our hearts to revere You and love You! Listen to these words of ours, open our uncircumcised hearts to understand the secrets of Your Torah, and may our study bring pleasure before Your Throne of Glory like a pleasing fragrance. Bestow upon us the Light of the root of our souls in all its aspects. May the sparks of Your holy servants shine forth—those through whom You revealed these words to the world—and may their merit, the merit of their fathers, the merit of their Torah, and their integrity and holiness stand by us, so that we do not stumble in these matters and may understand these words correctly. May their merit enlighten our understanding of what we study, as King David, the sweet singer of Israel, said: גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך — “open my eyes so that I may behold wonders from Your Torah.” (תהילים קיט, יח). For the L-rd grants wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, the L-rd, my Rock and Redeemer!”  

Prayer Before Learning, from the Ari, of Blessed Memory

  Ruler of the universe and Master of masters, Father of mercy and forgiveness, we thank You, the L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, bowing and prostrating ourselves before You, for bringing us close to Your Torah and to Your service, the service of holiness, and for granting us a share in the secrets of Your holy Torah. What are we, and what is our life, that You have shown us such great kindness? Therefore, we offer our supplications before You: forgive and pardon all our sins and iniquities, and let our iniquities not separate us from You. May it be Your will, the L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, to establish our hearts in awe and love of You. Listen to these words of ours, open our uncircumcised hearts to the secrets of Your Torah, and may this learning bring pleasure before Your Throne of Glory like a pleasing fragrance. Bestow upon us the Light of the source of our souls in all their aspects, and may the sparks of Your holy servants shine forth—those through whom You revealed these words to the world. May their merit, the merit of their fathers, the merit of their Torah, and their integrity and holiness stand by us, so that we do not stumble in these matters. Through their merit, enlighten our eyes regarding what we study, as the sweet singer of Israel said: "גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך". For the L-rd grants wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. "יהיו לרצון אמרי פי והגיון לבי לפניך ה' צורי וגואלי". (“Sulam ha-Tzidkut” (Ladder of Righteousness), Rabbi Tzvi Nisanzon)