[First posted in 2012. Sinaite prayers are patterned after Jewish prayer-traditions. This is merely a pattern, a model that you may use for your personal and family prayers; in time, after you’ve learned from the Jewish prayerful expressions, you can improvise your own prayers that are suited to your personal and family situation, the times that you live in, the community that you belong to, or specific for members of your family. We have taken the liberty to add gentiles into these model prayers, since naturally, the Jews write for themselves as the chosen people and the covenant people.
Main source of these prayers: The Expanded ArtScroll SIDDUR/Wasserman Edition/ Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, General Editors. ]
SIDDUR
WELCOMING THE SABBATH
Traditional Blessing for Lighting Sabbath Candles
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with Your commandments
and commanded us to kindle the lights of Sabbath.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe
Who sanctified us with Your commandments
and commanded us to sanctify the Sabbath.
SHALOM ALEICHEM
[A traditional Sabbath song, welcoming the angels of the Most High
to attend our Sabbath celebration, to bring peace to us and our household,
and to enjoy the shalom of Sabbath with us.]
Peace be upon you, ministering messengers,
messengers of the Most High from the King,
the King of kings the Holy One, blessed be He!
May you come in peace,
Bless us with peace,
Depart in peace,
messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,
from the King, the King of kings,
The Holy One, blessed be He!
[Reading any one of the following Psalms]
PSALM 92
A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath Day
It is good to give thanks to Adonai
and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
and Your faithfulness by night.
with the 10-stringed lute and with the harp,
with resounding music upon the lyre.
For You, Adonai,
have made me glad by what You’ve done;
at the works of Your hands I will sing for joy!
How great are Your works, Adonai!
Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man has no knowledge
nor does a stupid man understand this,
that when the wicked sprouted up like grass,
and all who did iniquity flourished,
it was only that they might be destroyed.
PSALM 95
O come, let us sing for joy to Adonai,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.
Let us shout joyfully to Him with songs.
For Adonai is a great God
and a great King, above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before Adonai our Maker,
for He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture
and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you would hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts, as in Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers tested Me, they tried Me,
though they had seen My work.
For forty years I loathed that generation,
and said they are a people who err in their heart,
and they do not know My ways.
Therefore I swore in My anger,
Truly they will not enter into My rest.
PSALM 121
A Song of Ascents
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from Adonai,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He will neither slumber nor sleep,
He Who keeps Israel.
Adonai is your keeper;
Adonai is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
nor the moon by night,
Adonai will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul!
Adonai will guard your going out
and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
PSALM 122
A Song of Ascents, of David
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of Adonai.”
Our feet are standing in your gates,
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
that is built as a city that is compact together;
to which the tribes go up, even the tribes of Yah,
an ordinance for Israel
to give thanks to the Name of Adonai,
for there thrones were set for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
may they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces,
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say “May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of Adonai our God,
I will seek your good.
PSALM 128
A Song of Ascents
How blessed are all who fear Adonai,
Who walk in His ways.
When you eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy
and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
within your house,
your children like olive plants around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears Adonai.
Adonai bless you from Zion,
and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
Indeed, may your see your children’s children.
PSALM 146
Hallelujah! Praise Adonai, O my soul!
I will praise Adonai while I live;
I will sing praises to my God
while I have my being.
Do not trust in princes,
in mortal man in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thought perish.
How blessed is he
whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in Adonai his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever;
Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food for the hungry.
Adonai sets the prisoners free.
Adonai opens the eyes of the blind;
Adonai raises up
those who are bowed down;
Adonai loves the righteous;
Adonai protects the strangers;
the fatherless and the widow, He supports.
But the way of the wicked He thwarts.
Adonai will reign forever, your God, O Zion,
to all generations. Hallelujah!
BLESSINGS UPON THE FAMILY
[It is a beautiful tradition to extend blessings to family members at Erev Shabbat table. Blessings for the wife recited by the husband; the husband recited by the wife; and for the children recited by either parent. Also included is an additional blessing for single adults who may be part of the Shabbat celebration. Since Shabbat is a foretaste of eternity when God’s blessings upon His people will be eternally manifest, our desire to bless each other is a foreshadow of the world to come.]
Husband: Blessing upon the Wife
[Proverbs 31:10-31]
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
and works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
from afar she brings her food.
She rises also while it is night
and gives food to her household
and portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff,
and her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she does not eat.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her;
“Many daughters have done nobly,
but you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is in vain,
but a woman who fears Adonai,
she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and
let her works praise her in the gates.
Wife: Blessing Upon the Husband
[In modern times, it has become traditional for the wife also to say a blessing over her husband. Two Psalms have been included to choose from, or one could select another portion of Scripture for the blessing.]
PSALM 1
Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
for his delight is in the Torah of Adonai
and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
He will be like a firmly planted tree
beside streams of water
that gives its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither;
and in all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff which is blown by the wind.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
but the way of the wicked will perish.
PSALM 112
Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears Adonai,
who greatly delights in His mitzvoth.
his seed will be mighty on the earth;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
he will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken;
the righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not fear evil tidings;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in Adonai.
his heart is upheld, he will not fear,
until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
He has given freely to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be exalted in honor.
The wicked will see it and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked will perish.
Blessing for Single Adults
[When single adults are present at the Erev Shabbat table, the host may desire to give the following blessing on their behalf.]
PSALM 84:4, 5, 11, 12
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house,
continually praising You. [selah]
How blessed is the person whose strength is in You;
the highways to Zion are in their heart.
For Adonai God is a sun and shield,
Adonai gives grace and honor.
No good thing will He withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
Adonai of Hosts–
How blessed is the person who trusts in You!
Blessing Over the Children
[The traditional blessings are said by the Father or Mother over the young children at the table, fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 48:20. The traditional blessings incorporate the hope that the children will one day establish their own families where the worship of Israel’s God will continue. The parents may want to add their own personal prayer of blessing as well.]
Blessing over Sons
May God establish you like Ephraim and Manasseh.
[Add blessing specific to each son or grandson. Name them one by one, or in case of several families celebrating together, name their corresponding children together, as the same time with all other parents present.]
Blessing over Daughters
May God establish you
like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
[Add blessing specific to each daughter or granddaughter. Follow same pattern as the sons.]
Final Blessing Over ALL
Numbers 6:22-24
Adonai bless you and keep you;
Adonai cause His face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you;
Adonai lift up his face toward you
and grant you His shalom.
SHABBAT KIDDUSH
[The Kiddush –“Sanctification”– incorporates the fruit of the vine, a symbol of joy. We set apart [sanctify] the Sabbath as a day of joy and gladness to HaShem. Everyone should have wine or grape juice for the children. In some traditions, all stand while reciting the Kiddush.]
Genesis 2:1-3
And there was evening and morning, the 6th day.
Completed were the heavens and the earth,
and all their host.
And God finished on the 7th day,
His work which He had done;
and He ceased on the 7th day from all His work
which He had done.
And God blessed the 7th day
and sanctified it because on it
He ceased from all His work of creating
which God had done.
Everyone joins in for the blessing over the wine;
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with Your commandments
and took pleasure in us,
and Your holy Sabbath,
in love and in pleasure,
You have bequeathed to us,
a memorial of the Creation,
a day which is the beginning of our sacred gatherings,
a memorial of Israel’s exodus from Egypt.
[and the exodus of gentiles with them]
For You chose Israel and sanctified them
from all the peoples,
and with Israel, we gentiles are honored
to be counted among Your chosen,
for we too have chosen You as our God,
and just like Israel, we have been sanctified.
Your holy Sabbath, in love and in pleasure,
You bequeathed to us.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Sanctifier of the Sabbath.
Washing Hands
[As we anticipate sharing the meal together, we recognize that it symbolizes the covenant of which we are all members. Washing hands is a symbolic reminder that as members together in YHWH’s community we are to live our lives in obedience to His Torah.]
PSALM 24:3-4
Who may ascend into the hill of Adonai?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
and has not sworn deceitfully.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with Your mitzvot
and commanded us about washing hands.
BLESSING FOR THE CHALLAH
[The Challah (Sabbath bread) —2 loaves represent the morning and evening sacrifices; they also remind us about gathering twice the manna on the 6th day so we could rest on the Sabbath. The Challah, braided together, is passed around, each breaks a piece.]
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe,
Who brings forth bread from the earth.
Songs [or any equivalent songs from our Revised Worship Songs]
1. This is the day for Israel
of light and joy a Shabbat of rest.
[Or: This is the day that the Lord has made]
2. Behold how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity.
3. Lover of my soul; Father of compassion.
Draw Your servant to Your will.
Your servant will run like a deer;
he will bow before Your glory.
Lover of my soul, draw me to Your will!
As a deer runs to her home,
Master, I run to Your throne.
[Or: As the deer panteth for the water . . .]
Isaiah 12:2
Behold God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid
for Yah Adonai is my strength and song,
He also has become my salvation!
Psalm 121: 1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
where will my help come from?
My help comes from Adonai,
Maker of heaven and earth!
Isaiah 11:9
They will not hurt or destroy
in all My holy mountain.
For the earth will be full
of the knowledge of Adonai
as the water covers the sea.
Lamentations 5:21
Cause us to return to You, Adonai,
and we will return;
renew our days as of old!
Thanksgiving after Meals:
Leader: My colleagues, let us say the blessing:
All: May the Name of Adonai be blessed
from now and forever.
Leader: May the Name of Adonai be blessed
from now and forever.
With your permission, our leaders and teachers,
let us bless Our God of Whose food we have eaten.
All: Blessed is Our God of Whose food
we have eaten and by His goodness we live.
Leader: Blessed is Our God of Whose food
we have eaten and by His goodness we live.
All: Blessed is He and blessed is His Name.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who nourishes the whole world
in His goodness, grace,
lovingkindness, and mercy.
He gives bread to all flesh
for His lovingkindness is eternal.
And in His great goodness never do we lack
and never do we lack food forever,
for His name’s sake.
Because He is God,
the nourisher and maintainer of all,
and the One Who does good to all
and prepares nourishment for all
of His creatures which He created.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who nourishes all.
We thank You, Adonai, our God
for giving an inheritance to Israel,
a desirable, good, and spacious Land
and for bringing them out, Adonai our God,
from their bondage in Egypt.
For gentiles like ourselves,
Adonai our God, we thank You also,
for bringing us out from our own “Egypt”
where we in our ignorance were in bondage,
ignorant of Your True Scriptures, the TNK.
We thank You Adonai, our God, for
redeeming us from our own slavery
to false doctrines and false teachings,
false beliefs, false religions, false churches;
we thank You for including us, gentiles,
who are not of ethnic Israel, but
just like those among the mixed multitude
who stood at the foot of Sinai,
to whom you gave Your covenant
through Moses, Your mouthpiece.
We thank You for Your Torah
where we have discovered
all the beautiful commandments
You originally gave for all mankind;
for the statutes and ordinances
which You made known to us,
and for life, grace, and lovingkindness
which You have granted to us
and for the food with which
You have always nourished and sustained us
everyday and at all times,
and in every hour.
[On Shabbat, add]
May it be Your will that we be strengthened
Adonai, our God, in Your commandments,
and by the commandment of the 7th day,
this great and Holy Sabbath.
Because this day is great and holy before You,
to cease on it and rest on it in love
as ordained by Your will.
And by Your will, grant us,
Adonai our God
that there be no distress or sorrow
or sighing on the day of our rest.
Show us, Adonai our God,
the consolation of Zion Your city,
and the rebuilding of Yerushalayim,
city of Your Sanctuary,
for You are the Lord of salvation
and the Lord of consolation.
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
Eternal King, God of our fathers,
our King, our Mighty One, our Creator,
our Redeemer, our Maker,
our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob,
our Shepherd, Shepherd of Israel.
The good King, who does good to all.
Everyday He has done good,
He does good, He will do good for us.
He has rewarded us, He rewards us,
He will reward us forever with grace,
lovingkindness, compassion, relief,
rescue and success, blessing and salvation,
consolation, maintenance, sustenance,
compassion and life, peace, and everything good.
And from all good things forever
He will not deprive us.
The Merciful One will reign over us forever and ever.
The Merciful One will be blessed in heaven and earth.
The Merciful One will be praised through all generations,
and be glorified in us forever throughout eternity;
and honored in us forever and for worlds without end.
The Merciful One will maintain us with honor.
The Merciful One will break our yoke from upon our necks,
causing us to walk on the heights of our Land.
The Merciful One,
may He send for us abundant blessing
upon this house, and upon this table
upon which we have eaten.
The Merciful One,
may He send us Elijah the Prophet
who is remembered for good
and who will announce for us
good tidings of salvation and consolations.
Guests recite the following:
children at the parent’s table include [parentheses]
The Merciful One, may He bless
[my father, my teacher]
the Master of this house,
and [my mother, my teacher]
Lady of this house,
them, their house and their children
and all which is theirs—
At your own table recite:
include appropriate words in [parenthesis]
The Merciful One, may He bless me,
[and my father, my mother, my wife
and my children] and all that is mine—
All continue here:
Ours and all that is ours,
just as our fathers were blessed,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
[Mention names in your individual family]
in all things, from all things,
with all things, so may He bless us,
all of us together as one
with a complete blessing
and let us say “Amen.”
From on high may they instruct them
and us of the favorable judgment
by which to guard peace,
and may we receive blessing from Adonai
and righteousness from God
of our salvation,
and may we find grace and good favor
in the eyes of God and man.
[On Shabbat, add]
The Merciful One,
may He cause us to inherit the day
which is all Shabbat and a rest
reflecting eternal life.
[On Rosh Chodesh]
The Merciful One,
may He renew upon us this month
for good and for blessing.
He who gives deliverance to His king
[On Shabbat and Yom Tov]
He who is a tower of salvation to his King
and does lovingkindness to His anointed,
to David and his seed forever—
He who makes peace in His heights
May He make peace upon us and upon all Israel
and let us say, Amen.
Fear Adonai, you His holy ones,
because there is no lack of those who fear Him.
Young lions may feel want and hunger
but those who seek Adonai
lack nothing of all things good.
Give thanks to Adonai for He is good,
for His lovingkindness is eternal.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Blessed is the man
who trusts in Adonai,
and Adonai will be his security.
I was young, and I have grown old
and I have not seen
a righteous person forsaken
nor his seed begging for bread.
Adonai will give strength to His people
Adonai will bless His people with peace.
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE
Putting on the Tallit [Prayer Shawl]
My soul, Bless Adonai!
Adonai my God, You are very great!
With beauty and splendor are You clothed;
enwrapped in light as with a garment;
You spread out the heavens like a curtain.
Hold the Tallit in readiness and wrap around yourself,
and recite the blessing:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us
to wrap ourselves with tzitzit.
Put the tallit over the head, wrapping it around you
completely and continue:
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God;
even mankind, in the shadow of Your wings, takes refuge.
They drink from the abundance of Your house,
and from the river of Your delights
You give them drink.
For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light;
Continue Your lovingkindness
to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.
MORNING PRAYERS
[Upon entering the place of prayer, the following verses of Scripture are recited as we approach our King and seek His Presence:]
How good are your tents, Jacob
Your dwelling places, O Israel.
As for me, in the abundance of
Your lovingkindness,
I will enter Your house,
I will prostrate myself toward
Your Holy Sanctuary in awe of You.
Adonai, I love the dwelling of Your house,
event he palace where Your glory resides.
As for me, I will prostrate myself and bow,
I will kneel before Adonai my Maker.
As for me, may my prayer to You,
Adonai, be at an acceptable time.
O God, in the abundance of Your lovingkindness,
answer me with the truth of Your salvation.
Leader: Bless Adonai Who is blessed!
All: Blessed is Adonai Who is blessed
forever and ever.
THE BLESSINGS OF THE SHEMA
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe, Former of the light
and Creator of darkness,
Maker of peace and Creator of everything.
Leader: With much love You have loved us,
Adonai our God;
With great and abundant pity You have pitied us.
Our Father, our King,
for the sake of our fathers who trusted in You
and You taught them the statutes of life;
so too be gracious to us and teach us.
Our Father, compassionate Father,
Who acts with compassion;
have compassion upon us
and put into our hearts to understand
and to comprehend, to listen, learn and teach,
to guard, to perform, and fulfill
all the words of instruction in Your Torah with love.
Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah
and cause our hearts to cleave to Your commandments.
Unify our hearts to love and fear Your Name
and may we never be put to shame,
because in Your holy, great
and awesome Name have we trusted.
May we exult and rejoice in Your salvation.
Bring us in peace
from the four corners of the earth
and lead us to You in honor,
because You are God Who makes salvation
and You have chosen us from all peoples and tongues
and brought us close to Your great Name forever
IN TRUTH,
to offer You thanksgiving
and to declare Your ONENESS with love.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who chooses His people with love.
THE SHEMA
[It is traditional to close or cover the eyes when praying the Shema.]
Hear, O Israel,
Adonai is our God, Adonai is One!
Blessed is the Name!
The glory of His kingdom is forever and ever.
And you shall love Adonai Your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might,
These words which I command you today
shall be on your heart.
And you shall teach them diligently
to your children and speak of them
when you sit in your house,
when you travel on the road,
and when you lie down and rise up.
Bind them for a sign
upon your hand and they shall be
for tefillin between your eyes;
and write them upon the doorposts
of your house and upon your gates.
And it shall be if you diligently obey
My commandments which
I am commanding you today,
to love Adonai Your God
and to serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul,
that I will give rain for your Land in its proper time,
the early and late rain
that you may gather in your grain,
your wine and your oil.
And I will give grass in your field
for your cattle,
and you will eat and be satisfied.
Guard yourselves
lest your heart be swayed
and you go astray and serve other gods
and bow down to them.
Then the wrath of Adonai
will blaze against you and
He will close off the heavens
and there will be no rain
and the ground will not give forth
its produce and you will perish
quickly from the good Land
which Adonai is giving to you.
Place these words of Mine
upon your heart and upon your soul
and bind them for a sign
upon your hand and they shall be
tefillin between your eyes.
Teach them to your children
to discuss while you sit in your home
and when you travel on the road
and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall write them on the doorposts
of your house and on your gates,
in order to prolong your days
and the days of your children
upon the ground which
Adonai swore by oath to your fathers
to give them, like the days of
the heavens upon the earth.
And Adonai spoke to Moses saying:
Speak to the children of Israel
and say to them that they should make
for themselves tzitzit upon the
corners of their garments
throughout their generations.
And they shall put upon the tzitzit
of each corner a thread of techeilet
that it may be tzitzit for you,
that you may see it and remember
all the commandments of Adonai and do them
so that you will not turn aside
after your hears and after your eyes
which cause you to act in
unfaithfulness after them.
Therefore you will remember and do
all my commandments and
you will be holy to your God.
I am Adonai your God
Who brought you out from the land of Egypt
to be your God.
I am Adonai your God.
Leader: Adonai Your God is true–
true and firm, certain and enduring,
upright and faithful, beloved and cherished,
desired and pleasant, awesome and mighty,
correct and accepted,
good and beautiful is this world
for us for all eternity.
It is true, the God of the universe
is our King, the stronghold of Jacob
is the shield of our salvation.
Throughout all generations
He endures and His Name endures;
His throne is confirmed
and His sovereignty and His faithfulness
endure forever.
Upon the former generations
and upon the latter generations
this word is good and enduring forever.
True and faithful is this statute
and it will not pass away.
Truly You, Adonai, are our God
and the God of our fathers,
our King, the King of our fathers,
our Redeemer, Redeemer of our fathers,
our Creator, Rock of our salvation
our Liberator and Deliverer.
Your Name is from eternity,
There is no God but You.
The help of our fathers
You have been from all eternity,
a Shield and Savior for their children
after them in every generation.
The heights of the universe
is Your abode, and Your judgments
and Your righteousness reach
to the ends of the earth.
Blessed is the person who obeys
Your commandments, and Your Torah
and Your word he places on his heart.
Truly you are the Master of Your people
and a mighty King to plead their case.
Truly You are the first and You are the last
and beside You we have no king, redeemer, nor savior.
From Egypt You redeemed Your people,
Adonai our God and from the house of slavery
You freed us. All their firstborn
You slew and Your firstborn
You redeemed. The Red Sea you split
and the wicked You drowned.
The beloved ones you brought through
and the waters covered their enemies,
not one of them remained.
Because of this the loved ones praised
and exalted God,
and the beloved ones offered hymns,
songs and praises, blessings and thanksgiving
to the King, God, living and enduring,
exalted and uplifted, great and awesome.
He humbles the haughty and raises the lowly,
He brings out the captives and frees the humble,
and helps the impoverished,
and He answers His people when they cry out to Him.
Praise to the Most High God!
Blessed is He and He is blessed,
Moses and the children of Israel raised a song to You
with much joy, and all of them proclaimed:
All: “Who is like You Adonai, among the gods!
Who is like You, glorious in holiness
awesome in praises, doing wonders!”
Leader: With a new song
the redeemed praised Your Name at the seashore.
Together they all gave thanks
and affirmed Your kingship and said:
Adonai will reign forever and ever!
Rock of Israel, arise to the aid of Israel
and liberate according to Your promise
Judah and Israel.
Our Redeemer–
Adonai of Hosts is His Name,
the Holy One of Israel.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who redeemed Israel.
SHEMONEI ESREI
[The 18 Benedictions]
ALL STAND
Leader: Adonai, open my lips
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
1. COVENANT OF THE FATHERS
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
and God of our fathers;
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob;
The great and mighty God,
Who is awesome, God Most High
Who bestows good lovingkindness
and is Owner of everything;
He remembers lovingkindness to the fathers
and brings a Redeemer
to their children’s children
for His own Name’s sake in love.
Between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur add:
Remember us for life
King Who desires life,
for we are written in the book of life
on account of our faithfulness to
live Your Torah, O living God.
King, Helper, Savior and Shield;
Blessed are You, Adonai
Shield of Abraham.
2. GOD’S MIGHT
Individuals may offer prayers for those sick and in need,
then all pray together:
You are mighty forever, my Master,
You are mighty to save.
You make the wind blow and the rain to fall.
You sustain the living in lovingkindness,
are full of compassion;
Supporter of the fallen and Healer of the sick;
Releaser of the imprisoned
and Fulfiller of His faithfulness to those asleep in the dust.
Who is like You, Master of wonders, and Who compares to You
Lord of life, Giver of life.
Who is like You, merciful Father
Who remembers His creatures for life in mercy!
KEDUSHA [Holiness]
We will sanctify Your Name in this world
just as they sanctify it in heaven above,
as it is written by the hand of Your prophet:
“And he called one to the other and said:
Holy, Holy, Holy is Adonai of Hosts!
All the earth is full of His glory!
Blessed is the glory of Adonai, from His place.
Leader: And in Your holy words it is written:
All: Adonai will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, in every generation.
Hallelujah!
In all generations we will declare
Your greatness and to all eternity
we will sanctify Your holiness
and Your praise, our God
Will not depart from our mouth
forever and ever.
Leader: Because you are God, the Great King,
and You are holy.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
the Almighty, the Holy One.
3. HOLINESS OF GOD’S NAME
Leader: You are holy and Your name is holy
and holy beings praise You every day, forever.
Blessed are You, Adonai, the Almighty, the Holy One.
Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion
that You called him a faithful servant.
A crown of splendor You placed on his head
hone he stood before You on Mount Sinai.
Two stone tablets he brought down
in his hand, and written on them
was the observance of the Sabbath.
And so it is written in Your Torah:
All: And the children of Israel shall keep
the Sabbath to make the Sabbath
throughout their generations an eternal covenant
between Me and between the children of Israel;
it is a sign forever that in six days
Adonai made the heavens and the earth.,
and on the 7th day He rested and was refreshed.
Leader: Our God and God of our fathers,
may You be pleased with our rest.
Sanctify us in Your commandments
and grant our share in Your Torah;
satisfy us with Your goodness
and cause us to rejoice in Your salvation
and purify our heart to serve You in truth.
Adonai our God, cause us to inherit
in love and truth Your holy Sabbath,
and may they rest in it, all of Israel,
and we who sanctify Your Name.
Blessed are You Adonai,
Who sanctifies the Sabbath.
17. DIVINE SERVICE
Be pleased, Adonai our God
with Your people Israel and their prayers,
and return the service to the Most Holy Place
in Your abode and the fire offerings of Israel;
and accept our prayer lovingly and willingly
and may You constantly be pleased
with the service of Israel Your people.
O God and God of our fathers,
may there ascend, come, and reach,
appear, be desired, and heard,
counted and recalled our remembrance
and reckoning and the remembrance
of our fathers,
the remembrance of Yerushalayim,
the city of Your Sanctuary,
and the remembrance of all Your people,
before You, for survival, for well-being,
for grace and lovingkindness,
and compassion, for life and peace
on this day of [state the festival]
Remember us, Adonai our God
on this day for well-being
and visit us on it for a blessing.
Deliver us on it for life,
by Your word of salvation and compassion,
spare us and show us grace
and have compassion on us and save us,
for our eyes are directed to You,
because You are God,
King, Gracious and Compassionate.
And may our eyes behold
Your return to Zion in compassion.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who returns His Divine Presence to Zion.
18. WE ARE THANKFUL
[Individuals may share God’s blessings in their lives then all pray together:]
We are thankful to You
that You are Adonai our God,
and the God of Abraham and Moses,
for all eternity, Rock of our lives,
Shield of our salvation are You
from generation to generation.
We give thanks to You and recount Your praise
for our lives which are committed
into your hand, and for our souls
which are entrusted to You,
and for Your miracles that are with us everyday
and for Your wonders and Your goodness
at all times—- evening, morning, and afternoon.
You are good,
for Your compassion is never exhausted,
and You are compassionate
for Your lovingkindness never ceases.
Forever we have hoped in You!
And for all the foregoing
blessed and exalted by Your Name, our King,
constantly, for all eternity.
Inscribe for a good life
all who are children of Your covenant.
And all the living shall thank You
and praise Your Name in truth.
The Almighty, our salvation and our help.
Blessed are You, Adonai.
“The Beneficent” is Your Name
and to You it is fitting to give praise.
19. PEACE
Grant peace, goodness and blessing,
grace, lovingkindness and compassion
upon us and upon all Israel your people,
[and gentiles who call on Your Name].
Grant peace, goodness and blessing,
grace, lovingkindness and compassion
upon us and upon all Israel Your people,
and all Gentiles who call on Your Name.
Bless us, our Father, all of us as one
with the light of Your face
because by the light of Your face
You gave to us, Adonai our God,
a Torah of life and the love of
kindness, righteousness, blessing,
compassion, life, and peace.
So may it be good in Your eyes
to bless Your people Israel
at all times and in every hour with Your peace.
In the book of life, blessing, peace,
and abundant maintenance,
may we be remembered and written,
we and all Your people, the house of Israel,
for a good life and for peace.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Who blesses His people
Israel and gentile believers in You, with peace.
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
that the Holy Temple be rebuilt quickly,
in our days; and grant our portion in Your Torah
and there let us serve You in reverence
as in the days of old and in earlier times.
And may it be pleasing to Adonai,
the offering of J’hudah and Yerushalayim
as in the days of old and in earlier times.
TORAH SERVICE
Reading of the Torah
There is none like You among the gods, Adonai,
and there is nothing like Your works.
Your Kingship is the kingship for all eternities,
and Your rule throughout every generation.
Adonai is King, Adonai was King,
Adonai will be King forever and ever.
Adonai will give strength to His people,
Adonai will bless His people with peace.
Father of compassion, do good,
according to Your will, to Zion.
May You rebuild the walls of Yerushalayim,
for in You alone do we trust,
King, Almighty, Exalted and Uplifted One,
Master of the worlds.
Whenever the Ark traveled, Moses would say,
Arise, Adonai and let Your enemies be scattered
and let those who hate You flee from before You.
For from Zion will go forth the Torah
and the Word of Adonai from Yerushalayim!
Blessed is He Who gave the Torah
to His people, Israel, in His holiness.
Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God,
Adonai is One! Our God is One,
Great is our Master, Holy is His Name!
Leader: Magnify Adonai with me and
let us exalt His Name together!
All: The greatness belongs to You, adonai,
and the power, the glory, the victory,
and the beauty;
everything in heaven and on earth is Yours—
Yours, Adonai, is the kingdom, and
You are sovereign over all.
Exalt Adonai our God and worship
at His footstool! Holy is He!
Exalt Adonai our God and worship
at His holy mountain,
for Holy is Adonai our God.
For from Zion will go forth the Torah,
For from Zion will go forth the Torah,
and the word of Adonai from Yerushalahim!
Blessed is He Who gave the Torah,
for His people Israel and all mankind,
in His holiness.
THERE IS NONE LIKE OUR GOD
There is none like our God, there is none like our Lord,
there is none like our King.
Let us give thanks to our God, our Lord, our King.
You are our God, our Lord, our King.
You are the One to whom our fathers before You
offered sweet smelling incense.
[Readers are called up to the Torah]
He who blessed our fathers, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, may He bless ___________
who has come up to honor God and the Torah.
May the Holy bless [him/her] and [his/her]
family and send blessing and prosperity
on all he work of [his/her] hands.
[Blessing before reading the Torah]
Reader: Bless Adonai Who is blessed.
All: Blessed is Adonai Who is blessed forever.
Reader: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who chose us
from among all peoples and gave to us
His Torah. Blessed are You Adonai,
Giver of the Torah.
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who gave to us the Torah of Truth
and planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Giver of the Torah.
This is the Torah which Moses placed before
the children of Israel, upon the command of Adonai,
through the hand of Moses.
It is a tree of life to all who grasp it
and those who live it are praiseworthy!
Its ways are ways of pleasantness and
all its paths lead to peace.
Long life is at its right and at its left
are riches and honor.
Adonai desired, for the sake of His righteousness,
to make the Torah great and glorious.
Blessing before reading the Haftarah:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who chose good prophets
and was pleased with their words
which they spoke in truth.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Who chose the Torah,
Moses His servant, Israel His people,
and the prophets of truth and righteousness.
Read the Haftarah:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Rock of all the worlds,
Righteous in all the generations,
the Almighty, the Faithful One,
Who says and does, Who speaks and fulfills,
for all His words are true and right.
Dependable are You, Adonai our God,
and dependable are Your words,
and not one of Your words is ever
retracted or unfulfilled,
for You are the Almighty, a King
Who is dependable and merciful.
Blessed are You, Adonai, the Almighty
Who is dependable in all His words.
Leader: Have compassion on Zion,
for it is the home of Israel’s life,
and the one whose soul is humiliated,
deliver speedily in our days.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes Zion to rejoice with her children.
Cause us, gentiles, to rejoice with them,
Adonai our God, with Elijah the prophet,
and with the kingdom of the House of David,
Your anointed.
Blessed are You, Adonai, shield of David,
for the Torah, for the Divine Service,
for the prophets and for this Sabbath day
which You gave us, for holiness and for rest,
for honor and for glory.
For all this, we thank You and bless You;
blessed be Your name by the mouth
of all the living continually forever.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Sanctifier of the Sabbath.
Return, Adonai,
to the myriad thousands of Israel.
Arise, Adonai,
to Your resting place,
You and the Ark of Your might.
Let Your priests be clothed
in righteousness and Your devout ones
will sing in joy.
For the sake of David, Your servant,
do not reject the face of Your anointed.
For I have given you good teaching,
Do not forsake My Torah.
It is a tree of life to those who grasp it,
and those who support it are blessed.
Its ways are pleasant ways and all its paths
lead to peace.
Cause us to return to You, Adonai,
and we shall return.
Renew our days as of old.
BLESSED
Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house,
May they always praise You. Selah!
Fortunate the people whose lot is thus,
Fortunate the people for whom
Adonai is their God.
A Psalm of David
I will exalt You, my God, the King,
and I will bless Your Name forever and ever.
Everyday I will bless You and extol Your Name
forever and ever.
Adonai is great and highly extolled
and His greatness is without measure.
Generation to generation will praise Your works
and Your mighty acts they will declare.
Upon the splendor of Your glorious majesty
and the words of Your wonders
I will meditate.
Of Your awesome acts they will speak.
And Your greatness I will recount.
The memory of Your great goodness
they will eagerly tell, and of Your righteousness
they will shout joyfully.
Adonai is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
Adonai is good to all
and His compassions are upon all of His works.
They will give thanks to You, Adonai,
all for Your works and Your devoted ones
will bless You.
The glory of Your kingdom they will declare
and of Your power they will speak,
to make known to the sons of men
His power and the majestic glory
of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all time
and Your rule is in every generation.
Adonai supports all who fall
and straightens all who are bent down.
The eyes of all look with hope to You
and you give to them their food in due time.
You open Your hand and satisfy
the desire of all the living.
Adonai is righteous in all His ways
and kind in everything He does.
Adonai is near to all who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
The desire of those who fear Him
He fulfills and their cry for help He hears
and He deliver them.
Adonai guards all who love Him
but all the wicked He will destroy.
Adonai’s praise my mouth will speak
and all flesh will bless His holy Name
forever and ever.
And we will bless God from now and forever.
Hallelujah!
HALF KADDISH
[It is traditional to end a major section of the service by reciting the half kaddish.]
Leader: Exalted and sanctified be His great Name
in the world which He created according to His will,
and may He rule His kingdom in your lifetime
and your days, and in the lifetime of all the
House of Israel, quickly,
and in the near future, and say Amen.
May His great Name be blessed forever and forever.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted and
lifted up and honored and elevated and extolled
be the Name of the Holy One,
He is blessed above all the blessing and hymns,
praises and consolations which we say in the world
and say, Amein.
ALEINU [Alternative]
It is traditional to bow on the words “We therefore bow . . .”
We are duty-bound to praise the Master of all,
to ascribe greatness to the One Who created
from the beginning,
that He called us from the nations of the earth,
and chose Israel as His family, a treasured people,
from whom we learned about YHWH our God.
We are Your people whom You redeemed.
We therefore bow and worship and give thanks
before the King, the King of kings, the Holy One,
blessed be He! On that day,
Adonai will be One and His Name One!
ALEINU [Traditional]
We are duty bound to praise the Master of all,
to ascribe greatness to the One
Who created from the beginning,
that He did not make us as the nations
of the lands, and did not place us
as the families of the earth;
since He did not assign our portion as theirs
nor our lot like all of the masses.
We therefore bow and worship and give thanks
before the King, the King of kings, the Holy One,
blessed is He! On that day,
Adonai will be One and His Name One.
For they bow to vanity and nothingness
and pray to a god who cannot save.
LET US ADORE
Let us adore the everliving God
and render praise unto Him
Who spread out the heavens
and established the earth
and Whose glory is revealed
in the heavens above
and Whose greatness is manifest
throughout all the earth.
He is our God.
There is none else!
MOURNER’S KADDISH
Exalted and sanctified
be His great Name in the world which
He created according to His will
and may He rule His kingdom
in your lifetime and in your days,
and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel,
quickly, and in the near future,
and say, Amein.
May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed and be praise, glorified and exalted,
and lifted up and honored and elevated and extolled
be the Name of the Holy One,
He is blessed above all the blessing and hymns,
praises and consolations which we say in the world
and say, Amein.
May there be much peace from heaven,
and good life upon us and upon all Israel,
and say Amein.
He who makes peace in His heights
may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel
and say, Amein.
AARONIC BENEDICTION
Leader: Adonai bless you and keep you,
Adonai shine His face toward you
and be gracious to you.
Adonai lift up His face toward you
and grant you peace.
All: May it be His will.
BLESSING FOR THE NEW MONTH
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
that You renew for us this month
for good and for blessing,
and grant us long life, a life of peace,
a life of goodness, a life of blessing,
a life of sustenance, a life of physical strength,
a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin,
a life in which there is no shame or disgrace,
a life of prosperity and honor,
a life in which there will be love of Torah
and fear of heaven,
a life filled with the wishes of our heart for good.
Amen. Selah.
He who did miracles for our fathers
and redeemed them from slavery to freedom,
may He redeem us soon and gather our dispersed
from the four corners of the earth;
all Israel are companions!and let us say, Amein.
This new month of _____________
which begins on _______________
may it come upon us and upon all Israel
for goodness. May He renew it,
the Holy One, blessed is He,
upon us and upon all His people,
the house of Israel, for life, peace,
happiness, and joy, for salvation and
consolation, and let us say, Amein.
HAVDALAH BLESSINGS
[Close of Sabbath]
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid
for my strength and my song is
Yah Adonai,
and He is my salvation!
You can draw water with joy
from the wellsprings of salvation.
Salvation belongs to adonai
upon Your people is your blessing. Selah.
Adonai of armies is with us,
a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah.
Adonai of Armies—
blessed is the person who trusts in You!
Adonai, save us!
The King will answer us on the day we call.
For the Jews there was light and gladness,
joy and honor, so may it be for us.
The fruit of the vine, I raise up and on the
Name of Adonai I call out:
[Blessing for the wine]
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
[Blessing for spices]
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Unvierse,
Creator of all kinds of spices.
[Blessing for the light of the candle]
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the light of fire.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe
Who divides between holy and profane;
between light and dark;
between Israel and the nations;
between the 7th day and the 6 days of work.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who divides between holy and profane.
[After extinguishing the candle in the wine,
Sing a hymn . . . ]
A good week, a good week,
awake of peace, may gladness reign,
and joy increase.
PRAYER WHEN RETIRING AT NIGHT
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who brings the fetters of sleep upon my eyes
and slumber upon my eyelids.
May it be Your will, Adonai, my God,
that I lay down in peace and rise up in peace.
May no thoughts or evil terrify me,
nor bad dreams, nor evil fancies disturb me.
And may my bed be perfect before you.
Enlighten my eyes again,
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
for You illumine the pupil of my eye.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who illumines the whole world
with His glory.
Almighty, faithful King—
Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God,
Adonai is One! Blessed is the Name!
The glory of His kingdom is for all eternity.
[Read the Shema]
May the friendship of Adonai our God be upon us,
and the work of our hands establish for us.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Almighty,
in the shadow of Shaddai he will abide.
I say of Adonai, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in Whom I trust.
For He will deliver you from the snare,
from the destructive pestilence,
with His wings He will cover you
and under His wings you will be secure.
A shield, a full shield is His truth.
You will not fear the terror at night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
the pestilence that prowls in the dark
nor the deadly pestilence that destroys at noon.
A thousand will fall at your left side,
ten thousand at your right side
but it will not come near you.
Only with your eyes will you see it
and view the punishment of the wicked.
For You, Adonai, are my refuge;
You have made the Most High your dwelling.
No evil will befall you,
nor a plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels for you
to keep you in all your ways.
They will carry you on their hands
lest you strike your foot on a stone.
Upon lion and snake you will tread,
you will trample young lion and serpent.
For to Me he clings, so I will save him.
I will strengthen him for he knows My Name.
He will call out to Me and I will answer him;
I am with him in distress.
I will free him and honor him.
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation;
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation.
PSALM 3
Adonai, how many are my tormentors?
Many are rising up against me.
They are saying about me,
There is no deliverance for him in God.
But You, Adonai, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One Who lifts my head.
I cried out to Adonai with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain.
I lay down and slept; I awoke,
for Adonai sustains me.
I will not fear ten thousands of people
deployed against me on every side.
Arise, Adonai, save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
the teeth of the wicked You have shattered.
Salvation belongs to Adonai;
upon Your people is Your blessing.
Cause us to lie down, Adonai our God,
in peace, and raise us again, our King, to life.
Spread over us the shelter of Your shalom
and establish us in the good counsel
from Your presence.
Save us for Your Name’s sake and shield us.
Remove from us enemy, pestilence,
sword, famine, and sorrow.
Remove the adversary from before us,
and from behind us, and in the shadow of Your wings
protect us, for You are the Almighty
Who guards and delivers us.
Surely You are the Almighty, King,
gracious, merciful.
Guard our going out and coming in
for life and peace, from now and forever.
Blessed is Adonai in the day;
Blessed is Adonai in the night;
Blessed is Adonai when we lie down;
Blessed is Adonai when we rise up.
For in Your hand are the souls
of the living and the dead.
“In His hand is the soul of every life
and the spirit of every human being.”
Into Your hand I commit my spirit,
You have liberated me, Adonai,
God of truth.
Our God Who is in heaven,
make Your Name one
and establish Your kingdom always
and rule over us forever and ever.
May our eyes see and our heart rejoice
and our souls exalt in Your salvation in truth,
when it will be said in Zion,
“You God reigns!”
Adonai is King, Adonai was King,
Adonai will be King forever and ever.
For the Kingdom is Yours
and to all eternity You will reign in glory,
for we have no King but You.
“The angel who redeemed me from all evil,
may He bless the lads and may they be called
by my name and the name of my fathers,
Abraham and Isaac,
and may they multiply like fish
in the midst of the Land.”
And He said, “If you will diligently heed
the voice of Adonai your God,
and do what is upright in His eyes,
and listen to His commandments,
and guard all His statutes,
then all the sickness which I put in Egypt
I will not put upon you,
for I am Adonai your Healer.
Behold, He neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the Keeper of Israel!
For Your salvation I hope, Adonai,
I hope for You salvation, Adonai,
Adonai, for Your salvation I hope!
PSALM 128
A Song of Ascents
How blessed are all who fear Adonai,
Who walk in His ways.
When you eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine,
within your house, your children like olive plants
around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears Adonai.
Adonai bless you from Zion,
and may you see the prosperity of Yerushalayim
all the days of your life.
Indeed may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Tremble and do not sin.
Speak to your heart while upon your bed
and be silent. Selah.
Lord of the world Who reigns supreme,
ere all creation came to be,
when by His will all things were wrought
the Name of our King was first made known.
And when this age shall cease to be,
He still shall reign in majesty.
He was, He is, He will be,
all glorious, eternally.
Incomparable, the Lord is One;
No other can His nature share;
Without beginning, without end,
to him all strength and majesty.
He is my living God Who saves
my Rock when grief or sorrow falls
my Banner and my Refuge strong,
my cup of life where’re I call,
and in His hand I place my life,
both when I sleep and when I wake.
And with my soul and body too;
God is with me, there is no fear.
THE SEVEN BLESSINGS
1. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
2. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who created everything for His glory.
3. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who formed mankind.
4. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who formed mankind in His image,
in the image of His likeness;
and formed for him from his own self,
a wife forever.
Blessed are You Adonai,
former of mankind.
5. May the barren one rejoice and exalt
in the gathering of her children
to her midst with joy.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes Zion to rejoice
with her children.
6. Give abundant joy
to these beloved companions
as You gave joy to Your creation
in the Garden of Eden of old.
Blessed are You, Adonai
Who gives rejoicing to
the groom and the bride.
7. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who created joy and rejoicing,
groom and bride, exultation and song,
pleasure and delight, love and companionship,
peace and friendship.
Soon, Adonai our God,
may there be heard in the cities of Y’huda
and in the streets of Yerushalyim
the sound of joy and rejoicing,
the voice of groom and bride,
the sound of grooms’ jubilation
from their chuppah
and of young men from their feasts of song!
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes the groom to rejoice
with the bride.
PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS
Prayer for Travelers
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
and God of our fathers,
that You lead us to peace,
guide our footsteps to peace,
make our way toward peace,
and bring us to our desired destination
for life, happiness, and peace.
May You rescue us from the hand
of every enemy or ambush on the way,
and from all kinds of trouble
that happen in this world.
Send blessing upon all
the work of our hands
and grant us grace, lovingkindness,
and mercy in Your eyes
and in the eyes of all who see us.
Hear the voice of our supplication,
for You are the Almighty Who hears
prayer and supplication.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who hears prayer.
WE THANK YOU
Blessings of Thanks
before and after Meals
[Revised from First Fruits of Zion Pamphlet]
The Torah commands us to bless God after we eat.
Blessing God and thanking God for the provision of food both before and after one has eaten has long been the practice within Judaism. This is a tool to assist us in blessing the LORD before and after meals.
The traditional after-meal prayer Birkat HaMazon was created in order to fulfill the commandment of Deuteronomy 8 and to incorporate all its themes: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God . . . [Deut. 8:10]. Although the complete traditional GRACE AFTER MEALS might seem unnecessarily long, it has been carefully constructed to enable us to give thanks in a biblical way and to keep the Torah’s injunctions and warnings foremost in our minds. Reciting these until they sink into our minds allows us to give thanks effortlessly to the Father for His goodness.
Added to this collection are also other ancient meal prayers from believing communities of the late 1st and early centuries.
Blessings Before Eating
Blessed are Your, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us about the washing of hands.
Blessed are You, our Father, for the life and for the knowledge that You have made known to us through Your Torah. Yours is the glory and the power forever.
Blessed are You, O LORD, our God,
King of the universe,
Who creates different kinds of nourishment.
Who brings out bread from the earth,
Who creates the fruit of the vine,
Who produces the fruit of the tree,
Who creates the fruit of the ground.
by Whose word all things have come to be.
Blessings After Eating
1. We thank You, our holy Father, for Your Holy Name
that You have caused to dwell in our hearts,
and for the knowledge, faithfulness and life that You have made known to us
through your revelation –the TORAH —
Yours be the glory forever.
2. You, O LORD of Legions, created all things for the sake of Your Name;
You gave nourishment and drink for human beings to enjoy,
in order that they would give thanks to You.
You also bestowed upon us spiritual nourishment and drink.
And for all things, we thank You, because You are powerful,
Yours is the glory forever.
3. Remember, O LORD, Your people of faith,
to rescue us from all evil and to make us complete in Your love.
May grace come and may this world pass away.
Hosannah to the God of David!
Everyone who is holy, let him come.
Everyone who is not let him repent.
Amen.
4. Blessed is our God from whom is our sustenance,
and by Whose goodness we live.
Blessed is He and blessed is His Holy Name.
5. Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe,
Who nourishes the entire world with goodness, grace, devotion, and compassion.
He gives bread to all flesh, for His devotion is eternal.
Because of His great goodness we have never lacked,
and we shall never lack nourishment forever and ever.
For the sake of His great Name, for God provides for and nourishes all,
Who does good to all and prepares nourishment
for all of His creatures which He has made.
6. We thank You our holy Father, for Your holy Name
that You have caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge,
faithfulness and the pattern for living that You have made known to us
through Your Torah. Yours is the glory forever.
Blessings on any Occasion
Host and Hostess
The Compassionate One, may He bless me
[and my husband/wife, and my offspring]
and all that is mine:
Guests: The Compassionate One, may He bless
[my father] the master of this house,
[my mother, my teacher] the lady of this house,
them [guests] and their household, their offspring,
and all hat is theirs:
Us and all that is ours, just as our fathers were blessed–
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob —in everything, from everything,
with everything. So may we all be blessed together,
with a complete blessing.
Let us say: Amen.
In the heaven’s above, may their case and ours be heard,
that there may be a preservation of peace,
and may we bear blessing from the LORD,
and righteous acts from our God who saves;
may we find grace and be perceived well
in the eyes of God and man.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who crates numerous souls with their needs,
for all that You have created in order to give life to every living soul.
Blessed is the Life of the ages.
SINAI 6000
Note: This is merely a pattern, a model that you may use for your personal and family prayers;
in time, after you’ve learned from the Jewish prayerful expressions, you can improvise
your own prayers that are suited to your personal and family situation, the times
that you live in, the community that you belong to, or specific for members of your family.
SIDDUR
WELCOMING THE SABBATH
Lighting Candles on Erev Shabbat
Traditional Blessing for Lighting Sabbath Candles
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us to kindle the lights of Sabbath.
Alternative Blessing for Lighting Sabbath Candles
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us to sanctify the Sabbath.
SHALOM ALEICHEM
A traditional Sabbath song, welcoming the angels of the Most High
to attend our Sabbath celebration, to bring peace to us and our household,
and to enjoy the shalom of Sabbath with us.
Peace be upon you, ministering messengers,
messengers of the Most High from the King,
the King of kings the Holy One, blessed be He!
May you come in peace,
Bless us with peace,
Depart in peace,
messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,
from the King, the King of kings,
The Holy One, blessed be He!
[Read any one of the following Psalms]
PSALM 92
A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath Day
It is good to give thanks to Adonai
and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
and Your faithfulness by night.
with the 10-stringed lute and with the harp,
with resounding music upon the lyre.
For You, Adonai,
have made me glad by what You’ve done;
at the works of Your hands I will sing for joy!
How great are Your works, Adonai!
Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man has no knowledge
nor does a stupid man understand this,
that when the wicked sprouted up like grass,
and all who did iniquity flourished,
it was only that they might be destroyed.
PSALM 95
O come, let us sing for joy to Adonai,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.
Let us shout joyfully to Him with songs.
For Adonai is a great God
and a great King, above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before Adonai our Maker,
for He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture
and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you would hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts, as in Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers tested Me, they tried Me,
though they had seen My work.
For forty years I loathed that generation,
and said they are a people who err in their heart,
and they do not know My ways.
Therefore I swore in My anger,
Truly they will not enter into My rest.
PSALM 121
A Song of Ascents
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from Adonai,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He will neither slumber nor sleep,
He Who keeps Israel.
Adonai is your keeper;
Adonai is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
nor the moon by night,
Adonai will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul!
Adonai will guard your going out
and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
PSALM 122
A Song of Ascents, of David
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of Adonai.”
Our feet are standing in your gates,
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
that is built as a city that is compact together;
to which the tribes go up, even the tribes of Yah,
an ordinance for Israel
to give thanks to the Name of Adonai,
for there thrones were set for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
may they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces,
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say “May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of Adonai our God,
I will seek your good.
PSALM 128
A Song of Ascents
How blessed are all who fear Adonai,
Who walk in His ways.
When you eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy
and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
within your house,
your children like olive plants around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears Adonai.
Adonai bless you from Zion,
and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
Indeed, may your see your children’s children.
PSALM 146
Hallelujah! Praise Adonai, O my soul!
I will praise Adonai while I live;
I will sing praises to my God
while I have my being.
Do not trust in princes,
in mortal man in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thought perish.
How blessed is he
whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in Adonai his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever;
Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food for the hungry.
Adonai sets the prisoners free.
Adonai opens the eyes of the blind;
Adonai raises up
those who are bowed down;
Adonai loves the righteous;
Adonai protects the strangers;
the fatherless and the widow, He supports.
But the way of the wicked He thwarts.
Adonai will reign forever, your God, O Zion,
to all generations. Hallelujah!
BLESSINGS UPON THE FAMILY
It is a beautiful tradition to extend blessings to family members
at Erev Shabbat table. Blessings for the wife [said by the husband]
the husband [said by the wife] and for the children [by either parent.
Also included is an additional blessing for single adults
who may be part of the Shabbat celebration.
Since Shabbat is a foretaste of eternity when God’s blessings
upon His people will be eternally manifest,
our desire to bless each other is a foreshadow of the world to come.
Husband: Blessing upon the Wife
[Proverbs 31:10-31]
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
and works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
from afar she brings her food.
She rises also while it is night
and gives food to her household
and portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff,
and her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she does not eat.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her;
“Many daughters have done nobly,
but you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is in vain,
but a woman who fears Adonai,
she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and
let her works praise her in the gates.
Wife: Blessing Upon the Husband
In modern times, it has become traditional
for the wife also to say a blessing over her husband.
Two Psalms have been included to choose from,
or one could select another portion of Scripture for the blessing.
PSALM 1
Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
for his delight is in the Torah of Adonai
and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
He will be like a firmly planted tree
beside streams of water
that gives its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither;
and in all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff which is blown by the wind.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
but the way of the wicked will perish.
PSALM 112
Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears Adonai,
who greatly delights in His mitzvoth.
his seed will be mighty on the earth;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
he will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken;
the righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not fear evil tidings;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in Adonai.
his heart is upheld, he will not fear,
until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
He has given freely to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be exalted in honor.
The wicked will see it and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked will perish.
Blessing for Single Adults
When single adults are present at the Erev Shabbat table,
the host may desire to give the following blessing on their behalf.
PSALM 84:4, 5, 11, 12
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house,
continually praising You. [selah]
How blessed is the person whose strength is in You;
the highways to Zion are in their heart.
For Adonai God is a sun and shield,
Adonai gives grace and honor.
No good thing will He withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
Adonai of Hosts–
How blessed is the person who trusts in You!
Blessing Over the Children
The traditional blessings are said by the Father or Mother
over the young children at the table, fulfilling the prophecy
of Genesis 48:20. The traditional blessings incorporate
the hope that the children will one day establish their own
families where the worship of Israel’s God will continue.
The parents may want to add their own personal prayer
of blessing as well.
Blessing over Sons
May God establish you like Ephraim and Manasseh.
[Add blessing specific to each son or grandson.]
Blessing over Daughters
May God establish you
like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
[Add blessing specific to each daughter or granddaughter.]
Final Blessing Over ALL
Numbers 6:22-24
Adonai bless you and keep you;
Adonai cause His face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you;
Adonai lift up his face toward you
and grant you His shalom.
SHABBAT KIDDUSH
The Kiddush [Sanctification] incorporates the fruit of the vine,
a symbol of joy. We set apart [sanctify] the Sabbath
as a day of joy and gladness to HaShem.
Everyone should have wineor grape juice
for the Kiddush, and in some traditions,
everyone stand while reciting the Kiddush.
Genesis 2:1-3
And there was evening and morning, the 6th day.
Completed were the heavens and the earth,
and all their host.
And God finished on the 7th day,
His work which He had done;
and He ceased on the 7th day from all His work
which He had done.
And God blessed the 7th day
and sanctified it because on it
He ceased from all His work of creating
which God had done.
Everyone joins in for the blessing over the wine;
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and took pleasure in us,
and His holy Sabbath,
in love and in pleasure,
He has bequeathed to us,
a memorial of the Creation,
a day which is the beginning of our sacred gatherings,
a memorial of Israel’s exodus from Egypt.
For You chose Israel and sanctified them
from all he peoples,
and with Israel, we gentiles are honored
to be counted among Your chosen,
for we too have chosen You as our God,
and just like Israel, we have been sanctified.
Your holy Sabbath, in love and in pleasure,
You bequeathed to us.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Sanctifier of the Sabbath.
Washing Hands
As we anticipate sharing the meal together,
we recognize that it symbolizes the covenant
of which we are all members.
Washing hands is a symbolic reminder
that as members together in YHWH’s community
we are to live our lives in obedience to His Torah.
PSALM 24:3-4
Who may ascend into the hill of Adonai?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
and has not sworn deceitfully.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who sanctified us with His mitzvot
and commanded us about washing hands.
BLESSING FOR THE CHALLAH
The Challah (Sabbath bread) —2 loaves represent the morning
and evening sacrifices; they also remind us about gathering
twice the manna on the 6th day so we could rest on the Sabbath.
The Challah, braided together, is passed around, each breaks a piece.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe,
Who brings forth bread from the earth.
Songs [or any equivalent songs from our Revised Worship Songs]
1. This is the day for Israel
of light and joy a Shabbat of rest.
[Or: This is the day that the Lord has made]
2. Behold how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity.
3. Lover of my soul; Father of compassion.
Draw Your servant to Your will.
Your servant will run like a deer;
he will bow before Your glory.
Lover of my soul, draw me to Your will!
As a deer runs to her home,
Master, I run to Your throne.
[Or: As the deer panteth for the water . . .]
Isaiah 12:2
Behold God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid
for Yah Adonai is my strength and song,
He also has become my salvation!
Psalm 121: 1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
where will my help come from?
My help comes from Adonai,
Maker of heaven and earth!
Isaiah 11:9
They will not hurt or destroy
in all My holy mountain.
For the earth will be full
of the knowledge of Adonai
as the water covers the sea.
Lamentations 5:21
Cause us to return to You, Adonai,
and we will return;
renew our days as of old!
Thanksgiving after Meals:
Leader: My colleagues, let us say the blessing:
All: May the Name of Adonai be blessed
from now and forever.
Leader: May the Name of Adonai be blessed
from now and forever.
With your permission, our leaders and teachers,
let us bless Our God of Whose food we have eaten.
All: Blessed is Our God of Whose food
we have eaten and by His goodness we live.
Leader: Blessed is Our God of Whose food
we have eaten and by His goodness we live.
All: Blessed is He and blessed is His Name.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who nourishes the whole world
in His goodness, grace,
lovingkindness, and mercy.
He gives bread to all flesh
for His lovingkindness is eternal.
And in His great goodness never do we lack
and never do we lack food forever,
for His name’s sake.
Because He is God,
the nourisher and maintainer of all,
and the One Who does good to all
and prepares nourishment for all
of His creatures which He created.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who nourishes all.
We thank You, Adonai, our God
for giving an inheritance to Israel,
a desirable, good, and spacious Land
and for bringing them out, Adonai our God,
from their bondage in Egypt.
For us, Adonai our God, we thank You also,
for bringing us out from our own “Egypt”
where we in our ignorance were in bondage,
ignorant of Your True Scriptures, the TNK.
We thank You Adonai, our God, for
redeeming us from our own slavery
to false doctrines and false teachings,
false beliefs, false religions, false churches;
we thank You for including us, gentiles,
who are not of ethnic Israel, but
just like those among the mixed multitude
who stood at the foot of Sinai,
to whom you gave Your covenant
through Moses, Your mouthpiece.
We thank You for Your Torah
where we have discovered
all the beautiful commandments
You originally gave for all mankind;
for the statutes and ordinances
which You made known to us,
and for life, grace, and lovingkindness
which You have granted to us
and for the food with which
You have always nourished and sustained us
everyday and at all times,
and in every hour.
[On Shabbat, add]
May it be Your will that we be strengthened
Adonai, our God, in Your commandments,
and by the commandment of the 7th day,
this great and Holy Sabbath.
Because this day is great and holy before You,
to cease on it and rest on it in love
as ordained by Your will.
And by Your will, grant us,
Adonai our God
that there be no distress or sorrow
or sighing on the day of our rest.
Show us, Adonai our God,
the consolation of Zion Your city,
and the rebuilding of Yerushalayim,
city of Your Sanctuary,
for You are the Lord of salvation
and the Lord of consolation.
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
Eternal King, God of our fathers,
our King, our Mighty One, our Creator,
our Redeemer, our Maker,
our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob,
our Shepherd, Shepherd of Israel.
The good King, who does good to all.
Everyday He has done good,
He does good, He will do good for us.
He has rewarded us, He rewards us,
He will reward us forever with grace,
lovingkindness, compassion, relief,
rescue and success, blessing and salvation,
consolation, maintenance, sustenance,
compassion and life, peace, and everything good.
And from all good things forever
He will not deprive us.
The Merciful One will reign over us forever and ever.
The Merciful One will be blessed in heaven and earth.
The Merciful One will be praised through all generations,
and be glorified in us forever throughout eternity;
and honored in us forever and for worlds without end.
The Merciful One will maintain us with honor.
The Merciful One
will break our yoke from upon our necks,
causing us to walk on the heights of our Land.
The Merciful One,
may He send for us abundant blessing
upon this house, and upon this table
upon which we have eaten.
The Merciful One,
may He send us Elijah the Prophet
who is remembered for good
and who will announce for us
good tidings of salvation and consolations.
Guests recite the following:
children at the parent’s table include [parentheses]
The Merciful One, may He bless
[my father, my teacher]
the Master of this house,
and [my mother, my teacher]
Lady of this house,
them, their house and their children
and all which is theirs—
At your own table recite:
include appropriate words in [parenthesis]
The Merciful One, may He bless me,
[and my father, my mother, my wife
and my children] and all that is mine—
All continue here:
Ours and all that is ours,
just as our fathers were blessed,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
[Mention names in your individual family]
in all things, from all things,
with all things, so may He bless us,
all of us together as one
with a complete blessing
and let us say “Amen.”
From on high may they instruct them
and us of the favorable judgment
by which to guard peace,
and may we receive blessing from Adonai
and righteousness from God
of our salvation,
and may we find grace and good favor
in the eyes of God and man.
[On Shabbat, add]
The Merciful One,
may He cause us to inherit the day
which is all Shabbat and a rest
reflecting eternal life.
[On Rosh Chodesh]
The Merciful One,
may He renew upon us this month
for good and for blessing.
He who gives deliverance to His king
[On Shabbat and Yom Tov]
He who is a tower of salvation to his King
and does lovingkindness to His anointed,
to David and his seed forever—
He who makes peace in His heights
May He make peace upon us and upon all Israel
and let us say, Amen.
Fear Adonai, you His holy ones,
because there is no lack of those who fear Him.
Young lions may feel want and hunger
but those who seek Adonai
lack nothing of all things good.
Give thanks to Adonai for He is good,
for His lovingkindness is eternal.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Blessed is the man
who trusts in Adonai,
and Adonai will be his security.
I was young, and I have grown old
and I have not seen
a righteous person forsaken
nor his seed begging for bread.
Adonai will give strength to His people
Adonai will bless His people with peace.
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE
Putting on the Tallit [Prayer Shawl]
My soul, Bless Adonai!
Adonai my God, You are very great!
With beauty and splendor are You clothed;
enwrapped in light as with a garment;
You spread out the heavens like a curtain.
Hold the Tallit in readiness and wrap around yourself,
and recite the blessing:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us
to wrap ourselves with tzitzit.
Put the tallit over the head, wrapping it around you
completely and continue:
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God;
even mankind, in the shadow of Your wings, takes refuge.
They drink from the abundance of Your house,
and from the river of Your delights
You give them drink.
For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light;
Continue Your lovingkindness
to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.
MORNING PRAYERS
Upon entering the place of prayer,
the following verses of Scripture are recited
as we approach our King and seek His Presence:
How good are your tents, Jacob
Your dwelling places, O Israel.
As for me, in the abundance of
Your lovingkindness,
I will enter Your house,
I will prostrate myself toward
Your Holy Sanctuary in awe of You.
Adonai, I love the dwelling of Your house,
event he palace where Your glory resides.
As for me, I will prostrate myself and bow,
I will kneel before Adonai my Maker.
As for me, may my prayer to You,
Adonai, be at an acceptable time.
O God, in the abundance of Your lovingkindness,
answer me with the truth of Your salvation.
Leader: Bless Adonai Who is blessed!
All: Blessed is Adonai Who is blessed
forever and ever.
THE BLESSINGS OF THE SHEMA
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe, Former of the light
and Creator of darkness,
Maker of peace and Creator of everything.
Leader: With much love You have loved us,
Adonai our God;
With great and abundant pity You have pitied us.
Our Father, our King,
for the sake of our fathers who trusted in You
and You taught them the statutes of life;
so too be gracious to us and teach us.
Our Father, compassionate Father,
Who acts with compassion;
have compassion upon us
and put into our hearts to understand
and to comprehend, to listen, learn and teach,
to guard, to perform, and fulfill
all the words of instruction in Your Torah with love.
Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah
and cause our hearts to cleave to Your commandments.
Unify our hearts to love and fear Your Name
and may we never be put to shame,
because in Your holy, great
and awesome Name have we trusted.
May we exult and rejoice in Your salvation.
Bring us in peace
from the four corners of the earth
and lead us to You in honor,
because You are God Who makes salvation
and You have chosen us from all peoples and tongues
and brought us close to Your great Name forever
IN TRUTH,
to offer You thanksgiving
and to declare Your ONENESS with love.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who chooses His people with love.
THE SHEMA
It is traditional to close or cover the eyes
when praying the Shema.
Hear, O Israel,
Adonai is our God, Adonai is One!
Blessed is the Name!
The glory of His kingdom is forever and ever.
And you shall love Adonai Your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might,
These words which I command you today
shall be on your heart.
And you shall teach them diligently
to your children and speak of them
when you sit in your house,
when you travel on the road,
and when you lie down and rise up.
Bind them for a sign
upon your hand and they shall be
for tefillin between your eyes;
and write them upon the doorposts
of your house and upon your gates.
And it shall be if you diligently obey
My commandments which
I am commanding you today,
to love Adonai Your God
and to serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul,
that I will give rain for your Land in its proper time,
the early and late rain
that you may gather in your grain,
your wine and your oil.
And I will give grass in your field
for your cattle,
and you will eat and be satisfied.
Guard yourselves
lest your heart be swayed
and you go astray and serve other gods
and bow down to them.
Then the wrath of Adonai
will blaze against you and
He will close off the heavens
and there will be no rain
and the ground will not give forth
its produce and you will perish
quickly from the good Land
which Adonai is giving to you.
Place these words of Mine
upon your heart and upon your soul
and bind them for a sign
upon your hand and they shall be
tefillin between your eyes.
Teach them to your children
to discuss while you sit in your home
and when you travel on the road
and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall write them on the doorposts
of your house and on your gates,
in order to prolong your days
and the days of your children
upon the ground which
Adonai swore by oath to your fathers
to give them, like the days of
the heavens upon the earth.
And Adonai spoke to Moses saying:
Speak to the children of Israel
and say to them that they should make
for themselves tzitzit upon the
corners of their garments
throughout their generations.
And they shall put upon the tzitzit
of each corner a thread of techeilet
that it may be tzitzit for you,
that you may see it and remember
all the commandments of Adonai and do them
so that you will not turn aside
after your hears and after your eyes
which cause you to act in
unfaithfulness after them.
Therefore you will remember and do
all my commandments and
you will be holy to your God.
I am Adonai your God
Who brought you out from the land of Egypt
to be your God.
I am Adonai your God.
Leader: Adonai Your God is true–
true and firm, certain and enduring,
upright and faithful, beloved and cherished,
desired and pleasant, awesome and mighty,
correct and accepted,
good and beautiful is this world
for us for all eternity.
It is true, the God of the universe
is our King, the stronghold of Jacob
is the shield of our salvation.
Throughout all generations
He endures and His Name endures;
His throne is confirmed
and His sovereignty and His faithfulness
endure forever.
Upon the former generations
and upon the latter generations
this word is good and enduring forever.
True and faithful is this statute
and it will not pass away.
Truly You, Adonai, are our God
and the God of our fathers,
our King, the King of our fathers,
our Redeemer, Redeemer of our fathers,
our Creator, Rock of our salvation
our Liberator and Deliverer.
Your Name is from eternity,
There is no God but You.
The help of our fathers
You have been from all eternity,
a Shield and Savior for their children
after them in every generation.
The heights of the universe
is Your abode, and Your judgments
and Your righteousness reach
to the ends of the earth.
Blessed is the person who obeys
Your commandments, and Your Torah
and Your word he places on his heart.
Truly you are the Master of Your people
and a mighty King to plead their case.
Truly You are the first and You are the last
and beside You we have no king, redeemer,
nor savior.
From Egypt You redeemed Your people,
Adonai our God and from the house of slavery
You freed us. All their firstborn
You slew and Your firstborn
You redeemed. The Red Sea you split
and the wicked You drowned.
The beloved ones you brought through
and the waters covered their enemies,
not one of them remained.
Because of this the loved ones praised
and exalted God,
and the beloved ones offered hymns,
songs and praises, blessings and thanksgiving
to the King, God, living and enduring,
exalted and uplifted, great and awesome.
He humbles the haughty and raises the lowly,
He brings out the captives and frees the humble,
and helps the impoverished,
and He answers His people when they cry out to Him.
Praise to the Most High God!
Blessed is He and He is blessed,
Moses and the children of Israel raised a song to You
with much joy, and all of them proclaimed:
All: “Who is like You Adonai, among the gods!
Who is like You, glorious in holiness
awesome in praises, doing wonders!”
Leader: With a new song
the redeemed praised Your Name at the seashore.
Together they all gave thanks
and affirmed Your kingship and said:
Adonai will reign forever and ever!
Rock of Israel, arise to the aid of Israel
and liberate according to Your promise
Judah and Israel.
Our Redeemer–
Adonai of Hosts is His Name,
the Holy One of Israel.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who redeemed Israel.
SHEMONEI ESREI
[The 18 Benedictions]
ALL STAND
Leader: Adonai, open my lips
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
1. COVENANT OF THE FATHERS
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
and God of our fathers;
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob;
The great and mighty God,
Who is awesome, God Most High
Who bestows good lovingkindness
and is Owner of everything;
He remembers lovingkindness to the fathers
and brings a Redeemer
to their children’s children
for His own Name’s sake in love.
Between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur add:
Remember us for life
King Who desires life,
for we are written in the book of life
on account of our faithfulness to
live Your Torah, O living God.
King, Helper, Savior and Shield;
Blessed are You, Adonai
Shield of Abraham.
2. GOD’S MIGHT
Individuals may offer prayers for those sick and in need,
then all pray together:
You are mighty forever, my Master,
You are mighty to save.
You make the wind blow and the rain to fall.
You sustain the living in lovingkindness,
are full of compassion;
Supporter of the fallen and Healer of the sick;
Releaser of the imprisoned
and Fulfiller of His faithfulness to those asleep in the dust.
Who is like You, Master of wonders, and Who compares to You
Lord of life, Giver of life.
Who is like You, merciful Father
Who remembers His creatures for life in mercy!
KEDUSHA [Holiness]
We will sanctify Your Name in this world
just as they sanctify it in heaven above,
as it is written by the hand of Your prophet:
“And he called one to the other and said:
Holy, Holy, Holy is Adonai of Hosts!
All the earth is full of His glory!
Blessed is the glory of Adonai, from His place.
Leader: And in Your holy words it is written:
All: Adonai will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, in every generation.
Hallelujah!
In all generations we will declare
Your greatness and to all eternity
we will sanctify Your holiness
and Your praise, our God
Will not depart from our mouth
forever and ever.
Leader: Because you are God, the Great King,
and You are holy.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
the Almighty, the Holy One.
3. HOLINESS OF GOD’S NAME
Leader: You are holy and Your name is holy
and holy beings praise You every day, forever.
Blessed are You, Adonai, the Almighty, the Holy One.
Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion
that You called him a faithful servant.
A crown of splendor You placed on his head
hone he stood before You on Mount Sinai.
Two stone tablets he brought down
in his hand, and written on them
was the observance of the Sabbath.
And so it is written in Your Torah:
All: And the children of Israel shall keep
the Sabbath to make the Sabbath
throughout their generations an eternal covenant
between Me and between the children of Israel;
it is a sign forever that in six days
Adonai made the heavens and the earth.,
and on the 7th day He rested and was refreshed.
Leader: Our God and God of our fathers,
may You be pleased with our rest.
Sanctify us in Your commandments
and grant our share in Your Torah;
satisfy us with Your goodness
and cause us to rejoice in Your salvation
and purify our heart to serve You in truth.
Adonai our God, cause us to inherit
in love and truth Your holy Sabbath,
and may they rest in it, all of Israel,
and we who sanctify Your Name.
Blessed are You Adonai,
Who sanctifies the Sabbath.
17. DIVINE SERVICE
Be pleased, Adonai our God
with Your people Israel and their prayers,
and return the service to the Most Holy Place
in Your abode and the fire offerings of Israel;
and accept our prayer lovingly and willingly
and may You constantly be pleased
with the service of Israel Your people.
O God and God of our fathers,
may there ascend, come, and reach,
appear, be desired, and heard,
counted and recalled our remembrance
and reckoning and the remembrance
of our fathers,
the remembrance of Yerushalayim,
the city of Your Sanctuary,
and the remembrance of all Your people,
before You, for survival, for well-being,
for grace and lovingkindness,
and compassion, for life and peace
on this day of [state the festival]
Remember us, Adonai our God
on this day for well-being
and visit us on it for a blessing.
Deliver us on it for life,
by Your word of salvation and compassion,
spare us and show us grace
and have compassion on us and save us,
for our eyes are directed to You,
because You are God,
King, Gracious and Compassionate.
And may our eyes behold
Your return to Zion in compassion.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who returns His Divine Presence to Zion.
18. WE ARE THANKFUL
Individuals may share God’s blessings in their lives
then all pray together:
We are thankful to You
that You are Adonai our God,
and the God of Abraham and Moses,
for all eternity, Rock of our lives,
Shield of our salvation are You
from generation to generation.
We give thanks to You and recount Your praise
for our lives which are committed
into your hand, and for our souls
which are entrusted to You,
and for Your miracles that are with us everyday
and for Your wonders and Your goodness
at all times—- evening, morning, and afternoon.
You are good,
for Your compassion is never exhausted,
and You are compassionate
for Your lovingkindness never ceases.
Forever we have hoped in You!
And for all the foregoing
blessed and exalted by Your Name, our King,
constantly, for all eternity.
Inscribe for a good life
all who are children of Your covenant.
And all the living shall thank You
and praise Your Name in truth.
The Almighty, our salvation and our help.
Blessed are You, Adonai.
“The Beneficent” is Your Name
and to You it is fitting to give praise.
19. PEACE
Grant peace, goodness and blessing,
grace, lovingkindness and compassion
upon us and upon all Israel your people,
[and gentiles who call on Your Name].
Grant peace, goodness and blessing,
grace, lovingkindness and compassion
upon us and upon all Israel Your people,
and all Gentiles who call on Your Name.
Bless us, our Father, all of us as one
with the light of Your face
because by the light of Your face
You gave to us, Adonai our God,
a Torah of life and the love of
kindness, righteousness, blessing,
compassion, life, and peace.
So may it be good in Your eyes
to bless Your people Israel
at all times and in every hour with Your peace.
In the book of life, blessing, peace,
and abundant maintenance,
may we be remembered and written,
we and all Your people, the house of Israel,
for a good life and for peace.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Who blesses His people
Israel and gentile believers in You, with peace.
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
that the Holy Temple be rebuilt quickly,
in our days; and grant our portion in Your Torah
and there let us serve You in reverence
as in the days of old and in earlier times.
And may it be pleasing to Adonai,
the offering of J’hudah and Yerushalayim
as in the days of old and in earlier times.
TORAH SERVICE
Reading of the Torah
There is none like You among the gods, Adonai,
and there is nothing like Your works.
Your Kingship is the kingship for all eternities,
and Your rule throughout every generation.
Adonai is King, Adonai was King,
Adonai will be King forever and ever.
Adonai will give strength to His people,
Adonai will bless His people with peace.
Father of compassion, do good,
according to Your will, to Zion.
May You rebuild the walls of Yerushalayim,
for in You alone do we trust,
King, Almighty, Exalted and Uplifted One,
Master of the worlds.
Whenever the Ark traveled, Moses would say,
Arise, Adonai and let Your enemies be scattered
and let those who hate You flee from before You.
For from Zion will go forth the Torah
and the Word of Adonai from Yerushalayim!
Blessed is He Who gave the Torah
to His people, Israel, in His holiness.
Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God,
Adonai is One! Our God is One,
Great is our Master, Holy is His Name!
Leader: Magnify Adonai with me and
let us exalt His Name together!
All: The greatness belongs to You, adonai,
and the power, the glory, the victory,
and the beauty;
everything in heaven and on earth is Yours—
Yours, Adonai, is the kingdom, and
You are sovereign over all.
Exalt Adonai our God and worship
at His footstool! Holy is He!
Exalt Adonai our God and worship
at His holy mountain,
for Holy is Adonai our God.
For from Zion will go forth the Torah,
For from Zion will go forth the Torah,
and the word of Adonai from Yerushalahim!
Blessed is He Who gave the Torah,
for His people Israel and all mankind,
in His holiness.
THERE IS NONE LIKE OUR GOD
There is none like our God, there is none like our Lord,
there is none like our King.
Let us give thanks to our God, our Lord, our King.
You are our God, our Lord, our King.
You are the One to whom our fathers before You
offered sweet smelling incense.
[Readers are called up to the Torah]
He who blessed our fathers, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, may He bless ___________
who has come up to honor God and the Torah.
May the Holy bless [him/her] and [his/her]
family and send blessing and prosperity
on all he work of [his/her] hands.
[Blessing before reading the Torah]
Reader: Bless Adonai Who is blessed.
All: Blessed is Adonai Who is blessed forever.
Reader: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who chose us
from among all peoples and gave to us
His Torah. Blessed are You Adonai,
Giver of the Torah.
All: Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who gave to us the Torah of Truth
and planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Giver of the Torah.
This is the Torah which Moses placed before
the children of Israel, upon the command of Adonai,
through the hand of Moses.
It is a tree of life to all who grasp it
and those who live it are praiseworthy!
Its ways are ways of pleasantness and
all its paths lead to peace.
Long life is at its right and at its left
are riches and honor.
Adonai desired, for the sake of His righteousness,
to make the Torah great and glorious.
Blessing before reading the Haftarah:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Who chose good prophets
and was pleased with their words
which they spoke in truth.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Who chose the Torah,
Moses His servant, Israel His people,
and the prophets of truth and righteousness.
Read the Haftarah:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the universe, Rock of all the worlds,
Righteous in all the generations,
the Almighty, the Faithful One,
Who says and does, Who speaks and fulfills,
for all His words are true and right.
Dependable are You, Adonai our God,
and dependable are Your words,
and not one of Your words is ever
retracted or unfulfilled,
for You are the Almighty, a King
Who is dependable and merciful.
Blessed are You, Adonai, the Almighty
Who is dependable in all His words.
Leader: Have compassion on Zion,
for it is the home of Israel’s life,
and the one whose soul is humiliated,
deliver speedily in our days.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes Zion to rejoice with her children.
Cause us, gentiles, to rejoice with them,
Adonai our God, with Elijah the prophet,
and with the kingdom of the House of David,
Your anointed.
Blessed are You, Adonai, shield of David,
for the Torah, for the Divine Service,
for the prophets and for this Sabbath day
which You gave us, for holiness and for rest,
for honor and for glory.
For all this, we thank You and bless You;
blessed be Your name by the mouth
of all the living continually forever.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Sanctifier of the Sabbath.
Return, Adonai,
to the myriad thousands of Israel.
Arise, Adonai,
to Your resting place,
You and the Ark of Your might.
Let Your priests be clothed
in righteousness and Your devout ones
will sing in joy.
For the sake of David, Your servant,
do not reject the face of Your anointed.
For I have given you good teaching,
Do not forsake My Torah.
It is a tree of life to those who grasp it,
and those who support it are blessed.
Its ways are pleasant ways and all its paths
lead to peace.
Cause us to return to You, Adonai,
and we shall return.
Renew our days as of old.
BLESSED
Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house,
May they always praise You. Selah!
Fortunate the people whose lot is thus,
Fortunate the people for whom
Adonai is their God.
A Psalm of David
I will exalt You, my God, the King,
and I will bless Your Name forever and ever.
Everyday I will bless You and extol Your Name
forever and ever.
Adonai is great and highly extolled
and His greatness is without measure.
Generation to generation will praise Your works
and Your mighty acts they will declare.
Upon the splendor of Your glorious majesty
and the words of Your wonders
I will meditate.
Of Your awesome acts they will speak.
And Your greatness I will recount.
The memory of Your great goodness
they will eagerly tell, and of Your righteousness
they will shout joyfully.
Adonai is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
Adonai is good to all
and His compassions are upon all of His works.
They will give thanks to You, Adonai,
all for Your works and Your devoted ones
will bless You.
The glory of Your kingdom they will declare
and of Your power they will speak,
to make known to the sons of men
His power and the majestic glory
of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all time
and Your rule is in every generation.
Adonai supports all who fall
and straightens all who are bent down.
The eyes of all look with hope to You
and you give to them their food in due time.
You open Your hand and satisfy
the desire of all the living.
Adonai is righteous in all His ways
and kind in everything He does.
Adonai is near to all who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
The desire of those who fear Him
He fulfills and their cry for help He hears
and He deliver them.
Adonai guards all who love Him
but all the wicked He will destroy.
Adonai’s praise my mouth will speak
and all flesh will bless His holy Name
forever and ever.
And we will bless God from now and forever.
Hallelujah!
HALF KADDISH
It is traditional to end a major section of the service
by reciting the half kaddish.
Leader: Exalted and sanctified be His great Name
in the world which He created according to His will,
and may He rule His kingdom in your lifetime
and your days, and in the lifetime of all the
House of Israel, quickly,
and in the near future, and say Amen.
May His great Name be blessed forever and forever.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted and
lifted up and honored and elevated and extolled
be the Name of the Holy One,
He is blessed above all the blessing and hymns,
praises and consolations which we say in the world
and say, Amein.
ALEINU [Alternative]
It is traditional to bow on the words “We therefore bow . . .”
We are duty-bound to praise the Master of all,
to ascribe greatness to the One Who created
from the beginning,
that He called us from the nations of the earth,
and chose Israel as His family, a treasured people,
from whom we learned about YHWH our God.
We are Your people whom You redeemed.
We therefore bow and worship and give thanks
before the King, the King of kings, the Holy One,
blessed be He! On that day,
Adonai will be One and His Name One!
ALEINU [Traditional]
We are duty bound to praise the Master of all,
to ascribe greatness to the One
Who created from the beginning,
that He did not make us as the nations
of the lands, and did not place us
as the families of the earth;
since He did not assign our portion as theirs
nor our lot like all of the masses.
We therefore bow and worship and give thanks
before the King, the King of kings, the Holy One,
blessed is He! On that day,
Adonai will be One and His Name One.
For they bow to vanity and nothingness
and pray to a god who cannot save.
LET US ADORE
Let us adore the everliving God
and render praise unto Him
Who spread out the heavens
and established the earth
and Whose glory is revealed
in the heavens above
and Whose greatness is manifest
throughout all the earth.
He is our God.
There is none else!
MOURNER’S KADDISH
Exalted and sanctified
be His great Name in the world which
He created according to His will
and may He rule His kingdom
in your lifetime and in your days,
and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel,
quickly, and in the near future,
and say, Amein.
May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed and be praise, glorified and exalted,
and lifted up and honored and elevated and extolled
be the Name of the Holy One,
He is blessed above all the blessing and hymns,
praises and consolations which we say in the world
and say, Amein.
May there be much peace from heaven,
and good life upon us and upon all Israel,
and say Amein.
He who makes peace in His heights
may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel
and say, Amein.
AARONIC BENEDICTION
Leader: Adonai bless you and keep you,
Adonai shine His face toward you
and be gracious to you.
Adonai lift up His face toward you
and grant you peace.
All: May it be His will.
BLESSING FOR THE NEW MONTH
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
that You renew for us this month
for good and for blessing,
and grant us long life, a life of peace,
a life of goodness, a life of blessing,
a life of sustenance, a life of physical strength,
a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin,
a life in which there is no shame or disgrace,
a life of prosperity and honor,
a life in which there will be love of Torah
and fear of heaven,
a life filled with the wishes of our heart for good.
Amen. Selah.
He who did miracles for our fathers
and redeemed them from slavery to freedom,
may He redeem us soon and gather our dispersed
from the four corners of the earth;
all Israel are companions!and let us say, Amein.
This new month of _____________
which begins on _______________
may it come upon us and upon all Israel
for goodness. May He renew it,
the Holy One, blessed is He,
upon us and upon all His people,
the house of Israel, for life, peace,
happiness, and joy, for salvation and
consolation, and let us say, Amein.
HAVDALAH BLESSINGS
[Close of Sabbath]
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid
for my strength and my song is
Yah Adonai,
and He is my salvation!
You can draw water with joy
from the wellsprings of salvation.
Salvation belongs to adonai
upon Your people is your blessing. Selah.
Adonai of armies is with us,
a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah.
Adonai of Armies—
blessed is the person who trusts in You!
Adonai, save us!
The King will answer us on the day we call.
For the Jews there was light and gladness,
joy and honor, so may it be for us.
The fruit of the vine, I raise up and on the
Name of Adonai I call out:
[Blessing for the wine]
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
[Blessing for spices]
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Unvierse,
Creator of all kinds of spices.
[Blessing for the light of the candle]
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the light of fire.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe
Who divides between holy and profane;
between light and dark;
between Israel and the nations;
between the 7th day and the 6 days of work.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who divides between holy and profane.
[After extinguishing the candle in the wine,
Sing a hymn . . . ]
A good week, a good week,
awake of peace, may gladness reign,
and joy increase.
PRAYER WHEN RETIRING AT NIGHT
Blessed are You, Adonai our God,
King of the Universe,
Who brings the fetters of sleep upon my eyes
and slumber upon my eyelids.
May it be Your will, Adonai, my God,
that I lay down in peace and rise up in peace.
May no thoughts or evil terrify me,
nor bad dreams, nor evil fancies disturb me.
And may my bed be perfect before you.
Enlighten my eyes again,
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
for You illumine the pupil of my eye.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who illumines the whole world
with His glory.
Almighty, faithful King—
Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God,
Adonai is One! Blessed is the Name!
The glory of His kingdom is for all eternity.
[Read the Shema]
May the friendship of Adonai our God be upon us,
and the work of our hands establish for us.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Almighty,
in the shadow of Shaddai he will abide.
I say of Adonai, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in Whom I trust.
For He will deliver you from the snare,
from the destructive pestilence,
with His wings He will cover you
and under His wings you will be secure.
A shield, a full shield is His truth.
You will not fear the terror at night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
the pestilence that prowls in the dark
nor the deadly pestilence that destroys at noon.
A thousand will fall at your left side,
ten thousand at your right side
but it will not come near you.
Only with your eyes will you see it
and view the punishment of the wicked.
For You, Adonai, are my refuge;
You have made the Most High your dwelling.
No evil will befall you,
nor a plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels for you
to keep you in all your ways.
They will carry you on their hands
lest you strike your foot on a stone.
Upon lion and snake you will tread,
you will trample young lion and serpent.
For to Me he clings, so I will save him.
I will strengthen him for he knows My Name.
He will call out to Me and I will answer him;
I am with him in distress.
I will free him and honor him.
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation;
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation.
PSALM 3
Adonai, how many are my tormentors?
Many are rising up against me.
They are saying about me,
There is no deliverance for him in God.
But You, Adonai, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One Who lifts my head.
I cried out to Adonai with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain.
I lay down and slept; I awoke,
for Adonai sustains me.
I will not fear ten thousands of people
deployed against me on every side.
Arise, Adonai, save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
the teeth of the wicked You have shattered.
Salvation belongs to Adonai;
upon Your people is Your blessing.
Cause us to lie down, Adonai our God,
in peace, and raise us again, our King, to life.
Spread over us the shelter of Your shalom
and establish us in the good counsel
from Your presence.
Save us for Your Name’s sake and shield us.
Remove from us enemy, pestilence,
sword, famine, and sorrow.
Remove the adversary from before us,
and from behind us, and in the shadow of Your wings
protect us, for You are the Almighty
Who guards and delivers us.
Surely You are the Almighty, King,
gracious, merciful.
Guard our going out and coming in
for life and peace, from now and forever.
Blessed is Adonai in the day;
Blessed is Adonai in the night;
Blessed is Adonai when we lie down;
Blessed is Adonai when we rise up.
For in Your hand are the souls
of the living and the dead.
“In His hand is the soul of every life
and the spirit of every human being.”
Into Your hand I commit my spirit,
You have liberated me, Adonai,
God of truth.
Our God Who is in heaven,
make Your Name one
and establish Your kingdom always
and rule over us forever and ever.
May our eyes see and our heart rejoice
and our souls exalt in Your salvation in truth,
when it will be said in Zion,
“You God reigns!”
Adonai is King, Adonai was King,
Adonai will be King forever and ever.
For the Kingdom is Yours
and to all eternity You will reign in glory,
for we have no King but You.
“The angel who redeemed me from all evil,
may He bless the lads and may they be called
by my name and the name of my fathers,
Abraham and Isaac,
and may they multiply like fish
in the midst of the Land.”
And He said, “If you will diligently heed
the voice of Adonai your God,
and do what is upright in His eyes,
and listen to His commandments,
and guard all His statutes,
then all the sickness which I put in Egypt
I will not put upon you,
for I am Adonai your Healer.
Behold, He neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the Keeper of Israel!
For Your salvation I hope, Adonai,
I hope for You salvation, Adonai,
Adonai, for Your salvation I hope!
PSALM 128
A Song of Ascents
How blessed are all who fear Adonai,
Who walk in His ways.
When you eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine,
within your house, your children like olive plants
around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears Adonai.
Adonai bless you from Zion,
and may you see the prosperity of Yerushalayim
all the days of your life.
Indeed may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Tremble and do not sin.
Speak to your heart while upon your bed
and be silent. Selah.
Lord of the world Who reigns supreme,
ere all creation came to be,
when by His will all things were wrought
the Name of our King was first made known.
And when this age shall cease to be,
He still shall reign in majesty.
He was, He is, He will be,
all glorious, eternally.
Incomparable, the Lord is One;
No other can His nature share;
Without beginning, without end,
to him all strength and majesty.
He is my living God Who saves
my Rock when grief or sorrow falls
my Banner and my Refuge strong,
my cup of life where’re I call,
and in His hand I place my life,
both when I sleep and when I wake.
And with my soul and body too;
God is with me, there is no fear.
THE SEVEN BLESSINGS
1. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
2. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who created everything for His glory.
3. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who formed mankind.
4. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who formed mankind in His image,
in the image of His likeness;
and formed for him from his own self,
a wife forever.
Blessed are You Adonai,
former of mankind.
5. May the barren one rejoice and exalt
in the gathering of her children
to her midst with joy.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes Zion to rejoice
with her children.
6. Give abundant joy
to these beloved companions
as You gave joy to Your creation
in the Garden of Eden of old.
Blessed are You, Adonai
Who gives rejoicing to
the groom and the bride.
7. Blessed are You, Adonai our God
King of the Universe,
Who created joy and rejoicing,
groom and bride, exultation and song,
pleasure and delight, love and companionship,
peace and friendship.
Soon, Adonai our God,
may there be heard in the cities of Y’huda
and in the streets of Yerushalyim
the sound of joy and rejoicing,
the voice of groom and bride,
the sound of grooms’ jubilation
from their chuppah
and of young men from their feasts of song!
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who causes the groom to rejoice
with the bride.
PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS
Prayer for Travelers
May it be Your will, Adonai our God,
and God of our fathers,
that You lead us to peace,
guide our footsteps to peace,
make our way toward peace,
and bring us to our desired destination
for life, happiness, and peace.
May You rescue us from the hand
of every enemy or ambush on the way,
and from all kinds of trouble
that happen in this world.
Send blessing upon all
the work of our hands
and grant us grace, lovingkindness,
and mercy in Your eyes
and in the eyes of all who see us.
Hear the voice of our supplication,
for You are the Almighty Who hears
prayer and supplication.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
Who hears prayer.
WE THANK YOU
Blessings of Thanks
before and after Meals
[Revised from First Fruits of Zion Pamphlet]
The Torah commands us to bless God after we eat.
Blessing God and thanking God for the provision of food both before and after one has eaten has long been the practice within Judaism. This is a tool to assist us in blessing the LORD before and after meals.
The traditional after-meal prayer Birkat HaMazon was created in order to fulfill the commandment of Deuteronomy 8 and to incorporate all its themes: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God . . . [Deut. 8:10]. Although the complete traditional GRACE AFTER MEALS might seem unnecessarily long, it has been carefully constructed to enable us to give thanks in a biblical way and to keep the Torah’s injunctions and warnings foremost in our minds. Reciting these until they sink into our minds allows us to give thanks effortlessly to the Father for His goodness.
Added to this collection are also other ancient meal prayers from believing communities of the late 1st and early centuries.
Blessings Before Eating
Blessed are Your, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us about the washing of hands.
Blessed are You, our Father, for the life and for the knowledge that You have made known to us through Your Torah. Yours is the glory and the power forever.
Blessed are You, O LORD, our God,
King of the universe,
Who creates different kinds of nourishment.
Who brings out bread from the earth,
Who creates the fruit of the vine,
Who produces the fruit of the tree,
Who creates the fruit of the ground.
by Whose word all things have come to be.
Blessings After Eating
1. We thank You, our holy Father, for Your Holy Name
that You have caused to dwell in our hearts,
and for the knowledge, faithfulness and life that You have made known to us
through your revelation –the TORAH —
Yours be the glory forever.
2. You, O LORD of Legions, created all things for the sake of Your Name;
You gave nourishment and drink for human beings to enjoy,
in order that they would give thanks to You.
You also bestowed upon us spiritual nourishment and drink.
And for all things, we thank You, because You are powerful,
Yours is the glory forever.
3. Remember, O LORD, Your people of faith,
to rescue us from all evil and to make us complete in Your love.
May grace come and may this world pass away.
Hosannah to the God of David!
Everyone who is holy, let him come.
Everyone who is not let him repent.
Amen.
4. Blessed is our God from whom is our sustenance,
and by Whose goodness we live.
Blessed is He and blessed is His Holy Name.
5. Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe,
Who nourishes the entire world with goodness, grace, devotion, and compassion.
He gives bread to all flesh, for His devotion is eternal.
Because of His great goodness we have never lacked,
and we shall never lack nourishment forever and ever.
For the sake of His great Name, for God provides for and nourishes all,
Who does good to all and prepares nourishment
for all of His creatures which He has made.
6. We thank You our holy Father, for Your holy Name
that You have caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge,
faithfulness and the pattern for living that You have made known to us
through Your Torah. Yours is the glory forever.
Blessings on any Occasion
Host and Hostess
The Compassionate One, may He bless me
[and my husband/wife, and my offspring]
and all that is mine:
Guests: The Compassionate One, may He bless
[my father] the master of this house,
[my mother, my teacher] the lady of this house,
them [guests] and their household, their offspring,
and all hat is theirs:
Us and all that is ours, just as our fathers were blessed–
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob —in everything, from everything,
with everything. So may we all be blessed together,
with a complete blessing.
Let us say: Amen.
In the heaven’s above, may their case and ours be heard,
that there may be a preservation of peace,
and may we bear blessing from the LORD,
and righteous acts from our God who saves;
may we find grace and be perceived well
in the eyes of God and man.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who crates numerous souls with their needs,
for all that You have created in order to give life to every living soul.
Blessed is the Life of the ages.
The light of life is a finite flame.
—Benjamin Romero Salvosa,
