BY SHELLEY NEESE–
A central tenet in the faith life of any observant Jew is prayer. In synagogue, Jews join formal prayer services three times a day, every day. In addition to that they have dozens of spontaneous prayers for everything from washing hands to throwing out bread.
The Siddur is the Jewish prayer book which contains all the prayers and blessings for regular week days and the Sabbath. I have highlighted a few of the prayers and blessings here that Christians may choose to incorporate into their daily prayer life. The most important and commonly recited prayers in Jewish liturgy are the Shema, the Kaddish, and the Amidah.
The Amidah is said three times daily. The Shema is the last prayer one says in the day. The Kaddish is often recited in prayer services, but it is particularly comforting for periods of mourning. The Hebrew transliterations of all the prayers are written out first, followed by the English translations. I hope these bless your family as much as they have blessed mine.
Starting the day
Modeh Ani Lefanecha
Melech Chai Vekayom
Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati
Bechemla
Raba Emunatecha
I offer thanks to You,
living and eternal King,
for You have mercifully restored my soul within me;
Your faithfulness is great.
Haraynee Mekabel Alai
Mitzvat Asai
Shel Ve’ahavta
Lerayacha kamocha.
I hereby take upon myself
to fulfill the commandment of
loving your fellow as yourself.
Lighting the Sabbath candles
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe,
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candles.
Praying for safe travel
Yehi ratzon milefanecha Ado-nai Eloh-einu veilohei avoseinu shetolicheinu leshalom vesatzideinu leshalom vesadricheinu leshalom vesismecheinu leshalom vesagi’einu limechoz cheftzeinu lechaim ulesimchah uleshalom (If he intends to return immediately, he adds: vesachazireinu leshalom) vesatzileinu mikaf kol oyeiv ve’oreiv velistim vechayos ra’os baderech umikol puraniyos hamisragshos uva’os le’olam vesishlach berachah bechol ma’aseh yadeinu vesitneini lechein ulechesed ulerachamim be’einecha uveinei chol ro’einu vesigmeleinu chasadim tovim vesishma kol tefilaseinu ki Atah shomei’ah tefilas kol peh. Baruch Atah Ado-nai shomei’ah tefilah.
May it be Your will, God, our God and the God of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace. Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You God, who hearkens to prayer.
Blessing over a son
Ye’simcha Elohim ke-Ephraim ve hee-Menashe
Ye’varech’echa Adonoy ve’yish’merecha.
Ya’ir Adonoy panav eilecha viy-chuneka.
Yisa Adonoy panav eilecha, ve’yasim lecha shalom.
May you be like Ephraim and Menashe.
May Yahweh bless you and keep you.
May Yahweh make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May Yahweh turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Blessing over a daughter
Ye’simech Elohim ke-Sarah, Rivka, Rachel ve-Leah.
Ye’varech’echa Adonoy ve’yish’merecha.
Ya’ir Adonoy panav eilecha viy-chuneka.
Yisa Adonoy panav eilecha, ve’yasim lecha shalom.
May you be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
May Yahweh bless you and keep you.
May Yahweh make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May Yahweh turn his face toward you and give you peace.
The Kaddish
Yis’ga’dal v’yis’kadash sh’may ra’bbo,
b’olmo dee’vro chir’usay v’yamlich malchu’say,
b’chayaychon uv’yomay’chon uv’chayay d’chol bais Yisroel, ba’agolo u’viz’man koriv;
v’imru Omein.
Y’hay shmay rabbo m’vorach l’olam ul’olmay olmayo.
Yisborach v’yishtabach v’yispoar v’yisromam v’yismasay,
v’yishador v’yis’aleh v’yisalal,
shmay d’kudsho, brich hu, l’aylo min kl birchoso v’sheeroso,
tush’bechoso v’nechemoso, da,ameeran b’olmo; vimru Omein.
Y’hay shlomo rabbo min sh’mayo, v’chayim alaynu v’al kol Yisroel; v’imru Omein.
Oseh sholom bimromov, hu ya’aseh sholom olaynu, v’al kol yisroel; vimru Omein.
May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world,
which He has created according to His will.
May His Kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days,
and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel,
swiftly and in the near future;
and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed, forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted,
extolled, honored elevated and lauded
be the Name of the holy one.
Blessed is He, above and beyond any blessings and hymns,
Praises and consolations
which are uttered in the world;
and say Amen.
May there be abundant peace from Heaven,
and life, upon us and upon all Israel;
and say, Amen.
He who makes peace in His high holy places,
may He bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel; and say Amen.
The Shema
Sh’ma Yis-ra-eil, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, A-do-nai E-chad.
Ba-ruch sheim k’vod mal-chu-to l’o-lam va-ed.
V’a-hav-ta eit A-do-nai E-lo-he-cha,
B’chawl l’va-v’cha,
u-v’chawl naf-sh’cha,
u-v’chawl m’o-de-cha.
V’ha-yu ha-d’va-rim ha-ei-leh,
A-sher a-no-chi m’tsa-v’cha ha-yom, al l’va-ve-cha.
V’shi-nan-tam l’-va-ne-cha, v’di-bar-ta bam
b’shiv-t’cha b’vei-te-cha,
uv-lech-t’cha va-de-rech,
u-v’shawch-b’cha uv-ku-me-cha.
Uk-shar-tam l’ot al ya-de-cha,
v’ha-yu l’to-ta-fot bein ei-ne-cha.
Uch-tav-tam, al m’zu-zot bei-te-cha, u-vish-a-re-cha.
V’ha-ya, im sha-mo-a tish-m’u el mits-vo-tai
a-sher a-no-chi m’tsa-veh et-chem ha-yom
l’a-ha-va et A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem
ul-awv-do b’chawl l’vav-chem, u-v’chawl naf-sh’chem,
V’na-ta-ti m’tar ar-ts’chem b’i-to, yo-reh u-mal-kosh,
v’a-saf-ta d’ga-ne-cha,
v’ti-ro-sh’cha v’yits-ha-re-cha.
V’na-ta-ti ei-sev b’sa-d’cha liv-hem-te-cha,
v’a-chal-ta v’sa-va-‘ta.
Hi-sha-m’ru la-chem pen yif-te l’vav-chem, v’sar-tem,
va-a-vad-tem E-lo-him a-chei-rim, v’hish-ta-cha-vi-tem la-hem.
V’cha-rah af A-do-nai ba-chem, v’a-tsar et ha-sha-ma-yim,
v’lo yi-h’yeh ma-tar, v’ha-a-da-ma lo ti-tein et y’vu-la,
va-a-vad-tem m’hei-ra mei-al ha-a-rets ha-to-va
a-sher A-do-nai no-tein la-chem.
V’sam-tem et d’vara ei-leh, al l’vav-chem v’al naf-sh’chem,
uk-shar-tem o-tam l’ot al yed-chem,
v’ha-yu l’to-ta-fot bein ei-nei-chem.
V’li-mad-tem o-tam et b’nei-chem, l’da-beir bam
b’shiv-t’cha b’vei-te-cha, uv-lech-t’cha va-de-rech
u-v’shawch-b’cha uv-ku-me-cha.
Uch-tav-tam, al m’zu-zot bei-te-cha, u-vish-a-re-cha.
L’ma-an yir-bu y’mei-chem, vi-mei v’nei-chem, al ha-a-da-ma
a-sher nish-ba A-do-nai la-a-vo-tei-chem, la-teit la-hem
ki-mei ha-sha-ma-yim al ha-a-rets.
Va-yo-meir A-do-nai el Mo-she lei-mor:
Da-beir el b’nei Yis-ra-eil, v’a-mar-ta a-lei-hem
v’a-su la-hem tsi-tsit, al kan-fei vig-dei-hem l’do-ro-tam,
v’na-t’nu al tsi-tsit ha-ka-naf p’til t’chei-let.
V’ha-ya la-chem l’tsi-tsit, ur-i-tem o-to
uz-char-tem et kawl mits-vot A-do-nai, va-a-si-tem o-tam,
v’lo ta-tu-ru a-cha-rei l’vav-chem,
v’a-cha-rei ei-nei-chem
a-sher a-tem zo-nim a-cha-rei-hem,
L’ma-an tiz-k’ru, va-a-si-tem et kawl mits-vo-tai
vi-h’yi-tem k’do-shim lei-lo-hei-chem.
A-ni A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem,
a-sher ho-tsei-ti et-chem mei-e-rets Mits-ra-yim
li-h’yot la-chem lei-lo-him;
A-ni A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem… Emet
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.
And it will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the Lord’s wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the Lord gives you. Therefore, place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates – so that your days and the days of your children may be prolonged on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give to them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner. They shall be to you as tzizit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the Lord and fulfill them, and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray – so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I, the Lord, am your God.
*Written by Shelley Neese, vice president of The Jerusalem Connection. Click here for her articles and videos.