Central Reform Congregation, St. Louis. CRC's 2008 machzor, including printed third-party credits retained in the service text.
Pages 93 to 127
The page numbers here are the printed book's own -- the numbers called from the bimah.
Each prayer begins with a line giving its page number -- to jump there, search for the word page followed by the number, in lower case: for example, page 96.
Where a prayer runs over more than one page, the extra numbers are listed on the lines just below, each marked continued, so a search for any page in the book lands on the prayer being said on it.
Under each heading come the rubrics -- the standing, sitting and other directions -- each marked with two right angle brackets. Then the transliteration, one line to a line as it is sung. Then the English, under the word English.
In the braille file the transliteration is uncontracted and the English is contracted, so that the Hebrew words read letter by letter.
for those who wear a tallit
The tallit with its fringes reminds us of our religious and ethical values and of our duty to remember and do them. While wearing a tallit is customary during morning services only, based on rabbinic tradition, some people choose to wear a tallit for every service on Yom Kippur, including this evening Kol Nidre service.
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech haolam
asher k'dshanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzivanu l'hitatef batzitzit.
Praised be You, O God, ruler of the universe, who enables us to attain holiness through the religious duty of wearing fringes.
ALL RISE BEFORE THE OPEN ARK
God, in awe and humility we have come together to pray.
Our prayers are filled with You. Yet speaking Your Name, quite frankly, we get stuck.
In Your Name books and people have been burnt.
In Your Name souls have been stolen.
In Your Name ideas have been suppressed, and
In Your Name passions have been aroused and disappointed.
But we are Israel. Our name in Hebrew means, "the people who struggle with God". And struggle with You we do. Like Abraham who fought for the righteous in Sodom and Gemorah. Like Sarah who laughed at your timing. We struggle with You and each one of us understands You differently.
For some You are like a loving parent.
For some You are the illusive spark of life itself.
Some blame You for all the evil in the world.
You are what makes many reach for the good even when there is so much pain.
Others have seen You at the side of the suffering, suffering with them.
Though we often speak of You in one voice with these prayers that we are about to utter, to each of us here You are something different. We will try not to limit our imaginings of You. When we speak of You smiling upon us, we know that for many of us the smiles we imagine are on the faces of the people we love. As we learn to liberate You, may we learn to grant freedom to all humankind. As You smile upon us, Please God, teach us to smile upon each other.
-- Susan
THE ARK IS CLOSED
PLEASE BE SEATED
Traditionally one would light a yahrzeit candle for parents in preparation for Yom Kippur. Our candle is lit for parents, grandparents, spouses, children, siblings; for all those whose lives graced ours.
Let this light help us to praise them and if need be, let this light show us the way to forgive them.
Tonight we also light this light for quiet heroes martyrs soldiers victims of cancer of AIDS of Alzheimer's of other diseases with no known cure those who perished in the holocaust of our people victims of violence
For the good we will not know because they died too young, we light this light to remind us that their dreams and their visions of a better world are now ours to bring to reality.
We light this light for them, may their memories be a blessing.
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech haolam,
asher kideshanu bemitzvotav
v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner
shel (Shabbat v'shel) Yom Hakipurim.
Blessed is the Holy One whose presence fills creation, making us holy with commandments and calling us to kindle the lights of (Shabbat and) the Day of Attonement (Yom Kippur).
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
shehecheyanu v'kiymanu v'higianu
lazman hazeh.
Blessed is the Holy One whose presence fills creation: for giving us life, for sustaining our lives and for bringing us to this moment.
Aveirot shebein adam laMakom
Yom haKipurim m'chaper.
Averot shebein adam lachavero
ein Yom hakipurim m'chaper
ad she'y'ratzeh et-chavero.
For transgressions against God, the Day of Atonement atones; but for transgressions of one human being against another, the Day of Atonement does not atone until they have made peace with one another.
Bishivah shel ma'lah uvishivah shel matah
Al da'at haMakom v'al da'at hakahal
anu matirin l'hitpaleil im
ha'avaryanim.
In the sight of the Holy One and before this congregation, no matter how far some of us may have transgressed by departing from our highest selves, we pray as one on this Night of Repentance.
May God fill the spaces between us as we pray as one.
From this Day of Atonement to the next --
May we reach it in peace -- all Israel makes these vows to turn from sin and wrongdoing, and to walk in the way of Your Law, the path of justice and right. Yet we know our weakness -- how prone we are to fail: help us to keep these vows made with humility. We have come to seek pardon and forgiveness.
Kol Nidre melody
PLEASE RISE AS THE SCROLLS ARE TAKEN FROM THE ARK
Kol nidre ve'esarei vacharamei
v'konamei v'chinuyei, v'kinusei
u-shvu'ot, dindarna ud'ishtaba'na,
u-d'achareimna v'diasarna
al nafshtana, miyom kipurim zeh
ad yom kipurim habah aleinu
l'tovah, kulhon icharatna v'hon.
Kulhon y'hon sharan, sh'vikin sh'vitin,
b'telin um'vutalin, la sh'ririn v'la
kayamin. Nidrana la nidrei,
ve'esarana la esarei,
ush'vuatana lo sh'vuot.
Let all our vows and oaths, all the promises we make and the obligations we incur to You, O God, between this Yom Kippur and the next, be null and void, should we, after honest effort, find ourselves unable to fulfill them. Then may we he absolved of them.
V'nislach l'chol adat b'nai Yisrael
v'lageir hagar b'tocham,
ki l'chol ha'am bishgagah.
Knowingly or not, the whole community of Israel and all who live among us have sinned; let us be forgiven.
S'lach na la'avon ha'am hazeh
k'godel chasdecha, v'chasher
nasata la'am hazeh
mimitzrayim v'ad heinah.
As, in Your love, You have been patient with this people from the time You led us out of Egypt to the present day, so, in Your great love, may You forgive Your people now.
Vayomeir Adonai: Salachti kidvarecha.
And Adonai said: "I have pardoned in response to your plea."
THE SCROLLS ARE RETURNED TO THE ARK
REMAIN STANDING
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
shehecheyanu v'kiymanu v'higianu
lazman hazeh.
Blessed is the Holy One whose presence fills creation: for giving us life, for sustaining our lives and for bringing us to this moment.
Bar'chu et Adonai ham'vorach
Baruch Adonai ham'vorach l'olam va-ed
Praise the Source of Blessing, to whom our praise is due. Praised be the Source of Blessing, to whom our praise is due, now and forever.
page 101 continued
Evening, the evenings, even-ing the frayed edges of our lives, ma'ariv aravim, amen
-- Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
asher bidvaro ma'ariv aravim.
B'chochmah potei-ach sh'arim,
uvitvunah m'shaneh itim,
umachalif et hazmanim,
um'sadeir et hakochavim
b'mishm'roteihem barakia kirtsono.
Borei yom valailah,
goleil or mipenei choshech
v'choshech mipenei or,
Uma'avir yom umeivi lailah,
umavdil bein yom uvein lailah,
Adonai tz'vaot sh'mo.
El chai v'kayam,
tamid yimloch aleinu l'olam va-ed.
Baruch atah Adonai, hama'ariv aravim.
You are praised, Yah Author of time and space Who brings on evening with a word, Opens heaven's gates with wisdom, Adjusts the ages with sensitive judgment, Varies the seasons, And orders the orbits of a sky full of stars, in the emptiness, according to Your will. You create each day and each night afresh, Roll light in front of darkness And darkness in front of light So gently, that no moment is quite like the one before or after. You distinguish between day and night. Moment by moment. You make day pass into night And You alone know the boundary Dividing one from the other. Unifier of all beings is Your name. Timeless God, Rule forever.
You Who brings the evening in are praised.
Ahavat olam
beit Yisrael amcha ahavta,
Torah umitzvot,
chukim umishpatim, otanu limad'ta
Al kein, Adonai Eloheinu,
b'shochbeinu uv'kumeinu
nasiach b'chukecha,
v'nismach b'diverei Toratecha
uv'mitzvotecha l'olam va-ed.
Ki heim chayeinu v'orech yameinu
uvahem neh'geh yomam valailah.
V'ahavat'cha al tasir mimenu l'olamim.
Baruch atah, Adonai, ohev amo Yisrael.
With unlimited love You have loved the house of Israel, Your people. Torah and mitzvot, guiding principles and laws You have taught us. Therefore, Yah, our God, when we lie down and when we rise up we will consider Your laws, we will rejoice in the words of Your Torah and Your mitzvot forever. For they are our life and the length of our days and we will meditate on them day and night. Do not take Your love from us, ever. Blessed are You, Adonai (Yah), Who loves the people Israel [and all creation].
We are loved by an unending love. We are embraced by arms that find us even when we are hidden from ourselves. We are touched by fingers that soothe us even when we are too proud for soothing. We are counseled by voices that guide us even when we are too embittered to hear. We are loved by an unending love. We are supported by hands that uplift us even in the midst of a fall. We are urged on by eyes that meet us even when we are too weak for meeting.
We are loved by an unending love. Embraced, touched, soothed, and counseled... Ours are the arms, the fingers, the voices; Ours are the hands, the eyes, the smiles; We are loved by an unending love. Blessed are You, God, who loves Your people Israel (and all creation).
-- Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro
The Sh'ma -- Deuteronomy 6:4 -- is a call from God to Israel, from each one of us to the other. The second verse is a response, whispered in humble acceptance of the connectedness of all creation. This verse is said aloud only on Yom Kippur, recalling the custom of the High Priest in the ancient Temple.
Sh'ma Yisrael: Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad
Hear O Israel: Adonai is our God, Adonai is one.
Aloud:
Baruch shem k'vod malchuto l'olam va-ed
Praised be God's name, God's glorious rule is forever and ever.
PLEASE BE SEATED
V'ahavta et Adonai Elohecha,
b'chol l'vavcha uv'chol nafsh'cha
uv'chol m'odecha.
V'hayu had'varim ha-eileh asher
anochi m'tzavcha hayom al l'vavecha.
V'shinatam l'vanecha v'dibarta bam,
b'shivt'cha b'veitecha uv'lecht'cha
vaderech uv'shochb'cha uv'kumecha.
Ukshartam l'ot al yadecha v'hayu
l'totafot bein einecha. Uch'tavtam
al m'zuzot beitecha uvisharecha.
L'ma'an tizk'ru, va'asitem et
kol mitzvotai vih'yitem k'doshim
l'Eloheichem. Ani Adonai Eloheichem,
asher hotzeiti et-chem mei-eretz
Mitzrayim lih'yot lachem l'Elohim
ani Adonai Eloheichem.
Adonai Eloheichem... Emet
The word emet literally means truth. In rabbinic practice, it is added directly to the end of the Sh'ma as an immediate affirmation of its truth for us.
You shall love Adonai, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. Take to heart these words which I command you this day. Teach them diligently to your children. Speak of them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you arise. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as symbols between your eyes. Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Remember to do all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I am your God, who led you out of Egypt to be your God. I am your God.
These words are part of the traditional V'ahavta which comes from Deuteronomy 11:13-21. While we do not embrace the theology of individual reward and punishment, the interpretation is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibilities to care for the planet.
V'hayah im shamo'a tishm'u el mitzvotai,
asher anochi m'tzaveh etchem hayom,
l'ahavah et Adonai Eloheichem,
ul'ovdo b'chol l'vavchem uv'chol nafsh'chem.
V'natati m'tar artz'chem b'ito
yoreh umalkosh, v'asafta d'gan'cha v'tirosh'cha
v'yitz'harecha. V'natati eisev b'sad'cha liv'hemtecha,
v'achalta v'savata. Hisham'ru lachem
pen yifteh l'vavchem, v'sartem va'avadtem
elohim acheirim v'hishtachavitem lahem.
V'charah af Adonai bachem, v'atzar
et hashamayim v'lo yihyeh matar,
v'ha'adamah lo titein et y'vulah. Va'avadtem
m'heirah mei'al ha'aretz hatovah asher
Adonai notein lachem. V'samtem et d'varai
eileh al l'vavchem v'al nafsh'chem,
uk'shartem otam l'ot al yedchem,
v'hayu l'totafot bein eineichem. V'limadtem
otam et b'neichem, l'dabeir bam,
b'shivt'cha b'veitecha, uvlecht'cha vaderech,
uv'shochb'cha uvkumecha. Uchtavtam al m'zuzot
beitecha uvish'arecha. L'ma'an yirbu y'meichem
vimei v'neichem al ha'adamah asher nishba
Adonai la'avoteichem lateit lahem, kimei hashamayim
al ha'aretz. Vayomer Adonai el Moshe
leimor. Dabeir el b'nei Yisra'el v'amarta
aleihem. V'asu lahem tzitzit al kanfei
vigdeihem l'dorotam, v'natnu al tzitzit hakanaf
p'til t'cheilet. V'hayah lachem l'tzitzit, ur'item
oto uz'chartem et kol mitzvot Adonai, va'asitem
otam, v'lo taturu acharei l'vavchem v'acharei
eineichem, asher atem zonim achareihem.
If you act on the teachings of YHVH, the Breath of Life, especially the teaching that there is Unity in the world and inter-connection among all of its parts, then the rains will fall as they should, the rivers will run, the heavens will smile, and the good earth will feed you. But, if you chop the world up into parts and choose one or a few to worship -- like gods of wealth, power, greed, doing and making without pause -- then the rain won't fall (or it will turn to acid), the rivers won't run (or, they will overflow because you have left no earth where the rain can soak in), and the heavens themselves will become your enemy (the ozone layer will cease shielding you; the carbon dioxide you pour into the air will scorch your planet), and you will perish from the good earth that the Breath of Life gives you.
-- Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Tradition calls us to remember Yetsiat Mitsrayim - our going out from Egypt - in every service. We remember that we were slaves and know that until all people are free, none of us are completely free. Though we mourn for the suffering of the Egyptians and know that the journey ahead is long and difficult, we join together in celebration of this precious moment of freedom. The wisdom of celebrating that moment has carried us through times of deep despair. A glimmer of hope continues to come from remembering the miracle at the shores of the sea when Miriam the prophetess took her timbrel in her hand and together with Moses led the people in song and dance.
Mi chamochah ba-eilim, Adonai!
Mi kamochah nedar bakodesh,
nora t'hilot, oseh fele!
Who is like You among the gods that are worshipped? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor doing wonders?
Malchut'cha ra-u vanecha,
Bokei-a yam lifnei Moshe uMiryam
Zeh Eli, anu v'amru,
Adonai (Yah) yimloch l'olam va-ed!
Your children saw Your glory. In our escape from the sea we exclaimed with Moses and Miriam, "The Redeemer will be with us forever and ever."
V'ne-emar: ki fadah Adonai et Ya'akov,
ug'alo miyad chazak mimenu,
Baruch atah, Adonai, ga'al Yisrael.
As You redeemed Jacob and saved him from arms stronger than his own, so may You redeem all who are oppressed and persecuted. Blessed is God, Redeemer of Israel [and all creation].
Hashkiveinu Adonai
Eloheinu l'shalom,
v'ha'amideinu shomreinu l'chayim,
Allow us to lie and rise in peace, Shalom.
Ufros aleinu sukat sh'lomecha,
v'tak'neinu b'eitzah tovah mil'fanecha, v'hoshi'einu l'ma'an sh'mecha,
v'hagein ba'adeinu, v'haseir mei'aleinu oyeiv, dever, v'cherev, v'ra'av v'yagon, v'haseir
satan mil'faneinu umei'achareinu, uv'tzeil k'nafecha tastireinu. Ki Eil shomreinu
atah, ki Eil melech chanun v'rachum atah, ushmor tzeiteinu
l'chayim ul'shalom, mei'atah v'ad olam. Ufros aleinu sukat sh'lomecha.
Baruch atah Adonai, haporeis sukat shalom aleinu v'al kol amo Yisra'el v'al Y'rushalayim.
Grant, O Eternal One, that we may lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Ruler, to life. And spread over us the shelter of Your peace, and guide us with Your good counsel. And save us for Your name's sake and shield us. And remove from us every enemy, pestilence, sword and famine and grief. Remove our inclination to do evil. And shelter us in the shadow of Your wings, for You are our protecting and saving God, for You are our gracious and merciful Ruler.
Congregation:
And guard our going out and our coming in unto life, unto life and peace from now and forever. And spread over us the shelter of Your peace. O blessed are You, Adonai, who spreads the shelter of peace over us and over Israel and over Jerusalem [and over all creation].
Yitgadal v'yitkadash shmei raba.
B'alma div'ra chirutei,
v'yamlich malchutei,
b'chayeichon uv'yomeichon
uv'chayei d'chol beit Yisrael,
ba'agala uvizman kariv. v'im'ru: amen.
Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach
l'alam ul'almei almaya.
Yitbarach v'yishtabach
v'yitpa'ar y'vitromam v'yitnasei,
v'yit-hadar, v'yitaleh v'yit'halal
sh'mei d'kud'sha B'rich Hu,
l'eila min kol birchata v'shirata,
tushb'chata v'nechemata,
da'amiran b'alma, v'imru: amen.
Let the glory of God be extolled, let Your great name be hallowed in the world whose creation You willed. May Your ideal world soon prevail, in our own day, our own lives, and the life of all Israel, and let us say: Amen. Let the name of the Holy One be glorified, exalted, and honored though God is beyond all praises, songs, and adorations that we can utter and let us say: Amen.
Adonai s'fatai tiftach,
ufi yagid t'hilatecha.
Adonai, open my lips that my mouth may declare your praise.
page 110 continued
Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu
vEilohei avoteinu v'imoteinu,
Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak
vEilohei Ya'akov, Elohei Sarah,
Elohei Rivkah, Elohei Leah
vEilohei Rachel.
Ha-El hagadol hagibor v'hanora,
El elyon, gomeil chasadim tovim,
v'koneih hakol,
v'zocheir chasdei avot v'imahot,
umeivi g'ulah
liv'nei v'neihem l'ma'an sh'mo b'ahavah.
Melech ozeir umoshia umagen.
Baruch atah, Adonai,
magen Avraham v'ezrat Sarah.
zochreinu l'chayim,
melech hafetz bachayim,
v'chotveinu beseifer hachayim,
lema'ancha Elohim chayim.
Blessed are You, our God, and God of our fathers and mothers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God of Sarah, God of Rebecca, God of Leah, and God of Rachel. Great, mighty and awesome God, God supreme, You bestow good, kind deeds, possess everything, and remember the kind deeds of our fathers and mothers. With love, You bring redemption to their descendants for the sake of Your name. Remember us for life, O Sovereign who delights in life. And inscribe us in the Book of Life, O Living God. You are our Ruler, Helper, Savior, and Shield. Blessed are You, Shield of Abraham and Help of Sarah.
Praised be the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Praised be the God of our mothers, of Sarah, of Rebecca, of Leah, and of Rachel. Praised be the source of strength and courage, the source of kindness and good deeds. Praised be the source of gentleness and love, of softness and kind words. Praised be the man who transcends strength through gentleness, Praised be the woman who perfects gentleness through strength. Praised be the person who acts according to the best that is within, Praised be the person who reaches out to touch the best in others. Praised be the gentle faithfulness of Abraham and the valiant strength of Sarah. Praised be the God Who created with divinity a woman and a man.
Atah gibor l'olam Adonai,
m'chayeih hakol atah, rav l'hoshia.
bachoref
Mashiv haruach umorid hagashem.
bakayitz
Morid hatal.
M'chalkeil chayim b'chesed,
m'chayeih hakol b'rachamim rabim,
someich noflim, v'rofei cholim,
umatir asurim,
um'kayeim, emunato lisheinei afar.
Mi chamochah ba'al g'vurot
umi domeh lach, melech meimit
um'chayeh umatzmiach y'shuah.
V'ne-eman atah l'hachayot hakol.
Baruch atah, Adonai, m'chayeih hakol.
You are the Spiritual Strength, renewing life. Great is your power to save. (Winter) You cause the wind to shift and the rain to fall. (Summer) You rain dew upon us. You sustain the living with loving-kindness; You give life to all with great compassion. You support those who fall, heal the sick, Release the captives, and keep faith with those That sleep in the dust. Who is like you? Who is similar to you, O God, In whose hands are death and life, And who causes salvation to spring forth? Blessed is Yah, the source of life.
R'tzei, Adonai Eloheinu, b'amcha Yisrael,
ut'filatam b'ahavah t'kabeil,
ut'hi l'ratzon tamid
avodat Yisrael amecha.
El karov l'chol korav,
p'nei el avadecha v'choneinu,
sh'foch ruchacha aleinu.
V'techezena eineinu b'shuv'cha
l'Tzion b'rachamim.
Baruch atah, Adonai
hamachazir Sh'chinato l'Tzion.
Be gracious, O God, to Your people Israel, and receive their prayers with love. May the service of Your people Israel be pleasing to You forever. You are near to all who seek Your presence. Reveal Yourself to us and have compassion upon us. May our eyes see Your return to Zion in mercy. Blessed are You, eternal one, who restores Your Shechinah to Zion.
Modim anachnu lach...
Baruch atah Adonai,
hatov shimcha ul'cha na-eh l'hodot.
We are grateful for... Blessed is Adonai In Your Good Name we are pleased to **express our thanks**
We can be thankful for many things. Each new day is a gift to be revered. Our family, our community, our world are too precious to go unnoticed. Let us be aware of the ultimate treasure of life And share that blessing with others.
Shalom rav al Yisrael amcha
tasim l'olam
Shalom rav al Yisrael amcha
tasim l'olam
ki atah hu Melech Adon
l'chol hashalom.
ki atah hu Melech Adon
l'chol hashalom.
v'tov b'einecha l'vareich
et amcha Yisrael
b'chol eit uv'chol sha'ah
bish'lomecha.
Ah... . .
Baruch atah Adonai, oseh hashalom
Let Israel, Your people, know a great peace, for it is good in Your sight to bless Israel at every moment with Your peace. Blessed are You Adonai, who blesses Your people Israel with peace.
Eternal wellspring of peace May we be drenched with the longing for peace That we may give ourselves over As the earth to the rain, to the dew, Until peace overflows our lives As living waters overflow the seas.
-- Marcia Falk
Grant us peace, Your most precious gift, O Eternal Source of Peace, and give us the will to proclaim its message to all the peoples of the earth. Bless our country, that it may always be a stronghold of peace and its advocate among the nations. May contentment reign within its borders, health and happiness within its homes. Strengthen the bonds of friendship among the inhabitants of all lands; and may the love of Your name hallow every home and every heart. Teach us, God, to labor for righteousness and inscribe us in the Book of Life, Blessing and Peace. Blessed is the Eternal God, the Source of Peace.
-- The Union Prayer Book
Silent Meditation
Yih'yu l'ratson imrei fi
v'hegyon libi l'fanecha,
Adonai, tsuri v'goali.
Congregation:
Oseh shalom bimromav,
hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu
v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru: Amen
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable to You, O God, my Rock and my Redeemer. May the One who causes peace to reign in the high heavens let peace descend on us, on all Israel and all the world. Amen.
We sin against You when we sin against ourselves; for our failures of truth, O God, we ask forgiveness: for pretending to emotions we do not feel; for using the sins of other to excuse our own; for denying our responsibility for our own misfortunes; for refusing to admit our share in the troubles of others; for condemning in our children the faults we tolerate in ourselves; for passing judgment without knowledge of the facts; for remembering the price of things but forgetting their value; for teaching our children everything but the meaning of life; for loving our egos better than truth.
-- Edited by Rabbi Chaim Stern
Eloheinu velohei avoteinu v'imoteinu
tavo l'fanecha t'filateinu,
v'al titalam mitchinateinu,
she'ein anu azei fanim ukshei oref,
lomar l'fanecha Adonai Eloheinu
veilohei avoteinu v'imoteinu,
tzadikim anachnu v'lo chatanu
aval anachnu chatanu.
Chatanu. Avinu. Pashanu.
Our God, and God of our mothers and fathers, grant that our prayers may reach You. Do not be deaf to our pleas, for we are not so arrogant and stiff-necked as to say before You, Adonai, our God and God of all ages, we are perfect and have not sinned; rather do we confess: we have gone astray, we have sinned, we have transgressed.
page 117 continued
Now may it be Your will, God of all generations, to forgive all our sins, to pardon all our wrongdoings and to blot out all our transgressions:
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'oness uvratzon,
The sin we have committed against You under duress or by choice'
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'zadon uvishgagah,
the sin we have committed against You consciously or unconsciously,
V'al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
bagalui uvasater,
and the sin we have committed against You openly or secretly.
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'harhor haleiv.
The sin we have committed against You in our thoughts,
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'dibur peh,
the sin we have committed against You with our words,
V'al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'chozek yad.
and the sin we have committed against You by the abuse of power.
V'al kulam, eloha s'lichot
s'lach lanu, m'chal lanu, kaper lanu
For all these, O God of mercy, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'imutz haleiv
The sin we have committed against You by hardening our hearts,
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'chilul hasheim,
the sin we have committed against You by profaning Your name,
V'al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'zilzul horim u'morim.
and the sin we have committed against You by disrespect for parents and teachers.
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
bilshon hara,
The sin we have committed against You by speaking slander,
Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'masa uvmatan,
the sin we have committed against You by dishonesty in our work,
V'al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha
b'hona'at rei'a
and the sin we have committed against You by hurting others in any way.
V'al kulam, eloha s'lichot
s'lach lanu, m'chal lanu, kaper lanu
For all these, O god of mercy, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.
Sh'ma koleinu Adonai Eloheinu chus
v'racheim aleinu v'kabeil b'rachamim
uvratzon et t'filateinu hashiveinu
Adonai eilecha v'nashuvah chadeish
yameinu k'kedem amareinu ha'azinah
Adonai binah hagigeinu al tashlicheinu
milfanecha v'ruach kadoshcha al tikach
mimenu al tashlicheinu l'eit ziknah
kichlot koheinu al ta'azveinu
al ta'azveinu Adonai Eloheinu al tirchak
mimenu ki lach Adonai hochalnu atah
ta'aneh Adonai Eloheinu.
Hear our voice; have compassion upon us and with that compassion accept our prayer Help us to return to You; then truly shall we return Renew our days as in the past Consider our words: look into our innermost thoughts Do not cast us away from Your presence Do not remove Your holy spirit Do not cast us away when we are old; as our strength diminishes, do not abandon us Do not abandon us; do not be far from us For You we wait; and You, our God, will answer
PLEASE RISE
THE ARK IS OPENED
Kavannah. "Our Father our King" reaches toward the delicate balance between the intimate God and the distant awesome God. This English translation offers an additional aspect of the more intimate and personal imagining of God by including a call not only to the traditional "father", but to the image of God as a "gentle mother" as well. This expression reflects our belief that only by celebrating both the feminine and the masculine sides of each of us, our whole selves, can we help bring the world closer to peace.
The original prayer dates back to the time of Rabbi Akiva's prayer to end a drought. The formula was so effective, others added their own petitions and the prayer continued to grow. In the Sephardic version of Salonika there are 53 petitions. We hope that, if we pray from our hearts, it will be as effective today. We invite you to add your own verses to this prayer that has inspired our people for generations.
Avinu Malkeinu, sh'ma koleinu
Avinu Malkeinu hear our voice. Gentle Mother are You listening?
Avinu Malkeinu, chatanu l'fanecha
Avinu Malkeinu we have sinned against You. We have hurt each other, hurt ourselves.
Avinu Malkeinu, chamol aleinu
V'al olaleinu v'tapeinu
Avinu Malkeinu have compassion on us and on our children Hold us in Your loving arms and we will be gentle with our children.
Avinu Malkeinu, kaleih dever
V'cherev v'ra'av mei'aleinu
Avinu Malkeinu make an end to sickness, war, and famine Teach us that we must heal and feed and make peace.
Avinu Malkeinu,
Kaleih kol tzar u'mastin mei'aleinu.
Avinu Malkeinu make an end to all oppression. As long as one person is enslaved, no one is free.
Avinu Malkeinu,
Kotveinu b'seifer chayim tovim.
Avinu Malkeinu inscribe us for blessing in the Book of Life. May our eyes be open to see that the good far outweighs the evil in our world.
Avinu Malkeinu,
Chadeish aleinu shanah tovah.
Avinu Malkeinu let the new year be a good year for us. Gentle Mother, may it be a good year for all people.
Avinu Malkeinu,
Harem keren Yisrael amecha.
Avinu Malkeinu give strength to Your people Israel. May we learn to temper strength with kindness.
Avinu Malkeinu, Chaneinu va'aneinu
Ki ein banu ma'asim
Aseih imanu tz'dakah
vachesed v'hoshi'einu.
Avinu Malkeinu be gracious and answer us, for we have little merit. Treat us generously and with kindness, and be our help.
THE ARK IS CLOSED
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Shechinah, we know your presence is here with us. You are the peace and joy of our days. But we also know that you dwell in the depths of suffering and sorrow.
We pray now for the hungry, for the homeless, for the victims of war and catastrophe, for the sick and the dying, for those oppressed by racism. And we pray for our fragile earth, for all her inhabitants, and for life itself.
We ask your blessing on all those engaged in tikkun olam, the healing and transforming of our planet. Open our hearts and stir us to struggle on behalf of your creations. May each of us, all of us, become your limbs and hands, bringing healing and compassion, social justice, love and peace to your world.
This prayer reminds us that we are no longer victims. We must be on guard to avoid becoming like those nations who oppress. We bow at the word korim in humility and gratitude as we learn from the lessons of our own history and commit ourselves to tikkun olam--the restoration of wholeness to our broken world.
Aleinu l'shabei-ach la'adon hakol,
lateit g'dulah l'yotzeir b'reishit,
shelo asanu k'goyei ha'aratzot,
v'lo samanu k'mishp'chot ha'adamah.
Shelo sam chelkeinu kahem,
v'goraleinu k'chol hamonam.
Va'anachnu kor'im
umishtachavim umodim,
lifnei Melech mal'chei hamlachim
HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Shehu noteh shamayin v'yoseid aretz,
umoshav y'karo bashamayim mina'al
ush'chinat uzo
b'govhei m'romim.
Hu Eloheinu ein od,
emet Malkeinu efes zulato.
Kakatuv b'Torato,
v'yadata hayom
v'hasheivota el l'vavecha,
ki Adonai hu HaElohim
bashamayim mima'al.
v'al ha'aretz mitachat, ein od.
V'ne-emar, v'hayah Adonai
l'Melech al kol ha'aretz.
Bayom hahu yih'yeh Adonai echad
Ush'mo echad.
Let us adore the ever-living God and render praise unto the one who spread out the heavens and established the earth, whose glory is revealed in the heavens above and whose greatness is manifest throughout the world. Our God is one; there is none else. We bow our heads in reverence and worship the holy one, praised be our God.
You spread out the heavens and established the earth. You are our God there is none else. In truth you alone are God, as it is written, "Know then this day and take it to heart, the Eternal One is God in the heavens above and the earth below; there is none else."
May the time not be distant, Oh God, when all shall turn to You in love, when corruption and evil shall give way to integrity and goodness, when superstition shall no longer enslave the mind, nor idolatry blind the eye. Oh may all, created in your image, become one in friendship, forever united in Your service. Then shall Your realm be established on earth, and the word of Your prophet fulfilled: Adonai will reign for ever and ever.
We are dreamers, people with a vision. We are people who have not allowed our dream of a more perfect time to be tainted or trampled by those who have threatened to take our dream away from us.
That more perfect time we speak of is a picture in our own highest, inextinguishable imaginings! Can we imagine a completed time, a time of peace, of completedness? Yes! We do imagine it. That is always the point...
On That Day, of our completed time, we recognize the relatedness of all things -- all things are connected. Its Name is One, and that One is God.
On That Day is our awakening. It is not the end of history, it's the very beginning.
On That Day, we begin the upward course, to a more perfect time... never arriving always becoming, always becoming.
-- J. S. Goodman
And then all that has divided us will merge And then compassion will be wedded to power And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind And then both men and women will be gentle And then both women and men will be strong And then no person will be subject to another's will And then all will be rich and free and varied And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many And then all will share equally in the Earth's abundance And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old And then all will nourish the young And then all will cherish life's creatures And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth And then everywhere will be called Eden once again
-- Judy Chicago
May, may, may the memory of good people bless our days, bless, bless our days, bless our days.
Zeicher, zeicher, zeicher
tzadik livrachah, livrachah,
zeicher zeicher tzadik livrachah.
-- Bonia Shur
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Yitgadal v'yitkadash shmei raba.
B'alma div'ra chirutei,
v'yamlich malchutei,
b'chayeichon uv'yomeichon
uv'chayei d'chol beit Yisrael,
ba'agala uvizman kariv. V'im'ru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach
l'alam ul'almei almaya.
Yitbarach v'yishtabach v'yitpa'ar
y'vitromam v'yitnasei,
v'yit-hadar, v'yitaleh v'yit'halal
sh'mei d'Kud'sha B'rich Hu,
l'eila min kol birchata v'shirata,
tushb'chata v'nechemata,
da'amiran b'alma, V'imru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya,
v'chayim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael.
V'imru: Amen.
Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu,
v'al kol Yisrael, v'al kol yoshvei tevel
V'imru: Amen
Magnified and sanctified May Your great name be In the world that You created, As You will, And may a time of peace come In our lives and in our days And in the lives of all the house of Israel, Swiftly and soon, And say all amen!
Amen! May Your great name be blessed Always and forever.
Blessed And praised And glorified And raised And exalted And honored And uplifted And lauded Be the name of the Holy One (You are blessed!) Above all blessings And hymns and praises and consolations That are uttered in the world, And say all amen! May a great peace from heaven -- And life! -- Be upon us and upon all Israel, And say all amen!
May You who makes peace in Your high places Make peace upon us and upon all Israel And upon all who dwell on earth, And say all amen!
-- Adapted from translation by Leon Wieseltier in his book, Kaddish.
This blessing was once reserved for the priests of old, but today we ask each of you to take it into your own hearts and, by embracing one another, share it with all the people whose lives you touch -- be they family, friends, or strangers.
Y'varech'cha Adonai v'yishmarecha
Yaeir Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka
Yisah Adonai panav eilecha
v'yaseim lecha shalom
Y'vrachech Adonai V'yishmerech
Yaeir Adonai panav alay'ich vichunech
Yisah Adonai panav alay'ich
v'yaseim lach shalom
-- Numbers 6:24-26
May God bless you and keep you safe May God's love shine on you and be kind to you May God's presence be with you and give you peace
May the blessings of peace and kindness, graciousness, goodness, and compassion flow among us, all the communities of Israel, and all the peoples of the world.
-- Marcia Falk
We recite the Sh'ma before we sleep because the soul wanders at night and may not return to its holy vessel: the body. In the morning we thank God for the miracle of return.