This prayer was composed by Rav Ephraim ben Isaac of Regensburg. It is entitled the Akeidah, the Binding and retells the episode of the binding of Isaac.

Our God and God of our fathers!

Though the pigeon offerings have ceased,¹ for his offerings. though the tent of His dwelling is now empty, we need not lose hope for we have the merit of our old father.²

footnotes: ¹ The literal translation of the word רֶבַע is a quarter. In the time of the Temple a poor man was permitted to bring doves or young pigeons which were worth a quarter of a dinar ² Abraham.

Recognize his presence when we mention his righteousness before You; You commanded him, “Take your beloved son, and let his blood be wrung out at the side [of the Altar].”

He ran to the lad and consecrated him, though his soul was bound up in his soul; he put the wood and fire around him, and the crown of his God was on his head.³

footnotes: ³ Abraham was compared to the Kohain Gadol who wore the Crown of God upon his forehead.

The only son, tender and light as a deer, answered and said to his father, “Behold we are bringing the fire and wood, but there is no offering to bring.”

He answered him with words that would not terrify him; his father said to him, “God Himself will show [the lamb], and Adonoy will let us know that which is His [sacrifice].”

Both heeded Your commandment and did not question You[r word]; without hesitation, they hurried quickly to one of the mountains.

When they saw a blazing pillar of fire, they quickly brought the wood for the burnt-offering; together, linked closely in love, they walked straight through the wilderness as though it was a plain.

When the only son perceived that he was to be the lamb, he said to his father, the tested one⁴ “Do with me as you would a lamb, have no pity and do not spare me.

footnotes: ⁴ God had tested Abraham with nine tests and this was the tenth.

He [God] has delight in me and desires me, to Him I will bare my heart; even should you refuse to sacrifice me, in the end my spirit and my soul will be gathered unto Him.

He [Abraham] bowed his hands and feet, and held his sword over him; he laid him carefully on the wood as the fire blazed on the altar.

He stretched forth his neck willingly, and his father came close to slaughter him in the Name of his Master and behold, Adonoy stood over him.

God observed what was being done, how the father had not spared his son, his heart and his hands were lifted [as one],⁵ and God saw all that was done.

footnotes: ⁵ To do God’s will.

God called to Abraham who was sanctified from the womb,⁶ choose an exchange for your son, behold there is another ram, offer it without delay.

footnotes: ⁶ See Rashi, Psalms 110:3.

The exchanged [ram] will be his offering, its burning will be proper and its smoke will ascend; and it will be [as if] he and his exchange [are offered before Me].

May the memory be before You in heaven, engraved forever in [Your] book, an everlasting covenant, never to be erased, with Abraham and Isaac.

Your worshippers have come to bow to You; regard the righteousness of that binding and remember Your flock with compassion, [for] the faces of Your flock look to the merit of the binding.⁷ [binding].

footnotes: ⁷ Israel hopes that it will be redeemed in the merit of the Akeidah

Almighty! King! Who sits on the throne of mercy, governs with kindness forgives the iniquities of His people. He removes their sins one by one, increasing forgiveness to sinners, and pardon to transgressors. Acting righteously with all who are of flesh and spirit; not according to their wickedness does He repay them. Almighty! You instructed us to recite the thirteen Divine attributes; remember unto us this day the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes, as You made them known to the humble Moses of old, as it is written, “And Adonoy descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

Congregation and Chazzan:

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]; and proclaimed:

Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and Acquitter of those who repent.” “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us our King, for we have transgressed. “For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.”