Prayer Before Study from Rabbeinu the Ariz"l

Master of the worlds and Lord of the lords (רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים וַאֲדוֹנִי הָאֲדוֹנִים), Father of mercies and forgivenesses (אַב הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִיחוֹת) – we give thanks before You, Hashem our God and God of our fathers (מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ), in bowing and in prostration (בְּקִידָה וּבְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה), that You have drawn us near to Your Torah and to Your service (שֶׁקֵּרַבְתָּנוּ לְתוֹרָתְךָ וּלְעֲבוֹדָתְךָ), the service of holiness (עֲבוֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ), and You have given us a portion in the secrets of Your holy Torah (וְנָתַתָּ לָנוּ חֵלֶק בְּסוֹדוֹת תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה). What are we and what is our life, that You have done with us such a great kindness? (מָה אֲנַחְנוּ וּמָה חַיֵּינוּ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ חֶסֶד גָּדוֹל כָּזֶה) Therefore, we cast our supplication before You (עַל כֵּן אֲנַחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ), that You forgive and pardon all our sins and iniquities (שֶׁתִּמְחַל וְתִסְלַח לְכָל חַטֹּאותֵינוּ וַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ), and let not our iniquities separate between us and You (וְאַל יִהְיוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ מַבְדִּילִים בֵּינֵינוּ לְבֵינֶךָ).

And so may it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our fathers (וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ), that You establish our hearts to fear You and to love You (שֶׁתְּכוֹנֵן אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ לְיִרְאָתְךָ וּלְאַהֲבָתֶךָ), and that You incline Your ear to these our words (וְתַקְשִׁיב אָזְנְךָ לִדְבָרֵינוּ אֵלֶּה). And open our uncircumcised heart (וּתִפְתַּח לְבָבֵנוּ הָעָרֵל), (the closed heart) ((הַלֵּב הַסָּגוּר)) to the secrets of Your Torah (בְּסוֹדוֹת תּוֹרָתְךָ), and may this our study be pleasing (וִיהִי לִמּוּדֵנוּ זֶה נַחַת רוּחַ), before the throne of Your glory (לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ), like a pleasing aroma (כְּרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ). And may You emanate upon us (וְתָאֲצִיל עָלֵינוּ), light from the source of our soul (אוֹר מְקוֹר נִשְׁמָתֵנוּ), in all our aspects (בְּכָל בְּחִינָתֵינוּ), and may there flash forth sparks (וְשֶׁיִּתְנוֹצְצוּ נִצּוֹצוֹת), of Your holy servants (עַבְדֶּיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים), through whom You revealed these words into the world (אֲשֶׁר עַל יְדֵיהֶם גִּלִּיתָ דְּבָרֶיךָ אֵלֶּה לָעוֹלָם).

And may their merit, and the merit of their ancestors (וְזְכוּתָם, וְזְכוּת אֲבוֹתָם), and the merit of their Torah and their wholeness and their holiness (וְזְכוּת תּוֹרָתָם וְתֻמָּם וּקְדֻשָּׁתָם) Stand for us that we not stumble in these matters (יַעֲמוֹד לָנוּ לְבִלְתִּי נִכָּשֵׁל בְּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ). And through their merit, may our eyes be illuminated in what we study (וּבִזְכוּתָם תָּאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בַּמֶּה שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ לוֹמְדִים), as said by the Sweet Singer of Israel (כְּמַאֲמַר נְעִים זְמִירוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל): “Uncover my eyes and I will behold wonders from Your Torah” (גַּל עֵינַי וְאַבִּיטָה נִפְלָאוֹת מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ) (Tehillim 119:18), “For Hashem gives wisdom, from His mouth knowledge and understanding” (כִּי ה׳ יִתֵּן חָכְמָה, מִפִּיו דַּעַת וּתְבוּנָה) (Mishlei 2:6), “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Hashem my Rock and my Redeemer” (יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, ה׳ צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי) (Tehillim 19:15).

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