A Special Prayer by Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz Before the Asher Yatzar Blessing

A Special Prayer by Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz Before the Asher Yatzar Blessing

Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz (1925–2009) was one of the hidden tzadikim of the previous generation, a Kabbalist and miracle worker. He was born in the city of Satmar. He studied under the Admor, Rabbi Yoel of Satmar, and Rabbi Yehudah Rosner, Av Beit Din of Skelehid, author of the book Imrei Yehudah. During the Holocaust, he lost his family in Auschwitz. After his liberation, he emigrated to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv, where he lived alone in a one-room apartment and, following the advice of the Chazon Ish, worked as a road builder. In Israel, he joined a group of Kabbalists who were students of the Admor Baal HaSulam, but unlike them, he remained hidden for many years. He remained in close contact with Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz and the Admor Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam of Tzanz-Klausenburg (Netanya), who admired him and considered him one of the 36 hidden tzadikim. In his later years, he moved to Bnei Brak. Among those who visited him and studied with him were Rav Wosner and Rav Mordechai Gross. Many miracles associated with him have been recounted. He was a remarkable Torah scholar, in both the revealed and concealed realms, and the following works of his were published: Kol Yehudah and Zot le-Yehudah.   Rav Leibowitz wrote a special prayer to be recited before Asher Yatzar. It should be recited before the first Asher Yatzar of the day, after which one should recite five chapters of Tehillim: 3, 6, 107, 142, and 143. This segula is especially powerful throughout the entire month of Iyar, a month that is mesugal le-refuah shleimah (conducive to healing). If this is not possible, it should be recited on at least the two days of Rosh Chodesh Iyar.   A Special Prayer Before Asher Yatzar Ribono shel Olam, Av Ha-Rachamim! Chus ve-cheml al kol cholei amcha Beit Yisrael ve-al kol amputees, tarpei otam refuah shleimah bimheirut, be-zchut kol ha-tzadikim ha-amitiim, chus ve-cheml gam alai. Ve-tarpei oti refuah shleimah be-chesed chinam bi-zchut ha-berachah Asher Yatzar, asher hineni omed levarech lefanecha. Ana rachum! Tezakeini levarech ha-berachah ha-zot be-kavanah gedolah, be-simchah gedolah ve-atzumah, hatzileini mi-machshavot zarot be-berachah zo, ve-hamshich li bi-zchut u-ve-koach kol teivah va-teivah ve-kol ot ve-ot shel berachah zo, et kol ha-refuot she-ba'olam, be-toch kol eivarai ve-kol gidai, ve-kol klei ha-dam ha-orakim ve-ha-varidim, ve-kol atzmotai ve-besari, ve-nafshi ve-ruchi ve-nishmati ve-chayai ve-yechidati. Translation Master of the Universe, Merciful Father! Have compassion on all the sick among Your people, the House of Israel, and on all those who are ill. Heal them swiftly with a complete recovery, in the merit of all the true tzadikim. Have compassion on me as well. Heal me with a complete recovery through Your boundless kindness, in the merit of the Asher Yatzar blessing that I am about to recite before You! Please, be merciful. Grant me the merit to recite this blessing with great kavanah, with tremendous joy and heartfelt supplication. Save me from foreign thoughts while reciting this blessing, and in the merit and through the power of every word and every letter of this blessing, send me every healing in the world—to all my organs and sinews, throughout my blood, all my arteries and veins, all my bones and flesh, and to my nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah, and yechidah.   The Asher Yatzar Blessing BARUCH ATAH AD-NAI ELOHEINU MELECH HA-OLAM ASHER YATZAR ET HA-ADAM BE-CHOCHMAH UVARA VO NEKAVIM NEKAVIM, CHALULIM CHALULIM GALUI VE-YADUA LIFNEI KHISEI KEVODECHA SHE-IM YISATEM ECHAD MEHEM O IM YIPATEACH ECHAD MEHEM I EFSHAR LEHITKAYEM AFILU SHAAH ECHAT. BARUCH ATAH AD-NAI ROFEI CHOL BASAR U-MAFLEI LAASOT. Translation Blessed are You, G-d, our L-rd, King of the universe, Who in His wisdom formed man, creating within him numerous cavities and openings. It is clearly known before Your glorious throne that if one of them were to become blocked or one of them were to open, it would be impossible for a person to survive even for a single hour. Blessed are You, G-d, Who heals all flesh and performs wonders.   (Rav Raphael Avitan, Rabbi Yehudah Leibowitz – transliteration by Marina Lod)