MORNING SERVICE FOR SABBATHS AND FESTIVALS.
Begin page {prr. 2} to “the Lord is One,” {pr. 43}. Then continue as follows:—
The breath of every living being shall bless thy name, O Lord our God, and the spirit of all flesh shall continually glorify and exalt thy memorial, O our King; from everlasting to everlasting thou art God; and beside thee we have no King who redeemeth and saveth, setteth free and delivereth, who supporteth and hath mercy in all times of trouble and distress; yea, we have no King but thee.
He is God of the first and of the last, the God of all creatures, the Lord of all generations, who is extolled with many praises, and guideth his world with lovingkindness and his creatures with tender mercies. The Lord slumbereth not, nor sleepeth; he arouseth the sleepers and awakeneth the slumberers; he maketh the dumb to speak, loseth the bound, supporteth .the falling, and raiseth up the bowed.
To thee alone we give thanks. Though our mouths were full of song as the sea, and our tongues of exultation as the multitude of its waves, and our lips of praise as the wide-extended firmament; though our eyes shone with light like the sun and the moon, and our hands were spread forth like the eagles of heaven, and our feet were swift as hinds, we should still be unable to thank thee and to bless thy name, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, for one thousandth or one ten thousandth
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part of the bounties which thou hast bestowed upon our fathers and upon us. Thou didst redeem us from Egypt, O Lord our God, and didst release us from the house of bondage; during famine thou didst feed us, and didst sustain us in plenty; from the sword thou didst rescue us, from pestilence thou didst save us, and from sore and lasting diseases thou didst deliver us. Hitherto thy tender mercies have helped us, and thy lovingkindnesses have not left us: forsake us not, O Lord our God, for ever. Therefore the limbs which thou hast spread forth upon us, and the spirit and breath which thou hast breathed into our nostrils, and the tongue which thou hast set in our mouths, lo, they shall thank, bless, praise, glorify, extol, reverence, hallow and assign kingship to thy name, O Our King. For every mouth shall give thanks unto thee, and every tongue shall swear unto thee; every knee shall bow to thee, and whatsoever is lofty shall prostrate itself before thee; all hearts shall fear thee, and all the inward parts and reins shall sing unto thy name, according to the word that is written, All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee? Thou deliverest the poor from him that is stronger than he, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him. Who is like unto thee, who is equal to thee, who can be compared unto thee, O God, great, mighty, and awful, most high God, Possessor of heaven and earth? We will praise,
{p. 184}
laud and glorify thee, and we will bless thy holy name, as it is said, (A Psalm of David,) Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Thou art God in thy power and might, great in thy glorious name, mighty for ever and awful by thy awful acts, the King who sitteth upon a high and lofty throne.
He who inhabiteth eternity, exalted and holy is his name; and it is written, Exult in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is seemly for the upright.
By the mouth of the upright thou shalt be praised, by the words of the righteous thou shalt be blessed, by the tongue of the loving ones thou shalt be extolled, and in the midst of the holy thou shalt be hallowed.
In the assemblies also of the tens of thousands of thy people, the house of Israel, thy name, O our King, shall be glorified with joyous dies in every generation; for such is the duty of all creatures in thy presence, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, to thank, praise, laud, glorify, extol, honor, bless, exalt and adore thee, even beyond all the words of song and praise of David the son of Jesse, thy servant and anointed.
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Praised be thy name for ever, O our King, the great and holy God and King, in heaven and on earth; for unto thee, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, song and praise are becoming, hymn and psalm, strength and dominion, victory, greatness and might, renown and glory, holiness and sovereignty, blessings and thanksgivings from henceforth even for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, God and King, great in praises, God of thanksgivings, Lord of wonders, who makest choice of song and psalm, O King and God, the life of all worlds.
~hr
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye. Amen.
{p. 186}
Reader.—Bless ye the Lord who is to be blessed.
Cong. and Reader.—Blessed is the Lord who is to be blessed for ever and ever.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who formest light and createst darkness, who makest peace and createst all things.
Congregation in an undertone.
|Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted and extolled be the name of the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, who is the first and the last, and beside him there is no God. Extol ye, him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice be, fore him. His name is exalted above all blessing and praise. Blessed be His name, whose glorious kingdom is for ever and ever. Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore./|
{fr. *} On Festivals falling, on week-days say, “Who in mercy.”
All shall thank thee, and all shall praise thee, and all shall say, There is none holy like the Lord. All shall extol thee for ever, thou Creator of all things, O God who openest every day the doors of the gates of the East, and cleavest the windows of the firmament, bringing forth the sun from his place, and the moon from her dwelling,
{fn. *. On Festivals falling on Week-days.
Who in mercy givest light to the earth and to them that dwell thereon, and in thy goodness re-newest the creation every day continually. How manifold are thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy possessions. O King, who alone wast exalted {fp. 187} from aforetime, praised, glorified and extolled from days of old; O everlasting God, in thine abundant mercies, have mercy upon us, Lord of our strength Rock of our stronghold, Shield of our salvation, thou Stronghold of ours! The blessed God, great in knowledge, prepared and formed the rays of the sun: it was a boon he produced as a glory to his name: he set the luminaries round about his strength. The chiefs of his hosts are holy beings that exalt the Almighty, and continually {fp. 189} declare the glory of God and his holiness. Be thou blessed, O Lord our God, for the excellency of thy handiwork, and for the bright luminaries which thou hast made: they shall glorify thee for ever.
Continue “Be thou blessed,” see above.
}
{p. 187}
giving light to the whole world and to its inhabitants whom thou createst by thy attribute of mercy. In mercy thou givest light to the earth and to there that dwell thereon, and in thy goodness renewest the creation every day continually; O King, who alone wast exalted from aforetime, praised, glorified and extolled from days of old. O everlasting God, in thine abundant mercies, have mercy upon us, Lord of our strength, Rock of our stronghold, Shield of our salvation, thou Stronghold of ours! There is none to be compared unto thee, neither is there any beside thee; there is none but thee: who is like unto thee? There is none to be compared unto thee, O Lord our God, in this world, neither is there any beside thee, O our King, for the life of the world to come; there is none but thee, O our Redeemer, for the days of the Messiah; neither is there any like unto thee. O our Saviour, for the resurrection of the dead.
God, the Lord over all works, blessed is he, and ever to be blessed by the mouth of everything that hath breath. His greatness and goodness fill the universe; knowledge and understanding surround him: he is exalted above the holy Chayoth and is adorned in glory above the celestial chariot{fr. *}: purity and rectitude are before his throne,
{fn. *. Cf. Talmud Babli, Tr. Chagigah, 13 b.}
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lovingkindness and tender mercy before his glory. The luminaries are good which our God hath created: he formed them with knowledge, understanding and discernment; he gave them might and power to rule in the midst of the world. They are full of lustre, and they radiate brightness: beautiful is their lustre throughout all the world. They rejoice in their going forth, and are glad in their returning; they perform with awe the will of their Master. Glory and honor they render unto his name, exultation and rejoicing at the remembrance of his sovereignty. He called unto the sun, and it shone forth in light: he looked, and ordained the figure of the moon. All the hosts on high render praise unto him, the Seraphim, the Ophanim and the holy Chayoth ascribing glory and greatness
To the God who rested from all his works, and on the seventh day exalted himself and sat upon the throne of his glory; who robed himself in glory on the day of rest, and called the Sabbath day a delight. This is the praise of the Sabbath day, that God rested thereon from all his work, when the Sabbath day itself offered praise and said, “A Psalm, a song of the Sabbath day, It is good to give thanks into the Lord.”{fr. *} Therefore let all his creatures glorify and bless God; let them render praise, honor
{fn. *. Midrash Tillim.}
{p. 189}
and greatness to the God and King who is Creator of all things, and who, in his holiness, giveth an inheritance of rest to his people Israel on the holy Sabbath day. Thy name, O Lord our God, shall be hallowed, and thy remembrance, O our King, shall be glorified in heaven above and on earth beneath. Be thou blessed, O our Savior, for the excellency of thy handiwork, and for the bright luminaries which thou hast made: they shall glorify thee for ever.
Be thou blessed, O our Rock, our King and Redeemer, Creator of holy beings, praised be thy name for ever, O our King; Creator of ministering spirits, all of whom stand in the heights of the universe, and proclaim with awe in unison aloud the words of the living God and everlasting King. All of them are beloved, pure and mighty, and all of them in dread and awe do the will of their Master: and all of them open their mouths in holiness and purity, with song and psalm, while they bless and praise, glorify and reverence, sanctify and ascribe sovereignty to—
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The name of the Divine King, the great, mighty and dreaded One, holy is he; and they all take upon themselves the yoke of the kingdom of heaven one from the other, and give sanction to one another to hallow their Creator: in tranquil joy of spirit, with pure speech and holy melody they all respond in unison, and exclaim with awe:
~Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory./~
And the Ophanim and the holy Chayoth with a noise of great rushing, upraising themselves towards the Seraphim, thus over against them offer praise and say:
~Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place./~
To the blessed God they offer pleasant melodies; to the King, the living and ever-enduring God, they utter hymns and make their praises heard; for he alone performeth mighty deeds, and maketh new things; he is the Lord of battles; he soweth righteousness, causeth salvation to spring forth, createth remedies, and is revered in praises. He is the Lord of wonders, who in his goodness reneweth the creation every day continually; as it is said, (O give thanks) to him that maketh great lights, for his lovingkindness
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endureth for ever. O cause a new light to shine upon Zion, and may we all be worthy soon to enjoy its brightness. Blessed art thou, O Lord, Creator of the luminaries.
With abounding love hast thou loved us, O Lord our God, with great and exceeding pity hast thou pitied us. O our Father, our King, for our fathers’ sake, who trusted in thee, and whom thou didst teach the statutes of life, be also gracious unto us and teach us. O our Father, merciful Father, ever-compassionate, have mercy upon us: O put it into our hearts to understand and to discern, to mark, learn and teach, to heed, to do and to fulfil in love all the words of instruction in thy Law. Enlighten our eyes in thy Law, and let our hearts cleave to thy commandments, and unite our hearts to love and fear thy name, so that we be never put to shame. Because we have trusted in thy holy, great and revered name, we shall rejoice and be glad in thy salvation. O bring us in peace from the four corners of the earth, and make us go upright to our land; for thou art a God who worketh salvation. Thou hast chosen us from all peoples and tongues, and hast brought us near unto thy great name for ever in faithfulness, that we might in love give thanks unto thee and proclaim thy unity. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast chosen thy people Israel in love.
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When Prayers are not said with the Congregation, add:—
$God, faithful King!/$
Deut. vi. 4–9.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
$Blessed be His name, whose glorious kingdom is for ever and ever./$
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign -upon thine hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
Deut. xi. 13–21.
And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God.
{p. 193}
and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will give grass in thy field for thy cattle, and thou shalt eat and be satisfied. Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and the land yield not her fruit; and ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, talking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: that your
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days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, upon the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.
Numbers xv. 37–41.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,. and bid them that they make them a fringe upon the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of each corner a cord of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray: that ye may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.
{p. 195}
True and firm, established and enduring, right and faithful, beloved and precious, desirable and pleasant, revered and mighty, well-ordered and acceptable, good and beautiful is this thy word unto us for ever and ever. It is true, the God of the universe is our King, the Rock of Jacob, the Shield of our salvation: throughout all generations he endureth and his name endureth; his throne is established, and his kingdom and his faithfulness endure for ever. His words also live and endure; they are faithful and desirable for ever and to all eternity, as for our fathers so also for us, our children, our generations, and for all the generations of the seed of Israel his servants.
For the first and for the last ages thy word is good and endureth for ever and ever; it is true and trust, worthy, a statute which shall not pass away. True it is that thou art indeed the Lord our God and the God of our fathers, our King, our fathers’ King, our Redeemer, the Redeemer of our fathers, our Maker, the Rock of our salvation; our Deliverer and Rescuer from everlasting, such is thy name; there is no God beside thee.
Thou hast been the help of our fathers from of old, a Shield and Savior to their children after them in every generation: in the heights of the universe is thy habitation, and thy judgments and thy righteousness reach to the furthest ends of the earth. Happy is the man who hearkeneth unto thy commandments, and layeth up thy Law and thy word in his heart.
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{cont}True it is that thou art indeed the Lord of thy people, and a mighty King to plead their cause. True it is that thou art indeed the first and thou art the last beside thee we have no King, Redeemer and Savior. From Egypt thou didst redeem us, O Lord our God, and from the house of bondmen thou didst deliver us; all their first-born thou didst slay, but thy first-born thou didst redeem; thou didst divide the Red Sea, and drown the proud; but thou madest the beloved to pass through, while the waters covered their adversaries, not one of whom was left. Wherefore the beloved praised and extolled God, and offered hymns, songs, praises, blessings and thanksgivings to the King and God, who liveth and endureth; who is high and exalted, great and revered; who bringeth low the haughty, and raiseth up the lowly, leadeth forth the prisoners, delivereth the meek, helpeth the poor, and answereth his people when they cry unto him; even praises to the Most High God, blessed is he, and ever to be blessed. Moses and the children of Israel sang a song unto thee with great joy, saying. all of them,
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the mighty ones? Who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, revered in praises, doing marvels?
{p. 197}
$With a new song the redeemed people offered praise unto thy name at the sea shore; they all gave thanks in unison, and proclaimed thy sovereignty, and said,/$
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
$O Rock of Israel, arise to the help of Israel, and deliver, according to thy promise, Judah and Israel. Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast redeemed Israel./$
The following Prayer (Amidah) to “as in ancient years,” {pr. 206}, is to be said standing.
$O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise./$
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and revered God, the most high God, who bestowest lovingkindnesses, and possessest all things; who rememberest the pious deeds of the patriarchs, and in love wilt bring a redeemer to their children’s children for thy name’s sake.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$Remember us unto life, O King, who delightest in life, and inscribe us in the book of life, for thine own sake, O living God./$
O King, Helper, Saviour and Shield. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham.
{p. 198}
Thou, O Lord, art mighty for ever, thou quickenest the dead, thou art mighty to save.
From the Sabbath after the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly until the First Day of Passover, say:—
$Thou causest the wind to blow and the rain to fall./$
Thou sustainest the living with lovingkindness, quickenest the dead with great mercy, supportest the falling, healest the sick, loosest the bound, and keepest thy faith to them that sleep in the dust. Who is like unto thee, Lord of mighty acts, and who resembleth thee, O King, who killest and quickenest, and causest salvation to spring forth?
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$Who is like unto thee, Father of mercy, who in mercy rememberest thy creatures unto life?/$
Yea, faithful art thou to quicken the dead. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who quickenest the dead. * (See page {prr. 199}).
Thou art holy, and thy name is holy, and holy beings praise thee daily. (Selah.) Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
On the Sabbath of Penitence conclude the Blessing thus:—
$the Holy King./$
{p. 199}
When the Reader repeats the Amidah, the following is said, to “holy God,” {pr. 200}.
* Reader.—We will sanctify thy name in the world even as they sanctify it in the highest heavens, as it is written by the hand of thy prophet: And they called one unto the other and said,
Cong.—Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Reader.—Then with a noise of great rushing, mighty and strong, they make their voices heard, and, upraising themselves toward the Seraphim, they exclaim over against them, Blessed—
Cong.—Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
Reader.—From thy place shine forth, O our King, and reign over us, for we wait for thee. When wilt thou reign in Zion? Speedily, even in our days, do thou dwell there, and for ever. Mayest thou be magnified and sanctified in the midst of Jerusalem thy city throughout all generations and to all eternity. O let our eyes behold thy kingdom, according to the word that was spoken in the songs of thy might by David, thy righteous anointed:
Cong.—The Lord shall reign for ever, thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.
{p. 200}
Reader.—Unto all generations we will declare thy greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim thy holiness, and thy praise, O our God, shall not depart from our mouth for ever, for thou art a great and holy God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
On the Sabbath of Penitence conclude the Blessing thus:—
$the holy King./$
Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion, for thou didst call him a faithful servant: a diadem of glory didst thou place upon his head, when he stood before thee upon Mount Sinai; and in his hand he brought down the two tables of stone, upon which the observance of the Sabbath was prescribed, and. thus it is written in thy Law:
Exodus xxxi. 16, 17.
And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever, that in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and ceased from his work.
{p. 201}
And thou didst not give it, O Lord our God, unto the nations of other lands, nor didst thou, O our King, make it the heritage of worshipers of idols, nor do the uncircumcised dwell in its rest; but unto thy people Israel thou didst give it in love, unto the seed of Jacob whom thou didst choose. The people that hallow the seventh day, even all of them shall be satiated and delighted with thy goodness, seeing that thou didst find pleasure in the seventh day, and didst hallow it; thou didst call it the desirable of days, in remembrance of the creation.
Our God and God of our fathers, accept our rest; sanctify us by thy commandments, and grant our portion in thy Law; satisfy us with thy goodness, and gladden us with thy salvation; purify our hearts to serve thee in truth; and in thy love and favor, O Lord our God, let us inherit thy holy Sabbath; and may Israel, who hallow thy name, rest thereon. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hallowest the Sabbath,
{p. 202}
Accept, O Lord our God, thy people Israel and their prayer; restore the service to the oracle of thy house; receive in love and favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer; and may the service of thy people Israel be ever acceptable unto thee.
On New Moon and the Intermediate Days of Passover and Tabernacles say:—
Our God and God of our fathers! May our {sic “remembance” “remembrance”} rise, come and be accepted before thee, with the remembrance of our fathers, of Messiah the son of David thy servant, of Jerusalem thy holy city, and of all thy people the house of Israel, bringing deliverance and well-being, grace, lovingkindness and mercy, life and peace on this day of
On New Moon say:—
$the New Moon./$
On Passover—
$the Feast of Unleavened Bread./$
On Tabernacles—
$the Feast of Tabernacles./$
$Remember us, O Lord our God, thereon for our wellbeing; he mindful of us for blessing and save us unto life: by thy promise of salvation and mercy, spare us and be gracious unto us; have mercy upon us and save Is; for our eyes are bent upon thee, because thou art a gracious and merciful God and King./$
And let our eyes behold thy return in mercy to Zion. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who restorest thy divine presence unto Zion,
{p. 203}
Congregation in an undertone—
|$We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator and the Creator of all things in the beginning. Blessings and thanksgivings be to thy great and holy name, because thou hast kept us in life and hast preserved us; so mayest thou continue to keep us in life and to preserve us. O gather our exiles to thy holy courts to observe thy statutes, to do thy will, and to serve thee with a perfect heart; seeing that we give thanks unto thee. Blessed be the God to whom thanksgivings are due./$/|
We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers for ever and ever; thou art the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation through every generation. We will give thanks unto thee and declare thy praise for our lives which are committed into thy hand, and for our souls which are in thy charge, and for thy miracles, which are daily with us, and for thy wonders and thy benefits, which are wrought at all times, evening, morn and noon. O thou who art all-good, whose mercies fail not; thou, merciful Being, whose lovingkindnesses never cease, we have ever hoped in thee.
(On Chanukah say “We thank thee also,” etc. {pr. 63}.)
{p. 204}
For all these things thy name, O our King shall be continually blessed and exalted for ever and ever.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$O inscribe all the children of thy covenant for a happy life./$
And everything that liveth shall give thanks unto thee for ever, and shall praise thy name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. Blessed art thou, O Lord, whose name is All-good, and unto whom it is becoming to give thanks.
At the repetition of the Amidah by the Reader the following is introduced:—
$Our God and God of our fathers, bless us with the three-fold blessing of thy Law written by the hand of Moses thy servant, which was spoken by Aaron and his sons, the priests, thy holy people, as it is said, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord turn his face unto thee, and give thee peace./$
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness and mercy unto us and unto all Israel, thy people. Bless us, O our Father, even all of us together, with the light of thy countenance; for by the light of thy countenance thou hast given us, O Lord our God, the Law
{p. 205}
of life, lovingkindness and righteousness, blessing, mercy, life and peace; and may it be good in thy sight to bless thy people Israel at all times and in every hour with thy peace.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$In the book of life, blessing, peace and good sustenance may we be remembered and inscribed before thee, we and all thy people the house of Israel, for a happy life and for peace. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest peace./$
Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blessest thy people Israel with peace.
O my God! guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile; and to such as curse me let my soul be dumb, yea, let my soul be unto all as the dust. Open my heart to thy Law, and let my soul pursue thy commandments. If any design evil against me, speedily make their counsel of none effect, and frustrate their designs. Do it for the sake of thy name, do it for the sake of thy right hand, do it for the sake of thy holiness, do it for the sake of thy Law. In order that thy beloved ones may be delivered, O save with thy right hand, and answer me. Let the words of my mouth
{p. 206}
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. He who
maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel, and say ye, Amen.
May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that the temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in thy Law. And there we will serve thee with awe, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
On New Moon, Festivals, the Intermediate Days of Festivals and on Chanukah, Hallel, {pr. 313}, is said after the Amidah
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Accept our prayer in mercy and in favor.
Reader.—May the prayers and supplications of all Israel be accepted by their Father who is in heaven; and say ye, Amen.
{p. 207}
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Reader.—May there be abundant peace from heaven and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Reader.—He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
~hr
{file “Order of Reading the Law on Sabbaths and Festivals”}
ORDER OF READING THE LAW ON SABBATHS AND FESTIVALS.
There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; and there are no works like unto thine. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord reigneth; the Lord hath reigned; the Lord shall reign for ever and ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Father of mercies, do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. For in thee alone do we trust, O King, high and exalted God, Lord of worlds.
The Ark is Opened.
Reader and Cong.—And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Lord, and thine enemies shall be scattered, and they that hate thee shall flee before thee. For out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
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The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law and Says:—
Blessed be he who in his holiness gave the Law to his people Israel.
In some Congregations the following is said:—
$Zohar, Parshath Vayakhel./$
Blessed be the name of the Sovereign of the universe. Blessed be thy crown and thy abiding-place. Let thy favor rest with thy people Israel for ever: show them the redemption of thy right hand in thy holy temple. Vouchsafe unto us the benign gift of thy light, and in mercy accept our supplications. May it be thy will to prolong our life in well-being. Let me also be numbered among the righteous, so that thou mayest be merciful unto me, and have me in thy keeping, with all that belong to me and to thy people Israel. Thou art he that feedeth and sustaineth all; thou art he that ruleth over all; thou art he that ruleth over kings, for dominion is thine. I am the servant of the Holy One, blessed be he, before whom and before whose glorious Law I prostrate myself at all times: not in man do I put my trust, nor upon any angel do I rely, but upon the God of heaven, who is the God of truth, and whose Law is truth, and whose prophets are prophets of truth, and who aboundeth in deeds of goodness and truth. In him I put my trust, and unto his holy and glorious name I utter praises. May it be thy will to open my heart unto thy Law, and to fulfil the wishes of my heart and of the hearts of all thy people Israel for good, for life, and for peace.
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On Festivals the following is said:—
The Lord, the Lord is a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (To be said three times.)
Lord of the universe, fulfil the wishes of my heart for good; grant my desire, give me my request, even unto me, thy servant, — the son of — (thy maid servant — the daughter of —), and make me worthy (together with my wife,) (my husband,) (my children,) to do thy will with a perfect heart; and deliver me from the evil inclination. O grant our portion in thy Law; make us worthy to have thy divine presence abiding with us; vouchsafe unto us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. So also may it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that I may be fitted to do such deeds as are good in thy sight, and to walk in the way of the upright before thee. Sanctify us by thy commandments, that we may merit the long and blessed life of the world to come: guard us from evil deeds, and also from evil hours that visit and afflict this world. As for him who trusteth in the Lord, let lovingkindness surround him Amen.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
And as for me, may my prayer unto thee, O Lord, be in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, answer me in the truth of thy salvation.
(This verse is said three times.)
{p. 210}
The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law, and the following is said:—
Reader and Cong.—Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Reader and Cong.—One is our God; great is our Lord; holy is his name.
Reader.—Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Reader and Cong.—Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine, O Lord, is the kingdom, and the supremacy as head over all. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool: holy is he. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mount; for the Lord our God is holy.
Magnified and hallowed, praised and glorified, exalted and extolled above all be the name of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, in the worlds which he hath created,—this world and the world to come,—in accordance with his desire, and with the desire of them that fear him, and of all the house of Israel: the Rock everlasting, the Lord of all creatures, the God of all souls, who dwelleth in the wide-extended heights, who inhabiteth the heaven of heavens of old; whose holiness is above the Chayoth and above the throne of glory. Now, therefore, thy name, O Lord our God, shall be hallowed amongst us
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in the sight of all living. Let us sing a new song be, fore him, as it is written, Sing unto God, sing praises unto his name, extol ye him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and exult before him. And may we see him, eye to eye, when he returneth to his habitation, as it is written, For they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord returneth unto Zion. And it is said, And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
May the Father of mercy have mercy upon a people that have been borne by him. May he remember the covenant with the patriarchs, deliver our souls from evil hours, check the evil inclination in them that have been carried by him, grant us of his grace an everlasting deliverance, and in the attribute of his goodness fulfil our desires by salvation and mercy.
The Scroll of the Law is placed upon the desk, and the Reader says the following:—
And may he help, shield and save all who trust in him, and let us say, Amen. Ascribe all of you greatness unto our God, and render honor to the Law.
Here the Reader names the Person who is called to the Reading of the Law.
Blessed be he, who in his holiness gave the Law unto his people Israel. The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The Lord will give strength unto his people,
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the Lord will bless his people with peace. As for God his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a shield unto all them that trust in him.
Cong. and Reader.—And ye that cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.
Those who are called to the Reading of the Law say the following Blessing:—
Bless ye the Lord who is to be blessed.
Cong.—Blessed be the Lord, who is to be blessed for ever and ever.
The Response of the Congregation is repeated, and the Blessing continued:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen us from all peoples, and hast given us thy Law. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.
After the reading of a Section of the Law, the following Blessing is said:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who east given us the Law of truth, and hath planted everlasting life in our midst. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.
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Persons who have been in peril of their lives, during journeys by sea or land, in captivity or sickness, upon their deliverance or recovery say the following, after the conclusion of the last Blessing:—
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who vouchsafest benefits unto the undeserving, who hast also vouchsafed all good unto me.
The Congregation respond:—
He who hath vouchsafed all good unto thee, may he vouchsafe all good unto thee for ever.
The following is said by the Father of a Bar-Mitzvah, when the latter has concluded the Blessing after having been called to the Reading of the Law.
Blessed be he who hath freed me from the responsibility for this child.
After the Reading of the Law, the Scroll is held up, and the Congregation say the following:—
And this is the Law which Moses set before the children of Israel, according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor. It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.
Before the Lesson from the Prophets the following is said:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen good prophets, and hast found pleasure in their words which were spoken
{p. 214}
in truth. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast chosen the Law, and Moses thy servant, and Israel thy people, and prophets of truth and righteousness.
After the Lesson from the Prophets the following is said:—
{sic “Blesed” “Blessed”} art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Rock of all worlds, righteous through all generations, O faithful God, who sayest and doest, who speakest and fulfillest, all whose words are truth and righteousness. Faithful art thou, O Lord our God, and faithful are thy words, and not one of thy words shall return void, for thou art a faithful and merciful God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord, God, who art faithful in all thy words.
Have mercy upon Zion, for it is the home of our life, and save her that is grieved in spirit speedily, even iii our days. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest Zion joyful through her children.
Gladden us, O Lord our God, with Elijah the prophet, thy servant, and with the kingdom of the house of David, thine anointed. Soon may he come and rejoice our hearts. Suffer not a stranger to sit upon his throne, nor let others any longer inherit his glory; for by thy holy name thou didst swear unto him, that his right should not be quenched for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of David.
{p. 215}
On Sabbaths, including the Intermediate Sabbath of Passover, say:—
For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets, and for this Sabbath day, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us for holiness and for rest, for honor and for glory.
For all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest the Sabbath.
On the Three Festivals, as also on the Intermediate Sabbath of Tabernacles, say:—
For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets; On the Sabbath; for this Sabbath day,
On Passover say—
$and for this day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread./$
On Pentecost—
$and for this day of the Feast of Weeks./$
On Tabernacles—
$and for this day of the Feast of Tabernacles./$
On the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly: and for this Eighth-day feast of Solemn Assembly, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest,) for joy and gladness, for honor and glory,—f or all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Festivals.
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On the New Year say:—
For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets (on Sabbath add, and for this Sabbath Day), and for this Day of Memorial, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest) for honor and glory—for all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever thy word is true and endureth for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, King over the whole earth, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Day of Memorial.
On the Day of Atonement say:—
For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets (on Sabbath add, for this Sabbath day), and for this Day of Atonement, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest) for forgiveness, pardon and atonement, for honor and for glory—for all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever: thy word is true and endureth for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, thou King, who pardonest and forgivest our iniquities and the iniquities of thy people, the house of Israel, and makest our trespasses to pass away year by year; King over the whole earth, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Day of Atonement
The following three paragraphs are not said on Festivals occurring on Week-days.
May salvation from heaven, with grace, lovingkindness, mercy, long life, ample sustenance, heavenly aid.
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health of body, a higher enlightenment, and a living and abiding offspring, that will not break with, for neglect any of the words of the Law, be vouchsafed unto the teachers and rabbins of the holy community, who are in the land of Israel, and in the land of Babylon, and in all the lands of our dispersion; unto the heads of the academies, the chiefs of the captivity, the heads of the colleges, and the judges in the gates; unto all their disciples, unto all the disciples of their disciples, and unto all who occupy themselves with the study of the Law. May the King of the universe bless them, prolong their lives, increase their days, and add to their years, and may they be saved and delivered from every trouble and mishap. May the Lord of heaven be their help at all times and seasons; and let us say, Amen.
The following two paragraphs are only said when Service is held with a Congregation.
May salvation from heaven, with grace, lovingkindness, mercy, long life, ample sustenance, heavenly aid, health of body, a higher enlightenment, and a living and abiding offspring, that will not break with nor neglect any of the words of the Law, be vouchsafed
{p. 218}
unto all this holy congregation, great and small, children and women. May the King of the universe bless you, prolong your lives, increase your days and add to your years, and may you be saved and delivered from every trouble and mishap. May the Lord of heaven be your help at all times and seasons; and let us say, Amen.
May he who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless all this holy congregation, together with all other holy congregations: them, their wives, their sons and daughters, and all that belong to them; those also who unite to form Synagogues for prayer, and those who enter therein to pray; those who give the lamps for lighting, and wine for Kiddush and Habdalah, bread to the wayfarers, and charity to the poor, and all such as occupy themselves in faithfulness with the wants of the congregation. May the Holy One, blessed be he, give them their recompense; may he remove from them all sickness, heal all their body, forgive all their iniquity, and send blessing and prosperity upon all the work of their hands, as well as upon all Israel, their brethren; and let us say, Amen.
~hr
{p. 219}
The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law, and says the following Prayer for the Government.
He who giveth salvation unto kings and dominion unto princes, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, who delivered his servant David from the hurtful sword, who maketh a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters.—may he bless, guard, protect, and help, exalt, magnify, and highly aggrandize
THE CONSTITUTED OFFICERS OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy preserve them in life and deliver them from all trouble and hurt. May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy exalt them and raise them on high, and grant them a long and prosperous rule. May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy inspire them and all their counsellors and officers with benevolence toward us, and all Israel our brethren. In their days and in ours may Judah be saved and Israel dwell securely; and may the redeemer come unto Zion. O that this may be his will, and let us say, Amen.
On the Sabbath preceding New Moon the following is said:—
May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, to renew unto us this coming month for good and for Blessing.
{p. 220}
O grant us long life, a life of peace, of good, of blessing, of sustenance, of bodily vigor, a life marked by the fear of Heaven and the dread of sin, a life free from shame and reproach, a life of prosperity and honor, a life in which the love of the Law and the fear of Heaven shall cleave to us, a life in which the desires of our heart shall be fulfilled for good. Amen. (Selah.)
Reader.—He who wrought miracles for our fathers, and redeemed them from slavery unto freedom, may he speedily redeem us, and gather our exiles from the four corners of the earth, even all Israel united in fellowship; and let us say, Amen.
The New Moon of (naming the month) will be on (naming the day or days). May it come to us and to all Israel for good.
Cong. and Reader.—May the Holy One, blessed be he, renew it unto us and unto all his people, the house of Israel, for life and peace, for gladness and joy, for salvation and consolation; and let us say, Amen.
{p. 221}
In many Congregations the following is said only on the Sabbaths preceding {sic “Pentcost” “Pentecost”} and the Fast of the Ninth of Ab:—
May the Father of mercies, who dwelleth on high in his mighty compassion, remember those loving, upright and blameless ones, the holy congregations, who laid down their lives for the sanctification of the divine name, who were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death were not divided; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions to do the will of their Master and the desire of their Rock. May our God remember them for good with the other righteous of the world, and avenge the blood of his servants which hath been shed; as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God, Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people. And by the hands of thy servants, the prophets, it is written saying, I will cleanse their blood that I have not yet cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion. And in the Holy Writings it is said, Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let there be made known among the nations in our sight the revenging of the blood of thy servants which hath been shed. And it is said, For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. And it is further said, He judgeth among the nations; the land is full of corpses: he smiteth the head over a wide land. He drinketh of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Happy are they that dwell in thy house: they will be ever praising thee. (Selah.)
Happy is the people, that is in such a case: happy is the people, whose God is the Lord.
Psalm cxlv. A Psalm of Praise: of David.
I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
{p. 222}
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
On the majestic glory of thy grandeur, and on thy marvellous deeds, will I meditate.
And men shall speak of the might of thy awful acts; and I will recount thy greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of thy great goodness, and shall exult in thy righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and of great lovingkindness.
The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; and thy loving ones shall bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the majestic glory of his kingdom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in due season.
Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest every living thing with favor.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and loving in all his works.
{p. 223}
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon hire to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The Lord guardeth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy.
My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
On returning the Scroll of the Law to the Ark the Reader says:—
Let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is exalted:
Congregation.—His grandeur is above the earth and heaven: and he hath lifted up a horn for his people, to the praise of all his loving ones, even of the children of Israel, the people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.
On Sabbaths and on Festivals occurring on Sabbaths say:—
Psalm xxix.
A Psalm of David. Give unto the Lord, O ye children of the mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth, even the Lord upon the great waters
{p. 224}
{cont}The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox. The voice of the Lord cleaveth flames of fire; the voice of the Lord maketh the wilderness to tremble; the Lord maketh tremble the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to travail, and strippeth the forests bare: and in his temple everything saith, Glory. The Lord sat as king at the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth as king for ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
On Festivals occurring on Week-days say:—
Psalm xxiv.
A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For it is he that hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not set his desire upon vanity, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek after him, that seek thy face (O God of) Jacob! (Selah.) Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your
{p. 225}
heads, O ye gates; yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. (Selah.)
While the Scroll of the Law is being placed in the Ark, the following to “as of old” is said:—
And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. Arise, O Lord, unto thy resting place; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy loving ones shout for joy. For the sake of David thy servant, turn not away the face of thine anointed. For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my Law. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall return: renew our days as of old.
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
{file “Additional Service for Sabbaths”}
{p. 226}
ADDITIONAL SERVICE FOR SABBATHS.
For the Additional Service on the Intermediate Sabbath of a Festival see Service for the Festivals.
The following prayer (Amidah) to “as in ancient years,” {pr. 237}, is said standing.
$O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise./$
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and revered God, the most high God, who bestowest lovingkindnesses, and possessest all things; who rememberest the pious deeds of the patriarchs, and in love wilt bring a redeemer to their children’s children for thy name’s sake.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$Remember us unto life, O King, who delightest in life, and inscribe us in the book of life, for thine own sake, O living God./$
O King, Helper, Saviour and Shield. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham.
Thou, O Lord, art mighty for ever, thou quickenest the dead, thou art mighty to save.
From the Sabbath after the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly until the First day of Passover say:—
$Thou causest the wind to blow and the rain to fall./$
{p. 227}
Thou sustainest the living with lovingkindness, quickenest the dead with great mercy, supportest the falling, healest the sick, loosest the bound, and keepest thy faith to them that sleep in the dust Who is like unto thee, Lord of mighty acts, and who resembleth thee, O King, who killest and quickenest, and causest salvation to spring forth?
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$Who is like unto thee, Father of mercy, who in mercy rememberest thy creatures unto life?/$
Yea, faithful art thou to quicken the dead. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who quickenest the dead.{fr. *}
Thou art holy, and thy name is holy, and holy beings praise thee daily. (Selah.) Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
On the Sabbath of Penitence, conclude the Blessing thus:—
$the holy King./$
{fn. *. When the Reader repeats the Amidah, the following is added to “holy God,” {pr. 229}.
Reader.—We will reverence and sanctify thee according to the mystic utterance of the holy Seraphim, who hallow thy name in the sanctuary, as it is written by the hand of thy prophet, And they called one unto the other and said, }
{p. 228}
Cong.—Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Reader.—His glory filleth the universe: his ministering angels ask one another, Where is the place of his glory? Those over against them say, Blessed—
Cong.—Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
Reader.—From his place may he turn in mercy and be gracious unto a people who, evening and morning, twice every day, proclaim with constancy the unity of his name, saying in love, Hear—
Cong.—Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Reader.—One is our God; he is our Father; he is our King; he is our Saviour; and he of his mercy will let us hear a second time, in the presence of all living (his promise), “To be to you for a God.”
Cong.—”I am the Lord your God.”
Reader.—And in thy Holy Words it is written, saying,
Cong.—The Lord shall reign for ever, thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.
Reader.—Unto all generations we will declare thy greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim thy holiness, and thy praise, O our God, shall not depart from
{p. 229}
our mouth for ever, for thou art a great and holy God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
On the Sabbath of Penitence conclude the last Blessing thus:—
$the holy King./$
{fr. *} Thou didst institute the Sabbath, and didst accept its offerings; thou didst command its special obligations with the order of its drink offerings. They that find delight in it shall inherit glory for everlasting; they that taste it are worthy of life; while such as love its teachings have chosen true greatness. Already from Sinai they were commanded concerning it; and thou hast also commanded us, O Lord our God,
{fn. *. On Sabbath and New Moon.
Thou didst form thy world from of old; thou hadst finished thy work on the seventh day; thou hast loved us and taken pleasure in us, hast exalted us above all tongues, hast sanctified us by thy commandments, hast brought us near, O our King unto thy service, and called us by thy great and holy name. Thou, O Lord our God, also gavest us in love Sabbaths for rest and New Moons for atonement. But because we sinned against thee, both we and our fathers, our city hath been laid waste, our sanctuary is desolate, our splendor hath gone into exile, and the glory hath been removed from the {fp. 230} house of our life, so that we are not able to perform our obligations in thy chosen house, in that great and holy house which was called by thy name, because of the hand that hath been stretched out against thy sanctuary. May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, to lead us up in joy unto our land, and to plant us within our borders, where we will prepare unto thee the offerings that are obligatory for us, the continual offerings according to their order, and the additional offerings according to their enactment; and the additional offerings of this Sabbath day and of this New Moon we will prepare and offer up unto thee in love, according to the precept of thy will, as thou hast {fp. 231} prescribed for us in thy Law through the hand of Moses thy servant, by the mouth of thy glory, as it is said: And on the Sabbath day two he-lambs of the first year without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering and the drink offering thereof.
And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks and one ram, seven he-lambs of the first year without blemish. And their meal offering and their drink offerings as hath been ordained, three tenth parts of an ephah for each bullock, and two tenth parts for the ram, and one tenth part for each lamb, with wine according to the drink offering thereof, and a he-goat wherewith to make atonement, and the two continual offerings according to their enactment. {fp. 232}
They that keep the Sabbath and call it a delight shall rejoice in thy kingdom; the people that hallow the seventh day, even all of them shall be satiated and delighted with thy goodness, seeing that thou didst find pleasure in the seventh day, and didst hallow it; thon didst call it the desirable of days, in remembrance of the creation.
Our God and God of our fathers, accept our rest, and on this Sabbath day renew this New Moon unto us for good and for blessing, for joy and for gladness, for salvation and comfort, for sustenance and maintenance, for life and peace, for pardon of sin and forgiveness of iniquity (during Leap Year:—{fp. 233} and for atonement of transgression); for thou hast chosen thy people Israel from among all nations, and hast made thy holy Sabbath known unto them, and hast appointed unto them statutes for the beginnings of the months. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest the Sabbath, Israel and the beginnings of the months.}
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to bring thereon the additional offering of the Sabbath as is meet. May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, to lead us up in joy unto our land, and to plant us within our borders, where we will prepare unto thee the offerings that are obligatory for us, the continual offerings according to their order, and the additional offerings according to their enactment; and the additional offering of this Sabbath day we will prepare and offer up unto thee in love, according to the precept of thy
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will, as thou hast prescribed for us in thy Law through the hand of Moses thy servant, by the mouth of thy glory, as it is said:
And on the Sabbath day two he-lambs of the first year, without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering and the drink offering thereof.
They that keep the Sabbath and call it a delight shall rejoice in thy kingdom; the people that hallow the seventh day, even all of them
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shall be satiated and delighted with thy goodness, seeing that thou didst find pleasure in the seventh day. and didst hallow it; thou didst call it the desirable of days, in remembrance of the creation.
Our God and God of our fathers, accept our rest; sanctify us by thy commandments, and grant our portion in thy Law; satisfy us with thy goodness, and gladden us with thy salvation; purify our hearts to serve thee in truth; and in thy love and favor, O Lord our God, let
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us inherit thy holy Sabbath; and may Israel, who hallow thy name, rest thereon. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hallowest the Sabbath.
Accept, O Lord our God, thy people Israel and their prayer; restore the service to the oracle of thy house; receive in love and favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer; and may the service of thy people Israel be ever acceptable unto thee.
And let our eyes behold thy return in mercy to Zion. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who restorest thy divine presence unto Zion.
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Congregation in an undertone:
|$We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator and the Creator of all things in the beginning. Blessings and thanksgivings be to thy great and holy name, because thou hast kept us in life and hast preserved us: so mayest thou continue to keep us in life and to preserve us. O gather our exiles to thy holy courts to observe thy statutes, to do thy will, and to serve thee with a perfect heart; seeing that we give thanks unto thee. Blessed be the God to whom thanksgivings are due./$/|
We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers for ever and ever; thou art the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation through every generation. We will give thanks unto thee and declare thy praise for our lives which are committed unto thy hand, and for our souls which are in thy charge, and for thy miracles, which are daily with us, and for thy wonders and thy benefits, which are wrought at all times, evening, morn and noon. O thou who art all-good, whose mercies fail not; thou, merciful Being, whose lovingkindnesses never cease, we have ever hoped in thee.
On Chanukah say, “We thank thee also,” etc. {pr. 63}.
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For all these things thy name, O our King, shall be continually blessed and exalted for ever and ever.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
$O inscribe all the children of thy covenant for a happy life./$
And everything that liveth shall give thanks unto thee for ever, and shall praise thy name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. Blessed art thou, O Lord, whose name is All-good, and unto whom it is becoming to give thanks.
At the repetition of the Amidah by the Reader, the following is introduced:—
$Our God and God of our fathers, bless us with the three-fold blessing of thy Law written by the hand of Moses thy servant, which was spoken by Aaron and his sons, the priests, thy holy people, as it is said, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord turn his face unto thee, and give thee peace./$
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness and mercy unto us and unto all Israel, thy people. Bless us, O our Father, even all of us together, with the light of thy countenance; for by the light of thy countenance thou hast given us, O Lord our God, the Law
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of life, lovingkindness and righteousness, blessing, mercy, life and peace; and may it be good in thy sight to bless thy people Israel at all tinges and in every hour with thy peace.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
In the book of life, blessing, peace and good {sic “sustence” “sustenance”} may we be remembered and inscribed before thee, we and all thy people the house of Israel, for a happy life and for peace. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest peace.
~Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blessest thy people Israel with peace./~
O my God! guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile; and to such as curse me let my soul be dumb, yea, let my soul be unto all as the dust. Open my heart to thy Law, and let my soul pursue thy commandments. If any design evil against me, speedily make their counsel of none effect, and frustrate their designs. Do it for the sake of thy name, do it for the sake of thy right hand, do it for the sake of thy holiness, do it for the sake of thy Law. In order that thy beloved ones may be delivered, O save with thy right hand, and answer me. Let the words of my mouth
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and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel, and say ye, Amen.
May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that the temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in thy Law. And there we will serve thee with awe, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
~hr
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Accept our prayer in mercy and in favor.
Reader.—May the prayers and supplications of all Israel be accepted by their Father who is in heaven; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
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Reader.—May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Reader.—He who maketh peace in his high places, may be make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
There is none like our God: none like our Lord.
There is none like our King: none like our Savior.
Who is like our God: who is like our Lord? Who is like our King: who is like our Savior?
We will give thanks unto our God: we will give thanks unto our Lord.
We will give thanks unto our King: we will give thanks unto our Savior?
Blessed be our God: blessed be our Lord. Blessed be our King: blessed be our Savior. Thou art our God: thou art our Lord. Thou art our King: thou art our Savior. Thou art he unto whom our fathers burnt incense of spices.
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Talmud Babli: Treatise Cerithoth 6, a.
The compound forming the incense{fr. *} consisted of balm, onycha, galbanum and frankincense, in quantities weighing seventy manehs each; of myrrh, cassia, spikenard and saffron, each sixteen manehs by weight; of costus twelve, of aromatic bark three, and of cinnamon nine manehs; of lye obtained from a species of leek, nine kabs; of Cyprus wine three seahs and three kabs: though, if Cyprus wine was not procurable, old white wine might be used; of salt of Sodom the fourth part of a kab, and of the herb Maaleh Ashan a minute quantity. R. Nathan says, a minute quantity was also required of the odoriferous herb Cippath, that grew on the banks of the Jordan; if, however, one added honey to the mixture, he rendered the incense unfit for sacred use, while he who, in preparing it, omitted one of its necessary ingredients, was liable to the penalty of death. Rabban Simeon, son of Gamaliel, says, the balm is a resin that exudes from the wood of the balsam tree. The lye obtained from a species of leek was rubbed over the onycha to improve it, while the Cyprus wine was used to steep it in, so that its odor might be more pungent.
Mishnah: End of Treatise Tamid.
These were the Psalms which the Levites used to recite in the Temple—
On the first day of the week they used to recite (Psalm xxiv.), The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.
On the second day (Psalm xlviii.), Great is the Lord and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
{fn. *. Exod. xxx. 31–38.}
{p. 240}
On the third day (Psalm lxxxii.), God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the judges.
On the fourth day (Psalm xciv.), God of vengeance, Lord, God of vengeance, shine forth.
On the fifth day (Psalm lxxxi.), Exult aloud unto God our strength; shout for joy unto the God of Jacob.
On the sixth day (Psalm xciii.), The Lord reigneth; he hath robed him in majesty; the Lord hath robed him, yea, he hath girded himself with strength: the world also is set firm, that it cannot be moved.
On the Sabbath (Psalm xcii.), A psalm, a song for the Sabbath Day. It is the psalm and song also for the hereafter, for the day which will be wholly a Sabbath, and will bring rest in life everlasting.
Talmud Babli. End of Treatise Berachoth.
R. Eleazer said in the name of R. Chanina, The disciples of the sages increase peace throughout the world, as it is said, And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Read not here banayich, thy children (or disciples), but bonayich, thy builders.—Great peace have they who love thy Law; and there is no stumbling for them. Peace be within thy rampart, prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sake, I would fain speak peace concerning thee. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I would seek thy good. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
It is our duty to praise the Lord of all things, to ascribe greatness to him who formed the world in the beginning, since he hath not made us like the nations of other lands, and hath not placed us
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like other families of the earth, since he hath not assigned unto us a portion as unto them, nor a lot as unto all their multitude. For we bend the knee and offer worship and thanks before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, the seat of whose glory is in the heavens above, and the abode of whose might is in the loftiest heights. He is our God; there is none else: in truth he is our King; there is none besides him; as it is written in his Law, And thou shalt know this day, and lay it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
We therefore hope in thee, O Lord our God, that we may speedily behold the glory of thy might, when thou wilt remove the abominations from the earth, and the idols will be utterly cut off, when the world will be perfected under the kingdom of the Almighty, and all the children of flesh will call upon thy name, when thou wilt turn unto thyself all the wicked of the earth. Let all the inhabitants of the world perceive and know that unto thee every knee must bow, every tongue must swear. Before thee, O Lord our God, let them bow and fall; and unto thy glorious name let them give honor; let them all accept the yoke of thy kingdom, and do thou reign over them speedily, and for ever and ever. For the kingdom is thine, and to all eternity thou wilt reign in glom; as it is written in thy Law, The Lord shall reign for ever
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and ever. And it is said, And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall the Lord be One, and his name One.
The following Kaddish is said by a Mourner.
And now, I pray thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Mourner.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Mourner.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Mourner.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Mourner.—May there be abundant peace from heaven and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Mourner.—He who maketh peace in his high place, may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
{p. 243}
He is Lord of the universe, who reigned ere any creature yet was formed:
At the time when all things were made by his desire, then was his name proclaimed King.
And after all things shall have had an end, he alone, the dreaded one, shall reign;
Who was, who is, and who will be in glory. And he is One, and there is no second to compare to him, to consort with him:
Without beginning, without end; to him belong strength and dominion.
And he is my God—my Redeemer liveth—and a rock in my travail in time of distress;
And he is my banner and my refuge, the portion of my cup on the day when I call.
Into his hand I commend my spirit, when I sleep and when I wake;
And with my spirit, my body also: the Lord is with me, and I will not fear.
~hr
UNITY HYMN FOR THE SABBATH DAY
In some Congregations the following is said before “Blessed be he who spake,” {pr. 19}.
Of old thou didst rest on the seventh day; thou didst therefore bless the Sabbath.
For every work of thine praise is prepared for thee; thy loving ones bless thee at all times.
Blessed be the Lord, the Maker of them all, the living God and everlasting King.
For from of old there hath rested upon thy servants the abundance of thy mercies and thy loving kindnesses.
But in Egypt thou didst begin to make known that thou art exalted far.
Above all gods, when thou didst execute great judgment: upon the Egyptians and upon their gods.
{p. 244}
When thou didst cleave the Red Sea, thy people saw thy great hand, and they feared.
Thou didst guide thy people, so that thou mightest make unto thyself a name of glory to manifest thy greatness.
Thou spakest also with them from the heavens, when the clouds dropped water.
Thou knewest their wanderings in the wilderness, in a land of drought, where none passed through.
Thou gavest to thy people the corn of heaven, flesh abundant as the dust, and water from the rock.
Thou didst drive out many nations, and they took possession of their land and of the labor of the peoples;
That they might observe thy statutes and laws, the words of the Lord, which are pure words.
And they delighted themselves with fat pastures, and with rivers of oil from the flinty rock.
When they rested, they built thy holy city, and adorned the house of thy sanctuary.
Then thou saidst, Here will I dwell for length of days: I will surely bless her provision.
There they shall sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness; thy priests also shall be clothed with righteousness.
The house of Levi also shall chant pleasant songs; they shall shout for joy and sing unto thee.
The house of Israel and they that fear the Lord shall give glory and thanks unto thy name, O Lord.
Thou hast dealt out exceeding kindness to the earliest ages; deal thus kindly also with the latest.
O Lord, rejoice over us, even as thou didst rejoice over out fathers,
To multiply us and deal kindly with us; and we will for ever give thanks unto thee for thy goodness.
O Lord, rebuild thy city speedily, for it is called by thy name.
And make the horn of David to flourish therein, and dwell in the midst thereof for ever, O Lord.
There we will offer sacrifices of righteousness, and there may our oblation be pleasant as in former days.
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bless thy people with the light of thy countenance; for they desire to do thy will.
And in thy good will fulfil our desire; look, we beseech thee, we are thy people, all of us.
Thou hast chosen us to be unto thee a treasured people: let thy blessing be upon thy people for ever.
And we will continually declare thy praise, and praise thy glorious name.
Of thy blessing let thy people be blessed, for every one whom thou blessest is blessed.
As for me, while I have my being, I will praise my Creator, and I will bless him all the days of my appointed time.
Let the name of the Lord be blessed for ever, from everlasting even to everlasting.
As it is written: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. And it is said: Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting: and let them bless thy glorious name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise. And it is said: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen: praise ye the Lord. And it is said, And David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the congregation: and David said, blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, from everlasting to everlasting.
~hr
{file “Hymn of Glory”}
{p. 246}
HYMN OF GLORY.
The Ark is opened and the following Hymn is chanted in alternate verses by the Reader and Congregation.
I will chant sweet hymns and compose songs; for my soul panteth after thee.
My soul hath longed to be beneath the shadow of thy hand, to know all thy secret mysteries.
Even whilst I speak of thy glory, my heart yearneth for thy love.
Therefore will I speak glorious things of thee, and will honor thy name with songs of love.
I will declare thy glory, though I have not seen thee; under images will I describe thee, though I have not known thee.
By the hand of thy prophets, in the mystic utterance of thy servants, thou hast imaged forth the grandeur and the glory of thy majesty.
Thy greatness and thy might they described in accordance with the power made manifest in thy acts.
In images they told of thee, but not according to thine essence; they but likened thee in accordance with thy works.
They figured thee in a multitude of visions; behold thou art One under all images.
They saw in thee both age and youth,{fr. *} the hair of thy head now grey as in old age, now black as in youth.
Age in the day of judgment, and youth in the day of battle; as a man of war he striveth with his hands:
He hath bound a helmet of victory upon his head; his right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought victory for him:
With dew of light his head is filled, and his locks with drops of the night.
He shall be glorified by me for he delighteth in me; yea, he shall be to me a crown of beauty.
His head is like fine, pure gold; upon his forehead is impressed the glory of his holy name.
{fn. *. In regard to these and the following expressions, compare Daniel vii. 9; Exod. xv. 3; Song of Solomon v. 2, 14; Isaiah lix. 17; Psalm xcviii. 1.}
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For grace and glory, beauty and splendor his people hath encircled him with a crown.
The plaited hair of his head seemed as in the days of youth, his black locks were flowing in curls.
The abode of righteousness—his glorious beauty—may he prefer it above his chiefest joy.
May his treasured people be a crown in his hand, a royal diadem of glorious beauty.
They were borne by him, he carried them; with a crown he adorned them; for that they were precious in his sight he honored them.
His glory resteth upon me, and mine upon him; and he is nigh unto me, when I cry unto him.
He is bright and ruddy in red apparel, when he cometh front treading the winepress in Edom.{fr. †}
The symbol of his all-embracing providence he showed to the meek Moses, when the similitude of the Lord was before his eyes.
Taking pleasure in his people, he will glorify the meek; that, dwelling amid praises, he may be glorified by them.
The sum of thy word is truth; O thou, who hast called every generation from the beginning, seek the people that seeketh thee.
Accept, I beseech thee, the multitude of my songs, and let my joyous cry come near unto thee.
Let my praise be a crown unto thy head, and my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.
Let the song of the poor be precious in thy sight as the song that was sung at thy offerings.
May my blessing rise to the bountiful God, who createth and produceth, who is just and mighty.
And when I bless thee, incline thine head unto me, and take what I offer as though it were the choicest spices.
May my meditation be pleasant unto thee, for my soul panteth after thee.
{fn. †. Compare Isaiah lxiii. 1, 2.}
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Psalm xcii.
A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath Day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: to declare thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, with an instrument of ten strings and with a harp, with thoughtful music upon the lyre. For thou, O Lord, hast made me rejoice through thy work: I will exult in the works of thy hands. How great are thy works, O Lord: the thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth it not, neither doth a fool understand this: when the wicked sprang up as the grass, and all the workers of iniquity flourished, it was that they might be destroyed for ever. But thou, O Lord, art on high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn hast thou exalted, like that of the wild-ox: I am anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also hath seen my desire on mine enemies; mine ears have heard my desire of them that rose up against me, doers of evil. The righteous shall spring up like a palm-tree; he shall grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall blossom in the courts of our God. They shall still shoot forth in old age; they shall be full of sap and green: to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
$The Mourner’s Kaddish. {pr. 242}./$
{file “Kiddush for Sabbath Morning”}
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KIDDUSH FOR SABBATH MORNING.
Exodus xxxi. 16, 17.
And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever, that in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and ceased from his work.
Exod. xx. 8–11.
Remember the sabbath day to {sic “kep” “keep”} it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who createst the fruit of the vine.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth.
~hr
{file “Afternoon Service for Sabbaths”}
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AFTERNOON SERVICE FOR SABBATHS.
Happy are they that dwell in thy house: they will be ever praising thee. (Selah.)
Happy is the people, that is in such a case: happy the people, whose God is the Lord.
Psalm cxlv. A Psalm of Praise: of David.
I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised: and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
On the majestic glory of thy grandeur, and on thy marvellous deeds, will I meditate.
And men shall speak of the might of thy awful acts; and I will recount thy greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of thy great goodness, and shall exult in thy righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and of great lovingkindness.
The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; and thy loving ones shall bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the majestic glory of his kingdom.
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Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest then. their food in due season.
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest every living thing with favor.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and loving in all his works.
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The Lord guardeth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy.
My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
And a redeemer shall come to Zion and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: my spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.
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But thou art holy, O thou that dwellest amid the praises of Israel. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. {fr. *}And they receive sanction the one from the other, and say, Holy in the highest heavens, the place of his divine abode; holy upon earth, the work of his might; holy for ever and to all eternity is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of the radiance of his glory. Then a wind lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing (saying), Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place. {fr. *}Then a wind lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, of those who uttered praises, and said, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from the region of his divine abode. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. {fr. *}The kingdom of the Lord endureth for ever and to all eternity. O Lord, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and direct their heart unto thee. Arid he, being merciful, forgiveth iniquity and destroyeth not: yea, many a time he turneth his anger away, and doth not stir up all his wrath. For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, and abounding in lovingkindness to all them that call upon thee. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy Law is truth. Thou wilt show truth to Jacob and loving kindness to Abraham, according as thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. Blessed be the Lord day by day; if one burdeneth us.
{fn. *. The Chaldee paraphrase of the preceding verse.}
{p. 253}
{cont}God is our salvation. (Selah.) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah.) O Lord of hosts, happy is the man who trusteth in thee. Save, Lord: may the King answer us on the day when we call. Blessed is our God, who hath created us for his glory, and hath separated us from them that go astray, and hath given us the Law of truth and planted everlasting life in our midst. May he open our heart unto his Law, and place his love and fear within our hearts, that we may do his will and serve him with a perfect heart, that we may not labor in vain, nor bring forth for confusion. May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we may keep thy statutes in this world, and be worthy to live to witness and inherit happiness and blessing in the days of the Messiah and in the life of the world to come. To the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee, and not be silent: O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose trust the Lord is. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in Jah the Lord is an everlasting rock. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, Lord. It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
{p. 254}
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
And as for me, may my prayer unto thee, O Lord, be in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, answer me in the truth of thy salvation.
The first section of the Lesson from the Pentateuch of the following Sabbath is read.
For Order of Reading the Law see pp. {prr. 81}–87.
While the vestments are being replaced upon the Scroll, Psalm, xcii., {pr. 248}, is said.
The following prayer (Amidah) to “as in ancient years,” {pr. 260}, is to be said standing.
O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and revered God, the most high God, who bestowest lovingkindnesses, and possessest all things; who rememberest the pious deeds of the patriarchs, and in love wilt bring a redeemer to their children’s children for thy name’s sake.
During the Ten Days of Penitence say:
Remember us unto life, O King, who delightest in life, and inscribe us in the book of life, for thine own sake, O living God.
{p. 255}
O King, Helper, Savior and Shield. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham.
Thou, O Lord, art mighty for ever, thou quickenest the dead, thou art mighty to save.
From the Sabbath after the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly until the First Day of Passover say:—
Thou causest the wind to blow and the rain to fall,
Thou sustainest the living with lovingkindness, quickenest the dead with great mercy, supportest the falling, healest the sick, loosest the bound, and keepest thy faith to them that sleep in the dust. Who is like unto thee, Lord of mighty acts, and who resembleth thee, O King, who killest and quickenest and causest salvation to spring forth?
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:
Who is like unto thee, Father of mercy, who in mercy rememberest thy creatures unto life?
Yea, faithful art thou to quicken the dead. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who quickenest the dead. * (See page {prr. 256}).
Thou art holy, and thy name is holy, and holy beings praise thee daily. (Selah.) Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
On the Sabbath of Penitence conclude the Blessing thus:
$the holy King./$
{p. 256}
When the Reader repeats the Amidah, the following is said, to “holy God.”
* Reader.—We will sanctify thy name in the world even as they sanctify it in the highest heavens, as it is written by the hand of thy prophet: And they called one unto the other and said,
Cong.—Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Reader.—Those over against them say, Blessed—
Cong.—Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
Reader.—And in thy Holy Words it is written, saying,
Cong.—The Lord shall reign for ever, thy God, Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.
Reader.—Unto all generations we will declare thy greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim thy holiness, and thy praise, O our God, shall not depart from our mouth for ever, for thou art a great and holy God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the holy God.
During the Ten Days of Penitence conclude the Blessing thus:—
$the holy King./$
Thou art One and thy name is One, and who, is like thy people Israel, an unique nation on the earth? Glorious greatness and a crown of salvation, even the day of rest and holiness, thou hast given unto thy people:—Abraham was glad, Isaac rejoiced, Jacob and his sons rested thereon:—a rest vouchsafed in generous love, a true and faithful rest, a rest in peace and tranquillity,
{p. 257}
in quietude and safety, a perfect rest wherein thou delightest. Let thy children perceive and know that this their rest is from thee, and by their rest may they hallow thy name.
Our God and God of our fathers, accept our rest; sanctify us by thy commandments, and grant our portion in thy Law; satisfy us with thy goodness, and gladden us with thy salvation; purify our hearts to serve thee in truth; and in thy love and favor, O Lord our God, let us inherit thy holy Sabbath; and may Israel, who hallow thy name, rest thereon. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hallowest the Sabbath.
Accept, O Lord our God, thy people Israel and their prayer; restore the service to the oracle of thy house; receive in love and favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer; and may the service of thy people Israel be ever acceptable unto thee.
On New Moon and the Intermediate Days of Passover and Tabernacles the following is added:—
Our God and God of our fathers! May our remembrance rise, come and be accepted before thee, with the remembrance of our fathers, of Messiah the son of David thy servant, of Jerusalem thy holy city, and of all thy people the house of Israel, bringing deliverance
{p. 258}
and well-being, grace, lovingkindness and mercy, life and peace on this day of
On New Moon—
$the Feast of the New Moon./$
On Passover—
$the Feast of Unleavened Bread./$
On Tabernacles—
$Tabernacles./$
{cont}Remember us, O Lord our God, thereon for our wellbeing; be mindful of us for blessing, and save us unto life: by thy promise of salvation and mercy, spare us and be gracious unto us; have mercy upon us and save us; for our eyes are bent upon thee, because thou art a gracious and merciful God and King.
And let our eyes behold thy return in mercy to Zion. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who restorest thy divine presence unto Zion.
We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers for ever and ever; thou art the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation through every generation. We will give thanks unto thee and declare thy praise for our lives which are committed unto thy hand, and for our souls which are in thy charge, and for thy miracles, which are daily with us, and for
Congregation in an undertone
|$We give thanks unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator and the Creator of all things in the beginning. Blessings and thanksgivings be to thy great and holy name because thou hast kept us in life and hast preserved us: so mayest thou continue to keep us in life and to preserve us. O gather our exiles to thy holy courts to observe thy statutes, to do thy will, and to serve thee with a perfect heart; seeing that we give thanks unto thee. Blessed be the God to whom thanksgivings are due./$/|
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thy wonders and thy benefits, which are wrought at all times, evening, morn and noon. O thou who art all-good, whose mercies fail not; thou, merciful Being, whose lovingkindnesses never cease, we have ever hoped in thee.
On Sabbath of Chanukah say: We thank thee, etc., {pr. 63}.
For all these things thy name, O our King, shall be continually blessed and exalted for ever and ever.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
O inscribe all the children of thy covenant for a happy life.
And everything that liveth shall give thanks unto thee for ever, and shall praise thy name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. Blessed art thou, O Lord, whose name is All-good, and unto whom it is becoming to give thanks.
Grant abundant peace unto Israel thy people for ever; for thou art the sovereign Lord of all peace; and may it be good in thy sight to bless thy people Israel at all times and in every hour with thy peace.
On the Sabbath of Penitence say:—
In the book of life, blessing, peace and good sustenance may we be remembered and inscribed before thee, we and all thy people the house of Israel, for a happy life and for peace. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest peace.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blessest thy people Israel with peace.
{p. 260}
O my God! guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile; and to such as curse me let my soul be dumb, yea, let my soul be unto all as the dust. Open my heart to thy Law, and let my soul pursue thy commandments. If any design evil against me, speedily make their counsel of none effect, and frustrate their designs. Do it for the sake of thy name, do it for the sake of thy right hand, do it for the sake of thy holiness, do it for the sake of thy Law. In order that thy beloved ones may be delivered, O save with thy right hand, and answer me. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel, and say ye, Amen.
$May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that the temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in thy Law. And there we will serve thee with awe, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years./$
The following is omitted on such occasions as those on which Tachanun is omitted on Week-days:—
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy Law is truth. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; thou who hast done great things, O God,
{p. 261}
who is like unto thee? Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; thy judgments are a great deep man and beast thou savest, O Lord.
Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Accept our prayer in mercy and in favor.
Reader.—May the prayers and supplications of all Israel be accepted by their Father who is in heaven; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Reader.—May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from Lord who made heaven and earth.
Reader.—He who maketh peace in his high places. may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
{p. 262}
It is our duty to praise the Lord of all things, to ascribe greatness to him who formed the world in the beginning, since he hath not made us like the nations of other lands, and hath not placed us like other families of the earth, since he hath not assigned unto us a portion as unto them, nor a lot as unto all their multitude. For we bend the knee and offer worship and thanks before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, the seat of whose glory is in the heavens above, and the abode of whose might is in the loftiest heights. He is our God; there is none else: in truth he is our King; there is none besides him; as it is written in his Law, And thou shalt know this day, and lay it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
We therefore hope in thee, O Lord our God, that we may speedily behold the glory of thy might, when thou wilt remove the abominations from the earth, and the idols will be utterly cut off, when the world will be perfected under the kingdom of the Almighty, and all the children of flesh will call upon thy name, when thou wilt turn unto thyself all the wicked of the earth. Let all the inhabitants of the world perceive and know that unto thee every knee must bow, every tongue must swear. Before thee, O Lord our God, let them bow and fall; and unto thy glorious name let them give honor; let them all accept the yoke of thy kingdom, and do thou reign over them speedily, and for ever
{p. 263}
and ever. For the kingdom is thine, and to all eternity thou wilt reign in glory; as it is written in thy Law The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. And it is said, And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall the Lord be One, and his name One.
The following Kaddish is said by a Mourner
Mourner.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Mourner.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Mourner.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Mourner.—May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Mourner.—He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
{p. 264}
From the Sabbath after “the Rejoicing of the Law” until the Sabbath before Passover, the following Psalms are read:—
Psalm civ.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou hast robed thee in splendor and majesty. He covereth himself with light as with a garment; he stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain: he layeth the beams of his upper chambers in the waters; he maketh the clouds his chariot; he walketh upon the wings of the wind. He maketh winds his messengers; his ministers flaming fire: he founded the earth upon its bases, that it might not be moved for ever. Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a vesture; the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. The mountains rose, the valleys sank unto the place which thou hadst founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth forth springs into the valleys; they run among the mountains. They give drink to every beast of the plain; the wild asses quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heaven have their dwelling, they utter their voice from among the branches. He giveth drink to the mountains from his upper chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man; that he may bring forth bread from the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengtheneth man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are satisfied; the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted; where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the conies. He made the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth its going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night; wherein all the beasts of the forest do move. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun ariseth, they get them
{p. 265}
away, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening How manifold are thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy possessions. Yonder is the sea, great and of wide extern therein are moving things innumerable, living creatures both small and great. There the ships make their course; there is leviathan whom thou hast formed to sport therein. These all wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them their food in due season. Thou givest unto them, they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are satisfied with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are confounded; thou gatherest in their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground. Let the glory of the Lord endure for ever; let the Lord rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; he toucheth the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet unto him: as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord. Sinners shall be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked shall be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul: praise ye the Lord.
Psalm cxx.
A Song of Degrees. In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from a lying lip, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall he give unto thee, and what shall he add unto thee, thou deceitful tongue? Sharpened arrows of a mighty man with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar. My soul hath full long had her dwelling with him that hateth peace. I am all peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm cxxi.
A Song of Degrees. I lift up mine eyes unto the hills: whence will my help come? My help is
{p. 266}
from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to slip: he that guardeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that guardeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy guardian: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall guard thee from all evil; he shall guard thy soul. The Lord shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for evermore.
Psalm cxxii.
A Song of Degrees; of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord. Our feet stood within thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem that art built up as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, for a testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy rampart, prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes I would fain speak peace concerning thee. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I would seek thy good.
Psalm cxxiii.
A Song of Degrees. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until he have pity upon us. Have pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us: for we are full sated with contempt. Our soul is full sated with the mocking of those that are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
Psalm cxxiv.
A Song of Degrees; of David. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say:
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if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul; then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us a prey to their teeth. Our soul escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare was broken, and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm cxxv.
A Song of Degrees. They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever. The mountains are round about Jerusalem, and the Lord is round about his people, from this time forth and for evermore. For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, that the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity. Dc good, O Lord, unto those that are good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord will destroy them with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm cxxvi.
A Song of Degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like unto them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with exultation: then said they among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereat we rejoiced. Bring back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow, in tears shall reap in joy. Though he goeth on his way weeping, hearing the store of seed, he shall come back with joy, bearing his sheaves.
{p. 268}
Psalm cxxvii.
A Song of Degrees; of Solomon. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord watch over the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of toil: such things he giveth unto his beloved in sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them: they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with enemies in the gate.
Psalm cxxviii.
A Song of Degrees. Happy is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. When thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the recesses of thine house: thy children like olive plants, round about thy table. Behold thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. May the Lord bless thee out of Zion: mayest thou see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, mayest thou see thy children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm cxxix.
A Song of Degrees. To the full have they afflicted me from my youth up, let Israel now say; to the full have they afflicted me from my youth up: yet have they not prevailed against me. The plower; plowed upon my back, they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all they that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth before it shooteth forth: wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom: neither do
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they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.
Psalm cxxx.
A Song of Degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning; yea, more than watchmen for the morning. O let Israel hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with him is plenteous deliverance. And he shall deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalm cxxxi.
A Song of Degrees; of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too marvellous for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; my soul is with me like a weaned child. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
Psalm cxxxii.
A Song of Degrees. Lord, remember for David all his affliction; how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob: Surely I will not come into the tent of my house, nor go up unto the couch of my rest; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids; until I find out a place for the Lord, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: we found it in the fields of Jaar. Let us go into his habitation; let us worship
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at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, unto thy resting place; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy loving ones exult. For the sake of David thy servant turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn unto David in truth—he will not turn from it—: of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant, and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my resting-place for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her needy with bread. Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; and her loving ones shall exult aloud. There will I make a horn to spring forth unto David: I have prepared a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame; but upon him his crown shall shine.
Psalm cxxxiii.
A Song of Degrees; of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the goodly oil upon the head, that runneth down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that runneth down upon the skirt of his garments; like the dew of Hermon, that runneth down upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commandment the blessing, even life for evermore.
Psalm cxxxiv.
A Song of Degrees. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord in the night seasons. Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary, and bless ye the Lord. The Lord bless thee out of Zion; even he that made heaven and earth.
“It is our duty.” {pr. 262}.
Mourner’s Kaddish, {pr. 263}
{file “Ethics of the Fathers”}
{p. 271}
ETHICS OF THE FATHERS.
One of the following chapters is read on each Sabbath from the Sabbath after Passover until the Sabbath before New Year.
$All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx, 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified./$
<Chapter> I.
(1.) Moses received the Torah{fr. *} on Sinai, and handed it down to Joshua; Joshua to the elders; the elders to the prophets; and the prophets handed it down to the men of the Great Synagogue. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment; raise up many disciples, and make a fence round the Torah. (2.) Simon the Just was one of the last survivors of the Great Synagogue. He used to say, Upon three things the world is based: upon the Torah, upon the Temple service, and upon the practice of charity. (3.) Antigonos of Socho received the tradition from Simon the Just. He used to say, Be not like servants who minister to their master upon the condition of receiving a reward; but be like servants who minister to their master without the condition of receiving a reward; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you. (4.) José, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah, and José, the son of Jochanan, of Jerusalem, received the tradition from the preceding. José, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah, said, Let thy house be a meeting house for the wise; sit amidst the dust of their feet, and drink their words with thirst. (5.) José, the son of Jochanan, of Jerusalem, said, Let thy house be open wide; let the poor be the members of thy household,
{fn. *. The word Torah is left untranslated. It is variously used for the Pentateuch, the Scriptures, the Oral Law, as well as for the whole body of religious truth, study and practice.}
{p. 272}
and engage not in much gossip with women. This applies even to one’s own wife; how much more then to the wife of one’s neighbor. Hence the sages say, Whoso engages in much gossip with women brings evil upon himself, neglects the study of the Torah, and will in the end inherit Gehinnom. (6.) Joshua, the son of Perachyah, and Nittai, the Arbelite, received the tradition from the preceding. Joshua, the son of Perachyah, said, Provide thyself a teacher, and get thee a companion, and judge all men in the scale of merit. (7.) Nittai, the Arbelite, said, Keep thee far from a bad neighbor, associate not with the wicked, and abandon not the belief in retribution. (8.) Judah, the son of Tabbai, and Simeon, the son of Shatach, received the tradition from the preceding. Judah, the son of Tabbai, said, (In the judge’s office) act not the counsel’s part; when the parties to a suit are standing before thee, let them both be regarded by thee as guilty, but when they are departed from thy presence, regard them both as innocent, the verdict having been acquiesced in by them. (9.) Simeon, the son of Shatach, said, Be very searching in the examination, of witnesses, and be heedful of thy words, lest through them they learn to falsify. (10.) Shemayah and Abtalyon received the tradition from the preceding. Shemayah said, Love work, hate lordship, and seek no intimacy with the ruling power (11.) Abtalyon said, Ye sages, be heedful of your words, lest ye incur the penalty of exile and be exiled to a place of evil waters, and the disciples who come after you drink thereof and die, and the Heavenly Name be profaned. (12.) Hillel and Shammai received the tradition from the preceding. Hillel said, Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving thy fellow-creatures, and drawing them near to the Torah. (13.) He
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used to say, A name made great is a name destroyed; he who does not increase his knowledge decreases it; and he who does not study deserves to die; and he who makes a worldly use of the crown of the Torah shall waste away. (14.) He used to say, If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for my own self, what am I? And if not now, when? (15). Shammai said, Fix a period for thy study of the Torah; say little and do much; and receive all men with a cheerful countenance. (16.) Rabban Gamaliel said, Provide thyself a teacher, and be quit of doubt, and accustom not thyself to give tithes by a conjectural estimate. (17.) Simeon, his son, said, All my days I have grown up amongst the wise, and I have found nought of better service than silence; not learning but doing is the chief thing; and whoso is profuse of words causes sin. (18.) Rabban Simeon, the son of Gamaliel, said, By three things is the world preserved: by truth, by judgment, and by peace, as it is said, Judge ye the truth and the judgment of peace in your gates (Zech. viii. 16).
$Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One, blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii, 21)./$
<Chapter> II.
$All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx. 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified./$
(1.) Rabbi said, Which is the right course that a man should choose for himself? That which he feels to be honorable to himself, and which also brings him honor from mankind.
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{cont}Be heedful of a light precept as of a grave one, for thou knowest not the grant of reward for each precept. Reckon the loss incurred by the fulfilment of a precept against the reward secured by its observance, and the gain gotten by a transgression against the loss it involves. Reflect upon three things, and thou wilt not come within the power of sin; Know what is above thee—a seeing eye, and a hearing ear, and all thy deeds written in a book. (2.) Rabban Gamaliel, the son of Rabbi Judah the Prince, said, An excellent thing is the study of the Torah combined with some worldly occupation, for the labor demanded by them both makes sin to be forgotten. All study of the Torah without work must in the end be futile and become the cause of sin. Let all who are employed with the congregation act with them for Heaven’s sake, for then the merit of their fathers sustains them, and their righteousness endures for ever. And as for you, (God will then say,) I account you worthy of great reward, as if you had wrought it all yourselves. (3.) Be on your guard against the ruling power; for they who exercise it draw no man near to them except for their own interests; appearing as friends when it is to their own advantage, they stand not by a man in the hour of his need. (4.) He used to say, Do His will as if it were thy will, that He may do thy will as if it were His will. Nullify thy will before His will, that He may nullify the will of others before thy will. (5) Hillel said, Separate not thyself from the congregation; trust not in thyself until the day of thy death; judge not thy neighbor until thou art come into his place; and say not anything which cannot be understood at once, in the hope that it will be understood in the end; neither say, When I have leisure I will study; perchance thou wilt have no leisure. (6.) He used to say, An empty-headed man cannot be a sinfearing man, nor can an ignorant person be pious, nor can a shamefaced man learn, nor a passionate man teach, nor
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can one who is engaged overmuch in business grow wise. In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man. (7.) Moreover, he saw a skull floating on the surface of the water: he said to it, Because thou drownedst others, they have drowned thee, and at the last they that drowned thee shall themselves be drowned. (8.) He used to say, The more flesh, the more worms; the more property, the more anxiety; the more women, the more witchcraft; the more maid-servants, the more lewdness; the more men-servants, the more robbery;—the more Torah, the more life; the more schooling, the more wisdom; the more counsel, the more understanding; the more charity, the more peace. He who has acquired a good name, has acquired it for himself; he who has acquired for himself words of Torah, has acquired for himself life in the world to come. (9.) Rabban Jochanan, the son of Zacchai. received the tradition from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say, if thou hast learnt much Torah, ascribe not any merit to thyself, for thereunto wast thou created. (10.) Rabban Jochanan, the son of Zacchai, had five disciples, and these are they, Rabbi Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, Rabbi Joshua, the son of Chananya, Rabbi José, the Priest, Rabbi Simeon, the son of Nathaniel, and Rabbi Eleazar, the son of Arach. (11.) He used thus to recount their praise: Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, is a cemented cistern, which loses not a drop; Joshua, the son of Chananya—happy is she that bare him; José, the Priest, is a pious man; Simeon, the son of Nathaniel, is a fearer of sin; Eleazar, the son of Arach, is like a spring flowing {sic “wth” “with”} ever-sustaining vigor. (12.) He used to say, If all the sages of Israel were in one scale of the balance, and Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, in the other, he would outweigh them all. Abba Saul said in his name, If all the sages of
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{cont}Israel were in one scale of the balance, and Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, also with them, and Eleazar, the son of Arach, in the other scale, he would outweigh them all. (13.) He said to them, Go forth and see which is the good way to which a man should cleave. R. Eliezer said, A good eye; R. Joshua said, A good friend; R. José said, A good neighbor; R. Simeon said, One who foresees the fruit of an action; R. Eleazar said, A good heart. Thereupon he said to them, I approve the words of Eleazar, the son of Arach, rather than your words, for in his words yours are included. (14.) He said to them, Go forth and see which is the evil way that a man should shun. R. Eliezer said, An evil eye; R. Joshua said, A bad friend; R. José said, A bad neighbor; R. Simeon said, One who borrows and does not repay,—it is the same whether one borrows from man or from the all-present God; as it is said, The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again, but the righteous dealeth graciously and giveth (Psalm xxxvii. 21); R. Eleazar said, A bad heart. Thereupon he said to them, I approve the words of Eleazar, the son of Arach, rather than your words, for in his words yours are included. (15.) They each said three things. R. Eliezer said, Let thy friend’s honor be as dear to thee as thine own; and be not easily moved to anger; and repent one day before thy death. And (he further said), Warm thyself by the fire of the wise; but beware of their glowing coals, lest thou be burnt, for their bite is the bite of the fox, and their sting is the scorpion’s sting, and their hiss is the serpent’s hiss, and all their words are like coals of fire.{fr. *} (16.) R. Joshua said, The evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred of his fellow-creatures put a
{fn. *. The highest gifts, if abused, may prove a source of suffering to those whom they are designed to benefit.}
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man out of the world. (17.) R. José said, Let the property of thy friend be as dear to thee as thine own; qualify thyself for the study of the Torah, since the knowledge of it is not an inheritance of thine, and let all thy deeds be done for the sake of Heaven. (18.) R. Simeon said, Be careful to read the Shema’ and to say the Amidah; and when thou prayest, regard not thy prayer as a fixed mechanical task, but as an appeal for mercy and grace before the All-present, as it is said, For he is gracious and full of mercy, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil (Joel ii. 13); and be not wicked in thine own esteem. (19.) R. Eleazar said, Be watchful in the study of the Torah, and know what answer to give to the unbeliever; know also before whom thou toilest, and who thy Employer is, who will pay thee the reward of thy labor. (20.) Rabbi Tarphon said. The day is short, and the work is great, and the laborers are sluggish, and the reward is much, and the Master of the house is urgent. (21.) He used also to say, It is not thy duty to complete the work, but neither art thou free to desist from it; if thou hast studied much Torah, much reward will be given thee; and faithful is thy Employer to pay thee the reward of thy labor; and know that the grant of reward unto the righteous will be in the time to come.
Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One, blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii. 21).
~hr
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<Chapter> III.
All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx. 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
(1.) Akabya, the son of Mahalalel, said, Reflect upon three things, and thou wilt not come within the power of sin: know whence thou camest, and whither thou art going, and before whom thou wilt in future have to give account and reckoning. Whence thou earnest:—from a putrefying drop; whither thou art going:—to a place of dust, worms and maggots; and before whom thou wilt in future have to give account and reckoning:—before the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he. (2.) R. Chanina, the Vice-High-Priest, said, Pray for the welfare of the government, since but for the year thereof men would swallow each other alive. (3.) R. Chananya, the son of Teradyon, said, If two sit together and interchange no words of Torah, they are a meeting of scorners, concerning whom it is said, The godly man sitteth not in the seat of the scorners (Ps. i. 1); but if two sit together and interchange words of Torah, the Divine Presence abides between them; as it is said, Then they that feared the Lord snake one with the other: and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name (Mal. iii. 16). Now, the Scripture enables me to draw this inference in respect to two persons; whence can it be deduced that if even one person sedulously occupies himself with the Torah, the Holy One, blessed be he, appoints unto him a reward? Because it is said, Though he sit alone, and meditate in stillness, yet he taketh it (the reward) upon him (Lam. iii. 27).{fr. *} (4.) R. Simeon said, If three have eaten at a table and have spoken there no words of Torah, it is as if they had eaten
{fn. *. Where biblical verses are employed not in a strictly literal sense, it is to be observed that the Rabbis, like other preachers, made use of such passages for homiletical purposes, as illustrations of their meaning rather than as logical foundations for their teaching. It was felt that additional weight would attach to any opinion with which some point of contact could he found in the Scriptures.}
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of sacrifices to dead idols, of whom it is said, For all their tables are full of vomit and filthiness; the All-present is not (in their thoughts) (Isa. xxviii. 8). But if three have eaten at a table and have spoken there words of Torah, it is as if they had eaten at the table of the All-present, to which the Scripture may be applied, And he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord (Ezek. xli. 22). (5.) R. Chanina, the son of Chachinai, said, He who keeps awake at night, and goes on his way alone, while turning his heart to vanity, such a one forfeits his own life. (6.) R. Nechunya, son of Hakkanah, said, Whoso receives upon himself the yoke of the Torah, from him the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of worldly care will be removed; but whoso breaks off from him the yoke of the Torah, upon him will be laid the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of worldly care. (7.) R. Chalafta, the son of Dosa, of the village of Chananya, said, When ten people sit together and occupy themselves with the Torah, the Shechinah abides among them, as it is said, God standeth in the congregation{fr. *} of the godly (Psalm lxxxii. 1). And whence can it be shown that the same applies to five? Because it is said, He hath founded his band{fr. †} upon the earth (Amos ix. 6). And whence can it be shown that the same applies to three? Because it is said, He judgeth among the judges{fr. ‡} (Psa. lxxxii. 1). And whence can it be shown that the same applies to two? Because it is said, Then they that feared the Lord spake one with the other; and the Lord hearkened, and heard (Mal. iii. 16). And whence can it be shown that the same applies even to one? Because it is said, In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come unto thee and I will bless thee (Exod. xx. 24). (8.) R. Eleazar, of Bertotha, said, Give unto Him of what is His, seeing that thou and what thou hast are His: this is also found expressed by David, who said, For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own we have given Thee (1 Chron. xxix. 14). (9.) R. Jacob said, He who is walking by the way and studying, and breaks off his study and says, How fine is that tree, how fine is that fallow, him the Scripture regards as if he had forfeited his life. (10.) R. Dostai, the son of Jannai, said
{fn. *. Ten are the minimum to form a “congregation” (Edah).}
{fn. †. Five, the minimum to constitute a “band” (Aguddah).}
{fn. ‡. The smallest judicial tribunal was composed of three judges.}
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in the name of R. Meir, Whoso forgets one word of his study, him the Scripture regards as if he had forfeited his life, for it is said, Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen (Deut. iv. 9). Now, one might suppose that the same result follows even if a man’s study has been too hard for him. To guard against such an inference, it is said (ibid.), And lest they depart from thy mouth all the days of thy life. Thus, a person’s guilt is not established until he deliberately and of set purpose removes those lessons from his heart. (11.) R. Chanina, the son of Dosa, said, He in whom the fear of sin comes before wisdom, his wisdom shall endure; but he in whom wisdom comes before the fear of sin, his wisdom will not endure. (12.) He used to say, He whose works exceed his wisdom, his wisdom shall endure; but he whose wisdom exceeds his works, his wisdom will not endure. (13.) He used to say, He in whom the spirit of his fellow-creatures takes delight, in him the Spirit of the All-present takes delight; and he in whom the spirit of his fellow-creatures takes not delight, in him the Spirit of the All-present takes not delight. (14.) R. Dosa, the son of Horkinas, said Morning sleep, and midday wine, and children’s talk, and attending the houses of assembly of the ignorant put a man out of the world. (15.) R. Eleazar Hammudai said, He who profanes things sacred, and despises the festivals, and puts his fellow-man to shame in public, and makes void the covenant of Abraham our father, and makes the Torah bear a meaning other than the right, such a one, even though knowledge of the Torah and good deeds be his, has no share in the world to come. (16.) R. Ishmael said, Be submissive to a superior, affable to a suppliant, and receive all men with
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cheerfulness. (17.) R. Akiba said, Jesting and levity lead a man on to lewdness. The Massorah{fr. *} is a fence to the Torah. tithes are a fence to riches; vows are a fence to abstinence; a fence to wisdom is silence. (18.) He used to say, Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God; but it was by a special love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image of God, as it is said, For in the image of God made he man (Gen. ix. 6). Beloved are Israel, for they were called children of the All-present; but it was by a special love that it was made known to them that they were called children of the All-present, as it is said, Ye are children unto the Lord your God (Deut. xiv. 1). Beloved are Israel, for unto them was given the desirable instrument; but it was by a special love that it was made known to them that that desirable instrument was theirs, through which the world was created, as it is said, For I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my Law (Prov. iv. 2). (19.) Everything is foreseen, yet freedom of choice is given; and the world is judged by grace, yet all is according to the amount of the work. (20.) He used to say, Everything is given on pledge, and a net is spread for all the living: the shop is open; and the dealer gives credit; and the ledger lies open; and the hand writes; and whosoever wishes to borrow may come and borrow; but the collectors regularly make their daily round, and exact payment from man whether he be content or not, and they have that whereon they can rely in their demand, and the judgment is a judgment of truth; and everything is prepared for the feast. (21.) R. Eleazar, the son of Azaryah, said, Where there is no Torah, there are no manners; where there are no manners, there is no Torah: where there is no wisdom, there is no fear of God; where there is no fear of God, there is no wisdom; where there is no knowledge, there is no understanding; where there is no understanding, there is no
{fn. *. The oral tradition, in accordance with which the text of the Scriptures is determined and interpreted.}
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knowledge: where there is no meal, there is no Torah; where there is no Torah, there is no meal. (22.) He used to say, He whose wisdom exceeds his works, to what is he like? To a tree whose branches are many, but whose roots are few; and the wind comes and plucks it up and overturns it upon its face, as it is said, And he shall be like a lonely juniper tree in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited (Jeremiah xvii. 6). But he whose works exceed his wisdom, to what is he like? To a tree whose branches are few, but whose roots are many, so that even if all the winds in the world come and blow upon it, it cannot be stirred from its place, as it is said, And he shall be as a tree planted by the waters; and that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not perceive when heat cometh, but his leaf shall be green; and shall not be troubled in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah xvii. 8). (23.) R. Eleazar Chisma said, The laws concerning the sacrifices of birds and the purification of women are ordinances of moment; astronomy and geometry are the after-courses of wisdom.
Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One, blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii. 21).
~hr
<Chapter> IV.
All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx. 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
(1.) Ben Zoma said, Who is wise? He who learns from
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all men, as it is said, From all my teachers I have gotten understanding (Psalm cxix. 99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his passions, as it is said, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth over his spirit than he that taketh a city (Prov. xvi. 32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion, as it is said, When thou eatest the labor of thine hands, happy art thou, and it shall be well with thee (Psalm cxxviii. 2); happy art thou in this world, and it shall be well with thee in the world to come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said, For them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be held in contempt (1 Sam. ii. 30). (2.) Ben Azzai said, Run to do even a slight precept, and flee from transgression; for precept draws precept in its train, and transgression, transgression; for the recompense of a precept is a precept, and the recompense of a transgression, a transgression. (3.) He used to say, Despise not any man, and carp not at any thing; for there is not a man that has not his hour, and there is not a thing that has not its place. (4.) R. Levitas, of Jabneh, said, Be exceedingly lowly of spirit, since the hope of man is but the worm. (5.) R. Jochanan, the son of Berokah, said, Whosoever profanes the Name of Heaven in secret will suffer the penalty for it in public; and this, whether the Heavenly Name be profaned in ignorance or in wilfulness. (6.) R. Ishmael, his son, said, He who learns in order to teach, to him the means will be vouchsafed both to learn and to teach; but he who learns in order to practice, to him the means will be vouchsafed to learn and to teach, to observe and to practice. (7.) R. Zadok said, Separate not thyself from the congregation; (in the judge’s office) act not the counsel’s part; make not of the Torah a crown wherewith to aggrandise thyself, nor a spade wherewith to dig. So also used Hillel to say, He who makes a worldly use of the crown of the Torah shall waste away. Hence thou mayest infer, that whosoever derives a profit for himself from the words of the Torah is
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helping on his own destruction. (8.) R. José said, Whoso honors the Torah will himself be honored by mankind, but whoso dishonors the Torah will himself be dishonored by mankind. (9.) R. Ishmael, his son, said, He who shuns the judicial office rids himself of hatred, robbery and vain swearing; but he who presumptuously lays down {sic “decisons” “decisions”} is foolish, wicked and of an arrogant spirit. (10.) He used to say, Judge not alone, for none may judge alone save One; neither say (to thy judicial colleagues), Accept my view, for the choice is theirs (to concur); and it is not for thee (to compel concurrence). (11.) R. Jonathan said, Whoso fulfils the Torah in the midst of poverty shall in the end fulfil it in the midst of wealth; and whoso neglects the Torah in the midst of wealth shall in the end neglect it in the midst of poverty. (12.) R. Meir said, Lessen thy toil for worldly goods, and be busy in the Torah; be humble of spirit before all men; if thou neglectest the Torah, many causes for neglecting it will present themselves to thee, but if thou laborest in the Torah, He has abundant recompense to give thee. (13.) R. Eliezer, the son of Jacob, said, He who does one precept has gotten himself one advocate; and he who commits one transgression has gotten himself one accuser. Repentance and good deeds are as a shield against punishment. (14.) R. Jochanan, the sandal maker, said, Every assembly which is in the Name of Heaven will in the end be established, but that which is not in the Name of Heaven will not in the end be established. (15.) R. Eleazar, the son of Shammua, said, Let the honor of thy disciple be as dear to thee as thine own, and the honor of thine associate be like the fear of thy master, and the fear of thy master like the fear of Heaven. (16.) Judah said, Be cautious in study, for an error in study may
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amount to presumptuous sin. (17.) R. Simeon said, There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingdom; but the crown of a good name excels them all. (18.) R. Nehorai said, Wander forth to a home of the Torah, and say not that the Torah will come after thee; for there thy associates will establish thee in the possession of it; and lean not upon thine own understanding. (19.) R. Jannai said, It is not in our power to explain either the prosperity of the wicked or the afflictions of the righteous. (20.) R. Mattithyah, the son of Cheresh, said, Be beforehand in the salutation of peace to all men; and be rather a tail to lions than a head to foxes. (21.) R. Jacob said, This world is like a vestibule before the world to come; prepare thyself in the vestibule, that thou mayest enter into the hall. (22.) He used to say, Better is one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world than the whole life of the world to come; and better is one hour of blissfulness of spirit in the world to come than the whole life of this world (23.) R. Simeon, the son of Eleazar, said, Do not appease thy fellow in the hour of his anger, and comfort him not in the hour when his dead lies before him, and question him not in the hour of his vow, and strive not to see him in the hour of his disgrace. (24.) Samuel the younger used to quote, Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the Lord see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him (Prov. xxiv. 17, 18). (25.) Elisha, the son of Abuyah, said, If one learns as a child, what is it like? Like ink written on clean paper. If one learns as an old man, what is it like? Like ink written on blotted paper.
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{cont}(26.) R. José, the son of Judah, of Chephar Babli, said, He who learns from the young, to what is he like? To one who eats unripe grapes, and drinks wine from his vat. And he who learns from the old, to what is he like? To one who eats ripe grapes, and drinks old wine. (27.) R. Meir said, Look not at the flask, but at what it contains: there may be a new flask full of old wine, and an old flask that has not even new wine in it. (28.) R. Eleazar Hakkappar said, Envy, cupidity and ambition take a man from the world. (29.)He used to say, They that are born are destined to die; and the dead to be brought to life again; and the living to be judged, to know, to make known, and to be made conscious that he is God, he the Maker, he the Creator, he the Discerner, he the Judge, he the Witness, he the Complainant; he it is that will in future judge, blessed be he, with whom there is no unrighteousness, nor forgetfulness, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes: know also that everything is according to the reckoning: and let not thy imagination give thee hope that the grave will be a place of refuge for thee; for perforce thou wast formed, and perforce thou wast born, and thou livest perforce, and perforce thou wilt die, and perforce thou wilt in the future have to give account and reckoning before the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he.
Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii. 21).
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<Chapter> V.
All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx. 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
(1) With ten Sayings{fr. *} the world was created. What does this teach us? Could it not have been created with one Saying? It is to make known the punishment that will befall the wicked who destroy the world that was created with ten Sayings, as well as the goodly reward that will be bestowed upon the just who preserve the world that was created with ten sayings. (2.) There were ten generations from Adam to Noah, to make known how longsuffering God is, seeing that all those generations continued provoking him, until he brought upon them the waters of the flood. (3.) There were ten generations from Noah to Abraham, to make known how longsuffering God is, seeing that all those generations continued provoking him, until Abraham our father came, and received the reward they should all have earned. (4.) With ten trials our father Abraham was tried, and he stood firm in them all, to make known how great was the love of our father Abraham. (5.) Ten miracles were wrought for our fathers in Egypt, and ten at the Sea. (6.) Ten plagues did the Holy One, blessed be he, bring upon the Egyptians in Egypt, and ten at the Sea. (7.) With ten temptations did our fathers tempt the Holy One, blessed be he, in the wilderness, as it is said, And they have tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice (Numb. xiv. 22). (8.) Ten miracles were wrought for our fathers in the Temple: no woman miscarried from the scent of the holy flesh; the holy flesh never became putrid; no fly was seen in the slaughter house: no unclean accident ever befell the high priest on the Day of
{fn. *. In Genesis i. the sentence, “And God said,” occurs nine times. Verse 1, “In the beginning God created heaven and earth,” is taken as another “Saying” in accordance with Psalm xxxiii. 6. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.”}
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{cont}Atonement; the rain never quenched the fire of the wood-pile on the altar; neither did the wind overcome the column of smoke that arose therefrom; nor was there ever found any disqualifying defect in the omer (of new barley, offered on the second day of Passover), or in the two loaves (the first fruits of the wheat-harvest, offered on Pentecost), or in the shewbread; though the people stood closely pressed together, they found ample space to prostrate themselves; never did serpent or scorpion injure any one in Jerusalem; nor did any man ever say to his fellow, The place is too strait for me to lodge over night in Jerusalem. (9.) Ten things were created on the eve of Sabbath in the twilight:{fr. *} the mouth of the earth (Numb. xvi. 32); the mouth of the well (Ibid. xxi. 16); the mouth of the ass (Ibid. xxii. 28); the rainbow; the manna; the rod (Exod. iv. 17); the Shamir;{fr. †} the shape of the written characters; the writing, and the tables of stone: some say the destroying spirits also, and the sepulchre of Moses, and the ram of Abraham our father; and others say, tongs also made with tongs{fr. ‡}. (10.) There are seven marks of an uncultured, and seven of a wise man. The wise man does not speak before him who is greater than he in wisdom; and does not break in upon the speech of his fellow; he is not hasty to answer; he questions according to the subject matter, and answers to the point; he speaks upon the first thing first, and upon the last last; regarding that which he has not understood he says, I do not understand it, and he acknowledges the truth. The reverse of all this is to be found in an uncultured man. (11.) Seven kinds of punishment come into the world for seven important transgressions. If some give their tithes and others do not, a dearth ensues from drought, and some suffer hunger while others are full. If they all determine to give no tithes, a dearth ensues from tumult and drought. If they further resolve
{fn. *. All phenomena that seemed to partake at once of the natural and the supernatural, were conceived as having had their origin in the interval between the close of the work of creation and the commencement of the Sabbath.}
{fn. †. A worm, spoken of in the legendary history of Solomon (See Gittin, 68a, Sotah, 48b). It is said to have had the power of splitting the hardest stone upon which it was placed, and was therefore used by Solomon in building the Temple, in the construction of which no iron tool was to be employed.}
{fn. ‡. A type of the various means and instruments which, tending in their descent and distribution to the benefit of mankind, have their origin with God.}
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not to give the dough-cake (Numb. xv. 20), an exterminating dearth ensues. Pestilence comes into the world to fulfil those death penalties threatened in the Torah, the execution of which, however, is not within the function of a human tribunal, and for the violation of the law regarding the fruits of the seventh year (Levit. xxv. 1–7). The sword comes into the world for the delay of justice, and for the perversion of justice, and on account of the offence of those who interpret the Torah not according to its true sense. Noxious beasts come into the world for vain swearing, and for the profanation of the Divine Name. Captivity comes into the world on account of idolatry, immorality, bloodshed, and the neglect of the year of rest for the soil. (12.) At four periods pestilence grows apace: in the fourth year, in the seventh, at the conclusion of the seventh year, and at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles in each year: in the fourth year, for default of giving the tithe to the poor in the third year (Deut. xiv. 28, 29); in the seventh year, for default of giving the tithe to the poor in the sixth year; at the conclusion of the seventh year, for the violation of the law regarding the fruits of the seventh year, and at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles in each year, for robbing the poor of the grants legally assigned to them.{fr. *} (13.) There are four characters among men: he who says, What is mine is mine and what is thine is thine, his is a neutral character:—some say, this is a character like that of Sodom; he who says, What is mine is thine and what is thine is mine, is a boor; he who says, What is mine is thine and what is thine is thine, is a saint; he who says, What is thine is mine and what is mine is mine, is a wicked man. (14.) There are four kinds of tempers: he whom it is easy to provoke and easy to pacify, his loss disappears in his gain; he whom it is hard to provoke and hard to pacify, his gain disappears in his loss; he whom it is hard to provoke and easy to pacify is a saint; he whom it is easy to provoke and hard to pacify is a wicked man. (15.) There are four qualities in disciples: he who quickly understands and quickly forgets, his gain disappears in his loss; he who understands with difficulty and forgets with difficulty, his loss disappears
{fn. *. The gleanings, the forgotten sheaves, and the corners of the field. See Levit. xix. 9; Deut. xxiv. 19.}
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in his gain; he who understands quickly and forgets with difficulty, his is a good portion; he who understands with difficulty and forgets quickly, his is an evil portion. (16.) As to almsgiving there are four dispositions: he who desires to give, but that others should not give, his eye is evil towards what appertains to others (since almsgiving brings blessing to the giver); he who desires that others should give, but will not give himself, his eye is evil against what is his own; he who gives and wishes others to give is a saint; he who will not give and does not wish others to give is a wicked man. (17.) There are four characters suggested by those who attend the house of study: he who goes and does not practise secures the reward for going; he who practises but does not go secures the reward for practising; he who goes and practises is a saint; he who neither goes nor practises is a wicked man. (18.) There are four qualities among those that sit before the wise: they are like a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, or a sieve: a sponge, which sucks up everything; a funnel, which lets in at one end and out at the other; a strainer, which lets the wine pass out and retains the lees; a sieve, which lets out the bran and retains the fine flour. (19.) Whenever love depends upon some material cause, with the passing away of that cause, the love too passes away; but if it be not dependent upon such a cause, it will not pass away for ever. Which love was that which depended upon a material cause? Such was the love of Amnon and Tamar. And that which depended upon no such cause? Such was the love of David and Jonathan. (20.) Every controversy that is in the Name of Heaven shall in the end lead to a permanent result, but every controversy that is not in the Name of Heaven shall not lead to a permanent result. Which controversy was that which was in the Name of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai. And that which was not in the Name of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his company. (21.) Whosoever causes the multitude to be righteous, through him no sin shall be brought about: but he who causes the multitude to sin
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shall not have the means to repent (the sins of others being beyond the remedial action of his repentance). Moses was righteous and made the multitude righteous; the righteousness of the multitude was laid upon him, as it is said, He executed the justice of the Lord and his judgments with Israel (Deut. xxxiii. 21). Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, sinned and caused the multitude to sin: the sin of the multitude was laid upon him, as it is said, For the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned and which he made Israel to sin (1 Kings xv. 30). (22.) Whosoever has these three attributes is of the disciples of Abraham our father, but whosoever has three other attributes is of the disciples of Balaam the wicked. A good eye, a humble mind and a lowly spirit (are the tokens) of the disciples of Abraham our father; an evil eye, a haughty mind and a proud spirit (are the signs) of the disciples of Balaam the wicked. What is the difference between the disciples of Abraham our father and those of Balaam the wicked? The disciples of Abraham our father enjoy this world and inherit the world to come, as it is said, That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and may fill all their treasuries (Prov. viii. 21); the disciples of Balaam the wicked inherit Gehinnom and descend into the pit of destruction, as it is said, But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee (Psalm lv. 24). (23.) Judah, the son of Tema, said, Be strong as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleet as a hart, and strong as a lion, to do the will of thy Father who is in heaven. He used to say, The bold-faced are for Gehinnom, the shame-faced for the Garden of Eden. (He said further) May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that the Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in thy Law. (24.) He used to say, At five years the age is reached for the study of the Scripture, at ten for the study of the Mishnah, at thirteen for the
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fulfilment of the commandments, at fifteen for the study of the Talmud, at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for seeking a livelihood, at thirty for entering into one’s full strength, at forty for understanding, at fifty for counsel, at sixty a man attains old age, at seventy the hoary head, at eighty the gift of special strength (Psalm xc. 10), at ninety he bends beneath the weight of years, at a hundred he is as if he were already dead and had passed away from the world. (25.) Ben Bag Bag said, Turn it (the Torah) and turn it over again, for everything is in it, and contemplate it, and wax gray and old over it, and stir not from it, for thou canst have no better rule than this. (26.) Ben He He said, According to the labor is the reward.
$Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One, blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii. 21)./$
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CHAPTER VI{fr. *}
$All Israel have a portion in the world to come, as it is said (Isaiah lx. 21), And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified./$
The sages taught the following in the style of the Mishnah,—Blessed be he that made choice of them and their Mishnah. (1.) R. Meir said. Whosoever labors in the Torah for its own sake merits many things; and not only so, but the whole world is indebted to him: he is called friend, beloved, a lover of the All-present, a lover of mankind: it clothes him
{fn. *. This chapter, called Chapter on the Acquisition of the Torah, or Boraitha of R. Meir, is not a part of the Mishnah, but of the collection of rabbinical dicta next in authority to it, and known as Boraithoth, or “External Teachings.”}
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in meekness and reverence; it fits him to become just, pious, upright and faithful; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to virtue: through him the world enjoys counsel and sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is said, Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge; I am understanding; I have strength (Prov. viii. 14{fr. *}): and it gives him sovereignty and dominion and discerning judgment; to him the secrets of the Torah are revealed; he is made like a never-failing fountain, and like a river that flows on with ever-sustained vigor he becomes modest, longsuffering, and forgiving of insults; and it magnifies and exalts him above all things. (2.) R. Joshua, the son of Levi, said, Every day a Bath-kol (a heavenly voice) goes forth from Mount Sinai, proclaiming these words, Woe to mankind for contempt of the Torah, for whoever does not labor in the Torah is said to be under the divine censure, as it is said, As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman who turneth aside from discretion (Prov. xi. 22); and it says, And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. Read not charuth (graven), but cheruth (freedom), for no man is free but he who labors in the Torah. But whosoever labors in the Torah, behold he shall be exalted, as it is said, And from Mattanah to Nachaliel, and from Nachaliel to Bamoth{fr. ‡} (Numb. xxi. 19). (3.) He who learns from his fellow a single chapter, a single rule, a single verse, a single expression, or even a single letter, ought to pay him honor, for so we find with David, King of Israel, who learnt only two things from Ahitophel,{fr. §} and yet regarded him as his master, His guide and his familiar friend, as it is said, But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and my familiar friend (Psalm 1v. 14). Now, is it not an argument from minor to major? Ii David, the King of Israel, who learned only two things from Ahitophel, regarded him as his master, guide and familiar
{fn. *. Wisdom, of which the Torah is the embodiment, speaks these words.}
{fn. ‡. A play upon the words of the text: Mattanah = “gift”; Nachaliel = “the heritage of God”; Bamoth = “high places.”}
{fn. §. In the two matters referred to in Psalm lv. 15, “We took sweet counsel together,” and “We walked into the house of God with the throng,” David is said to have followed the teaching of Ahitophel.}
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friend, how much more ought one who learns from his fellow a chapter, rule, verse, expression, or even a single letter, to pay him honor? And honor is nothing but Torah, as it is said, The wise shall inherit honor (Prov. iii. 35); and the perfect shall inherit good (Ibid. xxviii. 10). And good is nothing but Torah, as it is said, For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my Torah (Ibid. iv. 2). (4.) This is the way that is becoming for the study of the Torah: a morsel of bread with salt thou must eat, and water by measure thou must drink, thou must sleep upon the ground, and live a life of trouble the while thou toilest in the Torah. If thou doest this, Happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee (Psalm cxxviii. 2); happy shalt thou be in this world, and it shall be well with thee in the world to come. (5.) Seek not greatness for thyself, and court not honor; let thy works exceed thy learning; and crave not after the table of kings; for thy table is greater than theirs, and thy crown is greater than theirs, and thy Employer is faithful to pay thee the reward of thy work. (6.) The Torah is greater than the priesthood and than royalty, seeing that royalty demands thirty qualifications,{fr. *} the priesthood twenty-four,{fr. †} while the Torah is acquired by forty-eight. And these are they: By audible study; by distinct pronunciation; by understanding and discernment of the heart; by awe, reverence, meekness, cheerfulness; by ministering to the sages, by attaching oneself to colleagues, by discussion with disciples; by sedateness; by knowledge of the Scripture and of the Mishnah; by moderation in business, in intercourse with the world, in pleasure, in sleep, in conversation, in laughter; by longsuffering; by a good heart; by faith in the wise; by resignation
{fn. *. See Sanhedrin ch. ii.}
{fn. †. See Baba Kama, 110b, and Mid. Tanchuma, section Bamidbar.}
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under chastisement; by recognizing one’s place, rejoicing in one’s portion, putting a fence to one’s words, claiming no merit for oneself; by being beloved, loving the All-present, loving mankind, loving just courses, rectitude and reproof; by keeping oneself far from honor, not boasting of one’s learning, nor delighting in giving decisions; by bearing the yoke with one’s fellow, judging him favorably, and leading him to truth and peace; by being composed in one’s study; by asking and answering, hearing and adding thereto (by one’s own reflection); by learning with the object of teaching, and by learning with the object of practising; by making one’s master wiser, fixing attention upon his discourse, and reporting a thing in the name of him who said it. So thou hast learnt, Whosoever reports a thing in the name of him who said it brings deliverance into the world, as it is said, And Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai (Esther ii. 22). (7.) Great is the Torah which gives life to those that practise it in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (Prov. iv. 22); and it says, It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones (Ibid. iii. 8); and it says, It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy (Ibid. iii. 18); and it says, For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck (Ibid. i. 9); and it says, It shall give to thine head a chaplet of grace: a crown of glory it shall deliver to thee (Ibid. iv. 9); and it says, For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased (Ibid. ix. 11); and it says, Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor (Ibid. iii. 16); and it says, For length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee (Ibid. iii. 2). (8.) R. Simeon, the son of Judah, in the name of R. Simeon, the son of Jochai, said, Beauty, strength, riches, honor, wisdom, old age and a hoary head and children are comely to the righteous and comely to the world, as it is said, The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found
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in the way of righteousness (Ibid. xvi. 31); and it says, The glory of young men is their strength, and the adornment of old men is the hoary head (Ibid. xx. 29); and it says, A crown unto the wise is their riches (Ibid. xiv. 24); and it says, Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the adornment of children are their fathers (Ibid. xvii. 6); and it is said, Then the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders shall be glory (Isaiah xxiv. 23). R. Simeon, the son of Menasya, said, These seven qualifications which the sages enumerated as becoming to the righteous were all realized in Rabbi Judah the Prince, and in his sons. (9.) R. José, the son of Kisma, said, I was once walking by the way, when a man met me and saluted me, and I returned the salutation. He said to me, Rabbi, from what place art thou? I said to him, I come from a great city of sages and scribes. He said to me, If thou art willing to dwell with us in our place, I will give thee a thousand thousand golden dinars and precious stones and pearls. I said to him, Wert thou to give me all the silver and gold and precious stones and pearls in the world, I would not dwell anywhere but in a home of the Torah; and thus it is written in the book of Psalms by the hands of David, King of Israel, The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver (Psalm cxix. 72); and not only so, but in the hour of man’s departure neither silver nor gold nor precious stones nor pearls accompany him, but only Torah and good works, as it is said, When thou walkest it shall lead thee; when thou liest down it shall watch over thee; and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee (Prov. vi. 22):—when thou walkest it shall lead thee—in this world; when thou liest down it shall watch over thee—in the grave; and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee—in the world to come. And it says, The silver is mine, and the gold is
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mine, saith the Lord of hosts (Haggai ii. 8). (10.) Five pos. sessions the Holy One, blessed be he, made especially his own in his world, and these are they, The Torah, heaven and earth, Abraham, Israel, and the house of the sanctuary. Whence know we this of the Torah? Because it is written, The Lord possessed me as the beginning of his way, before his works, from of old (Prov. viii. 22). Whence of heaven and earth? Because it is written, Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what manner of place for my rest? (Isaiah lxvi. 1); and it says, How manifold are thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy possessions (Psalm civ. 24). Whence of Abraham? Because it is written, And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis xiv. 19). Whence of Israel? Because it is written, Till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over which thou hast acquired (Exod. xv. 16); and it says, As for the saints that are in the earth, they are noble ones in whom is all my delight (Psalm xvi. 3). Whence of the house of the sanctuary? Because it is written, The place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have prepared (Exod. xv. 17); and it says, And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain which his right hand had acquired (Psalm lxxviii. 54). (11). Whatsoever the Holy One, blessed be he, created, in his world he created but for his glory, as it is said, Everything that is called by my name, it is for my glory I have created it, I have formed it, yea, I have made it (Isaiah xliii. 7); and it says, The Lord shall reign for ever and ever (Exod. xv. 18).
Rabbi Chananya, the son of Akashya, said, The Holy One, blessed be he, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore he gave them a copious Torah and many commandments, as it is said, It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah and make it honorable (Isaiah xlii. 21).
“It is our duty,” etc., {pr. 262}. Mourner’s Kaddish, {pr. 263}.
{file “Service for the Conclusion of the Sabbath”}
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SERVICE FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE SABBATH
Psalm cxliv.
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: my lovingkindness, and my fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I take refuge: who subdueth my people under me. Lord, what is man, that thou regardest him? or the son of man, that thou takest account of him? Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Flash forth lightning, and scatter them: send out thine arrows, and discomfit them. Stretch forth thine hands from above; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of strangers; whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a harp of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword. Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.—When our sons shall be as plants grown tall in their youth, and our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; when our garners are full, affording all manner of store, and our sheep bring forth by thousands; yea, are multiplied by tens of thousands in our fields; when our oxen are well laden; when there is no breach and no surrender; and no
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lamentation in our streets; happy is the people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is the people, whose God is the Lord.
Psalm lxvii.
For the Chief Musician; on Neginoth. A Psalm, A Song. May God be gracious unto us, and bless us; may he cause his face to shine upon us. (Selah.) That thy way may be known upon the earth, thy salvation among all nations. Let the peoples give thanks unto thee, O God; let all the peoples give thanks unto thee. O let the nations rejoice and exult: for thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, and lead the nations upon the earth. (Selah.) Let the peoples give thanks unto thee, O God; let all the peoples give thanks unto thee. The earth hath yielded her increase: God, even our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
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For Evening Service, Amidah and Kaddish to “And say ye Amen,” see pp. {prr. 128}–{prr. 149}. Then say the following:
And let the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Psalm xci.
He that dwelleth in the shelter of the Most High abideth under the shadow of the Almighty. I say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.—For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
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{cont}He shall cover thee with his pinions, and under his wings shalt thou take refuge: his truth shall be a shield and a buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day; of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the plague that ravageth at noon day. A thousand may fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; it shall not come nigh unto thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou look on, and see the retribution of the wicked. For thou, O Lord, art my refuge.—Thou hast made the Most High thy dwelling place; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any scourge come nigh thy tent. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee upon their hands, lest thou strike thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: upon the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample.—Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he knoweth my name. When he calleth upon me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him and honor him. With length of days will I satisfy him, and will let him see my salvation. Repeat the last verse.
But thou art holy, O thou that dwellest amid the praises of Israel And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. {fr. *}And they receive sanction the one from the other, and say, Holy in the highest heavens, the place of his divine abode; holy upon earth, the work of his might; holy for ever and to all eternity is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of the radiance
{fn. *. The Chaldee paraphrase of the preceding verse.}
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of his glory. Then a wind lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing (saying), Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place. {fr. *}Then a wind lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, of those who uttered praises, and said, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from the region of his divine abode. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. {fr. *}The kingdom of the Lord endureth for ever and to all eternity. O Lord, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and direct their heart unto thee. And he, being merciful, forgiveth iniquity and destroyeth not: yea, many a time he turneth his anger away, and doth not stir up all his wrath. For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, and abounding in lovingkindness to all them that call upon thee. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy Law is truth. Thou wilt show truth to Jacob and lovingkindness to Abraham, according as thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. Blessed be the Lord day by day; if one burdeneth us, God is our salvation. (Selah). The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah.) O Lord of hosts, happy is the man who trusteth in thee. Save, Lord: may the King answer us on the day when we call. Blessed is our God, who hath created us for his glory, and hath separated us from them that go astray, and hath given us the Law of truth and planted everlasting life in our midst. May he open our heart unto his Law, and place his love and fear within our hearts, that we
{fn. *. The Chaldee paraphrase of the preceding verse.}
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may do his will and serve him with a perfect heart, that we may not labor in vain, nor bring forth for confusion. May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we may keep thy statutes in this world, and be worthy to live to witness and inherit happiness and blessing in the days of the Messiah and in the life of the world to come. To the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee, and not be silent: O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose trust the Lord is. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in Jah the Lord is an everlasting rock. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, Lord. It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.
Should a Festival occur on any day of the following week, “And let the pleasantness,” etc., and “But thou art holy,” are not said. If the Fast of the Ninth of Ab commences at the termination of the Sabbath, “And let the pleasantness,” etc., is omitted.
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Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days; and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
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Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted. extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he.; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye Amen.
Cong.—Accept our prayer in mercy and in favor.
Reader.—May the prayers and supplications of all Israel be accepted by their Father who is in heaven; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Reader.—May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Reader.—He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
On Chanukah the lights are here kindled by the Reader.
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And God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a company of peoples; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham. From the God of thy father—
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may he help thee,—and the Almighty—may he bless thee with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, blessings of the breasts and the womb. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: may they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that is prince among his brethren. And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground, thy corn and thy wine and thine oil, the offspring of thy kine and the young of thy flock, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all peoples: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness; and he will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
The angel who hath redeemed me from all evil bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and behold ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. The Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as you are, and bless you, as he hath promised you.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the offspring of thy kine, and the young of thy flock. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless
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all the work of thy hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow. For the Lord thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, a people saved by the Lora, the shield of thy help, and that is the sword of thy majesty! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
I have blotted out, as a cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a mist, thy sins; return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it; shout, ye nethermost parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, and forest, and every tree therein; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded for ever and ever. And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jah the Lord is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is made known in all the earth. Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. And one shall say in that day, Lo, this is our God;
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we have waited for him that he should save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. And abundance of salvation, wisdom and knows. edge shall be the steadfastness of thy times: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. And David prospered in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. He hath rescued my soul in peace so that none might come nigh me, for they were many that were striving with me. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it; as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan that he died not. And the rescued of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness And the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
He createth the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains (and he said), Thine are we, David, and on thy side, O son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to him that helpeth thee; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them chiefs of the band. And thus ye shall say, All hail, and peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Rabbi Jochanan said, In every passage where thou findest
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the greatness of God mentioned, there thou findest also his humility. This is written in the Law, repeated in the Prophets, and a third time stated in the Writings.{fr. *} It is written in the Law, for the Lord your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and revered God, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh a bribe. And it is written afterwards, He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. It is repeated in the Prophets, as it is written, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. It is a third time stated in the Writings, Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol ye him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, anti rejoice before him. And it is written afterwards, A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us. And ye that cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day. For the Lord hath comforted Zion: he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. It pleased the Lord for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.
Psalm cxxviii.
A Song of Degrees. Happy is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. When thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the recesses of thine house: thy children like olive plants, round about thy
{fn. *. The third division of the Holy Scriptures, the fist two being the Law and the Prophets.}
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table. Behold thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. May the Lord bless thee out of Zion: mayest thou see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, mayest thou see thy children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
The Reader says Habdalah, {pr. 310}, omitting the Introductory Verses.
It is our duty to praise the Lord of all things, to ascribe greatness to him who formed the world in the beginning, since he hath not made us like the nations of other lands, and hath not placed us like other families of the earth, since he hath not assigned unto us a portion as unto them, nor a lot as unto all their multitude. For we bend the knee and offer worship and thanks before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, the seat of whose glory is in the heavens above, and the abode of whose might is in the loftiest heights. He is our God; there is none else: in truth he is our King; there is none besides him; as it is written in his Law, And thou shalt know this day, and lay it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
We therefore hope in thee, O Lord our God, that we may speedily behold the glory of thy might, when thou wilt remove the abominations from the earth, and the idols will be utterly cut off, when the world will be perfected under the kingdom of the Almighty, and all the children of flesh will call upon thy name, when thou wilt turn unto thyself all the wicked of the earth. Let all the inhabitants of the world perceive and know
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that unto thee every knee must bow, every tongue must swear. Before thee, O Lord our God, let them bow and fall; and unto thy glorious name let them give honor; let them all accept the yoke of thy kingdom, and do thou reign over them speedily, and for ever and ever. For the kingdom is thine, and to all eternity thou wilt reign in glory; as it is written in thy Law, The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. And it is said, And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall the Lord be One, and his name One.
The following Kaddish is said by a Mourner.
Mourner.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.
Cong. and Mourner.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.
Mourner.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—Let the name of the Lord be blessed from this time forth and for evermore.
Mourner.—May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
Cong.—My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Mourner.—He who maketh peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel; and say ye, Amen.
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THE HABDALAH SERVICE
A cup of wine is taken in the right hand, and the following is said:—
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jah the Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing be upon thy people. (Selah.) The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Selah.) The Jews had light and joy and gladness and honor. So be it with us. I will lift the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe who createst the fruit of the vine.
The spice-box is taken, and the following is said:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe who createst divers kinds of spices.
The hands are spread towards the light, and the following is said:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who createst the light of the fire.
The cup is again taken in the right hand, and the following is said:—
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who makest a distinction between holy and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel
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and other nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest a distinction between holy and profane.
$May he who maketh a distinction between holy and profane pardon our sins; our offspring and our possessions may he multiply as the sand, and as the stars in the night.
The day hath declined like the palm tree’s shade; I call upon God who performeth all things for me; the watchman saith, The morning cometh, though it now be night.
Thy righteousness is like Mount Tabor: O pass thou wholly over my sins; let them be as yesterday which is past, and as a watch in the night.
The season of mine oblations is over: would that rest again were mine! I am weary with my groaning; in my tears I melt away every night.
Hear my voice, lee it not be cast away; open to me the lofty gate, for my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.
Be entreated, O dreaded and awful God; while I cry, grant me thy redemption, in the twilight, in the evening of the day, yea, in the blackness of the night.
I call upon thee, Lord, save thou me; make me to know the path of life; from pining sickness snatch thou me, from day to night.
Cleanse the impurity of my deeds, lest my foes should say, Where is the God that made me, who giveth songs in the night?
We are like clay in thy hand; forgive, we beseech thee, our sins both light and grave, and day shall pour forth the word unto day, and night unto night.
May he who maketh a distinction between holy and profane pardon our sins; our offspring and our possessions may he multiply as the sand, and as the stars in the night./$
~hr
{file “Meditation and Blessings on Taking the Lulab”}