נִדְב֣וֹת פִּ֭י רְצֵה־נָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּֽמִשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃
Accetta, ti supplico, le offerte di libero arbitrio della mia bocca, o Eterno, e insegnami le tue ordinanze.
Kav HaYashar
It is fitting for every person to pray this short prayer before entering the synagogue: “ ‘Please accept the gifts of my mouth, Hashem, and teach me Your laws’ (Tehillim 119:108). May it be Your will, Hashem my God and God of my fathers, that my prayer should be lucid and pure and free of any hindrance that might interfere with proper intention.” It is very precious to the Holy One Blessed is He when a person raises his arms and fingers while praying from the bottom of his heart. Thus the Zohar relates in Parashas Yisro (67a) that ten angels are appointed over the one who lifts up his arms and fingers during prayer or the washing of the hands. However, it is forbidden to raise one’s hands and fingers in vain. To this the Zohar applies the verse, “Let them not appear before Me empty-handed” (Shemos 23:15). Then the ten angels mentioned above curse him with two hundred and forty-eight imprecations, Heaven spare us. A spirit of impurity immediately settles upon his hands and no blessing is to be found in them. Thus it is written of Avraham, “I raised my hand to Hashem, God the most High” (Bereishis 14:22). The Targum renders, “I raised my hand in prayer.” That is, he did not raise them in vain, Heaven forbid.