אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶֽךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּֽכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁיְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו: תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ וַאֲבָרְכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בְּכָל־יוֹם אֲבָרְכֶֽךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵֽקֶר: דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶֽיךָ יַגִּֽידוּ: הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶֽךָ וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאֹתֶֽיךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה: וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶֽיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְדֻלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶֽנָּה: זֵֽכֶר רַב־טוּבְךָ יַבִּֽיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ: חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם יְהֹוָה אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וּגְדָל־חָֽסֶד: טוֹב־יְהֹוָה לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו: יוֹדֽוּךָ יְהֹוָה כָּל־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶֽיךָ יְבָרְכֽוּכָה: כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּֽרוּ: לְהוֹדִֽיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ: מַלְכוּתְךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל־עֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּךָ בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדֹר: סוֹמֵךְ יְהֹוָה לְכָל־הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל־הַכְּפוּפִים: עֵינֵי־כֹל אֵלֶֽיךָ יְשַׂבֵּֽרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן־לָהֶם אֶת־אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ: פּוֹתֵֽחַ אֶת־יָדֶֽךָ וּמַשְׂבִּֽיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן: צַדִּיק יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל־מַעֲשָׂיו: קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻֽהוּ בֶאֱמֶת: רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת־שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם: שׁוֹמֵר יְהֹוָה אֶת־כָּל־אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל־הָרְשָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד: תְּהִלַּת יְהֹוָה יְדַבֶּר פִּי וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל־בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ:

Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house; may they continue to praise You, Selah. Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus; Fortunate is the people for whom Adonoy is their God. A praise by David! I will exalt You, my God, the King, and bless Your Name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and extol Your Name forever and ever. Adonoy is great and highly extolled, and His greatness is unfathomable. One generation to another will laud Your works and declare Your mighty acts. The splendor of Your glorious majesty, and the words of Your wonders I will speak. Of Your awesome might, they will speak and Your greatness I will recount. They will make mention of Your bountifulness, and joyfully exult in Your righteousness. Adonoy is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in kindliness. Adonoy is good to all, His mercy encompasses all His works. All Your works will thank You, Adonoy, and Your pious ones will bless You. Of the honor of Your kingship, they will speak and Your might they will declare. To reveal to men His mighty acts, and the glorious splendor of His kingship. Your kingship is the kingship for all times, and Your dominion is in every generation. Adonoy supports all the fallen, and straightens all the bent. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food at its proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living being. Adonoy is just in all His ways and benevolent in all His deeds. Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The will of those who fear Him He fulfills; He hears their cry and delivers them. Adonoy watches over all those who love Him, and will destroy all the wicked. Praise of Adonoy my mouth will declare, and all flesh will bless His holy Name forever and ever. And we will bless God from now and forever. Praise God.

How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful?

How could anyone ever tell you you were less than whole?

How could anyone fail to notice that our loving is a miracle?

How deeply you're connected to my soul.

(by Libby Roderick)

בֶּן אָדָם, מַה לְּךָ נִרְדָּם, קוּם קְרָא בְּתַחֲנוּנִים. שְׁפֹךְ שִׂיחָה, דְּרֹשׁ סְלִיחָה, מֵאֲדוֹן הָאֲדוֹנִים. רְחַץ וּטְהַר, וְאַל תְּאַחַר, בְּטֶרֶם יָמִים פּוֹנִים. וּמְהֵרָה, רוּץ לְעֶזְרָה, לִפְנֵי שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנִים. וּמִפֶּשַׁע, וְגַם רֶשַׁע, בְּרַח וּפְחַד מֵאֲסוֹנִים. אָנָּא שְׁעֵה, שִׁמְךָ יוֹדְעֵי, יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶאֱמָנִים. לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה. וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים: עֲמֹד כְּגֶבֶר, וְהִתְגַּבֵּר, לְהִתְוַדּוֹת עַל חֲטָאִים. יָהּ אֵל דְּרֹשׁ, בְּכֹבֶד רֹאשׁ, לְכַפֵּר עַל פְּשָׁעִים. כִּי לְעוֹלָם, לֹא נֶעְלָם, מִמֶּנּוּ נִפְלָאִים. וְכָל מַאֲמָר, אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמַר, לְפָנָיו הֵם נִקְרָאִים. הַמְּרַחֵם, הוּא יְרַחֵם, עָלֵינוּ כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים:

O man, why are you sleeping? Arise, call out with supplications! Pour out speech, seek forgiveness from the Master of masters. Run and be purified, and do not delay before the days pass on. And quickly run for help before the One who dwells in the [heavenly] abodes. And from rebellion and also evil, escape and fear disasters./ Please answer those who know Your name, the faithful Israel. To You Lord is charity, and to us is shamefacedness./ Stand like a man and be strong to confess sins. The Lord God seek with a serious head, to atone for rebellious sins. For never are unrevealed things hidden from Him. And every statement that is said is read in front of Him./ The merciful One, have mercy like a father upon his children.

לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה. וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים: מַה נִּתְאוֹנֵן וּמַה נֹּאמַר. מַה נְּדַבֵּר וּמַה נִּצְטַדָּק: נַחְפְּשָׂה דְרָכֵינוּ וְנַחְקֹרָה. וְנָשׁוּבָה אֵלֶיךָ: כִּי יְמִינְךָ פְּשׁוּטָה. לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים: שָׁבִים אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל לֵב. שַׁוְעָתָם תְּקַבֵּל בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ: בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים בָּאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ. כְּדַלִּים וּכְרָשִׁים דָּפַקְנוּ דְלָתֶיךָ: דְּלָתֶיךָ דָּפַקְנוּ רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן. אַל תְּשִׁיבֵנוּ רֵיקָם מִלְּפָנֶיךָ: מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ רֵיקָם אַל תְּשִׁיבֵנוּ. כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה: שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה. עָדֶיךָ כָּל בָּשָׂר יָבֹאוּ: שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּחִנָּה. אֵלֶיךָ כָּל הָרוּחוֹת יָבֹאוּ: יָבֹאוּ אֵלֶיךָ הָרוּחוֹת. וְכָל הַנְּשָׁמָה: הַנְּשָׁמָה לָךְ וְהַגּוּף פָּעֳלָךְ. חוּסָה עַל עֲמָלָךְ: הַנְּשָׁמָה לָךְ וְהַגּוּף פָּעֳלָךְ. צוּר אֲשֶׁר אֵין דּוֹמֶה לָךְ. חוּסָה עַל עֲמָלָךְ: הַנְּשָׁמָה לָךְ וְהַגּוּף פָּעֳלָךְ. יהוה עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ: אָתָאנוּ עַל שִׁמְךָ. יהוה עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ: בַּעֲבוּר שִׁמְךָ. כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם שְׁמֶךָ: שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ. יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ: שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ. אַל תַּנִּיחֵנוּ יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ: אֱלֹהֵינוּ בּוֹשְׁנוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ. וְנִכְלַמְנוּ בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ: אֵין לָנוּ פֶּה לְהָשִׁיב. וְלֹא מֵצַח לְהָרִים רֹאשׁ: כִּי רַבּוּ מְשׁוּבוֹתֵינוּ. לְךָ חָטָאנוּ: חָטָאנוּ עִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. הֶעֱוִינוּ הִרְשָׁעְנוּ: מַה נֹּאמַר לְפָנֶיךָ יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ. מַה נְּדַבֵּר וּמַה נִּצְטַדָּק: מַה נֹּאמַר לְפָנֶיךָ יוֹשֵׁב מָרוֹם. וּמַהּ נְּסַפֵּר לְפָנֶיךָ שׁוֹכֵן שְׁחָקִים: הֲלֹא הַנִּסְתָּרוֹת וְהַנִּגְלוֹת. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ: אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ רָזֵי עוֹלָם. וְתַעֲלוּמוֹת סִתְרֵי כָל חָי: אַתָּה חוֹפֵשׂ כָּל חַדְרֵי בָטֶן. רוֹאֶה כְלָיוֹת וָלֵב: אֵין דָּבָר נֶעְלָם מִמָּךְ. וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ: אִם עֲוֹנֵינוּ עָנוּ בָנוּ. יהוה עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ: אִם עֲוֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר יָהּ. אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד: כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה. לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא: כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים. בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה אוֹר: כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקוֹתֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ. כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים:

To you, Lord, is justice and to us is shamefacedness. How (lit., what) shall we complain and what shall we say? How can we speak and how can we justify ourselves? We will examine our ways and contemplate, and return to You. For Your right hand is extended, to accept the ones returning to You. They are returning to You with all their hearts; accept, in Your mercy, their beseeching. For Your great mercy we have come before You; like weak and impoverished people we have knocked on Your doors. On Your doors we have knocked, merciful and gracious One, do not let us return empty-handed from before You. From You, our King, do not send us back empty-handed; for You hear prayers. The One who hears prayers, to You all flesh shall come. The spirits shall come before You, and all of the souls. The soul and the body are Yours, spare Your work. The soul and the body are Yours, the Rock that none are like You, spare Your work. The soul and the body are Yours, do it for the sake of Your name. We have pleaded for Your name, do it for the sake of Your name. For the sake of Your name, for Your name is Gracious and Merciful King. Your name will be pronounced about us, Lord our God. Your name will be pronounced among us; do not put us aside, Lord our God. Our God, we are embarrassed of our actions and we are ashamed of our wrongdoings. We do not have a mouth to answer back, nor the temerity to lift up our head. For our backsliding has become great, we have sinned before You. We have sinned with our fathers, we have become criminals and wicked. What shall we say before You, the One who sits above; what will we say before the One who dwells up above? Do You not know what is hidden and revealed? You know the mysteries of the world, and what is hidden by every living being. You search the innermost parts of the abdomen; You see the kidneys and the heart. There is nothing that is lost before You, there is nothing that is concealed before Your eyes. If our sins have testified against us, Lord, do it for the sake of Your name. If You should hold on to sins, God, who will remain standing? For from You is forgiveness, so that You will be feared. For the source of life is with You, we shall see light by Your light. For it is not because of our righteousness that we cast our supplications before You, but it is rather from Your great mercy.

יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה: וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:
Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity and transgression, and sin, And Acquitter of those who repent.” “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”

Odeh La'el

(by Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld)

So take care of your soul, my friend

She is far more precious than gold

Her light is like the rising sun

Her light is like seven mornings in one

Like the light of seven suns

Odeh la’el, odeh la’el levav khoker

b’ron yakhad kokhavim

b’ron yakhad kokhavei boker

So return to your soul, my friend

She is part of heaven’s throne

May you reflect her sparkling stone

A light that shines in you alone

A light that shines from you alone

So awaken your soul, my friend

For you stand on holy ground

At night your dreams may travel far

But the day begins from where you are

The new day begins from where you are

So refresh your soul, my friend

She’s a garden, yours to tend

When you are weary bless the night

And when you rise may you bless the light

Rise and bless the morning light

אָשַֽׁמְנוּ. בָּגַֽדְנוּ. גָּזַֽלְנוּ. דִּבַּֽרְנוּ דֹּֽפִי. הֶעֱוִֽינוּ. וְהִרְשַֽׁעְנוּ. זַֽדְנוּ. חָמַֽסְנוּ. טָפַֽלְנוּ שֶֽׁקֶר. יָעַֽצְנוּ רָע. כִּזַּֽבְנוּ. לַֽצְנוּ. מָרַֽדְנוּ. נִאַֽצְנוּ. סָרַֽרְנוּ. עָוִֽינוּ. פָּשַֽׁעְנוּ. צָרַֽרְנוּ. קִשִּֽׁינוּ עֹֽרֶף. רָשַֽׁעְנוּ. שִׁחַֽתְנוּ. תִּעַֽבְנוּ. תָּעִֽינוּ. תִּעְתָּֽעְנוּ: סַֽרְנוּ מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ הַטּוֹבִים וְלֹא שָֽׁוָה לָֽנוּ. וְאַתָּה צַדִּיק עַל כָּל הַבָּא עָלֵֽינוּ. כִּי אֱמֶת עָשִֽׂיתָ וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ:
We have trespassed [against God and man, and we are devastated by our guilt]; We have betrayed [God and man, we have been ungrateful for the good done to us]; We have stolen; We have slandered; We have caused others to sin; We have caused others to commit sins for which they are called רֽשָׁעִים, wicked; We have sinned with malicious intent; We have forcibly taken other’s possessions We have added falsehood upon falsehood; We have joined with evil individuals or groups. We have given harmful advice; We have deceived; We have mocked; We have rebelled against God and His Torah; We have caused God to be angry with us; We have turned away from God’s Torah; We have sinned deliberately; We have been negligent in our performance of the commandments; We have caused our friends grief; We have been stiff-necked, refusing to admit that the cause of our suffering is our own sins. We have committed sins for which we are called רָשָׁע, [raising a hand to hit someone]. We have committed sins which are the result of moral corruption; We have committed sins which the Torah refers to as abominations; We have gone astray; We have led others astray. We have turned away from Your commandments and from Your good laws, and we have gained nothing from it. And You are the Righteous One in all [punishment] that has come upon us; for You have acted truthfully and we have acted wickedly.
סְלַח נָא לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה, כְּגֹֽדֶל חַסְדֶּֽךָ. וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה. מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה. וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
“Please pardon the sins of this nation in accordance with the greatness of Your lovingkindness; and as You forgave this people from when it left Egypt until now.” And there it is said:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
“And Adonoy said, I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָנֵּֽנוּ וַעֲנֵֽנוּ כִּי אֵין בָּֽנוּ מַעֲשִׂים עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ צְדָקָה וָחֶֽסֶד וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
Our Father, our King! be gracious to us and answer us for we have no [good] deeds: deal with us charitably and kindly and deliver us.
אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת. בּוֹחֵן לְבָבוֹת. גּוֹלֶה עֲמוּקוֹת. דּוֹבֵר צְדָקוֹת. חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ: הָדוּר בְּנִפְלָאוֹת. וָתִיק בְּנֶחָמוֹת. זוֹכֵר בְּרִית אָבוֹת. חוֹקֵר כְּלָיוֹת: חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ: טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַבְּרִיּוֹת. יוֹדֵעַ כָּל נִסְתָּרוֹת. כּוֹבֵשׁ עֲוֹנוֹת. לוֹבֵשׁ צְדָקוֹת: חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ: מָלֵא זַכִּיּוּת. נוֹרָא תְהִלּוֹת. סוֹלֵחַ עֲוֹנוֹת. עוֹנֶה בְּעֵת צָרוֹת: חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ: פּוֹעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת. צוֹפֶה עֲתִידוֹת. קוֹרֵא הַדּוֹרוֹת. רוֹכֵב עֲרָבוֹת. שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלּוֹת. תְּמִים דֵּעוֹת: חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ: אֵל רַחוּם שִׁמְךָ. אֵל חַנּוּן שִׁמְךָ. אֵל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם שִׁמְךָ. מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שִׁמְךָ. בָּנוּ נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ. יהוה עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ:
Master of pardons, Discerner of hearts, Perceiver of submerged thoughts, Proclaimer of charities; We have sinned in front of You, have mercy upon us./ Glorified by wonders, Ancient One of consolations, Rememberer of the forefathers' covenant, Examiner of [consciences]; We have sinned in front of You, have mercy upon us./ The Good who bestows good on the creatures, Knower of all concealed things, Suppressor of iniquities, Wearer of righteous acts; We have sinned in front of You, have mercy upon us./ Full of merit, Awesome One of praises, Forgiver of iniquities, Answerer in times of distress; We have sinned in front of You, have mercy upon us./ Worker of deliverances, Foreseer of future events, Announcer of the generations, Rider of clouds, Hearkener of prayers, Perfect in understanding; We have sinned in front of You, have mercy upon us./ Merciful God is Your name, Gracious God is Your name, Long-patient God is Your name; We are called by Your name, [so] Lord, do it for the sake of Your name.