Introduction

by Tzvi Fishman

As we have previously written in the essay, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” that while repentance is always accepted before G-d, the period of “Shovavim” (the 6 straight weeks starting with parshat Shemot) is an especially propitious time to atone for sexual transgressions. To help readers, we have translated a powerful penitential prayer composed by the renowned Torah scholar, Rabbi Aharon Rota, of blessed memory, author of the classic works, “Taharat HaKodesh” and “Shomer Emunim.”

This prayer and the learning that precedes it are designed to cleanse a person of sexual transgressions, known as blemishes to the Brit. These transgressions, including the spilling of semen in vain (masturbation), pre-marital sex, sexual relations with non-Jews, relations with a woman in her “niddah” menstrual period, adultery, improper relations with one’s wife, including premature ejaculation, forbidden incestuous relations, and the like, all of these are also known as blemishes to the “Yesod.”

[Composed by Rabbi Natan of Breslov, foremost disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov]

May it be Thy will the L-rd my G-d, and G-d of my forefathers, that you assist me and grant me the merit in Your great compassion and your awesome kindness, that I speedily merit to truly feel the pain of my many abundant and awful sins, transgressions, and willful violations of the Torah that are piled up high to the sky, as innumerable as the sands of the earth - especially the sexual sins that I committed which blemished the Covenant of the Brit, the blemishes to the seminal drops that issue forth from the brain, that I spilled in vain, whether accidentally or knowingly, whether against my will or willfully.