In the aftermath of an attempted assassination, a Prayer Service of Thanksgiving for the wellbeing of King George Ⅲ — by Rabbi Moses Myers and David Levi (29 October 1795)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), David Levi (translation), Moses Myers and Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations

Shared on:

11 October 2025 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

Categories:

Insurrections, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Tags:

18th century C.E., 56th century A.M., assassination, British Empire, British Jewry, civic prayers, Great French Revolution, King George Ⅲ, London Corresponding Society, Prayers after an attempted assassination, Prayers for leaders

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
אחר תפלת ערבית החזן והקהל יזכרו מזמור החלים אלו כמספר ה׳׃	After evening Service, the Reader and Congregation are to chant the following eighteen Psalms. viz.
תהלים ד׳ למנצח בנגינות׃	Psalms 4. To the Chief musician upon Neginoth.
תהלים ה׳ למנצח אל הנחילות׃	Psalms 5. To the chief musician upon Nechiloth.
תהלים כ״א למנצח מזמור לדוד ה׳ בעזך ישמח מלך׃	Psalms 21. To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. The king shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord!
תהלים כ״ג מזמור לדוד ה׳ רעי לא אחסר׃	Psalms 23. A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
תהלים ל״ג רננו צדיקים ב״ה׃	Psalms 33. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
תהלים ס״א למנצח על נגינת לדוד׃	Psalms 61. To the chief musician upon Neginoth, A Psalm of David.
תהלים ס״ו למנצח שיר מזמור׃	Psalms 66. To the chief musician, A Song and Psalm.
תהלים ע״ב לשלמה אלהים משפטיך למלך תן׃	Psalms 72. O God! give the true knowledge of thy judgement to the king.
תהלים צ״א ישב בסתר עליון׃	Psalms 91. He who dwelleth in the secret place of the most High.
תהלים צ״ה לכו נרננה׃	Psalms 95. O Come, let us sing unto the Lord.
תהלים ק׳ מזמור לתודה׃	Psalm 100. A Psalm of thanksgiving.
תהלים ק״ז הודו לה׳ כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו׃	Psalms 107. O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
תהלים קי״ז הללו את ה׳ כל גוים׃	Psalms 117. Praise the Lord all ye nations.
תהלים קכ״א שיר למעלות אשא עיני אל ההרים׃	Psalm 121. A Song of Degrees, Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills?
תהלים קכ״ח שיר המעלות אשרי כל יראה ה׳ הולך בדרכיו׃	Psalms 128. A Song of Degrees. Blessed is every one who feareth the Lord: who walketh in his ways.
תהלים קל״ח לדוד אודך בכל לבי׃	Psalms 138. A Psalm of David. I will praise with my whole heart.
תהלים קמ״ט הללויה שירו לה׳׃	Psalms 149. Praise ye the Lord, Sing unto the Lord.
תהלים ק״נ הללויה הללו אל בקדשו׃	Psalms 150. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary.
אח״כ יאמרו פסוקים אלו	After which the following verses are to be said
לה׳ הישועה על עמך ברכתך סלה: (תהלים ג:ט)	Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is on thy people, Selah. (Psalms 3:9)
ה׳ צבאות עמנו מישגב לנו אלהי יעקב סלה׃ (תהלים מו:ח, תהלים מו:יב)	The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah. (Psalms 46:8, Psalms 46:12)
ה׳ צבאות אשרי אדם בוטח בך׃ (תהלים פג:יג)	O Lord of Hosts! Blessed is the man who trusteth in thee. (Psalms 84:13)
ברוך הגבר אשר יבטח בה׳ והיה ה׳ מבטחו׃ (ירמיה יז:ז)	Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, whose help the Lord is. (Jeremiah 17:7)
ישא ברכה מאת ה׳ וצדקה מאלהי ישעו׃ (תהלים כד:ה)	He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalms 24:5)
הנה כי כן יברך גבר ירא ה׳׃ (תהלים קכח:ד)	Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. (Psalms 128:4)
אח״כ יאמר החזן הודאה זו בקול רם והקהל עמו בלחש וכן יאמרו אותה מדי יום ביומו בבוקר קודם אשרי ובא לציון ובערב לאחר תפלת מנחה עד י״ד ימים	After which the Reader says the following Thanksgiving aloud, accompanied by the Congregation in a low voice. And thus is it to be read daily, at Morning Service before אשרי ובא לציון, and at Evening Service after תפילת מנחה for fourteen days.
ה׳ אלהי צבאות מי כמוך הסין יה לך שמים אף לך ארץ תבל ומלאה אתה יסרתם האל הגדול הגבור והנורא בששה ימים כל היציר ברא ישב על כסא רחמים ומתנהג עם ברואיו במדת החסד ובמדת הרחמים המפליא הסדיו להועיל האחד ואין זולתו מושיע וגואל מי ימלל גבורות ה׳ ישמיע כל תהלתו	Lord God of Hosts! Who is strong like unto thee, O Lord! The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast founded the earth, and the fulness thereof. O thou Great, mighty, and tremendous God, who didst create all things in six days; who sittest on the throne of mercy, governing thyself towards thy creatures, with the attribute of beneficence, and the attribute of mercy; for thy beneficial kindness is wonderful. He is One and there is none besides him; He is the Saviour and Redeemer. Who can declare the mighty acts of the Lord; who can proclaim all his praise?
ה׳ אדוננו מה אדיר שמך בכל הארץ לך ה׳ הממלכה והמתנשא לכל לראש ומה יקר הסדך אשר הגדלת לעשות עמנו ואת כל העם דרי איי בריטניא אשר אנחנו בקרבם וחוסים בצילם כי נתת הוד המלוכה ותשת עטרת פז לראש צמח צדיק הוא אדוננו המלך האדיר והחסיד גורגי השלישי ירום הודו הדורש טוב לעמו ודובר שלום לכל יושבי ארצינו וסביבותינוי ועיניו תמיד פקוחות להישיר דרכינו ולהגין עלינו משוגאינו כי אהבת נפש אהבנו ובשלומו שלום לנו	O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is thy name in all the earth! Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord! and thou art exalted as Supreme above all. And how excellent is thy loving Kindness, which thou hast exercised towards us, and all the inhabitants of Great Britain, among whom we dwell, and take refuge under their shadow, in that thou hast placed the crown of these Realms on the head of our gracious and Pious King, George the Third, whose glory may be exalted; for he seeketh the peace of his people, and earnestly desireth the peace ot all his neighbours: his eyes are always towards us, to lead us into the paths of virtue, to shield us from our enemies; for his affection towards us, is that of a father; and in his enjoyment of peace, shall we have peace,
ועתה בעוננו משיח ה׳ כמעט נלכד בשחיתותינו לולי ה׳ עוזר לנו בהשנחתו עלינו בקום עליו אדם בליעל והעיז פניו איש רשע להרים יד במלכנו ואדוננו לשלוח יד במשיח ה׳ ולמנוע הטוב והשלוה ממדינותינו ולשפוך דם נקי בתוכינו	But now, because of our iniquities, the Lord’s anointed had nearly been taken in our toils, had not the Lord in his careful providence protected him, when the wicked sons of Belial, rose up, and put forth their hands against our lord and king, the Lord’s anointed, by which, our country might have been filled with blood and violence, anarchy and confusion:
ואתה ה׳ מגן בעדינו כבודינו ומרים ראשינו וכרהם אב על בנים רחמת עלינו ועל זרענו וטפינו סכת באברתך על נזר ראשינו הפרת עצת איש צר ואויב הרע הזה וקלקלת את מחשבתו הרעה אשר השב לעשות ויבא אדוננו המלך בשלום אל ביתו	But thou, O Lord! art a shield around us, our glory, and the exaltation of our head: and as a father hath compassion over his children, hast thou had compassion over us, our children and little ones; thou didst shield the crown of our head under thy wing, didst disappoint the counsel of his enemies, and frustrate their evil devices, so that they could not effect their Treason; and our gracious Sovereign came to his house in peace.
הנה כי כן עלינו להודות להלל לשבח לפאר לרומם ולהדר את שמך ה׳ אלהינו על החסד הגדול אשר גמלתנו לכן באנו אל מעון ביתך נשתחוה אל היכל קדשך ביראתך ונודה לשמך על החסדך ועל אמתך׃	It therefore is our duty to render thanks, praise, extol, glorify, exalt, and ascribe glory to thy name, O Lord! our God, for the Great Mercy, which thou hast bestowed on us; we are come to thy habitation; we will bow down towards the temple of thine holiness, and praise thy name, for thy loving kindness and truth.
זרע יעקב ברוכי ה׳ תנו כבוד ותודה לה׳ אלהינו הודו לה׳ קראו בשמו הודיעו בעמים עלילותיו כי גדול ה׳ ומהולל מאד ונורא הוא על כל אלהים מגדל ישועות מלכו ועושה חסד למשיחו לגורגי ולזרעו עד עולם׃	Ye seed of Jacob, the blessed of the Lord, Give glory and thanks to the Lord our God. O give thanks unto the Lord; call on his name; make known his deeds among the people: for the Lord is great, and exalted in praise, and he is to be feared above all gods. He giveth great salvation to his King; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to George and his seed for ever.
אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו עשה עמנו אות לטובה ויראו שונאינו ויבושו כי אתה ה׳ עזרתנו ונחמתנו׃	Our God, and the God of our fathers, shew us the good token, that our enemies may see it, and be ashamed, for thou O Lord! hast holpen us, and comforted us.
ה׳ אלהי ישראל בוחן לבב ומישרים תרצה הכן לבב אויבי המלך לשוב מדרכם הרעה ויחד לבבם לאהבת מלכם ולא ירעו ולא ישחיתו לנפשם אז יאמרו בגוים הגדיל ה׳ לעשות עם אלה הגדיל ה׳ לעשות עמנו היינו שמחים׃	O Lord, God of Israel, who searchest the heart, and viewest rectitude; prepare the hearts of the King’s enemies, to return from their evil ways; unite their hearts to love their King, that they may thereby save their soul from destruction. They then shall say among the nations, the Lord hath wrought great things for them: the Lord hath wrought great things for us, for which we will rejoice.
אבינו אב הרחמן אדון השלום תן שלום בעולם	Our father, who art the father of mercy, and the Lord of peace, grant peace to reign in the world.
אלהינו שבשמים שים שלום בינינו ובמדינתינו	Our God who art in heaven, grant us peace amongst us, throughout the whole land.
אבינו מלכינו תן חיים ושלום ואריכת ימים ושנים לאדוננו המלך והמלכה ולגורגי פרינס אף װעליס ולפרינסעס אף װעליס ולכל זרע המלוכה ולא יעדר מזרעו יושב על כסא ממלכתו בשלום ובשלוה	Our Father, and our King, grant peace, length of days and years, to our Lord the King, the Queen, George Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family, that he may never [have] want [for] a successor to sit on his throne in peace and happiness.
ומכל נזק צער יגון ואנחה תצילהו יבלה בטוב ימיו ושנותיו בנעימים ובעת בואו בכלח אלי קבר זקן ושבע ימים תסתירהו בצל כנפיך ויתעדן מזיו כבודך	O deliver him from all trouble and affliction, that he may spend his days in tranquillity; and when thou shalt be pleased to call him hence, full of days hide thou him in the shadow of thy wings, and let him be delighted with the splendour of thy glory.
אבינו אב הרחמן אדון השלום פתח לנו שערי רחמים שערי שלום ושלוה השקט ובטח וה׳ ששמו שלום יברך את עמו בשלום אמן׃	Our Father who art the most merciful father, and Lord of peace, Open the gates [of mercy] [the gates] of peace, happiness, and tranquility; and may the Lord whose name is peace, bless his people with peace. Amen.
הנותן תשועה וכו׳	Then say, the Prayer for the Royal Family.

This is a full transcription of a patriotic and civic prayer service offered on 29 October 1795 at the German Jews’ Synagogue in London, composed by chief Rabbi Moses Myers and translated into English by David Levi. The prayers on behalf of King George Ⅲ came in the aftermath of the unraveling of the “Popgun Plot,” an alleged 1794 conspiracy by three members of the London Corresponding Society to assassinate the kning by means of a poison dart fired from an airgun. Three members, Paul Thomas LeMaitre, John Smith, and George Higgins, were arrested in late 1794, and Robert Thomas Crossfield in December 1795. Ultimately, all four were acquitted of treason in May 1796, on the grounds that the chief witness against them was dead.

Source(s)

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

David Levi (translation)

David Levi (1742-1801), born in London, was a printer, author, pioneering Jewish translator, and scholar. A self-taught English Jew, he provided an educated defense of Judaism against its English detractors and published resources on Judaism to both Jews and Christians in English. Since the English Jewish community of the time knew little or no Hebrew, Levi translated the Sefaradi and Ashkenazi prayer books, and produced expositions and translations of much Jewish lore about ritual and practice. His texts were used by Jewish and Christian writers well into the 19th century.

Moses Myers

Rabbi Moses Myers (1759-1804), born in the Netherlands, was the rabbi of the New Synagogue (London) and Acting Chief Rabbi of Ashkenazi Jewry in Britain from 1792-1802.

Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations

The Office of the Chief Rabbi is the institutional identity for the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth [UK]. Unlike in other European countries, individuals serving as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations are not formally designated by an authoritative state or civic body. Rather, the "office" is occupied by the senior rabbi of the United Synagogue, the umbrella institution for its affiliated Orthodox and Ashkenazi synagogues in the United Kingdom. The position of Chief Rabbi in the UK grew out of an 18th century desire among British Jewry for a respected representative figure comparable to the Archbishop of Canterbury for Anglican Christians. Rabbi Aaron Hart (1670–1756), rabbi of the Great Synagogue in London since 1704, was thus regarded by the 1750s as the first of the British chief rabbis. Over the next century and as British Jewry continued to grow, by the tenure of Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (from 1845-1890) the communal leadership and halakhic authority of the position had become firmly established. When in 1870, the Great Synagogue joined with four other synagogues, and was formally recognized as the United Synagogue by an Act of Parliament, the Chief Rabbi was legally established as its head. The current chief rabbi of the UHC and senior rabbi of the United Synagogue is Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. (The Office of the Chief Rabbi should not be mistaken for the London Beit Din, the Court of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations.)

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=63897

Associated Image:

Frontispiece for 1795 work “High treason! Narrative of the arrest, examinations before the Privy Council, and imprisonment of P. T. L., accused of being a Party in the Pop-Gun Plot, or a pretended Plot to kill the King, etc” by Paul Thomas LeMaitre (1795)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." (Psalms 90:17)