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These teḥinot on descending into and ascending out of a shelter were written as a response to the Iran war of 2026, which featured a lot of descending into and ascending out of shelters. The teḥinah on ascending is inspired by the minhag not to write the book of Eikha on klaf, because klaf represents permanence, and we pray someday to no longer need to recite it.
Note: “The CAUSE” is used to translate the Divine Name YHVH, based on the philosophical idea of God as the Prime Mover and on the interpretation of the Name as a causative form of the copula – “causes to be.” This translation also uses the plural pronouns They/Their/Them to refer to God as a pluralis majestatis, and to avoid the implications of God being assigned a gender. (Find Ibn Ezra’s commentary on Genesis 1:1 for a discussion of the pluralis majestatis when referring to God.) All divine referents (pronouns, epithets, names) are rendered in unicase.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
תחינה בעת ירידה לתוך המקלט |
A petition when descending into the shelter. |
לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, בִּדְחִֽילוּ וּרְחִֽימוּ וּרְחִֽימוּ וּדְחִֽילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם יוֹ״ד ה״י בְּוָא״ו הֵ״י בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים, בְּשֵׁם כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, הִנְנִי מוּכָן וּמְזֻמָּן לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל־פִּקּֽוּחַ נֶֽפֶשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם׃ (ויקרא יח:ה) |
To encourage a uniting of the Blessed Holy One with the Presence, in awe and in love, in love and in awe, to unite the names Yod-Hei and Waw-Hei in inseparable unity for all of Israel’s sake, here I am ready and prepared to fulfill the positive commandment of preservation of life, as is written in Your Teaching: And keep My laws and My rulings that a human does them and lives by them. (Leviticus 18:5) |
וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאֵרֵד לְתוֹךְ הַמִּקְלָט מִפְּנֵי רִשְׁפֵּי־הַשֶּֽׁלַח מוּטְלֵי אוֹיְבֵי עַמֶּֽךָ, כֵּן תְּזַכֵּֽנִי וְאֶעֱלֶה מִמֶּֽנּוּ, וְאֵצֵא בְּשָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה וָבֶֽטַח. וִיקֻיַּם בִּי וּבְכׇל־עַמְּךָ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב שָׁ֭מָּה שִׁבַּ֣ר רִשְׁפֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת מָגֵ֬ן וְחֶ֖רֶב וּמִלְחָמָ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ (תהלים עו:ד) וְנֶאֱמַר וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ כׇל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֝ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃ (תהלים ה:יב) |
And just as I descend into the shelter from the flaming projectiles fired by the enemies of Your people, so too may I merit that I arise from it and exit in peace and quietude and safety. And may it be fulfilled for me and for all Your people the verse as is written: There They shattered the flaming arrows, shield, and sword, and war, selah. (Psalms 76:4) And it is said: And all who refuge in You will forever rejoice, cheering, and You will shelter them, and those who love Your name will celebrate in You. (Psalms 5:12) |
וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃ (תהלים צ:יז) |
And may the sweetness of the Master our God be upon us, and the works of our hands be established for us; may They establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17) |
יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃ אֹמַ֗ר לַ֭יהֹוָה מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃ (תהלים צא:א-ב) |
Dwelling in the shelter of the Highest, lodging in the Surveyor’s shadow. I say to the Cause: my shelter and fortress, my God in whom I trust! (Psalms 91:1–2) |
בתוך המקלט, קוראים תהלים קכ–קלד (שירי המעלות), או לפחות תהלים ק״כ וק״ל (להלן) |
Within the shelter, recite Psalms 120–134 (the songs of ascents), or at a minimum Psalm 120 and 130 (included below) |
תהלים ק״כ — שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶל־יְ֭הֹוָה בַּצָּרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י קָ֝רָ֗אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי׃ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה הַצִּ֣ילָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשְּׂפַת־שֶׁ֑קֶר מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה׃ מַה־יִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭ךָ וּמַה־יֹּסִ֥יף לָ֗ךְ לָשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה׃ חִצֵּ֣י גִבּ֣וֹר שְׁנוּנִ֑ים עִ֗֝ם גַּחֲלֵ֥י רְתָמִֽים׃ אֽוֹיָה־לִ֭י כִּי־גַ֣רְתִּי מֶ֑שֶׁךְ שָׁ֝כַ֗נְתִּי עִֽם־אׇהֳלֵ֥י קֵדָֽר׃ רַ֭בַּת שָֽׁכְנָה־לָּ֣הּ נַפְשִׁ֑י עִ֗֝ם שׂוֹנֵ֥א שָׁלֽוֹם׃ אֲֽנִי־שָׁ֭לוֹם וְכִ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר הֵ֗֝מָּה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ |
Psalms 120 — A song of ascents. To the Cause in the strife I faced, I called and They answered. Cause, redeem my being from lying lips, from slippery tongue! What can you get, what can you gain, o slippery tongue? Warrior’s arrows, sharpened, hot coals of bramble. Woe is me, for I dwell in Meshekh, that I live with the nomads’ tents! So long I myself have lived here, with those who hate peace. I am “Peace!” but as I speak, they are for war. |
תהלים ק״ל — שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃ אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֢ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אׇ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃ אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמׇר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃ כִּֽי־עִמְּךָ֥ הַסְּלִיחָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן תִּוָּרֵֽא׃ קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הֹוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃ נַפְשִׁ֥י לַאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה כִּֽי־עִם־יְהֹוָ֥ה הַחֶ֑סֶד וְהַרְבֵּ֖ה עִמּ֣וֹ פְדֽוּת׃ וְ֭הוּא יִפְדֶּ֣ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל עֲוֺנֹתָֽיו׃ |
Psalms 130 — A song of ascents. From the depths I have called You, Cause. Master, hear my voice, may Your ears be inclined to the sound of my petitions! If You account for iniquities, Yah, Master, who can stand? For with You is forgiveness, that You be revered. I wait for the Cause, my being awaits, for Their word I have hoped. My being is for the Master as those watching for the morning watch for the morning. Israel, hope for the Cause, for with the Cause is mercy and great redemption. And They will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. |
תחינה בעת עליה מתוך המקלט |
A petition when ascending out of the shelter. |
הִנֵּה קִיַּֽמְתִּי, לְפִי מִעוּט כּוֹחִי וְכׇל־מַה שֶׁבְּיָדִי לְקַיֵּם, מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל־פִּקּֽוּחַ נֶֽפֶשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם׃ (ויקרא יח:ה) |
Here I have fulfilled, according to my minute strength and all that is in my power to fulfill, the positive commandment of preservation of life, as is written in Your Teaching: And keep My laws and My rulings that a human does them and lives by them. (Leviticus 18:5) |
וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁזָּכִֽיתִי לַעֲלוֹת וְלָצֵאת מִתּוֹךְ הַמִּקְלָט בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת, כֵּן תְּזַכֵּֽנִי— אוֹתִי וְאֶת־כׇּל־עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל— שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטָרֵךְ בִּירִידָתוֹ עוֹד, שֶׁלֹּא־יִהְיֶה עוֹד צֹֽרֶךְ לַחְפֹּר מִקְלָטִים וְלַחֲסוֹת בָּם, לֹא עָלַי וְלֹא עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ וְלֹא עַל־כׇּל־יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֵל בְּרוּאֶֽיךָ. |
And just as I merited to ascend and leave from within the shelter at this time, so too may I merit— I and all Your people Israel— that we will have no more need for its descent, that there will be no need to hew shelters and refuge in them, not for me nor for all Israel Your people nor for all the inhabitants of the world Your creatures. |
כַּכָּתוּב בִּנְבוּאַת יְשַׁעְיָֽהוּ חוֹזֶֽךָ וְכִתְּת֨וּ חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם לְאִתִּ֗ים וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת לֹא־יִשָּׂ֨א ג֤וֹי אֶל־גּוֹי֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְלֹֽא־יִלְמְד֥וּ ע֖וֹד מִלְחָמָֽה׃ וּמִיכָֽיְהוּ הַדּוֹבֵר אֱמֶת בִּפְנֵי הַזֵּדִים הוֹסִיף לִנְבוּאָתוֹ בִּנְבוּאָתוֹ וְיָשְׁב֗וּ אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֧חַת גַּפְנ֛וֹ וְתַ֥חַת תְּאֵנָת֖וֹ וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֑יד כִּי־פִ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת דִּבֵּֽר׃ אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן. |
As is written in the prophecy of Isaiah Your augur: And they will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-shears; no nation will take up sword against nation, nor will they any longer learn war. (Isaiah 2:4) And Micaiah, the speaker of truth in the face of the arrogant,[1] A reference ot the narrative in I Kings 22. Micaiah is another name of Micah, and I Kings 22:28 places Micah 1:2 in the mouth of that narrative’s Micaiah. added to his prophecy with his prophecy: And each man will dwell under his vine and under his fig-tree and none will make them afraid, for the mouth of the Cause of Forces has spoken. (Micah 4:4)[2] Micah 4:3 is a variant text of Isaiah 2:4, thus “added his prophecy to his prophecy.” Amen, thus may it be willed. |
וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃ (תהלים צ:יז) |
And may the sweetness of the Master our God be upon us, and the works of our hands be established for us; may They establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17) |
יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃ אֹמַ֗ר לַ֭יהֹוָה מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃ (תהלים צא:א-ב) |
Dwelling in the shelter of the Highest, lodging in the Surveyor’s shadow. I say to the Cause: my shelter and fortress, my God in whom I trust! (Psalms 91:1–2) |
Notes
“תחנות על שימוש במקלט | Teḥinot on the Use of a Bomb Shelter, by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license.
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