THE VIRTUE OF OUR FOREFATHERS

My Master, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

our God, and God of our fathers,

God of Abraham, God of Isaac,

and God of Jacob,

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 life

King, Who desires life;

and inscribe us in the Book of Life,

for Your sake, Living God.)

King, Helper, and Deliverer and Shield.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Shield of Abraham.

DIVINE MIGHT

You are mighty forever, my Master;

You are the Resurrector of the dead

the powerful One to deliver us.

He causes the dew to descend.

Causer of the wind to blow

and of the rain to fall.)

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.

Who is like You merciful Father,

Who remembers His creatures for life,

in His mercy.)

And You are faithful

to restore the dead to life.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Resurrector of the dead.

Kedushah

We will hallow and revere You

as [with] the sweet words

of the company of the holy Seraphim¹

footnotes: ¹ A type of angel.

who thrice repeat “holy” unto You,

as is written by the hand of Your prophet,²

footnotes: ² Isaiah 6:3.

“And they called to one another and said:

‘Holy, holy, holy

is Adonoy of hosts,

the fullness of all the earth is His glory.'”

Facing them, they offer praise and say:

Then, with the sound of great rushing,

mighty and strong,

they make their voice heard,

raising themselves up toward the Serafim,

Facing them, they offer praise and say:

“Blessed is the glory of Adonoy

from its place.”³

footnotes: ³ Ezekiel 3:12.

From Your place, our King, You will appear

and reign over us,

for we yearn for You—

When will You reign in Zion?

Soon, in our days,

forever may You dwell [there].

You will be exalted and sanctified

within Jerusalem, Your city

for all generations and for all eternity.

May our eyes behold Your kingship,

as it is said in the songs of Your might

by David,

the anointed of Your righteousness:

“Adonoy will reign forever;

Your God, Zion, throughout all generations!

Praise God.”⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Psalms 146:10.

DIVINE SANCTIFICATION

You are holy and Your Name is holy

and holy beings

praise You every day, forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the Almighty, the Holy One.

*Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the King, the Holy One.

Moses will rejoice⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Why did our Sages institute three different forms for the Sabbath Shemoneh Esrei: in Maariv אַתָּה קִדַשְׁתָּ , in Shacharis יִשְׂמַח משֶה , and in Mincha אַתּה אֶחָד , whereas on Festivals all three services have the identical Shemoneh Esrei? Our Sages ordained these three separate forms to signify three kinds of Sabbath—the Sabbath of creation, the Sabbath on which the Torah was given at Sinai, and the Sabbath of the World to Come. Thus at Maariv, we say “ אַתָּה קִדַשְׁתָּ , You have sanctified the Seventh day—the climax of making heaven and earth” commemorating the Sabbath of creation. At Shacharis, we say, “ יִשְׂמַח משֶה Moses will rejoice in the gift . . . when he stood before You on Mount Sinai”—to commemorate the giving of the Torah. And at Mincha we say, “ אַתָּה אֶחָד , You are One,” to remind us of the Sabbath of the World-to-Come where indeed it will be revealed to all that He is One.— Siach Yitzchok Moses “Will” rejoice—the future tense is used to indicate that after the resurrection of the dead, in the World-to-Come, Moses will rejoice triply with all aspects of the Sabbath.—Metzudas Yehoshua

with the gift⁶ that was his portion,

footnotes: ⁶ The Sabbath is not a burden but a מַתָּנָה , a gift, God’s most precious and blessed gift.

for a faithful servant You called him.

A crown of glory⁷

footnotes: ⁷ See Exodus 34:29.

upon his head You placed

when he stood before You on Mount Sinai;

and two tablets of stone

he brought down in his hand,

upon which is written

[the command] to preserve the Sabbath,

and so it is written in Your Torah:

“And the Children of Israel shall preserve

the Sabbath,

to maintain the Sabbath for their generations

as an everlasting covenant.

Between Me

and between the Children of Israel,

it is a sign for all time

that in six days Adonoy made

the heavens and the earth,

and on the seventh day

He abstained from work, and rested.”⁸

footnotes: ⁸ Exodus 31:16, 17.

And You, Adonoy, our God, did not give it⁹

footnotes: ⁹ The Sabbath.

to the nations of the lands;

nor did You give it as an inheritance

our King,

to worshippers of idols,

nor in its¹⁰ rest

footnotes: ¹⁰ The Sabbath’s rest.

do the uncircumcised dwell.

For only to Israel, Your people,

did You give it in love—

to the seed of Jacob

whom You chose.

They shall rejoice in Your kingship—

those who preserve the Sabbath

and call it a delight.

The people who sanctify the seventh [day]

will all be satisfied

and delighted from Your goodness.

And in the seventh [day], You took pleasure

and You hallowed it.

“Most desirable of days,” You called it—

a commemoration of the work of creation.

Our God, and God of our fathers,

be pleased with our rest,

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.

And give us as our inheritance,

Adonoy our God,

in love and in pleasure

Your holy Sabbath;

and may Israel rest thereon—

the sanctifiers of Your Name—

Blessed are You Adonoy,

Sanctifier of the Sabbath.

PRAYER FOR RETURN OF DIVINE SERVICE

Be pleased, Adonoy, our God,

with Your people Israel and their prayer,

and restore the service

to the Holy of Holies in Your abode,

and the fire-offerings of Israel;

and accept their prayer, lovingly and willingly.

And may You always find pleasure

with the service of Your people, Israel.

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 David, Your servant;

the remembrance of Jerusalem,

city of Your Sanctuary;

and the remembrance of Your entire people,

the House of Israel, before You,

for survival, for well-being,

for favor, kindliness, compassion,

for life and peace

on this day of:

Rosh Chodesh

the Festival of Matzos

the Festival of Sukkos

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.

And may our eyes behold

Your merciful return to Zion.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who returns His Divine Presence to Zion.

THANKSGIVING

We are thankful to You

that You Adonoy are our God

and the God of our fathers forever;

Rock of our lives,

the 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.

We are thankful to You,

that You Adonoy are our God

and God of our fathers,

God of all flesh,

Our Creator, Creator of the Beginning.

Blessings and thanksgivings

to Your great and holy Name

for keeping us alive, and sustaining us;

so may You always keep us alive

and sustain us,

and gather our exiles

to the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary

to observe Your statutes

and to do Your will,

and to serve You wholeheartedly

for we are thankful to You.

Blessed is the Almighty

to Whom all thanks are due.

[We thank You] for the miracles

for the redemption, for the mighty deeds,

for the deliverances, and for the wars

that You performed for our fathers

in those days at this season.

In the days of Matisyahu,

son of Yochanan the High Priest,

the Hasmonean and his sons.

When the evil Greek kingdom rose up

against Your people Israel

to make them forget Your Torah

and to turn them away

from the statutes of Your will—

You, in Your abundant mercy

stood by them in their time of distress,

You defended their cause,

You judged their grievances,

You avenged them.

You delivered the mighty

into the hands of the weak,

many into the hands of the few,

defiled people into the hands of the undefiled,

the wicked into the hands of the righteous,

and insolent [sinners] into the hands of

diligent students of Your Torah.

And You made Yourself

a great and sanctified Name in Your world.

And for Your people, Israel,

You performed a great deliverance

and redemption unto this very day.

Afterwards, Your sons entered

the Holy of Holies of Your Abode,

cleaned Your Temple,

purified Your Sanctuary,

and kindled lights

in the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary,

and designated these eight days of Chanukah

to thank and praise Your great Name.

And for all the foregoing

blessed, exalted and extolled

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 and bless

Your great Name with sincerity forever;

for You are goodness—

the Almighty, Who is our deliverance

and our help forever—

the benevolent Almighty.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

“The Beneficent” is Your Name

and You it is fitting to praise.

Birkas Kohanim¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ In Leviticus 9:22, we find that after he completed the Divine offering, Aaron lifted up his hands and blessed the people. In like manner, his descendants, the kohanim, uttered the priestly blessing after performing the Temple Service. In our days on the occasions when the kohanim recite the priestly blessings, they do so immediately after the “We are thankful” prayer which terminates the Avodah (Service) section of the Shemoneh Esrei. When kohanim do not say the blessings, the blessings are mentioned by the Chazzan in his repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei.—Avudraham

Our God, and God of our fathers, bless us

with the threefold blessing of the Torah,

written by the hand of Moses, Your servant,

pronounced from the mouth of Aaron

and his sons, the kohanim, Your holy people;

as it is said:

Adonoy bless you and guard you.

Adonoy shine His countenance upon you

and be gracious unto you.

Adonoy turn His countenance toward you

and grant you peace.¹²

footnotes: ¹² Rashi paraphrases this blessing with the words “ יִכְבשׁ כַּעֲסו , May He withhold His anger” from you.

Mighty One on high who dwells in might,

You are peace and Your Name is peace.

May it be Your will that You grant us

and all of Your people, the House of Israel

life and blessing

for a safeguard to peace.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Grant peace,¹³ goodness, and blessing,

footnotes: ¹³ Since the Birkas Kohanim conclude with a blessing for peace, this concluding blessing is a restatement of the last benediction in the form of a congregational prayer.—Pesher Dovor

life favor, kindness and compassion

upon us and upon all Israel, 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,¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ One of the most important mitzvos of the “Torah of Life” is the mitzvah of doing kindness. But it is incomplete unless there is a love of kindliness in the heart which precedes the act of kindliness.—Pesher Dovor

righteousness, blessing, compassion,

life, and peace.

And may it be good in Your sight

to bless us

and to bless Your people Israel,

at all times and at every moment

with Your peace

(with much strength and peace).

In the book of life, blessing, peace

and abundant maintenance,

good decrees, salvations and condolences,

may we be remembered and inscribed

before You;

we and all Your people, the House of Israel

for a good life and peace.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who blesses His people Israel

with peace.

May they be acceptable

the words of my mouth

and the thoughts of my heart, before You

Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

My God, guard my tongue from evil¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ This prayer was the personal meditation of Mar the son of Ravina, which he recited after he completed his prayers (Maseches Berachos 17a), and it is therefore expressed in the singular. The Jew prays that his mouth, his tongue, and his lips, which have just served as the instruments for his communion with God, will not forfeit any of their moral purity in his dealings with his fellow men.—Yaavetz This prayer is based on the verse, “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech” (Psalms 34:14). Even though good and evil depend on man’s will, he nevertheless prays for God’s help in controlling himself, so as to permit no insult to provoke his wrath, and to remain calm and silent even in the face of a curse.—Avudraham

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.¹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶ May I have an open, receptive and understanding mind and spirit in the study of Torah. When it comes to mitzvos, let my soul know no indifference, indolence, or passivity. Let me demonstrate zealous and vigorous endeavor in all things pertaining to Your mitzvos.—Etz Yosef; S.R. Hirsch

And all who plan evil against me,

quickly annul their counsel

and frustrate their intention.

(May it it be Your will

Adonoy, my God and God of my fathers,

that no person be envious of me

and that I not be envious of others,

that I not be brought to anger this day,

and that I not cause Your anger;

and save me from the evil inclination,

and help me be humble and any modest.

Our King and our Father,

unify Your Name in Your world,

rebuild Your city, establish Your house

and perfect your sanctuary.

Gather our exiles,

redeem Your people, rejoice Your congregation).

Act for the sake of Your Name.

Act for the sake of Your right hand.

Act for the sake of Your Torah.

Act for the sake of Your holiness.

In order that Your loved ones be released,

deliver [with] Your right hand and answer me.

May they be acceptable

the words of my mouth

and the thoughts of my heart, before You

Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

He Who makes peace in His high heavens

may He make peace

upon us and upon all Israel

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 Jerusalem

as in the days of old and in earlier years.

Exalted and sanctified be His great Name

in the world which He created

according to His will

and may He rule His kingdom

bring forth His redemption

and hasten the coming of His Mashiach

in your lifetime and in your days,

and in the lifetime

of the entire House of Israel,

speedily and in the near future—

and say Amein.

May His great Name be blessed

forever and for all eternity.

Blessed and praised,

glorified, and exalted and uplifted,

honored and elevated and extolled

be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;

above (Shabbos Shuva: far above)

all the blessings and hymns,

praises and consolations

which we utter in the world—and say Amein.

May there be acceptance

of the prayers and supplications

of the entire House of Israel

before their Father in heaven.

And say, Amein.

May there be abundant peace from heaven

and life

for us and for all Israel,

—and say Amein.

He Who makes peace in His high heavens

may He, make peace

for us and for all Israel,

—and say Amein.

Today is the holy Sabbath

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day.

It is good to thank¹⁸ Adonoy,

footnotes: ¹⁸ The Sabbath, more than other days, lends itself to offering praise and thanksgiving to God. When man rests from his physical labor and is relieved of material concerns, his soul is free to pursue the intellectual and spiritual aspects of life. These pursuits lead him to serve God and to praise Him.—Radak

and sing praise to Your Name, Most High.

To relate Your kindliness in the morning,

and Your faithfulness in the nights.¹⁹

footnotes: ¹⁹ We will proclaim His kindliness in the morning of redemption. And while yet in the darkness of exile we proclaim our belief in His faithfulness.—Rashi

Upon a ten-stringed instrument and lute,

in meditation upon the harp.

For You have given me joy, Adonoy,

with Your deeds,

at the work of Your hands²⁰ I sing joyously.

footnotes: ²⁰ The Sabbath day of rest affords me the opportunity to observe and appreciate the greatness of Your work.—Radak

How great are Your works, Adonoy;

how infinitely profound are Your thoughts.²¹

footnotes: ²¹ God’s ‘works’ are the visible creation, while His ‘thoughts’ are the Divine purpose behind each created thing.—Seporno

An empty-headed man cannot know,

nor does a fool understand this:

When the wicked bloom like grass,

and all the evildoers blossom—

it is so that they may be destroyed forever.

But You will remain on high forever Adonoy.

For behold, Your enemies, Adonoy;

for behold, Your enemies shall perish;

dispersed shall be all evildoers.

You uplifted my horn²² like that of a unicorn;

footnotes: ²² Others translate, ‘You have increased my might like that of the wild ram.’

I am saturated with fresh oil.

My eye has seen [the defeat of]

those who spy on me;

of the wicked who rise against me,

my ears have heard [that they are doomed].

The righteous will blossom like a date palm,

like a cedar in Lebanon,²³ he will grow tall.

footnotes: ²³ The palm and the cedar both enjoy a long life span and flourish during all seasons. Thus they symbolize the lasting happiness of the righteous in contrast to the short prosperity of the wicked.

Planted in the House of Adonoy,

in the courtyards of our God

they will blossom.

They will still be fruitful in old age;

they will be full of sap and freshness.

To declare that Adonoy is upright;

He is my Stronghold;

in Whom there is no injustice.

By David:

Adonoy is my light and my salvation,

whom shall I fear?

Adonoy is the strength²⁴ of my life,

footnotes: ²⁴ Rav S.R. Hirsch’s translates, “Adonoy is the source of my life’s strength,” thus David declares that God is the fount from which his life derives its power to resist all foes.

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers approach me

to devour my flesh—

my tormentors and my foes

they stumble and fall.

If an army should encamp against me,

my heart would not fear;

if war were to rise against me

in this²⁵ I trust.

footnotes: ²⁵ David says that he trusts in the declaration stated in the opening verse, “Adonoy is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”—Rashi, Radak

One thing I request of Adonoy,

[only] that shall I seek:

that I may dwell²⁶ in the House of Adonoy

footnotes: ²⁶ The literal translation of שִׁבְתִּי is “my sitting.” The Talmud states that “no man may ‘sit’ in the courtyard of the Temple except for the kings of the House of David.— Maseches Soteh 40b

all the days of my life,

to behold the pleasantness of Adonoy,

and to meditate in His Sanctuary.

For He will hide me in His Tabernacle²⁷

footnotes: ²⁷ The Vilna Gaon comments that the commandment of Succos is implied in this verse and the next.

on the day of distress,

He will conceal me in the shelter of His Tent,

upon a rock He will lift me.

And now my head is raised high

above my enemies around me;²⁸

footnotes: ²⁸ David declares, “Because I look up to God in every aspect of my existence, I am so exalted that no enemy can harm me.—S.R. Hirsch

and I will offer in His Tent,

sacrifices [accompanied] with trumpets of joy;

I will sing and chant to Adonoy.

Adonoy, hear my voice²⁹ when I call;

footnotes: ²⁹ This verse alludes to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “Hear my voice,” refers to Rosh Hashana when we sound the shofar. The word “my voice (sound)” refers to the “voice” of the shofar. “When I call” refers to Yom Kippur, about which Isaiah (55:6) said, “call to Him when He is near.”—Siddur HaGra

be gracious to me and answer me.

Of You, my heart has said,

“Seek My Presence”;

Your Presence, Adonoy I will seek.

Conceal not Your Presence from me,

do not turn away Your servant in anger.

You have been my help;

neither cast me off nor abandon me,

God of my deliverance.

Altough my father and mother abandon³⁰ me,

footnotes: ³⁰ Even if I were so depraved that my own mother and father would abandon me to my own devices, God would still gather me up and believe in my ability to mend my ways.—S.R. Hirsch

Adonoy will gather me up.

Adonoy, teach me Your way,

and lead me in the path of uprightness,

because of my watchful foes.³¹

footnotes: ³¹ His enemies. David asks for Divine help that he be saved even from the mere semblance of wrongdoing so that his foes should not be able to rejoice over his faults.—S.R. Hirsch

Do not deliver me

to the will of my tormentors,

for false witnesses have risen against me,

who breathe violence.

Had I not believed³² that I would see

footnotes: ³² “These false witnesses would have destroyed me had I not believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.”—Rashi, Radak

the goodness of Adonoy

in the land of living.³³

footnotes: ³³ There are various interpretations of the “Land of the living.” Some hold that it refers to the present world in which we live—Metsudas Tzion; Ramban holds that it refers to the World-to- Come; and Malbim says that it refers to Eretz Yisroel.

Hope to Adonoy,

be strong and He will give you courage;

and hope to Adonoy.