Prayer and Blessings

Source of the Prayer 'May Not the Envy of Others Rise Against Me'

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Question

Hello, I am trying to find the source of the author who wrote the text of the prayer 'May it be Your will... that the envy of others does not rise against me, and that I do not envy...' which appears at the end of the Amidah prayer. Thank you very much. I would appreciate a response by email.

Answer

Greetings, The first part of the prayer 'May not the envy of man rise against me' is based on what is stated in the Jerusalem Talmud, Berakhot tractate (Chapter 4, Halacha 2), where Rabbi Eliezer would say after his prayer: 'May it be Your will, Hashem my God and God of my ancestors... that the envy of our hearts not rise against a person, and that the envy of a person not rise against our hearts.' The second part, 'and that I shall not be angry today and shall not anger You,' is based on what is brought in the book Charedim (Chapter 67), which records in the hand-written text of Pirkei Rabbi Akiva that he would pray daily: 'May it be Your will, Hashem my God and God of my ancestors, that I not be angry today and not anger You.' The third part, 'and place humility and meekness in my heart' (as well as the connection of this section with the previous parts), is according to the writing of Rabbi Meir Poperesh, of blessed memory (who lived more than 350 years ago), in his book Or Tzadikim (Prayer Rectification, Chapter 22, paragraph 44), whose language is as follows: 'However, these prayers can be said in any case before one may say them with acceptance. These are the words said after the Amidah: "May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our ancestors, that our envy not rise against others and that others' envy not rise against us," and afterwards the plea of Rabbi Akiva: "May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our ancestors, that I not be angry and not anger You," and afterwards one says: "Master of the Universe, grant me the teaching of humility and the teaching of meekness" etc.' The final part, 'Our King and our God, Your name is one in Your universe,' is based according to the words of the Tur, Orach Chaim (Siman 232). 

Blessings, Hillel Meirs


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