I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where does my help come?
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where does my help come?
My help comes from Adonai, who made heaven and earth.
My help comes from Adonai, who made heaven and earth.
(ו) מִיָּד רוֹמֵז הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַמַּלְאָךְ הַמְּמֻנֶּה עַל הָרוּחוֹת וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ: הָבֵא לִי רוּחַ פְּלוֹנִי שֶׁהוּא בְגַן עֵדֶן שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ פְּלוֹנִי וְתָאֳרוֹ כָּךְ וְכָךְ. לְפִי שֶׁכָל הָרוּחוֹת שֶׁעֲתִידִין לְהִבָּרְאוֹת, כֻּלָּן הֵן נִבְרָאוֹת מִיּוֹם שֶׁבָרָא הָעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה כָּל הָעוֹלָם, הֵם מְזֻמָּנִין בִּבְנֵי אָדָם, דִּכְתִיב: מַה שֶּׁהָיָה כְּבָר נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ (קהלת ו, י).
[Forty days before the birth of a child,] the Holy One of Blessing would summon the angel in charge of souls and say: “Bring Me a certain soul which is in the Garden of Eden, whose name is so-and-so, and whose form is such-and-such.” All the souls that would exist in the future were fashioned with the first human, and they will exist to the end of the world. All of them were created on the sixth day of Creation. They were designated to be the descendants of Adam, as it is said: “Whatsoever cometh into being, the name thereof was given long ago” (Eccles. 6:10).
What could it mean for you to have a name that was given to you long ago, a name that was given to you in Gan Eden - in the Garden of Eden?
(א) לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ בָּרֲכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יי וְכָל־קְ֝רָבַ֗י אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
(1) David's: Bless--O my soul/my being, Adonai and all that is within me--God's holy name.
הכי קא אמינא לך הני חמשה ברכי נפשי כנגד מי אמרן דוד לא אמרן אלא כנגד הקב"ה וכנגד נשמהמה הקב"ה מלא כל העולם אף נשמה מלאה את כל הגוף מה הקדוש ברוך הוא רואה ואינו נראה אף נשמה רואה ואינה נראית מה הקב"ה זן את כל העולם כלו אף נשמה זנה את כל הגוף מה הקב"ה טהור אף נשמה טהורה מה הקב"ה יושב בחדרי חדרים אף נשמה יושבת בחדרי חדרים יבא מי שיש בו חמשה דברים הללו וישבח למי שיש בו חמשה דברים הללו:
Corresponding to whom did David say these five instance of “Bless Adonai, O my soul”? He answered him: He said them about none other than the Holy One, Blessed be God, and corresponding to the soul, as the verse refers to the relationship between a human's soul and God. The five instances of “Bless the Lord, O my soul” correspond to the five parallels between the soul in a human's body and God’s power in God's world. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be God, fills the entire world, so too the soul fills the entire body.
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be God, sees but is not seen, so too does the soul see, but is not seen.
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be God, sustains the entire world, so too the soul sustains the entire body.
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be God, is pure, so too is the soul pure.
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be God, resides in a chamber within a chamber, in God's inner sanctum, so too the soul resides in a chamber within a chamber, in the innermost recesses of the body. Therefore, that which has these five characteristics, the soul, should come and praise God Who has these five characteristics.
What stages or important moments has your soul experienced this year?
What images come to mind when you think about asking God to bless your soul?
What blessings does your soul need?
Maybe a little comfort.
(א) מודֶה [מודָה] אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ:
(1) I give thanks to You, living and everlasting Sovereign, for you have restored my soul within me with mercy. Great is your faithfulness.
What gratitude do you have for this day, this one day each year, during which our soul genuinely receives our focused attention?
(א) אֱלקַי. נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא. אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ. אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ. אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי. וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּרָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי. וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּלָהּ מִמֶּנִּי. וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבוא. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה בְּקִרְבִּי מודֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלקַי וֵאלקֵי אֲבותַי. רִבּון כָּל הַמַּעֲשים אֲדון כָּל הַנְּשָׁמות: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמות לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים:
My God, the soul you have placed within me is pure. You created it, You shaped it, You breathed it into me; and you preserve it within me. In the future you will take it from me, restoring it within me in the future that is to come. As long as the soul is within me I will give thanks to you, Adonai, my God and God of my ancestors, Lord of all the acts (of Creation), Master of all souls. Blessed are you, Adonai, Who restores souls to the/those as dead.
What might it feel like to experience the restoration of your soul?
What if, as some of our mystics have taught, our bodies are the outermost expressions of our souls? How might that transform how we treat and think about our bodies? How might that transform how we treat and think about our souls? How might that transform how we treat an think about one another?
You are invited to reflect or write or breathe - whatever feels right to you right now.
From Siddur Sim Shalom for Festivals and Weekdays
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings sleep to my eyes, slumber to my eyelids. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my ancestors, that I lie down in peace and that I arise in peace. Let my sleep be undisturbed by troubling thoughts, bad dreams, and wicked schemes. May I have a night of tranquil slumber. May I awaken to the light of a new day, that my eyes may behold the splendor of Your light. Praised are You, Lord whose glory gives light to the entire world.
God is a faithful King.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Praised be God's glorious sovereignty throughout all time.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might. And these words which I command you this day you shall take to heart. You shall diligently teach them to your children. You shall recite them at home and away, morning and night. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, they shall be a symbol above your eyes, and you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your homes and upon your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
Help us, our Father, to lie down in peace; and awaken us to life again, our King. Spread over us Your shelter of peace, guide us with Your good counsel. Save us because of Your mercy. Shield us from enemies and pestilence, from starvation, sword and sorrow. Remove the evil forces that surround us, shelter us in the shadow of Your wings. You, O God, guard us and deliver us. You are a gracious and merciful King. Guard our coming and our going, grant us life and peace, now and always.
Praised is the Lord by day and praised by night, praised when we lie down and praised when we rise up. In Your hand are the souls of the living and the dead, the life of every creature, the breath of all flesh. Into Your hand I entrust my spirit: You will redeem me, Lord God of truth. Our God in Heaven, assert the unity of Your rule; affirm Your sovereignty, and reign over us forever.
May our eyes behold, our hearts rejoice in, and our souls be glad in our sure deliverance, when it shall be said to Zion: Your god is King. The Lord is King, the Lord was King, the Lord shall be King throughout all time. All sovereignty is Yours; unto all eternity only You reign in glory, only You are King. Praised are You, Lord and glorious King, eternal Ruler over us, and over all creation.
(These biblical verses recall God’s blessings and protection in ancient times:)
Then Jacob said: “May the angel who has redeemed me from all harm bless the lads. May they carry on my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. May they become teeming multitudes upon the earth.” And God said: “If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, doing what is right in His sight, heeding His mitzvot and keeping all His laws, then I will not inflict upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I the Lord am your healer.” The angel of the Lord said to Satan: “The Lord rebuke you, Satan. May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. Is not this man a brand snatched from the fire?” Behold Solomon carried in his litter — sixty of Israel’s heroes are its escort. All of them are skilled swordsmen, all trained at war, each with his sword at the ready to ward off any danger of the night. May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord show you favor and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you kindness and grant you peace.
The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
I wait for Your deliverance, O Lord.
The Lord eternal reigned before the birth of every living thing.
When all was made as God ordained, then only God was known as King.
When all is ended God will reign alone in awesome majesty.
God was, God is, and God will be, glorious in eternity.
Peerless and unique is God, with none at all to be compared.
Beginningless and endless. God's vast dominion is not shared.
God is my God, my life’s redeemer, my refuge in distress.
My shelter sure, my cup of life, God's goodness - limitless.
I place my spirit in God's care, when I wake as when I sleep.
God is with me. I shall not fear, body and spirit in God's keep.
(א) קריאת שמע שעל המיטה
(ב) אם נשאר ער עד אחר חצות יקרא ק"ש שעל המטה חצי שעה לפני חצות, ואם שכח לקרוא קודם חצות יכול לקרוא כל סדר ק"ש אחר חצות (רב פעלים ח"ב ס"ב).
(ג) לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּהּ, בִּדְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ, וּרְחִימוּ וּדְחִילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם יוֹ"ד קֵ"י בְּוָא"ו קֵ"י בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים בְּשֵׁם כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל. הֲרֵֽינִי מְקַבֵּל עָלַי אֱלָהוּתוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאַהֲבָתוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ. וַהֲרֵֽינִי יָרֵא מִמֶּֽנּוּ בְּגִין דְּאִֽיהוּ רַב וְשַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּֽלָּא. וְכֹֽלָּא קַמֵּיהּ כְּלָא. וַהֲרֵֽינִי מַמְלִיכוֹ עַל כָּל־אֵֽבֶר וְאֵֽבֶר וְגִיד וָגִיד מֵרַמַ"ח אֵבָרִים וְשַׁסַ"הּ גִּידִים שֶׁל גּוּפִי וְנַפְשִׁי רוּחִי וְנִשְׁמָתִי. מַלְכוּת גְּמוּרָה וּשְׁלֵמָה. וַהֲרֵֽינִי עֶֽבֶד לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְהוּא בְרַחֲמָיו יְזַכֵּֽנִי לְעָבְדּוֹ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם וְנֶֽפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה. אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן:
(ד) קודם ברכת הַמַּפִּיל נוהגים לומר "רבונו של עולם הריני מוחל וסולח", ונוהגים לאומרו אף בשבתות וימים טובים, אבל בשבתות וימים טובים לא יאמר את מה שמופיע באותיות הקטנות
(ה) רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הֲרֵֽינִי מוֹחֵל וְסוֹלֵֽחַ לְכָל־מִי־שֶׁהִכְעִיס וְהִקְנִיט אוֹתִי אוֹ שֶׁחָטָא כְּנֶגְדִּי. בֵּין בְּגוּפִי בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנִי בֵּין בִּכְבוֹדִי בֵּין בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר לִי. בֵּין בְּאֽוֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד בֵּין בְּדִבּוּר בֵּין בְּמַעֲשֶׂה. בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל אַחֵר. לְכָל־בַּר־יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְלֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ שׁוּם אָדָם בְּסִבָּתִי. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יי אֱלֹקַי וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁלֹּא אֶחֱטָא עוֹד. וּמַה־שֶּׁחָטָֽאתִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מְחוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים. אֲבָל לֹא עַל־יְדֵי יִסּוּרִין וְחוֹלָאִים רָעִים. יִ֥הְיֽוּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יי צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃
(ו) בברכה זו לא יאמר בשם ומלכות אלא יהרהר בלבו
(ז) בָּרוּךְ (אַתָּה יי, אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם) הַמַּפִּיל חֶבְלֵי שֵׁנָה עַל־עֵינָי וּתְנוּמָה עַל־עַפְעַפַּי, וּמֵאִיר לְאִישׁוֹן בַּת־עָֽיִן. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יי אֱלֹקַי וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁתַּשְׁכִּיבֵֽנִי לְשָׁלוֹם, וְתַעֲמִידֵֽנִי לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, וְתֵן חֶלְקִי בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ, וְתַרְגִּילֵֽנִי לִדְבַר מִצְוָה, וְאַל־תַּרְגִּילֵֽנִי לִדְבַר עֲבֵרָה, וְאַל־תְּבִיאֵֽנִי לִידֵי חֵטְא. וְלֹא לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן וְלֹא לִידֵי בִזָּיוֹן, וְיִשְׁלוֹט בִּי יֵֽצֶר הַטּוֹב וְאַל־יִשְׁלוֹט בִּי יֵֽצֶר הָרָע. וְתַצִּילֵֽנִי מִיֵּֽצֶר הָרָע וּמֵחוֹלָאִים רָעִים, וְאַל־יַבְהִילֽוּנִי חֲלוֹמוֹת רָעִים וְהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים, וּתְהֵא מִטָּתִי שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶֽיךָ, וְהָאֵר עֵינַי פֶּן אִישַׁן הַמָּֽוֶת. בָּרוּךְ (אַתָּה יְהֹוָה) הַמֵּאִיר לָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בִּכְבוֹדוֹ:
(ח) צריך להזהר מאד בקריאת שמע שעל המטה, והיא אחת מן ארבעה קריאת שמע שחייב אדם בכל יום (בא"ח פקודי הי"א)
(ט) שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יי אֱלֹקֵ֖ינוּ יי ׀ אֶחָֽד׃
(י) בלחש: בָּרוּךְ שֵּׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
(יא) וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יי אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכׇל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃ וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשׇׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזֻז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃
(יב) וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יי אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וּלְעׇבְד֔וֹ בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ וְנָתַתִּ֛י עֵ֥שֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ֖ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃ הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם פֶּ֥ן יִפְתֶּ֖ה לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְסַרְתֶּ֗ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹקִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃ וְחָרָ֨ה אַף־יי בָּכֶ֗ם וְעָצַ֤ר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֑הּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם מְהֵרָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יי נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֣י אֵ֔לֶּה עַל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וְעַֽל־נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֤ם לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ וְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשׇׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ לְמַ֨עַן יִרְבּ֤וּ יְמֵיכֶם֙ וִימֵ֣י בְנֵיכֶ֔ם עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יי לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם כִּימֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יי אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ לָהֶ֥ם צִיצִ֛ת עַל־כַּנְפֵ֥י בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם לְדֹרֹתָ֑ם וְנָ֥תְנ֛וּ עַל־צִיצִ֥ת הַכָּנָ֖ף פְּתִ֥יל תְּכֵֽלֶת׃ וְהָיָ֣ה לָכֶם֮ לְצִיצִת֒ וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם אֹת֗וֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺ֣ת יי וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תָת֜וּרוּ אַחֲרֵ֤י לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכְּר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָ֑י וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם קְדֹשִׁ֖ים לֵאלֹֽקֵיכֶֽם׃ אֲנִ֞י יי אֱלֹֽקֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹקִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יי אֱלֹקֵיכֶֽם׃
(יד) וחוזר ואומר יי אֱלֹקֵיכֶם אֱמֶת.
(טו) יַעְלְז֣וּ חֲסִידִ֣ים בְּכָב֑וֹד יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָֽם׃ רוֹמְמ֣וֹת אֵ֭ל בִּגְרוֹנָ֑ם וְחֶ֖רֶב פִּיפִיּ֣וֹת בְּיָדָֽם׃
(טז) הִנֵּ֗ה מִטָּתוֹ֙ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים גִּבֹּרִ֖ים סָבִ֣יב לָ֑הּ מִגִּבֹּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ כֻּלָּם֙ אֲחֻ֣זֵי חֶ֔רֶב מְלֻמְּדֵ֖י מִלְחָמָ֑ה אִ֤ישׁ חַרְבּוֹ֙ עַל־יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִפַּ֖חַד בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃ ג' פעמים
(יז) יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יי וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ יָאֵ֨ר יי ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ יִשָּׂ֨א יי ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
(יח) יֹ֭שֵׁב (תהילים צ״א:א׳-ב׳) בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃ אֹמַ֗ר לַ֭יי מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹקַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃ כִּ֤י ה֣וּא יַ֭צִּילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת׃ בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ ׀ יָ֣סֶךְ לָ֭ךְ וְתַחַת־כְּנָפָ֣יו תֶּחְסֶ֑ה צִנָּ֖ה וְסֹחֵרָ֣ה אֲמִתּֽוֹ׃ לֹֽא־תִ֭ירָא מִפַּ֣חַד לָ֑יְלָה מֵ֝חֵ֗ץ יָע֥וּף יוֹמָֽם׃ מִ֭דֶּבֶר בָּאֹ֣פֶל יַהֲלֹ֑ךְ מִ֝קֶּ֗טֶב יָשׁ֥וּד צׇהֳרָֽיִם׃ יִפֹּ֤ל מִצִּדְּךָ֨ ׀ אֶ֗לֶף וּרְבָבָ֥ה מִימִינֶ֑ךָ אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִגָּֽשׁ׃ רַ֭ק בְּעֵינֶ֣יךָ תַבִּ֑יט וְשִׁלֻּמַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יי מַחְסִ֑י.
(יט) יעמוד ויאמר וידוי, וישחה ראשו, ויכה באגרופו על לבו בכל תיבה של הוִדוי, ואין לאומרו בליל שבת ובשאר ימים שאין אומרים בהם תחנון. וכן אין לאומרו במוצ"ש עד חצות הלילה, וכן במוצאי יו"ט ור"ח, וכיוצא בזה.
(כ) אָנָּא יי אֱלֹקֵינוּ וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. תָּבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ. וְאַל־תִּתְעַלַּם מַלְכֵּנוּ מִתְּחִנָּתֵנוּ. שֶׁאֵין אֲנַחְנוּ עַזֵּי פָנִים וּקְשֵׁי עֹרֶף לוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹקֵינוּ וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ צַדִּיקִים אֲנַחְנוּ וְלֹא חָטָאנוּ. אֲבָל חָטָאנוּ. עָוִינוּ. פָּשַׁעְנוּ. אֲנַחְנוּ וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתֵנוּ: אָשַׁמְנוּ. בָּגַדְנוּ. גָּזַלְנוּ. דִּבַּרְנוּ דֹפִי וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע. הֶעֱוִינוּ. וְהִרְשַׁעְנוּ. זַדְנוּ. חָמַסְנוּ. טָפַלְנוּ שֶׁקֶר וּמִרְמָה. יָעַצְנוּ עֵצוֹת רָעוֹת. כִּזַּבְנוּ. כָּעַסְנוּ. לַצְנוּ. מָרַדְנוּ. מָרִינוּ דְבָרֶיךָ. נִאַצְנוּ. נִאַפְנוּ. סָרַרְנוּ. עָוִינוּ. פָּשַׁעְנוּ. פָּגַמְנוּ. צָרַרְנוּ. צִעַרְנוּ אָב וָאֵם. קִשִּׁינוּ עֹרֶף. רָשַׁעְנוּ. שִׁחַתְנוּ. תִּעַבְנוּ. תָּעִינוּ וְתִעֲתַעְנוּ. וְסַרְנוּ מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ הַטּוֹבִים וְלֹא שָׁוָה לָנוּ. וְאַתָּה צַדִּיק עַל־כָּל־הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ. כִּי אֱמֶת עָשִׂיתָ. וַאֲנַחְנוּ הִרְשָׁעְנוּ:
(כא) אחר כך יאמר "אנא בכח" כולו בכל לילה, ואחר שגמר אותו יחזור לומר הפסוק שכנגד אותו הלילה ג' פעמים
(כב) ליל א אָֽנָּֽא בְּכֹֽחַ. גְּדוּלַת יְמִינֶֽךָ. תַּתִּיר צְרוּרָה: (אב"ג ית"ץ)
(כג) ליל ב קַבֵּל רִנַּת. עַמֶּֽךָ שַׂגְּבֵֽנוּ. טַהֲרֵֽנוּ נוֹרָא: (קר"ע שט"ן)
(כד) ליל ג נָא גִבּוֹר. דּֽוֹרְשֵֽׁי יִחוּדֶֽךָ. כְּבָבַת שָׁמְרֵם: (נג"ד יכ"ש)
(כה) ליל ד בָּֽרְכֵֽם טַהֲרֵם. רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתֶֽךָ. תָּמִיד גָּמְלֵם: (בט"ר צת"ג)
(כו) ליל ה חֲסִין קָדוֹשׁ. בְּרֹב טֽוּבְךָֽ. נַהֵל עֲדָתֶֽךָ: (חק"ב טנ"ע)
(כז) ליל ו יָחִיד גֵּאֶה. לְעַמְּךָ פְנֵה. זֽוֹכְרֵֽי קְדֻשָּׁתֶֽךָ: (יג"ל פז"ק)
(כח) ליל שבת שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ קַבֵּל. וּשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתֵֽנוּ. יוֹדֵֽעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת: (שק"ו צי"ת)
(כט) בלחש: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
(ל) אַתָּ֣ה תָ֭קוּם תְּרַחֵ֣ם צִיּ֑וֹן כִּי־עֵ֥ת לְ֝חֶֽנְנָ֗הּ כִּי־בָ֥א מוֹעֵֽד׃ בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֢יד ר֫וּחִ֥י פָּדִ֖יתָ אוֹתִ֥י יי אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃
(1) Recitation of Shema' upon the Bed
(3) For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, Blessed be God, & God's Divine Presence & God's Awe & God's Mercy & God's Mercy & God's Awe, to unify of the Name of letter Yud, letter Hei with letter Vav letter Hei with a Complete Unity in the name of all Yisrael to lift the Divine Presence from the dust & to raise the Divine Presence – our Force. Behold I accept upon myself the Divinity of the Blessed One [Hash·m] & God's love & God's awe. And behold I hold awe for God because God is the master & rules over all, & all is before God entirely. And behold I accept God's Sovereignty on each & every member & vein from the 248 members & 365 veins of my body & my soul – a total & complete sovereignty. And behold I am a servant to Adonai May God Be Blessed. And God in God's Mercy will aid us to Merit to serve God with a complete heart & a willing soul. Amen – May it be God's Will.
(5) Master of the Universe, behold I forgive & pardon anyone who angered me, or antagonized me or who sinned against me, whether relating to my body, or my money, or my honor, or anything that belongs to me, whether done accidentally, or willingly, unintentionally or intentionally, or whether with words, whether with actions, whether in this present incarnation, whether in another incarnation - any person of Israel. And may no person be punished because of me. May it be Your will, My G·d, & G·d of my forefathers, that I will not sin again. And that I did sin erase with Your abundant mercies, however, not through suffering or bad illnesses. May the expressions of my mouth & the thoughts of my heart find favor before You, G·d, my Rock & my Redeemer.
(6) On Nights of Weekday we Say
Lay us down, our Father/Parent, in peace, & raise us up, our King/Sovereign, for a good life & peace. And spread upon us the shelter of Your peace, & fix us, our King/Sovereign, with good advice before You. And deliver us speedily for the sake of Your name. And guard us, & refrain from us the striking of an enemy, pestilence, the sword, illness, suffering, evil, & pain & destruction & plague. Break & remove the bad force from before us & after us. And in the shadow of Your wings hide us. And guard our goings & comings for good life & peace from now & ever more. For You are G·d that guards us & saves us from all evil occurrence & from the terror of night. Blessed is the One that guards God's people Israel for eternity.
On Nights of Shabbat & Holy Days we Say
Lay us down, our Father/Parent, in peace, & raise us up, our King/Sovereign, for a good life & peace. And spread upon us the shelter of Your peace, & fix us, our King/Sovereign, with good advice before You. And deliver us speedily for the sake of Your name. And guard us, and spread upon us and upon Jerusalem your city your shelter of peace. Blessed is the One spreads the shelter of peace upon us and upon God's entire people Israel and upon Jerusalem.
(7) Blessed [are You, Adonai, our G·d, King/Ruler of the Universe] that casts the pangs of sleep upon my eyes, & slumber upon my eyelids, & that enlightens the pupil of the Eye. May it be Your will, Adonai, my G·d , & G·d of my ancestors, that You will lay me down in peace, & that You will raise me up for good life & peace. And place my portion in your Torah & accustom me in a matter of Mitzvah. And don't accustom me to a matter of sin. And do not bring me into the hands of sin, nor in the hands of trials, nor the hands of degradation. And let the Good Inclination rule over me & let not the Evil inclination rule over me. And save me from the Evil Inclination, & from bad illnesses. And let not bad dreams or bad thoughts disturb me. And may my bed be complete before you. And enlighten my eyes lest I die in sleep. Blessed [are you Adonai] that enlightens the world all with Your glory.
(8) (Concentrate on the Saying of this Shema to accomplish the Mitzvah of Oneness of G·d) [cover eyes when Shema is said & think of Oneness of G·d]
(9) HEAR, O ISRAEL, Ado·nai Is Our G·D, Ado·nai Is ONE / Shema Yisrael, Adonai, Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
(10) (Silently) Blessed be God's Name & glorious sovereignty forever./Baruch shem k'vod malchuto, l'olam va'ed.
(11) And you shall love Adonai, your G·d, with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house & when you walk by the way, when your lie down & when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house & upon your gates. (Devarim / Deut. 6:4-9)
(12) And it shall be that if you hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you today, to love Adonai your G·d & to serve God with all your heart & all your soul, then I will send rain for your land in its proper time, the autumn rain & the spring rain, that you may gather in your grain, your wine & your oil. And I will give grass in your field for your cattle & you shall eat & be satisfied. Take heed to yourselves lest your heart be deceived, & you turn aside & serve other gods & bow to them. For then Adonai's wrath will be kindled against you, & God will close up the heavens that there be no rain, & land shall not yield her produce, & you shall perish quickly from off the goodly land which Adonai gives you. You shall lay My words, these upon your heart & upon your soul, & you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down & when you rise. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house & upon your gates. So that Adonai will lengthen your days & the days of your children upon the land which Adonai promised to give to your ancestors, as the days of the heavens above the earth (Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
(13) And Adonai spoke unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel & say to them to make for themselves a fringe on the borders of their garments, throughout their generations. And they shall place upon the fringe of the border, a thread of blue wool. And it shall be to you a fringe that you may look upon, & remember all the commandments of Adonai & to do them. Then shall you not stray after your heart & your eyes whereafter you are wont to stray. So may you remember & do all My commandments & be holy for your G·d. I am Adonai your G·d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G·d; I am Adonai your G·d. (Bamidbar / Numbers 15:37-41)
(14) (Repeat & Say) Adonai, Your G-d is True.
(15) The Pious shall Exult in Honor, let us sing upon our beds. The spears of G·d are in their throats & a double edged sword is in their hands.
(16) Behold the bed of Solomon, sixty Strong men surrounded it – among the Strong Men of Israel. All of them were holding a sword. They were versed in warfare. A man his [sword's] sheath was on his thigh for the fear of the night. [3 times]
(17) Adonai will bless you & protect you. Adonai will shine God's countenance upon you & give you grace. Adonai will lift God's countenance upon you & place peace upon you.
(18) When you lie down, do not fear & let your sleep be pleasant. Guard me as the pupil of You eye, in the shadow of Your wings guard me. And I will place my name on the Children of Israel & I will bless them. I lied down & I will sleep, awaken me for G·d, I rely upon You. In Your Hands I deposit my Soul. Redeem me, Adonai, G·d of Truth.
The one who sits in the shelter of the Supreme One, in the Shadow of Adonai will they dwell. I say to Adonai "You are my refuge & my fortress Adonai I will trust in God" For God will save you from the ensnared trap from destructive pestilence. With God's pinion will God cover you, & under God's wings you will be protected. Shield & Armor are God's truth. You shall not fear from terror of night, [nor] from the arrow that flies by day. From pestilence that walks in the dark, from a destroyer that damages? in the noon. A thousand will encamp at your [left] side & ten-thousand by your right & to you they will not come near. Only with your eyes you shall peer, & the retribution of the wicked you shall see. Because [you said] "You, Adonai are my refuge" you made the Supreme G·d your abode. No evil shall befall you & a plague will not arrive to your tent. For God's angels God will command for you, to protect you in all your ways. On palms they will carry you, lest you stub your foot on a stone. Upon a lion & a serpent you shall tread, you will trample a young lion & a snake. Because this one desired My Name - I will protect this one & I will lift this one - for this one knows My Name. God will call Me & I will answer - I am with this one in distress & I will release this one & Honor this one I will satiate this one with longevity of days & I will demonstrate to this one My salvation. (Tehillim / Psalm 91)
(19) ......
(30) [May] You Rise & have mercy upon Zion, for it is a time of grace, because the moment has come. In Your hands I deposit my Soul, redeem me, Adonai, G·d of Truth. [May] In good I will sleep & I will awake with mercy. Torah, Moshe commanded us, it is a heritage of the congregation of Jacob.
May you be who you are, and may you be blessed in all that you are.
As you drift from wake to sleep, may your soul find comfort in the rise and fall of your breath throughout this night, and when you travel back from sleep to wakefulness may you open your eyes rested and restored.
Laila Tov.