9

a) The tzaddikim, the true leaders of the generation, are an aspect of "spirit", as it says (Numbers 27:18), "A man with spirit in him", who knows to counter the spirit in each individual. The People of Israel are an aspect of 'heart' for they are "the heart of the entire world" (Zohar, Pinchas, 221B). And the leaders of the generation need to blow, in the aspect of their spirit (wind), onto each Jewish person; (see Lekutei Moharan, Pt.1, Torah 8), the spirit of every Jew, in order to blow away the dustiness, meaning the depression and sadness that falls upon them, Heaven forbid. By this (sadness) a Jew, who is an aspect of "heart", cannot ignite and enflame his heart to serve G-d. Through blowing away the dustiness, the true tzaddikim enthuse the hearts of Jews to serve G-d.

b) Also, sometimes a person burns overly much to serve the Holy One beyond his limit and this is also not good. This is an aspect of a "storm wind" and is called 'breaking through'. The true tzaddikim also oversee this, in order to subdue the storm wind so that it won't burn beyond the proper measure, rather, every Jewish heart will be enthused to serve the Holy One, as is fitting, with a balanced temperament.

c) There are also wicked people who are an aspect of the Erev Rav (the mixed multitudes) and when they fall on the heart, meaning when they influence the Jewish People, this is also an aspect of dustiness. For just as when dust falls on a candle and the particles of fire in it become separated from the element of fire then they cannot glow and through this the candle is extinguished. So, when we blow at the candle the 'wind' blows away the dustiness from the candle and the particles join together again and the flame begins to glow. However, sometimes by blowing at the candle we separate the flame from the candle and this extinguishes the candle. Similarly the leaders of the generation need to blow away all the aspects of dustiness, as mentioned, from the heart, that's to say from every individual Jew, so that the particles of fire in each Jew join together again. Then the People of Israel are joined together and become an aspect of 'heart'. Each individual becomes an aspect of 'heart' for each place where the aspect of 'heart' is needed and then once again becomes enthused in the service of G-d, as is fitting.

9.

In Your great grace, You created Your world for the sake of the Jewish People who are the heart of the whole world. You gave them a heart to know, understand, yearn and long for You continually. In general the Jewish People have hearts that burn in a flame of love to cleave to You. “My love is strong till death… its flames are flames of fire the flame of G-d. Many waters… cannot extinguish the fire of this love” (Song of Songs 8,6).

But because of my immense and innumerous sins as You know, depression and sadness have overcome me a great deal. As a result, dustiness and heaviness have fallen upon my heart such that I cannot burn with enthusiasm in Your service as I should. And if, sometimes, in Your mercy, a spark of Your g-dliness shines within my heart, I haven’t the vessels to receive this spark, them my heart burns up too much. On the other hand, sometimes the heart is blocked up completely because of sadness.

So, may it find favour before You, G-d, our G-d, G-d of our Fathers, that You shine upon us the merit and power of the true tzaddikim and by this, grant us joy. In their great strength blow their holy spirit upon us and let this blow away from our hearts all forms of depression and sadness, all forms of dustiness and heaviness that falls upon our hearts. Then let us really burn with enthusiasm in the service of G-d. Guard us and save us from the stormy wind so that our hearts will not burn up with over-enthusiasm beyond its proper measure, Heaven forbid. We do not know how to behave with regard to this spark of enthusiasm in the heart; we do not know how to measure what is appropriate. Sometimes the heart is blocked completely while sometimes it burns up beyond the proper measure. We have no one to rely upon apart from our Father in Heaven and upon the strength and merit of the true tzaddikim. Each tzaddik is called a man with spirit within for he knows how to go against the spirit of each individual (in order to balance and rectify him).

Help us and merit us, please that the spirit of the tzaddikim will blow upon each one of us, a spirit of holiness and purity in such a way that we merit to really perfect joy, as You desire. Let each Jew’s heart burn with enthusiasm in Your service, for all eternity, with tremendous enthusiasm in the proper measure for each individual, according to his aspect of truth. Only You know how to measure this. Let us, Your Chosen Nation, the heart of the world, all cleave to You with real, holy enthusiasm such that we all become embodied with You for ever and ever, for all eternity.