Order of Reading the Law on Sabbaths and Festivals

The Standard Prayer Book, tr. by Simeon Singer, [1915], at sacred-texts.com

ORDER OF READING THE LAW ON SABBATHS AND FESTIVALS.

There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; and there are no works like unto thine. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord reigneth; the Lord hath reigned; the Lord shall reign for ever and ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Father of mercies, do good in thy favor unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. For in thee alone do we trust, O King, high and exalted God, Lord of worlds.

The Ark is Opened.

Reader and Cong.—And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Lord, and thine enemies shall be scattered, and they that hate thee shall flee before thee. For out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

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The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law and Says:—

Blessed be he who in his holiness gave the Law to his people Israel.

In some Congregations the following is said:—

Zohar, Parshath Vayakhel.

Blessed be the name of the Sovereign of the universe. Blessed be thy crown and thy abiding-place. Let thy favor rest with thy people Israel for ever: show them the redemption of thy right hand in thy holy temple. Vouchsafe unto us the benign gift of thy light, and in mercy accept our supplications. May it be thy will to prolong our life in well-being. Let me also be numbered among the righteous, so that thou mayest be merciful unto me, and have me in thy keeping, with all that belong to me and to thy people Israel. Thou art he that feedeth and sustaineth all; thou art he that ruleth over all; thou art he that ruleth over kings, for dominion is thine. I am the servant of the Holy One, blessed be he, before whom and before whose glorious Law I prostrate myself at all times: not in man do I put my trust, nor upon any angel do I rely, but upon the God of heaven, who is the God of truth, and whose Law is truth, and whose prophets are prophets of truth, and who aboundeth in deeds of goodness and truth. In him I put my trust, and unto his holy and glorious name I utter praises. May it be thy will to open my heart unto thy Law, and to fulfil the wishes of my heart and of the hearts of all thy people Israel for good, for life, and for peace.

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On Festivals the following is said:—

The Lord, the Lord is a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (To be said three times.)

Lord of the universe, fulfil the wishes of my heart for good; grant my desire, give me my request, even unto me, thy servant, — the son of — (thy maid servant — the daughter of —), and make me worthy (together with my wife,) (my husband,) (my children,) to do thy will with a perfect heart; and deliver me from the evil inclination. O grant our portion in thy Law; make us worthy to have thy divine presence abiding with us; vouchsafe unto us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. So also may it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that I may be fitted to do such deeds as are good in thy sight, and to walk in the way of the upright before thee. Sanctify us by thy commandments, that we may merit the long and blessed life of the world to come: guard us from evil deeds, and also from evil hours that visit and afflict this world. As for him who trusteth in the Lord, let lovingkindness surround him Amen.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

And as for me, may my prayer unto thee, O Lord, be in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, answer me in the truth of thy salvation.

(This verse is said three times.)

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The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law, and the following is said:—

Reader and Cong.—Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

Reader and Cong.—One is our God; great is our Lord; holy is his name.

Reader.—Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Reader and Cong.—Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine, O Lord, is the kingdom, and the supremacy as head over all. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool: holy is he. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mount; for the Lord our God is holy.

Magnified and hallowed, praised and glorified, exalted and extolled above all be the name of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, in the worlds which he hath created,—this world and the world to come,—in accordance with his desire, and with the desire of them that fear him, and of all the house of Israel: the Rock everlasting, the Lord of all creatures, the God of all souls, who dwelleth in the wide-extended heights, who inhabiteth the heaven of heavens of old; whose holiness is above the Chayoth and above the throne of glory. Now, therefore, thy name, O Lord our God, shall be hallowed amongst us

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in the sight of all living. Let us sing a new song be, fore him, as it is written, Sing unto God, sing praises unto his name, extol ye him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and exult before him. And may we see him, eye to eye, when he returneth to his habitation, as it is written, For they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord returneth unto Zion. And it is said, And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

May the Father of mercy have mercy upon a people that have been borne by him. May he remember the covenant with the patriarchs, deliver our souls from evil hours, check the evil inclination in them that have been carried by him, grant us of his grace an everlasting deliverance, and in the attribute of his goodness fulfil our desires by salvation and mercy.

The Scroll of the Law is placed upon the desk, and the Reader says the following:—

And may he help, shield and save all who trust in him, and let us say, Amen. Ascribe all of you greatness unto our God, and render honor to the Law.

Here the Reader names the Person who is called to the Reading of the Law.

Blessed be he, who in his holiness gave the Law unto his people Israel. The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The Lord will give strength unto his people,

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the Lord will bless his people with peace. As for God his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a shield unto all them that trust in him.

Cong. and Reader.—And ye that cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.

Those who are called to the Reading of the Law say the following Blessing:—

Bless ye the Lord who is to be blessed.

Cong.—Blessed be the Lord, who is to be blessed for ever and ever.

The Response of the Congregation is repeated, and the Blessing continued:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen us from all peoples, and hast given us thy Law. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.

After the reading of a Section of the Law, the following Blessing is said:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who east given us the Law of truth, and hath planted everlasting life in our midst. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.

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Persons who have been in peril of their lives, during journeys by sea or land, in captivity or sickness, upon their deliverance or recovery say the following, after the conclusion of the last Blessing:—

"Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who vouchsafest benefits unto the undeserving, who hast also vouchsafed all good unto me.

The Congregation respond:—

He who hath vouchsafed all good unto thee, may he vouchsafe all good unto thee for ever.

The following is said by the Father of a Bar-Mitzvah, when the latter has concluded the Blessing after having been called to the Reading of the Law.

Blessed be he who hath freed me from the responsibility for this child.

After the Reading of the Law, the Scroll is held up, and the Congregation say the following:—

And this is the Law which Moses set before the children of Israel, according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor. It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.

Before the Lesson from the Prophets the following is said:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen good prophets, and hast found pleasure in their words which were spoken

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in truth. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast chosen the Law, and Moses thy servant, and Israel thy people, and prophets of truth and righteousness.

After the Lesson from the Prophets the following is said:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Rock of all worlds, righteous through all generations, O faithful God, who sayest and doest, who speakest and fulfillest, all whose words are truth and righteousness. Faithful art thou, O Lord our God, and faithful are thy words, and not one of thy words shall return void, for thou art a faithful and merciful God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord, God, who art faithful in all thy words.

Have mercy upon Zion, for it is the home of our life, and save her that is grieved in spirit speedily, even iii our days. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest Zion joyful through her children.

Gladden us, O Lord our God, with Elijah the prophet, thy servant, and with the kingdom of the house of David, thine anointed. Soon may he come and rejoice our hearts. Suffer not a stranger to sit upon his throne, nor let others any longer inherit his glory; for by thy holy name thou didst swear unto him, that his right should not be quenched for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of David.

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On Sabbaths, including the Intermediate Sabbath of Passover, say:—

For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets, and for this Sabbath day, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us for holiness and for rest, for honor and for glory.

For all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest the Sabbath.

On the Three Festivals, as also on the Intermediate Sabbath of Tabernacles, say:—

For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets; On the Sabbath; for this Sabbath day,

On Passover say—

and for this day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

On Pentecost—

and for this day of the Feast of Weeks.

On Tabernacles—

and for this day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

On the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly: and for this Eighth-day feast of Solemn Assembly, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest,) for joy and gladness, for honor and glory,—f or all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Festivals.

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On the New Year say:—

For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets (on Sabbath add, and for this Sabbath Day), and for this Day of Memorial, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest) for honor and glory—for all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever thy word is true and endureth for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, King over the whole earth, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Day of Memorial.

On the Day of Atonement say:—

For the Law, for the divine service, for the prophets (on Sabbath add, for this Sabbath day), and for this Day of Atonement, which thou, O Lord our God, hast given us (on Sabbath add, for holiness and for rest) for forgiveness, pardon and atonement, for honor and for glory—for all these we thank and bless thee, O Lord our God, blessed be thy name by the mouth of every living being continually and for ever: thy word is true and endureth for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, thou King, who pardonest and forgivest our iniquities and the iniquities of thy people, the house of Israel, and makest our trespasses to pass away year by year; King over the whole earth, who sanctifiest (on Sabbath add, the Sabbath) Israel and the Day of Atonement

The following three paragraphs are not said on Festivals occurring on Week-days.

May salvation from heaven, with grace, lovingkindness, mercy, long life, ample sustenance, heavenly aid.

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health of body, a higher enlightenment, and a living and abiding offspring, that will not break with, for neglect any of the words of the Law, be vouchsafed unto the teachers and rabbins of the holy community, who are in the land of Israel, and in the land of Babylon, and in all the lands of our dispersion; unto the heads of the academies, the chiefs of the captivity, the heads of the colleges, and the judges in the gates; unto all their disciples, unto all the disciples of their disciples, and unto all who occupy themselves with the study of the Law. May the King of the universe bless them, prolong their lives, increase their days, and add to their years, and may they be saved and delivered from every trouble and mishap. May the Lord of heaven be their help at all times and seasons; and let us say, Amen.

The following two paragraphs are only said when Service is held with a Congregation.

May salvation from heaven, with grace, lovingkindness, mercy, long life, ample sustenance, heavenly aid, health of body, a higher enlightenment, and a living and abiding offspring, that will not break with nor neglect any of the words of the Law, be vouchsafed

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unto all this holy congregation, great and small, children and women. May the King of the universe bless you, prolong your lives, increase your days and add to your years, and may you be saved and delivered from every trouble and mishap. May the Lord of heaven be your help at all times and seasons; and let us say, Amen.

May he who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless all this holy congregation, together with all other holy congregations: them, their wives, their sons and daughters, and all that belong to them; those also who unite to form Synagogues for prayer, and those who enter therein to pray; those who give the lamps for lighting, and wine for Kiddush and Habdalah, bread to the wayfarers, and charity to the poor, and all such as occupy themselves in faithfulness with the wants of the congregation. May the Holy One, blessed be he, give them their recompense; may he remove from them all sickness, heal all their body, forgive all their iniquity, and send blessing and prosperity upon all the work of their hands, as well as upon all Israel, their brethren; and let us say, Amen.

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The Reader takes the Scroll of the Law, and says the following Prayer for the Government.

He who giveth salvation unto kings and dominion unto princes, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, who delivered his servant David from the hurtful sword, who maketh a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters.—may he bless, guard, protect, and help, exalt, magnify, and highly aggrandize

THE CONSTITUTED OFFICERS OF THIS GOVERNMENT.

May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy preserve them in life and deliver them from all trouble and hurt. May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy exalt them and raise them on high, and grant them a long and prosperous rule. May the Supreme King of Kings in his mercy inspire them and all their counsellors and officers with benevolence toward us, and all Israel our brethren. In their days and in ours may Judah be saved and Israel dwell securely; and may the redeemer come unto Zion. O that this may be his will, and let us say, Amen.

On the Sabbath preceding New Moon the following is said:—

May it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, to renew unto us this coming month for good and for Blessing.

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O grant us long life, a life of peace, of good, of blessing, of sustenance, of bodily vigor, a life marked by the fear of Heaven and the dread of sin, a life free from shame and reproach, a life of prosperity and honor, a life in which the love of the Law and the fear of Heaven shall cleave to us, a life in which the desires of our heart shall be fulfilled for good. Amen. (Selah.)

Reader.—He who wrought miracles for our fathers, and redeemed them from slavery unto freedom, may he speedily redeem us, and gather our exiles from the four corners of the earth, even all Israel united in fellowship; and let us say, Amen.

The New Moon of (naming the month) will be on (naming the day or days). May it come to us and to all Israel for good.

Cong. and Reader.—May the Holy One, blessed be he, renew it unto us and unto all his people, the house of Israel, for life and peace, for gladness and joy, for salvation and consolation; and let us say, Amen.

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In many Congregations the following is said only on the Sabbaths preceding Pentecost and the Fast of the Ninth of Ab:—

May the Father of mercies, who dwelleth on high in his mighty compassion, remember those loving, upright and blameless ones, the holy congregations, who laid down their lives for the sanctification of the divine name, who were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death were not divided; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions to do the will of their Master and the desire of their Rock. May our God remember them for good with the other righteous of the world, and avenge the blood of his servants which hath been shed; as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God, Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people. And by the hands of thy servants, the prophets, it is written saying, I will cleanse their blood that I have not yet cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion. And in the Holy Writings it is said, Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let there be made known among the nations in our sight the revenging of the blood of thy servants which hath been shed. And it is said, For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. And it is further said, He judgeth among the nations; the land is full of corpses: he smiteth the head over a wide land. He drinketh of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Happy are they that dwell in thy house: they will be ever praising thee. (Selah.)

Happy is the people, that is in such a case: happy is the people, whose God is the Lord.

Psalm cxlv. A Psalm of Praise: of David.

I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

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Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

On the majestic glory of thy grandeur, and on thy marvellous deeds, will I meditate.

And men shall speak of the might of thy awful acts; and I will recount thy greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of thy great goodness, and shall exult in thy righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and of great lovingkindness.

The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; and thy loving ones shall bless thee.

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.

To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the majestic glory of his kingdom.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest every living thing with favor.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and loving in all his works.

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The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon hire to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord guardeth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy.

My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.

On returning the Scroll of the Law to the Ark the Reader says:—

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is exalted:

Congregation.—His grandeur is above the earth and heaven: and he hath lifted up a horn for his people, to the praise of all his loving ones, even of the children of Israel, the people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

On Sabbaths and on Festivals occurring on Sabbaths say:—

Psalm xxix.

A Psalm of David. Give unto the Lord, O ye children of the mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth, even the Lord upon the great waters

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[paragraph continues] The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox. The voice of the Lord cleaveth flames of fire; the voice of the Lord maketh the wilderness to tremble; the Lord maketh tremble the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to travail, and strippeth the forests bare: and in his temple everything saith, Glory. The Lord sat as king at the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth as king for ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

On Festivals occurring on Week-days say:—

Psalm xxiv.

A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For it is he that hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not set his desire upon vanity, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek after him, that seek thy face (O God of) Jacob! (Selah.) Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your

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heads, O ye gates; yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. (Selah.)

While the Scroll of the Law is being placed in the Ark, the following to "as of old" is said:—

And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. Arise, O Lord, unto thy resting place; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy loving ones shout for joy. For the sake of David thy servant, turn not away the face of thine anointed. For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my Law. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall return: renew our days as of old.

Reader.—Magnified and sanctified be his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, even speedily and at a near time, and say ye, Amen.

Cong. and Reader.—Let his great name be blessed for ever and to all eternity.

Reader.—Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he; though he be high above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations, which are uttered in the world; and say ye, Amen.