My Master, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.⁷⁴

footnotes: ⁷⁴ Rabbi Yonasan Eibschitz in his sefer, Yaaros Devash, explains that upon reflecting in Whose Presence he is about to pray, man should be so overwhelmed with awe and trepidation that he is unable to open his lips. He therefore prefaces his prayer by beseeching Hashem, to open his lips, asking His help to be able to pray in His Presence.

THE VIRTUE OF OUR FOREFATHERS

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

our God, and God of our fathers,

God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak,

and God of Yaakov,

the Almighty,

the Great, the Powerful, the Awesome,

most high Almighty,

Who bestows beneficent kindness,

Who possesses everything,

Who remembers the piety of the Patriarchs,

and Who brings a redeemer

to their children’s children,

for the sake of His Name, with love.

Remember us for life⁷⁵

footnotes: ⁷⁵ Because these are days of judgment and our lives hang in the balance, we pray to Hashem to remember us for life (Rashi, Levush).

King, Who desires life;⁷⁶

footnotes: ⁷⁶ This is based on Yechezkel 18:32, ‘For I do not desire the death of him that dies, but rather that he repent from his evil ways and live.’

and inscribe us in the Book of Life,⁷⁷

footnotes: ⁷⁷ This refers to the Book in which the righteous are inscribed for life everlasting.

for Your sake,⁷⁸ Living God.

footnotes: ⁷⁸ We ask Hashem to grant us life for His sake, i.e., so that we can fulfill His commandments.

King,⁷⁹ Helper,⁸⁰ and Deliverer⁸¹ and Shield.⁸²

footnotes: ⁷⁹ We proclaim and accept His Kingship on Rosh Hashana. ⁸⁰ He helps us during the Ten Days of Penitence, by accepting our repentance. ⁸¹ He delivers us on Yom Kippur by forgiving our sins. ⁸² On Sukkos, as His Divine Cloud of Glory, hovers over us, He shields us from spiritual and physical danger (Shaare Shomayim).

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Shield of Avraham.

DIVINE MIGHT

You are mighty forever,⁸³ my Master;

footnotes: ⁸³ Hashem’s rule of the world is permanent and perpetual (Kuzari).

You are the Resurrector of the dead⁸⁴

footnotes: ⁸⁴ Here we emphatically declare our belief in the immortality of the soul (Kuzari).

the Powerful One to deliver us.

Sustainer of the living with kindliness,

Resurrector of the dead with great mercy,

Supporter of the fallen,

and Healer of the sick,

and Releaser of the imprisoned,

and Fulfiller of His faithfulness

to those who sleep in the dust.

Who is like You, Master of mighty deeds,

and who can be compared to You?

King Who causes death and restores life,

and causes deliverance to sprout forth.⁸⁵

footnotes: ⁸⁵ Deliverance is not a sudden happening but rather a process of growth or sprouting.

Who is like You merciful Father,

Who remembers His creatures for life,

in His mercy.⁸⁶

footnotes: ⁸⁶ Even if we are not worthy of life by virtue of our deeds, inscribe us for life because You are a merciful Father (Siddur Chasidei Ashkenaz).

And You are faithful

to restore the dead to life.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Resurrector of the dead.

DIVINE SANCTIFICATION

You are holy and Your Name is holy

and holy beings

praise You every day, forever.

And so,⁸⁷

footnotes: ⁸⁷ The word וּבְכֵן, ‘and so,’ marks the beginning of the special prayers of the Shemoneh Esreh recited at each Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur service. According to Avudraham, the Sages chose this word to convey the thought expressed by Esther as she prepared to go before the king on behalf of her people. After telling Mordechai to assemble all the Jews to fast for three days and nights on her behalf, she said, “ וּבְכֵן אָבוֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ and so I will go in to the king” (Esther 4:16). Thus, since today is the Day of Judgment, as we come before the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One Blessed is He, we begin with the words uttered by Esther as she came before the king. The Siddur Maggid Tzedek quoted by Siach Yitzchak writes that the emphasis of Avudraham was on the last words of the verse said by Esther, “וּבְכֵן אָבוֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת,” “And so I will go into the king, even if it is unlawful,” for which one of us can say, “I am virtuous, I have cleansed my heart from sin.” Especially on this great and awesome Day of Judgment, who among us is not embarrassed and ashamed to appear before the King of kings garbed in sackcloths of sin. If Esther who had fasted for three days in penitence and prayer in preparation for her appearance before the king was nevertheless so terribly frightened that she declared: “וּבְכֵן אָבוֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת” then we should certainly tremble in awe before the presence of Hashem on this Day of Judgment, knowing deep in our hearts how little and how poorly we have prepared ourselves. Thus our Sages ordained that we open the prayers with the word וּבְכֵן recalling the words of Esther; therewith shattering our delusions of spiritual complacency, and causing us to bow before Him with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes.

grant⁸⁸ that Your awe, Adonoy, our God,

footnotes: ⁸⁸ The word תֵּן implies מַתָּנָה, a gift. We ask Hashem to grant us the feeling of reverence for Him, as a gift, knowing how difficult it is to attain such a high level of reverence completely on our own (Siach Yitzchak).

be upon all Your works,⁸⁹

footnotes: ⁸⁹ The word מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, lit., Your works, indicates that which has attained or is near perfection. Thus Yisrael is called His works since we have accepted His Kingship and His Torah which is the fulfillment of Hashem’s creation (Siach Yitzchak).

and Your dread upon all You have created;⁹⁰

footnotes: ⁹⁰ All you have created, שֶׁבָּרָאתָ, indicates that which has not attained its fulfillment, thus we ask Hashem to cast His dread even on those people who have not yet accepted His Divine Kingdom (Siach Yitzchak).

and [then] all [Your] works will fear You,⁹¹

footnotes: ⁹¹ The nation of Yisrael will fear You.

and prostrate before You

will be all [Your] created beings.⁹²

footnotes: ⁹² The nations of the world will finally prostrate themselves before You, i.e. submit to You and accept the yoke of Your Kingship.

And may they all form a single band

to do Your will

with a perfect heart.

For we know Adonoy, our God

that rulership is Yours,

strength is in Your hand,

might is in Your right hand

and Your Name is awesome

over all You have created.

And so,

grant honor, Adonoy, to Your people,⁹³

footnotes: ⁹³ Once all of Your works and created beings have submitted themselves to Your rule and formed a single bond to do Your will, the honor of Yisrael will be established and raised to new heights. It will then be apparent to all that Yisrael alone carried the yoke of Hashem’s kingdom throughout the bitter years of exile, giving Him obedience despite its suffering and persecution and the taunts of those who cynically asked, “Where is Your God?” (Etz Yosef).

praise to those who fear You,⁹⁴

footnotes: ⁹⁴ Those who fear Hashem will then be praiseworthy in the eyes of all men.

good hope to those who seek You⁹⁵

footnotes: ⁹⁵ Men will no longer consider as ridiculous those who seek Hashem and search for ways to serve Him.

confident speech

to those who yearn for You,⁹⁶

footnotes: ⁹⁶ Those who wait upon Him will no longer be subdued but will voice their convictions freely.

joy to Your land, gladness to Your city,

flourishing of pride to Dovid, Your servant

and an array of light

to the son of Yishai, Your anointed,

speedily in our days.⁹⁷

footnotes: ⁹⁷ See Tehillim 132:17. The climax of this spiritual renaissance will be the restoration of our people to our land under the scepter of the Moshiach, descendant of Dovid, the anointed of Hashem.

And then

the righteous will see [this] and rejoice,⁹⁸

footnotes: ⁹⁸ The entire universe was created for the sake of Yisrael in order that Hashem’s Divine Influence be attached to it. This essence (Yisrael) was created for the sake of an even more treasured essence, namely the prophets and the pious among them. This gradation forms the basis of the sequence of the Rosh Hashana-Yom Kippur prayers: “Grant that Your awe be upon all that You have made,” is the first prayer. It is followed by, “Grant honor to Your people,” and finally by “the righteous will see this and rejoice.” Thus the righteous and pious are the purpose and fulfillment of the entire creation, the true reason for celebrating these holy days (Fundamentals of Kuzari, page 59).

and the upright will be jubilant,

and the pious will exult with joyous song;

injustice will close its mouth,

and all the wickedness will vanish like smoke,

when You remove the rule of evil

from the earth.

And You Adonoy will reign alone

over all Your works

on Mount Tziyon,

dwelling place of Your glory,

and in Yerushalayim, city of Your Sanctuary,

as it is written in Your holy words,

“Adonoy will reign forever;

Your God, Tziyon,

throughout all generations. Praise God.”

Holy are You, and awesome is Your Name,

and there is no God beside You,

as it is written,

“And Adonoy Tzevaos is exalted

through justice

and the Almighty, the Holy One,

is sanctified through righteousness.”

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the King, the Holy One.

SANCTIFICATION OF THE DAY

You chose us from [among] all the peoples;

You loved us and took pleasure in us;

You exalted us above all tongues,

and You sanctified us

with Your commandments;

You drew us near, our King, to Your servitude

and Your great and Holy Name,

You have pronounced upon us.

And You gave us Adonoy, our God,

in love,

this day of Remembrance

a day for

sounding the shofar

a day of holy assembly

commemorating the exodus from Mitzrayim.

Our God and God of our fathers,

may there ascend, come, and reach,

appear, be desired, and heard,

counted and recalled

our remembrance and reckoning;

the remembrance of our fathers;

the remembrance of the Messiah

the son of Dovid, Your servant;

the remembrance of Yerushalayim,

city of Your Sanctuary

and the remembrance of Your entire people,

the House of Yisrael, before You

for survival, for well-being,

for favor, kindliness, compassion,

for life and peace

on this day of Remembrance.

Remember us Adonoy, our God

on this day for well-being;

be mindful of us on this day for blessing,

and deliver us for life.

In accord with the promise of deliverance

and compassion,

spare us and favor us,

have compassion on us and deliver us;

for to You our eyes are directed

because You are the Almighty,

Who is King, Gracious and Merciful.

Our God and God of our fathers,

reign over the entire world

with Your glory,⁹⁹

footnotes: ⁹⁹ Our plea to Hashem is, “let Your rule become evident in all Your glory.” For we know that Hashem has reigned supreme at all times; it is only man who, until now, has failed to recognize Hashem’s rule and render Him homage. We now pray that man will at long last come to know Hashem’s eternal, universal sovereignty and pay it the tribute of unreserved obedience (S.R. Hirsch).

and be uplifted over all the earth

with Your honor,

and appear

in the splendor of Your majestic might

over all who dwell

in the inhabited world of Your earth;

so everything that has been made will know

that You have made it,

and it will be understood

by everything that was formed

that You formed it,

And they will say,

everyone who has breath in his nostrils,¹⁰⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰⁰ According to Avudraham this classification refers to the very wicked who have never fulfilled a commandment, but who nevertheless have breath in their nostrils. Let them also proclaim on the Day of Judgment, that You, Hashem of Yisrael are King!

“Adonoy, God of Yisrael is King

and His Kingship rules over all.”

Sanctify us with Your commandments

and give us our share in Your Torah;

satisfy us from Your goodness

and gladden us with Your deliverance,

and purify our hearts to serve You in truth,¹⁰¹

footnotes: ¹⁰¹ Even as Hashem Himself is forever true, and even as His word, the Torah and the promise revealed to us are eternally true and unalterable, so too our own service to Him should be true, unswerving and constant. For this purpose we pray for טַהֲרַת הַלֵּב, purity of heart. We must cleanse and purify our hearts of every passion and impulse that might tempt us to transgress the law or that might stand in the way of our serving Hashem (S.R. Hirsch).

for You are the true God,

and Your word is true and enduring forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

King over all the earth,

Sanctifier

of Yisrael and the Day of Remembrance.

PRAYER FOR RETURN OF DIVINE SERVICE

Be pleased, Adonoy, our God,

with Your people Yisrael

and their prayer;

and restore the service

to the Holy of Holies in Your abode,

and the fire-offerings of Yisrael;

and accept their prayer, lovingly

and willingly.

And may You always find pleasure

with the service of Your people, Yisrael.

And may our eyes behold

Your merciful return to Tziyon.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who returns His Divine Presence to Tziyon.

THANKSGIVING

We are thankful to You

that You Adonoy are our God

and the God of our fathers forever;

Rock of our lives,

Shield of our deliverance,

You are in every generation.

We will 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 of every day with us,

and for Your wonders and benefactions

at all times—

evening, morning and noon.

(You are) The Beneficent One—

for Your compassion is never withheld;

And (You are) the Merciful One—

for Your kindliness never ceases;

we have always placed our hope in You.

And for all the foregoing

blessed and exalted

be your Name, our King

constantly, forever and ever.

Inscribe for a good life

all the children of Your covenant.

And all the living shall thank You forever

and praise Your Name with sincerity

the Almighty, Who is our deliverance

and our help forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

“The Beneficent” is Your Name

and You it is fitting to praise.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Grant peace, goodness, and blessing,

favor, kindness and compassion

upon us and upon all Yisrael, Your people.

Bless us, our Father, all of us as one

with the light of Your countenance.

For by the light of Your countenance

You gave us Adonoy our God,

a Torah of life and the love of kindliness,

righteousness, blessing, compassion,

life, and peace.

And may it be good in Your eyes

and to bless Your people Yisrael,

at all times and at every moment

with Your peace.

In the book of life, blessing, peace

and abundant maintenance,

may we be remembered and inscribed

before You;

we and all Your people, the House of Yisrael

for a good life and peace.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who makes the peace.

Who blesses His people Yisrael

with peace.)

May the words of my mouth be acceptable

and the thoughts of my heart—before You

Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

My God, guard my tongue from evil

and my lips from speaking deceitfully.

To those who curse me,

may my soul be unresponsive;

and let my soul be like dust to all.

Open my heart to Your Torah

and let my soul pursue Your commandments.

And all who plan evil against me,

quickly annul their counsel

and frustrate their intention.

Act for the sake of Your Name.

Act for the sake of Your right hand.

Act for the sake of Your holiness.

Act for the sake of Your Torah.

In order that Your loved ones be released,

deliver [with] Your right hand and answer me.

May the words of my mouth be acceptable

and the thoughts of my heart—before You

Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

He Who makes the peace in His high heavens

may He make peace

upon us and upon all Yisrael

and say Amein.

May it be Your will,

Adonoy, our God, and the God of our Fathers

that the Holy Temple be rebuilt

speedily in our days,

and grant us our share in Your Torah.

And there we will serve You reverently

as in the days of old,

and in earlier years.

And let Adonoy be pleased

with the offerings of Judah and Yerushalayim

as in the days of old and in earlier years.