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Nitzavim ~ standing in prayer and choice: Reb Kalonymus Kalman of Piazeczna and Reb Nachman of Bretzlav

עברית למטה

Tzav Veziruz #18

If you haven't yet tasted prayer that is completely cleaned from asking your needs, if you haven't yet cried as you describe the greatness of the Holy One, and if you haven't extended yourself to the point that you feel that your words are from G!d to G!d, and if you haven't pushed yourself to the point that your heart and mind uncover G!dliness to the point that you know you can't understand or comprehend... then, all the crying that you cry at the time when you ask for your needs are seen in Heaven as child's play, as a child cries and begs for toys and sweets. This is what you have to do: go out, for one or two hours, abandon the world and its tumult, and all its requests and clever manipulations that are in you, and be alone, by yourself, and if possible, go walking in the woods, and see yourself as a simple and honest creation among G!d's creations. Become one with the sun and the moon, the birds and all the trees, and sing before the Holy One. You just came to uncover and fill all the world with the greatness of the Holy One.

Begin, please, for example, to announce/proclaim "Adon Olam, etc" or "Yedid Nefesh, etc" and see if your soul doesn't expand itself in its glory, outwards, to meet your soul's sovereign and maker, who is [also] approaching you, as it were, to pay attention and listen to the voice of your song. And a fire from above will burn inside you, that can only be washed away with tears, [they are what] rescues and calm you.

And then you can understand the request of Moshe Rabeinu that prayed, when he was close to die, to become like the birds in the sky: to tell and sing the song of G!d, in front of G!d - that desire.

עברית

Likutei Tefilot 129

"Ad-nai, You have examined me and You know. When I sit down or stand up You know it; You discern my thoughts from afar. You observe my walking and reclining, and are familiar with all my ways. There is not a word on my tongue that You, Ad-nai, without You knowing it completely. (Ps. 139:1-4)"

Master of the Universe! Giver of the Torah! Lover of His people Israel! The One who Chooses His People Israel in Love! You, in Your compassion gave us Choice, that there should be in us the power to choose life or its opposite, G!d forbid. And this issue, of the power of choice that You gave humans, is a Wonder of Wonders. This is the great wonder of all wonders in Your creatures, that You created in all worlds, because there is nothing as wondrous and awesome and hidden thing in all of Creation of all the Worlds, like this supreme wonder and this incredible and hidden novelty: that a person, who is created in this world by Your power, has the power of choice, that one can choose whichever path one desires, that a person has the strength to act according to Your will or against Your will, G!d forbid, and regarding this, David the King, peace be upon him, has said "I am awesomely, wondrously made; Your work is wonderful; my soul knows it very well." (Ps 139:14) "It is beyond my knowledge; it is a mystery; I cannot fathom it. Where can I escape from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" (Ps 139:6-7) - And therefore I come in Your presence, Master of Wonders, that You should come to my help and save me, and that You should be always with me, so that my power of choice will bend be towards You and Your will, that I will merit to always choose life and the way of goodness, and truth, as Your will, as the will of the true righteous ones, and that I should not bend away from Your will right or left all the days of my life forever.

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