Deep Dive into Avinu Malkeinu

Introduction

Avinu Malkeinu is a central prayer of the ten days of repentance, which begin on Rosh Hashanah and conclude on Yom Kippur. Both the words and the melody evoke deep emotion as the congregation connects with God as a parent and monarch. On Yom Kippur, it is recited throughout the day, culminating with its recitation as part of the Neilah service in the final moments of the holiday. The earliest known version is in Seder Rav Amram (10th c) and the number of verses was 25. In various Sephardic rites, the verses number between 29-32; in German versions, 38; Polish, 44; and Salonika, 53.

מחזור אשכנז ליום כיפור, תפלת נעילה, אבינו מלכנו כ״א-כ״ה

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָתְמֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר חַיִּים טוֹבִים: אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָתְמֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר גְּאֻלָּה וִישׁוּעָה: אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָתְמֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה: אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָתְמֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר זְכֻיּוֹת: אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָתְמֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר סְלִיחָה וּמְחִילָה:

Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz, Neilah; Concluding Service, Avinu Malkenu 21-25

Our Father, our King! seal us in the Book of Good Life. Our Father, our King! seal us in the Book of Redemption and Deliverance. Our Father, our King! seal us in the Book of Maintenance and Sustenance. Our Father, our King! seal us in the Book of Merits. Our Father, our King!

ברכות ל״ד ב:נ״ה-נ״ו

א"ר אבהו מקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין צדיקים גמורים אינם עומדין שנאמר

Berakhot 34b:22

R. Abbahu teaches: The place where those who do teshuva stand, the perfectly righteous are unable to stand.

תענית כ״ה ב:ד׳-ה׳

ת"ר מעשה ברבי אליעזר שגזר שלש עשרה תעניות על הצבור ולא ירדו גשמים באחרונה התחילו הצבור לצאת אמר להם תקנתם קברים לעצמכם געו כל העם בבכיה וירדו גשמים שוב מעשה בר' אליעזר שירד לפני התיבה ואמר עשרים וארבע ברכות ולא נענה ירד רבי עקיבא אחריו ואמר אבינו מלכנו אין לנו מלך אלא אתה אבינו מלכנו למענך רחם עלינו וירדו גשמים הוו מרנני רבנן יצתה בת קול ואמרה לא מפני שזה גדול מזה אלא שזה מעביר על מדותיו וזה אינו מעביר על מדותיו

Taanit 25b:4-5

The Sages taught: An incident occurred involving Rabbi Eliezer, who decreed a complete cycle of thirteen fasts upon the congregation, but rain did not fall. At the end of the last fast, the congregation began to exit the synagogue. He said to them: Have you prepared graves for yourselves? If rain does not fall, we will all die of hunger. All the people burst into tears, and rain fell. There was another incident involving Rabbi Eliezer, who descended to serve as prayer leader before the ark on a fast day. And he recited twenty-four blessings, but he was not answered. Rabbi Akiva descended before the ark after him and said: Our Father, our King, we have no king other than You. Our Father, our King, for Your sake, have mercy on us. And rain immediately fell. The Sages were whispering among themselves that Rabbi Akiva was answered while his teacher, Rabbi Eliezer, was not. A Divine Voice emerged and said: It is not because this Sage, Rabbi Akiva, is greater than that one, Rabbi Eliezer, but that this one is forgiving, and that one is not forgiving. God responded to Rabbi Akiva’s forgiving nature in kind by sending rain.

משנה ברורה תרכ״ב:י״ג

(יג) (יג) ולא אבינו מלכנו - שהוא שאלת צרכים ואין שואלין בשבת ובחול אומרים אם לא שהזמן קצר וצריך למהר כדי להתפלל נעילה ביום וטוב לומר מעט סליחות בנחת מהרבה במרוצה:

Mishnah Berurah 622:13

...(13) Nor Avinu Malkeinu -- Since it is a request for material goods and one does not make an ask like that on Shabbat. And during the week we say it. If the time is not short and one needs to hurry in order to pray Neilah during the day, and it is good to say a few selichot easily than to rush many of them.

Why don't we say Avinu Malkeinu on Shabbat? Because Rabbi Akiva first said it on a public fast and no public fast can be ordered to fall on Shabbat. (Orchot Hayyim). It is also seen as a petitionary prayer.

The five repetitions of 'Avinu Malkeinu inscribe us in a book..' corresponds to the five Books of Moses. Each version relates to a different book. (Days of Awe, S.Y. Agnon pg.62)

Mkoreinu Eloheinu, Our Source, our God, inscribe us in the book of merit.
Mkoreinu Eloheinu, Our Source, our God, inscribe us in the book of forgiveness and atonement.
Mkoreinu Eloheinu, Our Source, our God, we have done wrong in Your presence.
Mkoreinu Eloheinu, Our Source, our God, renew us for a good year.
Mkoreinu Eloheinu, Our Source, our God, nullify the plans of any who may seek to do us harm. (Kol Haneshama, Reconstructing Judaism)
Loving Father, Infinite Power, Gentle, Forgiving, Lofty, Inscrutable, Avinu Malkeinu
Compassionate Mother, Omnipotent Lord, Comforting Presence, Fathomless Mystery, Avinu Malkeinu
Our Rock and Redeemer, Life of the Universe, Close to us Always, Impossibly Far, Avinu Malkeinu
Embracing, Confounding, Accepter of our frailty, Decreeing our end, Avinu Malkeinu
Avinu Malkeinu:
Shema Koleinu, We speak this sacred truth aloud
Chatanu Lefanecha, We stand as one, accountable for our sins
Hamol Aleinu v'al olaleinu v'tapeinu. We yearn for true compassion--for our children most of all.
Kaleighs dever, here, v'ra'v mei'aleinu. May we resist the ravages of illness fear and despair,
Chadeish yameinu Shanah Tovah. May we taste anew the sweetness of each day.
Haneiniu v'aneinu, ki ein banu ma'asim... However small our deeds, let us see their power to heal. May we save lives through compassion, generosity and justice. (Mishkan HaNefesh)