The Heavy Head

Three books are opened on Rosh Hashanah - the Book of the Completely Wicked, the Book of the Completely Righteous, and the Book of the Intermediaries. The righteous are immediately written and sealed for life; the wicked are immediately written and sealed for death; and the intermediaries are left hanging until Yom Kippur. If they are worthy, they are written for life; if not, they are written for death." (Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16b)

The above-mentioned books refer to words. All the holy words of the completely righteous - their prayers and Torah study - unite speech within the realm of thought. For you must believe that with every prayer and word of Torah uttered with concentration, you certainly unite the realm of speech with the realm of thought. Even when you pray and your requests are not granted, nevertheless the efforts that unite speech and thought cause the same union Above. Those individuals whose sole intention is to unite these two worlds are perfect tzaddikim.

Our Rabbis said, "One may not pray except with a koved rosh"1 - with the realization that whatever you lack personally is also lacking Above. We are also taught, "Even if the king greets you, do not stop." (Talmud Berachot 30b) When a person prays with concentration, G·d takes pride in the realm of speech. This pride spreads though all the worlds even to the one who is praying.2 Thus, be careful not to break your connection with G·d and not to become proud of praying with such concentration.

"Intermediaries" pray that G·d should also fulfill their mundane requests. They are left waiting until Yom Kippur. They must tarry until the thoughts and intentions of their heart are revealed. If their intentions were for G·d's sake when they made their request, they are also written in the Book of the Intermediaries for life for these intentions unite speech and thought.

[From Tzava'at HaRivash 123. Translation and commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore. First posted on //baalshemtov.com]