https://staging.thenewjew.org/siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.xml /siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings xml siddur-page Morning Blessings Morning Blessings, pages 101, with pointed Hebrew, English, and transliteration. The New Jew /index.xml Siddurim /siddur.xml Siddur Lev Shalem (Excerpts) /siddur/lev-shalem.xml Morning Blessings /siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.xml https://staging.thenewjew.org/siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings https://staging.thenewjew.org/siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.json <_xml>https://staging.thenewjew.org/siddur/lev-shalem/lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.xml lev-shalem Siddur Lev Shalem (Excerpts) Ashkenaz lev-05-101-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings
Shabbat and Festivals - Morning Service
Morning Blessings 101 5
שחרית לשבת ויום טוב sha|cha|RIT le|sha|BAT ve|YOM tov sha|ḥa|RITH le|shab|BATH ve|YOM ṭov sha|ḥa|RIT le|shab|BAT ve|YOM tov sha|cha|RIS l'sha|BOS v'YOYM toyv Shabbat and Festivals - Morning Service
ברכות השחר bir|CHOT ha|sha|CHAR bir|KHOTH has|sha|ḥAR bir|KHOT has|sha|ḥAR bir|CHOYS ha|sha|CHAR Morning Blessings 101
heading Prayers upon Entering the Synagogue Passage מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב, מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַאֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ, אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ. יְהֹוָה אָהַבְתִּי מְעוֹן בֵּיתֶךָ, וּמְקוֹם מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ. וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְאֶכְרָעָה, אֶבְרְכָה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה עֹשִׂי. וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ יְהֹוָה, עֵת רָצוֹן, אֱלֹהִים בְּרָב־חַסְדֶּךָ, עֲנֵנִי בֶּאֱמֶת יִשְׁעֶךָ. mah to|VU o|ha|LE|cha ya-a|KOV, mish|ke|no|TE|cha yis|ra-EL. va-a|NI b'ROV chas|de|CHA a|VO vei|TE|cha, esh|ta|cha|VEH el hei|CHAL kodsh|CHA b'yir|a|TE|cha. a|do|NAI a|HAV|ti me-ON bei|TE|cha, u|me|KOM mish|KAN k'vo|DE|cha. va-a|NI esh|ta|cha|VEH ve-ech|ra-AH, ev|re|CHAH lif|NEI a|do|NAI o|SI. va-a|NI t'fi|la|TI le|CHA a|do|NAI, et ra|TZON, e|lo|HIM b'rav-chas|DE|cha, a|ne|NI be-e|MET yish|E|cha. mah ṭo|VU ʾo|ha|LE|kha ya|ʿa|QOV, mish|ke|no|THE|kha yiś|ra|ʾEL. va|ʾa|NI be|ROV ḥas|de|KHA ʾa|VOʾ ve|THE|kha, ʾesh|ta|ḥa|VEH ʾel he|KHAL qodhsh|KHA be|yir|ʾa|THE|kha. a|do|NAI ʾa|HAV|ti me|ʿON be|THE|kha, u|me|QOM mish|KAN ke|vo|DHE|kha. va|ʾa|NI ʾesh|ta|ḥa|VEH ve|ʾekh|ra|ʿAH, ʾev|re|KHAH lif|NE a|do|NAI ʿo|śI. va|ʾa|NI the|fil|la|THI le|KHA a|do|NAI, ʿeth ra|TZON, ʾe|lo|HIM be|rav-ḥas|DE|kha, ʿa|ne|NI be|ʾe|METH yish|ʿE|kha. mah to|VU o|ha|LE|kha ya|ʿa|QOV, mish|ke|no|TE|kha yis|ra|EL. va|a|NI be|ROV ḥas|de|KHA a|VO ve|TE|kha, esh|ta|ḥa|VEH el he|KHAL qodsh|KHA be|yir|a|TE|kha. a|do|NAI a|HAV|ti me|ʿON be|TE|kha, u|me|QOM mish|KAN ke|vo|DE|kha. va|a|NI esh|ta|ḥa|VEH ve|ekh|ra|ʿAH, ev|re|KHAH lif|NE a|do|NAI ʿo|SI. va|a|NI te|fil|la|TI le|KHA a|do|NAI, ʿet ra|TZON, e|lo|HIM be|rav-ḥas|DE|kha, ʿa|ne|NI be|e|MET yish|ʿE|kha. mah toy|VU oy|ho|LE|cho ya-a|KOYV, mish|k'noy|SE|cho yis|ro-EIL. va-a|NI b'ROYV chas|d'CHO o|VOY vei|SE|cho, esh|ta|cha|VEH el hei|CHAL kodsh|CHO b'yir|o|SE|cho. a|do|NOY o|HAV|ti m'OYN bei|SE|cho, um'|KOYM mish|KAN k'voy|DE|cho. va-a|NI esh|ta|cha|VEH v'ech|ro-OH, ev|r'CHOH lif|NEI a|do|NOY oy|SI. va-a|NI s'fi|lo|SI l'CHO a|do|NOY, eis ro|TZOYN, e|loy|HIM b'rov-chas|DE|cho, a|nei|NI be-e|MES yish|E|cho. Mah tovu ohalekha ya-akov, mishk’notekha yisrael. Va-ani b’rov hasd’kha avo veitekha, esh·tahaveh el heikhal kodsh’kha b’yiratekha. Adonai ahavti me’on beitekha, u-m’kom mishkan k’vodekha. Va-ani esh·tahaveh v’ekhra-ah, evr’khah lifnei Adonai osi. Va-ani t’filati l’kha, Adonai, eit ratzon. Elohim b’rov hasdekha, aneini be-emet yishekha. How lovely are your dwellings, Jacob; your sanctuaries, people of Israel! As for me, through Your great kindness I enter Your house; in awe of You, I bow toward Your holy sanctuary. Adonai, I love Your house, the place where Your glory dwells. I will bow and prostrate myself, kneel before Adonai my creator. My prayers are to You, Adonai, in the hope that this is a favorable time; God, in Your abundant love, respond to me with faithful deliverance. heading A MEDITATION BEFORE PRAYER Passage שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶּשְׁךָ צוּרִי וּמִשְׂגַּבִּי אֶעֱרֹךְ לְפָנֶיךָ שַׁחֲרִי וְגַם עַרְבִּי. לִפְנֵי גְדֻלָּתְךָ אֶעֱמֹד וְאֶבָּהֵל כִּי עֵינְךָ תִרְאֶה כָל מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבִּי. מַה זֶּה אֲשֶׁר יוּכַל הַלֵּב וְהַלָּשׁוֹן לַעֲשׂוֹת וּמַה כֹּחַ רוּחִי בְּתוֹךְ קִרְבִּי. הִנֵּה לְךָ תִּיטַב זִמְרַת אֱנוֹשׁ עַל כֵּן אוֹדְךָ בְּעוֹד תִּהְיֶה נִשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ בִּי. sha|CHAR a|va|kesh|CHA tzu|RI u|mis|ga|BI e-e|ROCH le|fa|NE|cha sha|cha|RI ve|GAM ar|BI. lif|NEI g'du|lat|CHA e-e|MOD ve-e|ba|HEL ki ei|ne|CHA tir|EH chol mach|she|VOT li|BI. mah zeh a|SHER yu|CHAL ha|LEV ve|ha|la|SHON la-a|SOT u|MAH koach ru|CHI b'TOCH kir|BI. hi|NEH le|CHA ti|TAV zim|RAT e|NOSH al ken od|CHA be-OD tih|YEH nish|MAT e|LOAH bi. sha|ḥAR ʾa|vaq|qesh|KHA tzu|RI u|miś|gab|BI ʾe|ʿe|ROKH le|fa|NE|kha sha|ḥa|RI ve|GHAM ʿar|BI. lif|NE ghe|dhul|la|the|KHA ʾe|ʿe|MODH ve|ʾeb|ba|HEL ki ʿe|ne|KHA thir|ʾEH khol maḥ|she|VOTH lib|BI. mah zeh ʾa|SHER yu|KHAL hal|LEV ve|hal|la|SHON la|ʿa|śOTH u|MAH koaḥ ru|ḥI be|THOKH qir|BI. hin|NEH le|KHA ti|ṭAV zim|RATH ʾe|NOSH ʿal ken ʾo|dhe|KHA be|ʿODH tih|YEH nish|MATH ʾe|LOAH bi. sha|ḥAR a|vaq|qesh|KHA tzu|RI u|mis|gab|BI e|ʿe|ROKH le|fa|NE|kha sha|ḥa|RI ve|GAM ʿar|BI. lif|NE ge|dul|la|te|KHA e|ʿe|MOD ve|eb|ba|HEL ki ʿe|ne|KHA tir|EH khol maḥ|she|VOT lib|BI. mah zeh a|SHER yu|KHAL hal|LEV ve|hal|la|SHON la|ʿa|SOT u|MAH koaḥ ru|ḥI be|TOKH qir|BI. hin|NEH le|KHA ti|TAV zim|RAT e|NOSH ʿal ken o|de|KHA be|ʿOD tih|YEH nish|MAT e|LOAH bi. sha|CHAR a|va|kesh|CHO tzu|RI u|mis|ga|BI e-e|ROYCH l'fo|NE|cho sha|cha|RI v'GAM ar|BI. lif|NEI g'du|los'|CHO e-e|MOYD v'e|bo|HEIL ki ein'|CHO sir|EH chol mach|sh'VOYS li|BI. mah zeh a|SHER yu|CHAL ha|LEIV v'ha|lo|SHOYN la-a|SOYS u|MAH koyach ru|CHI b'SOYCH kir|BI. hi|NEIH l'CHO ti|TAV zim|RAS e|NOYSH al kein oyd'|CHO b'OYD tih|YEH nish|MAS e|LOYAH bi. Shahar avakesh·kha tzuri u-misgabi erokh l’fanekha shaḥri v’gam arbi. Lifnei g’dulatakh emod v’ebahel ki ein’kha tireh kol maḥsh’vot libi. Mah zeh asher yukhal ha-lev v’halashon la-asot u-mah ko-aḥ ruḥi b’tokh kirbi. Hineih l’kha titav zimrat enosh al ken od’kha b’od tihyeh nishmat elo-ah bi. At dawn I seek You, my refuge, my haven; morning and evening, to You I pray, though facing Your greatness, I am awed and confused, for You know already what I would think and say. What might in thought and speech can there be? What power the spirit within me? Yet, You treasure the sound of human song; and so would I thank You, as long as Your soul is in me.
Commentary HOW LOVELY מַה־טֹּבוּ. Numbers 24:5. These words were uttered by the gentile prophet Balaam, who had been hired to curse Israel but instead blessed them. Many rabbinic readings of this verse understood the “dwellings of Jacob” (literally, “tents of Jacob”) and the “sanctuaries of Israel” to refer to houses of study and prayer houses (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 105b, for instance). Interestingly, we enter the synagogue with the words of a non-Jew, here used to praise the synagogue. This verse was added to the service in the late Middle Ages, when European royal courts became more formal, which warranted a similarly formal introduction to our worship of the Sovereign of All.
Commentary AS FOR ME וַאֲנִי. Three of the verses quoted here begin with the word ani, “I.” The worshipper enters the synagogue as an individual and then joins the community. The first verse mentions bowing toward the sanctuary; some people bow in the direction of the ark upon entering the synagogue.
Commentary I ENTER YOUR HOUSE אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ. Psalm 5:8. Although the verse originally referred to the Temple in Jerusalem, references describing the Temple came to be applied to the synagogue, which the sages called a mikdash m’at, “a minor sanctuary.” In this, they were interpreting the prophet Ezekiel, who assures the exiles in Babylonia that God is with them in the “small sanctuaries” of foreign lands (Ezekiel 11:16).
Commentary I LOVE YOUR HOUSE אָהַבְתִּי מְעוֹן בֵּיתֶךָ. Psalm 26:8. Here again, the original reference was to the Temple, but it was later understood to describe the synagogue.
Commentary I WILL BOW AND PROSTRATE MYSELF וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְאֶכְרָעָה. The liturgy recasts Psalm 95:6 from the plural to the singular, as all the passages opening the service are phrased in the singular. The ancient rabbis declared that the bowing performed during the Amidah fulfilled the function of kneeling and prostration. Today, prostration takes place in the synagogue only on the High Holy Days, though some medieval pietistic practices emphasized kneeling while praying at home.
Commentary RESPOND TO ME עֲנֵנִי. Psalm 69:14. Perhaps the most primal prayer: may our words be heard and responded to.
Commentary AT DAWN I SEEK YOU שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶּשְׁךָ. This poem was written by Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021–1058, Spain) as a morning meditation to be recited by the prayer leader. It begins with a confession of human inadequacy, even to offer prayers, but ends by evoking the soul—the spirit of God in each human being, and the source of human inspiration.
MarginNote Prayer We enter the synagogue in conversation with ourselves. And as we engage in prayer, this conversation becomes one conducted with God.
MarginNote Worship with Joy A person does not experience the presence of God through sadness or laziness, but through joy, as is written regarding Elisha, the prophet: “[He said:] ‘Now bring a musician to me’—and when the musician played, the hand of God was upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). —MIDRASH ON PSALMS
MarginNote A Prayer When Entering the Synagogue May the offerings of my lips be acceptable to You. May my thoughts be clear, may I be instructed in Your ways, and may I be at peace with myself and my neighbors. —based on THE ZOHAR
parent Siddur Lev Shalem (Excerpts) /siddur/lev-shalem.xml prev Morning Blessings /siddur/lev-shalem/lev-04-99-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.xml next Morning Blessings /siddur/lev-shalem/lev-06-102-shabbat-and-festivals-morning-service-morning-blessings.xml