the Open Siddur Project ✍︎ פְּרוֹיֶּקט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ
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![]() ![]() The thirtieth chapter of Jeremiah is exceedingly appropriate for Yom ha-Atsma’ut, considering its emphasis on returning from exile and the importance of self-rule. It strikes me as one of the most Zionist (with a capital Z) chapters in the entirety of Neviïm. . . . Prayer on the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the State of Israel for North American Jews, by Rabbi Ayelet Cohen (T’ruah 2023)![]() ![]() The “Prayer for North American Jews on the 75th Anniversary of Israel’s Founding” was first published and disseminated from the website of T’ruah, via PDF here. . . . מָעוֹז צוּר | Maoz Tsur for Yom ha-Atsma’ut, a complete poetic translation with an added stanza for the State of Israel’s Independence Day by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer![]() ![]() ![]() This is a complete poetic rhyming translation of Maoz Tsur with all six of its stanzas including a seventh, final stanza written by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer specifically for Yom ha-Atsmau’ut. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Ḥad Gadya has a place in Seder tables throughout the Jewish world, and in many communities it was read in translation. This Middle Egyptian translation was almost certainly the one that Moshe Rabbeinu himself sang at his seder table that fateful night in Egypt! …Not really. Ḥad Gadya postdates Middle Egyptian as a written language by about three millennia. But it’s fun and Pesaḥ-appropriate to sing this song in the language of that dagnabbed Pharaoh himself. Also included is a transcript of the text into Hebrew script, since Judeo-Hieroglyphics don’t exist… yet. Eh, the alphabet was adapted from hieroglyphics from the start. It’s fine. You could even say it’s an improvement. For reading out loud I’ve also included the standard Egyptological pronunciation system. If you’re stuck in a time machine be careful, it’s an artificial convention that should not be mistaken for how Egyptian was pronounced at the time. But personally I think “Tutenkhamen” is easier to say than *Təwā́təʾ-ʿā́nəkh-ʾamā́nəʾ, so sue me. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short essay, “Applying Judaism to Life” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 4-5. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “Morning Prayer (For Very Young Children)” by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy is found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 26. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “For Very Young Children Before Sleeping” by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy is found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 26. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “Night Prayer (for Older Children) by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy is found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 27. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “Morning Prayer (for Older Children)” by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy is found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 27. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Thy Will Be Done!” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 23-24. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his self-reflection, “Peace within” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 17-18. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Facing Eternity” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 25. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short essay, “Facing Temptation” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 21-22. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Must Not Worry” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 19-20. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Bringing Health to the Home” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 12-13. . . . “All adrift on the stream of life” a prayer for help and self-control by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Feel Nervous and Upset” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 15-16. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Seek Health and Healing” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 9-10. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Want to Pray” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 7. . . . ![]() ![]() “Bible Thoughts for every and any day” by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy are a selection of biblical verses he added to The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 28-31, ostensibly for use in healthful spiritual contemplation. . . . Our Affirmation — a litany of affirmative statements for adherents of the Centre of Jewish Science by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)![]() ![]() ![]() “Our Affirmation” by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy was published in conclusion to his brochure, The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), p. 32. . . . ![]() ![]() The Helpful Manual is a prayerbook containing supplications and affirmations expressing the teachings of the then nascent Jewish Science movement, prepared by one of the movement’s founders, Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy in 1927, on behalf of the Centre of Jewish Science. The Jewish Science movement was at the time intended to counter the popularity of the Christian Science movement among Jews in the United States. . . . A Prayer at the Dedication Ceremony for the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak (1926)![]() ![]() ![]() “Dedication of a Synagogue” was written and delivered by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak on 23 October 1926, at the dedication of the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center. The prayer was first published in Rabbi Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 106-107. . . . A Prayer at the Ceremony of the Corner Stone Laying for the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak (1925)![]() ![]() ![]() “A Prayer at the Ceremony of the Corner Stone Laying of a Synagogue” was written and delivered by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak on 19 April 1925, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center. The prayer was first published in Rabbi Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 103-104. . . . A Prayer at the Installation of Congregation Officers for the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak (ca. 1924)![]() ![]() “Installation of Congregation Officers” was written by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak sometime before 1924 when the congregation celebrated the breaking of ground in the construction of the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center. The prayer was first published in Rabbi Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 115-116. . . . A Prayer at the Ceremony of Breaking Ground for the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak (1924)![]() ![]() ![]() “A Prayer at the Ceremony of Breaking Ground for the Building of a Synagogue” was written and delivered by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak on 19 October 1924, at the breaking of ground for the building of the Ocean Parkway Jewish Center. The prayer was first published in Rabbi Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 101-102. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “Dedication of Monument for War Heroes” was written and delivered by Rabbi Jacob Bosniak at the dedication of a war memorial at Ocean Parkway, “near Fort Hamilton Parkway,” Brooklyn, in 1924. The prayer was first published in Rabbi Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 108-109. We are not familiar with any war memorials in the vicinity of Ocean Parkway near Fort Hamilton Parkway that were dedicated in 1924. (The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial dedicated by veterans of the Spanish-American War in 1924 can be found just off of Ocean Parkway on the southern edge of Asser Levy Park, but that is a far distance from Fort Hamilton Parkway. Perhaps it had been relocated at some point?) If you know the exact location of this memorial, please leave a comment, or contact us. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled prayer was written by Rabbi Norman Salit and published in Rabbi Jacob Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 35-36 (in the section titled “Prayers for Succoth”). . . . ![]() ![]() “A Passover Prayer” was written by Rabbi Norman Salit and published in Rabbi Jacob Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 46-47. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “On a Bed of Sickness.” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 96-97. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “In time of stress” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 97-98. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For the sick” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 98. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “In Memoriam” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 98-99. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For those in sorrow” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 99. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For reconciliation” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 99. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For forgiveness” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 99-100. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled “Evening Meditation” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), pp. 108-109. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “In Sickness” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), page 147. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “In Time of Trouble” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), page 146. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “On the loss of a beloved one (in the evening)” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), pp. 156-157. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “On the loss of a beloved one (in the morning)” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), pp. 148-149. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled “morning mediation,” a waking prayer, was written by Dinah Julia Levi née Emanuel and included by her daughter, Annie Josephine Levi, in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), pp. 56-57. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled “Evening Meditation for the Young,” a bedtime prayer, was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), page 137. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() This untitled “evening mediation,” a bedtime prayer, was written by Dinah Julia Levi née Emanuel and included by her daughter, Annie Josephine Levi, in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), pp. 74-75. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() The poem “Unsung Heroism” was written by Annie Josephine Levi and published in her anthology of teḥinot in English, Meditations of the Heart (1900), page 141. . . . 📖 Meditation of the Heart: A Book of Private Devotion for Young and Old, arranged and written by Annie Josephine Levi (1900)![]() ![]() Meditation of the Heart: A Book of Private Devotion for Young and Old (1900) is a collection of teḥinot in English, selected, arranged, and written by Annie Josephine Levi. The introduction was written by the Rabbi Gustav Gottheil. We know very little else about Levi save that she contributed short stories, poems, and essays to periodicals and was active from 1895-1905. (If you know more about her, please contact us.) . . . ![]() ![]() “A Child’s Prayer on its Birthday” was written by Frederick de Sola Mendes and published in the anthology, The Jewish Home Prayer-Book (1887), page 130. . . . 📖 The Jewish Home Prayer-Book: A Manual of Household Devotion (Committee of the Jewish Ministers’ Association, 1887)![]() ![]() A prayerbook containing prayers for private and family use in the home, in vernacular English, expanding upon a prayerbook intended for the same purpose but in German by Benjamin Szold and Marcus Jastrow. . . . ![]() ![]() “A Child’s Prayer on its Parent’s Birthday” was written by Frederick de Sola Mendes and published in the anthology, The Jewish Home Prayer-Book (1887), pages 130-131. . . . 📖 הֶגְיוֹן לֵב | Hegyon Lev (Meditations of the Heart): Israelitisches Gebetbuch für die häusliche Andacht, arranged by Rabbi Benjamin Szold (revised by Rabbi Marcus Jastrow 1875)![]() ![]() ![]() This is Rabbi Benjamin Szold’s הגיון לב (Higayon Lev) Israelitisches Gebetbuch für die Häusliche Andacht, “second completely revised edition” edited by Rabbi Marcus Jastrow (1875). This work was subsequently translated into English by Benjamin Szold’s daughter, Henrietta Szold, and her manuscript used as the draft for the Jewish Ministers’ Association’s Jewish Home Prayer-Book (1887). . . . “Know Before Whom Thou Standest,” a poem on the inscription above the Aron haḲodesh by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, ca. 1840)![]() ![]() ![]() “On the Following Inscription Fronting the New Synagogue: ‘Know Before Whom Thou Standest'” was published in Secular and Religious Works of Penina Moïse, With Brief Sketch of Her Life (Council of Jewish Women, Charleston Section, 1911), pp. 275-276. . . . ![]() ![]() ![]() “On Beholding the New Synagogue, 1840” was published in Secular and Religious Works of Penina Moïse, With Brief Sketch of Her Life (Council of Jewish Women, Charleston Section, 1911), pp. 269-270. . . . ניסיון באראקון | the Baraqon Operation, as found in Sefer Maftéaḥ Shlomo (Hermann Gollancz 1914, ca. 1700)![]() ![]() ![]() This is a version of the Invocation of Baraqon, a spell found in the Key of Solomon (Clavicula Solomonis) and its Hebrew translations (Mafteaḥ Shlomo). This particular variation is as found on the folios 70a-70b of a manuscript republished as ספר מפתח שלמה Sepher Maphteaḥ Shelomo (Book of the Key of Solomon): An exact facsimile of an original book of magic in Hebrew (1914) with a partial transcription translated into English by Rabbi Sir Hermann Gollancz. Claudia Rohrbacher-Stricker writes that Gollancz had located the manuscript in the collection of his father, Samuel H. Gollancz. The manuscript itself dated from around 1700 in Amsterdam, in a Sefardic script. Gershom Scholem was able to prove the Arabic origin of the Baraqon operation in “Some Sources of Jewish-Arabic Demonology,” Journal of Jewish Studies, vol. 16 (1965), p. 6. . . . אִזֵל מֹשֶׁה | Izel Mosheh (Arise, Moses) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Izel Moshe (Arise, Moses), the fifth in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited after the second verse of the song proper, as an elaboration on God’s strength. The English translation preserves the Hebrew acrostic of the original. . . . אֱלָהָא תַּקִּיפָא רַבָּא וְגִבָּרָא | Elaha Taqifa (Mighty God) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ by Yequtiel ben Yosef![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Elaha Taqifa (Mighty God), the third in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited after the concluding verse of the second aliyah (third on Shabbat). The translation preserves the alphabetical acrostic, as well as the authorial tag — Jequtiel son of Joseph. . . . אֱלָהָא עָלַם | Elaha Alam (Ageless God) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ by Meir ben Isaac Nehorai of Orléans (ca. 11th c.)![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Elaha Alam (Ageless God), the fourth in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited after the first verse of the Song of the Sea proper as an introduction to the targum of the text. . . . אֲבוּנָן דְּבִשְׁמַיָּא וּבָרְיַן | Abunan D’biShmaya (Our Parent in Heaven) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ by Meir ben Isaac Nehorai of Orléans (ca. 11th c.)![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Abunan D’biShmaya (Our Parent in Heaven), the second in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited after the fifth verse of the first aliyah (or second verse of the second aliyah on Shabbat). . . . אִילּוּ פּוּמֵּי נִימֵי | Ilu Pume Nima (If Our Mouths Were Thread) — an introductory a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ by Meir ben Isaac Nehorai of Orléans (ca. 11th c.)![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Ilu Pume Nima (If Our Mouths Were Thread), the first in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited after the first verse of the first aliyah, as an introduction or ‘reshut’ to the seder meturgeman as a whole. . . . מַן־כְּוָתָךְ | Man K’vatakh (Who is Like You) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Man K’vatakh (Who is Like You), the seventh in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited as an introduction to the Targum of the verse that includes “Mi Khamokha.” The English translation preserves the Hebrew acrostic of the Aramaic. . . . אָמַר אוֹיֵב | Amar Oyev (The Enemy Said) — a piyyut for the Seder Meturgeman of the 7th Day of Pesaḥ![]() ![]() ![]() This piyyut, Amar Oyev (The Enemy Said), the sixth in a series of Aramaic piyyutim from the seventh day of Pesaḥ, is meant to be recited as an introduction to the targum of Exodus 15, verse 9. . . . |