Mi Chamochah
The Song of the Sea (Hebrew: שירת הים) is a poem that appears in the Book of Exodus at 15:1–18. It is followed in verses 20 and 21 by a much shorter song sung by Miriam and the other women. The Song of the Sea was sung by the Israelites after their crossing the Red Sea in safety.
Mah Tovu
The prayer begins with Numbers 24:5, where Balaam, sent to curse the Israelites, is instead overcome with awe at God and the Israelites' houses of worship.
How great are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
As for me, through Your abundant grace, I enter your house to worship with awe in Your sacred place.
O Lord, I love the House where you dwell, and the place where your glory tabernacles.
I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my Maker.
To You, Eternal One, goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favor. In Your abundant love, O God, answer me with the Truth of Your salvation.
The Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh
Question: When we bless our son on Shabbat we ask that he be like Ephraim and Manasseh. Who were they and why do we wish that our son emulate them?
Answer: Manasseh and Ephraim were Joseph's two sons that were born to him prior to his father, Jacob, arriving in Egypt. When Jacob was about to pass away, he called Joseph to his bedside and asked to bless his two sons. Jacob told Joseph that these two boys, his grandsons, are like sons to him - "Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine like Reuben and Simeon." Thus, unlike all of Jacob's other grandchildren, Manasseh and Ephraim became two independent tribes - on par with their holy uncles, Jacob's sons. They both maintained their own "flags," and when the land of Israel was divided amongst the Israelites, they both received independent portions. Jacob then blessed his two grandsons and added the following words: "With you, Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.'"
Isaac Blesses Jacob
Isaac exclaimed: “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau!” Isaac ate of the meat Jacob brought him. Then he blessed his son with the words: “And may the Lord give you of the dew of the heavens and [of] the fatness of the earth and an abundance of corn and wine. Nations shall serve you and kingdoms shall bow down to you; you shall be a master over your brothers, and your mother's sons shall bow down to you. Those who curse you shall be cursed, and those who bless you shall be blessed!”
V'shamru
V’shamru is taken from Exodus 31:16-17. Shabbat is created to give us rest and to restore the soul. “Vayinafash” is from the Hebrew word “nefesh” (soul). Shabbat is the promise that there will be a time of peace for all people. As God guards us, we guard Shabbat.
Upon Raising The Torah
The verse “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people” (Neh. 8:5) is the biblical precedent for raising an open scroll so that the entire congregation can view the Torah script.
The person who lifts the Torah traditionally opens at least three columns of the scroll before raising it up as high as possible, and then slowly turns to show the script to all assembled. This allows everyone in the congregation to see the text and proclaim v’zot ha-Torah (this is the Torah [that Moses placed before the Children of Israel]; Deut. 4:44). Some worshipers raise the edges of the tallit toward the script and then kiss the tzitzit, though the halakhic requirement is merely to bow toward the open Torah.
Aleinu
Aleinu (Hebrew: עָלֵינוּ, "it is our duty") or Aleinu leshabei'ach ("[it is] our duty to praise [God]"), meaning "it is upon us or it is our obligation or duty to praise God". It is recited at the end of each of the three daily Jewish services. It is also recited following the New Moon blessing and after a circumcision is performed. It is second only to the Kaddish (counting all its forms) as the most frequently recited prayer in current synagogue liturgy.
Priestly Blessings
May the LORD bless you and guard you –
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
(Yevhārēkh-khā Adhōnāy veyishmerēkhā ...)
May the LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you –
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
("Yāʾēr Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā viḥunnékkā ...)
May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace –
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
("Yissā Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā viyāsēm lekhā shālōm.")
Prayer for Healing
The MiSheberach is a blessing for different occasions; illness, marriage, birth, bar mitzvah, and so on. The MiSheberach was originally a prayer to honor members of a congregation who have to be called to the Torah for an aliyah. These lyrics are by Debbie Friedman and Dvorah Setel.
Prayer for a Safe Journey
May it be Your will, God, our God and the God of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace.
Blessing After a Meal
Birkat Hamazon (Hebrew: ברכת המזון ; trans. Blessing on Nourishment), known in English as the Grace After Meal is a set of Hebrew blessings that Jewish Halakha prescribes following a meal that includes at least a ke-zayit (olive sized) piece of bread or matzoh made from one or all of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt. It is a mitzvah that is written in the Torah (Deuteronomy 8:10). Birkat hamazon is typically read to oneself after ordinary meals and often sung aloud on special occasions such as the Shabbat and festivals.
Blessing Said at Circumcision
The brit milah (Hebrew: בְּרִית מִילָה, pronounced [bʁit miˈla]; "covenant of circumcision") is a Jewish religious male circumcision ceremony performed by a mohel ("circumciser") on the eighth day of a male infant's life. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal (seudat mitzvah).
