Mass Shootings & Gun Violence • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

ליקוטי תפילות ב:נג | Prayer of Peace from War, for Rainfall, and for Excellence in Torah Study (Liqutei Tefilot Ⅱ:53), by Reb Noson of Nemyriv adapted from the teachings of Rebbe Naḥman (ca. 1820s)

Noson Sternhartz of Nemyriv — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 09:03:34 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּבַטֵּל מִלְחָמוֹת וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְתַמְשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל וְנִפְלָא בָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא יִשְׂאוּ עוֹד גּוֹי אֶל גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה, (ישעיה ג:יב)	May it be your will, HaShem our elo’ah and elo’ah of our ancestors, that you eradicate war and bloodshed, and draw great and wondrous peace into the world, so that “nation will not lift sword against nation and they shall no longer learn war.” (Isaiah 2:4)
רַק יַכִּירוּ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, אֲשֶׁר לֹא בָּאנוּ לְזֶה הָעוֹלָם בִּשְׁבִיל רִיב וּמַחֲלֹקֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְלֹא בִּשְׁבִיל שִׂנְאָה וְקִנְאָה וְקִנְטוּר וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק בָּאנוּ לָעוֹלָם כְּדֵי לְהַכִּיר וְלָדַעַת אוֹתְךָ תִּתְבָּרַךְ לָנֶצַח,	Instead, may all inhabitants of the earth recognize and know the ultimate truth: that we did not come to this world for fighting and dispute, Heaven forbid, or for hatred, jealousy, hostility and bloodshed, Heaven forbid. We came to the world only to recognize and know you, may you be blessed forever.
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וְתִתֵּן הַגֶּשֶׁם וְהַמָּטָר בְּעִתּוֹ וּבִזְמַנּוֹ, וְלֹא תַעֲצוֹר הַשָּׁמַיִם מִן הַמָּטָר בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁהָעוֹלָם צְרִיכִין לוֹ,	Therefore, have compassion on us. Give us the rains in their time and season. Do not stop the heavens from giving rain whenever the world needs it.
וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְנָתַתִּי גִשְׁמֵיכֶם בְּעִתָּם, וְנָתְנָה הָאָרֶץ יְבוּלָהּ, וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ. (ויקרא כו:ד) וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד, וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי חַיָּה רָעָה מִן הָאָרֶץ וְחֶרֶב לֹא תַעֲבוֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶם. (ויקרא כו:ו)	May the verse be fulfilled, “I will give you your rains in their time and the land will give its produce, and the tree of the field shall give its fruit… (Leviticus 26:4) I will establish peace in the land, and when you will lie down, no one will frighten you. I will remove the wild animals from the land, and the sword will not pass through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6)
וְתַשְׁגִּיחַ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים שֶׁיַּעֲלוּ כָּל הָאֵדִים מִן הָאָרֶץ לְטוֹבָה, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נַעֲשִׂים מִן הָאֵדִים תָּמִיד גִּשְׁמֵי בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה בְּעִתָּם וּבִזְמַנָּם, וְלֹא יִתְהַפְּכוּ הָאֵדִים לִשְׁפִיכַת דָּמִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.	In your vast compassion, see to it that all of the mists will rise from the earth for the good. May these mists always turn into rains of blessing and prosperity in their proper time and season, and not be transformed into bloodshed, Heaven forbid.
וְתוֹצִיא אֶת הָאֲדָמָה מִקִּלְלוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁנִתְקַלְּלָה בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וּבַעֲוֹנֵינוּ, וְתַהֲפֹךְ כָּל הַקְּלָלוֹת לִבְרָכוֹת, כִּי אַתָּה כֹל תּוּכָל וְלֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמְּךָ מְאוּמָה׃	Extricate the earth from the curses that it received because of the sins of our forefathers and because of our own sins. Transform all of the curses to blessings, “because you can do everything; no purpose can be withheld from you.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וּבָרְכֵנוּ בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂי יָדֵינוּ, וְתֵן לָנוּ פַּרְנָסָתֵינוּ מֵאִתְּךָ בְּהַרְחָבָה גְּדוֹלָה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה.	Master of the world, have compassion on us. Bless all of our handiwork. Provide us our livelihood with great generosity, holiness and purity.
וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ כָּל מַחְסוֹרֵנוּ וְכָל הִצְטָרְכוּתֵנוּ קוֹדֶם שֶׁנִּצְטָרֵךְ לָהֶם, וְתַצִּילֵנוּ וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ תָמִיד מֵחוֹבוֹת וְהַלְוָאוֹת כִּי הֵם מַטְרִידִים וּמְבַלְבְּלִים אֶת דַּעְתֵּנוּ מְאֹד.	Give us everything we lack and everything that we need before we need it. Rescue and protect us always from debts and loans, which profoundly perturb and unsettle our awareness.
רַחֵם עָלַי וְעָלֵינוּ מֵעַתָּה וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ הַנּוֹרָאָה לְסַלֵּק כָּל הַחוֹבוֹת שֶׁאָנוּ חַיָּבִים מִכְּבָר, וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מֵעַתָּה מֵחוֹבוֹת וְהַלְוָאוֹת וְלֹא נִצְטָרֵךְ לִלְווֹת שׁוּם הַלְוָאָה מֵאֲחֵרִים.	Have compassion on me and on us from now on. Help us and save us. In your awesome salvation, remove all of our past debts, and rescue us from now on from taking on more debts and loans. May we not need to borrow any money from others.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל, וְאַל תַּצְרִיכֵנוּ לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם.	Have compassion on us, you who are filled with compassion, you who feed and sustain everyone. May we not need the gifts or loans of flesh and blood.
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וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עָלַי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת בִּכְלָל הַתַּלְמִידִים הַהֲגוּנִים אֵצֶל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים,	Have compassion on me and save me so that I will be among the worthy students of the true tsadiqim.
כִּי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וּבְחֶמְלָתֶךָ עֲזַרְתַּנִי הַרְבֵּה לִשְׁמוֹעַ וּלְקַבֵּל כָּל־כָּךְ תּוֹרָה קְדוֹשָׁה וְנוֹרָאָה וְנִשְׂגָּבָה מִפִּי הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים מִימוֹת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.	In your compassion and mercy, you helped us a great deal so that we would listen to and receive a great deal of holy, awesome, and elevated Torah teachings from the mouths of the true tsadiqim, since the days of our forefathers until this day.
רַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ עָלֵינוּ אֱלָהוּתְךָ לְכָל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ בָּהֶם,	Have compassion on me and on the entire Jewish people. Help us and save us so that by means of the holy Torah, we will draw your divinity onto ourselves, to all of the places where we stand.
כִּי בְּאַהֲבָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹהֵב אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַתָּה נוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת לְהַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אֱלָהוּתְךָ לְתוֹךְ מוֹחֵנוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ, וְלִתְפּוֹס וְלֶאֱסוֹר אוֹתְךָ אֶצְלֵנוּ כִּבְיָכוֹל, בִּבְחִינַת: מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים, (שיר השירים ז:ו) בִּבְחִינַת: עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶׁבִי. (תהלים סח:יט)	For in your great love for your people, Yisrael, you give permission to the true tsadiqim to draw your divinity into our mind and intellect, which grasp and imprison you, as it were— as alluded to in the verses, “The king is caught in the tresses,” (Song of Songs 7:6) and, “You rose to the heights, you took captives.” (Psalms 68:19)
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁיִגְמְרוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים עִמָּנוּ מַה שֶּׁהִתְחִילוּ לַעֲסֹק בְּתִקּוּנֵנוּ לְגַלּוֹת לָנוּ אֱלָהוּתֶךָ,	Have compassion on us for the sake of your Name. Help us and save us so that the tsadiqim will finish what they have begun, engaging in our rectification by revealing your divinity to us.
זַכֵּנוּ לְדַבֵּק מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ תָמִיד בְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, בְּקֶשֶׁר אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק וּבִדְבֵקוּת נִפְלָא, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִמְשָׁךְ וְנִתְפָּס אֱלָהוּתְךָ לְתוֹךְ מוֹחֵנוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת בֶּאֱמוּנָה בְּאֵימָה וְיִרְאָה וְרֶתֶת וְזִיעַ, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: אֲחַזְתִּיו וְלֹא אַרְפֶּנּוּ. (שיר השירים ג:ד)	Help our thoughts always cling to your holy Torah day and night, with a firm and strong bond and with wondrous attachment, so that your divinity will be drawn into and grasped by our mind and intellect with great holiness and purity, with true faith, awe, fear, trembling and trepidation. May the verse be realized in me, “I took hold of him and I would not let him go.” (Song of Songs 3:4)
וַחֲמֹל עָלַי בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ לְהַתְמִיד בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לִשְׁמָהּ וְלֶהֱגוֹת בָּהּ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה,	In your great mercy, have mercy on me. Help me and save me so that I will learn your holy Torah for its own sake and always contemplate it day and night.
עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה בְּעַצְמֵנוּ לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁים רַבִּים אֲמִתִּיִּים בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה עַל־פִּי הַדְּרָכִים שֶׁקִּבַּלְנוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים זְכוּתָם יָגֵן עָלֵינוּ.	May we create many true insights in your holy Torah, in accordance with the approaches that we received from our forefathers and our rabbis, the holy, true tsadiqim, may their merit protect us.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַשֵּׁר מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ תָמִיד בְּתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְלַחְשׁוֹב וּלְעַיֵּן בָּהּ בְּעִיּוּן גָּדוֹל לִשְׁמָהּ, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ הַרְבֵּה שֶׁתָּאִיר עֵינֵינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ,	Have compassion on us for the sake of your Name. May we always connect our thoughts to your holy Torah, and contemplate and study it with great diligence for its own sake. May we beseech you a great deal to illumine our eyes in your Torah.
וְתִפְקַח עֵינֵי שִׂכְלֵנוּ וְדַעְתֵּנוּ לְטוֹבָה, עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְחַדֵּשׁ חִדּוּשִׁים אֲמִתִּיִּים בְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהַנּוֹרָאָה וְהַנִּשְׂגָּבָה מְאֹד מְאֹד.	Open the eyes of our intellect and awareness for the good, until we will create true insights in your exceedingly holy, awesome and elevated Torah.
וְנִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי כָּל הַחִדּוּשִׁים שֶׁנְּחַדֵּשׁ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אֵלֵינוּ תָמִיד אֱלָהוּתְךָ לְתוֹךְ מוֹחֵנוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ, וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹדְךָ אֶת כָּל מוֹחֵנוּ וְשִׂכְלֵנוּ וְדַעְתֵּנוּ וּלְבָבֵנוּ וּרְמַ״ח אֵבָרֵנוּ וּשְׁסָ״ה גִידֵנוּ וְכָל קוֹמָתֵינוּ,	By means of all of the original ideas that we generate in your Torah, may we always draw your divinity into our consciousness and mind. May your kavod fill the entirety of our consciousness, mind, awareness, heart, our 248 limbs and 365 sinews, and our entire anatomy.
וְאֶהְיֶה מֶרְכָּבָה לִשְׁכִינַת אֱלָהוּתְךָ, וְלֹא אֵצֵא עוֹד מִן הַקְּדֻשָּׁה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֲפִלּוּ כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה, וְלֹא אֶחְשׁוֹב שׁוּם מַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוּץ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,	May I be a chariot for your Divine Presence. May I no longer stray, Heaven forbid, even a hairsbreadth from holiness, and may I not entertain any extraneous thoughts, Heaven forbid.
רַק אֶהְיֶה תָמִיד דָּבוּק בְּךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיס גַּם בַּאֲחֵרִים יְדִיעַת אֲמִתַּת אֱלָהוּתְךָ, לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי אָדָם גְּבוּרוֹתֶיךָ וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתֶךָ,	Rather, may I always cling to you and to your holy Torah, so that I will be able to implant in others the knowledge of the truth of your divinity, informing people of your might and the glorious splendor of your sovereignty.
שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אֱלָהוּתְךָ לְתוֹךְ מוֹחָם וְשִׂכְלָם וּלְבָבָם עַל־יְדֵי דִבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁתְּזַכֵּנוּ לְהַשְׁמִיעַ בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם וּבִלְבָבֵיהֶם,	May I draw your divinity into their consciousness, mind, and heart by means of the words of the holy Torah that you will help me speak in their ears and heart.
וְתִפְתַּח עֵינָם וְשִׂכְלָם וּלְבָבָם שֶׁיַּרְגִּישׁוּ נְעִימוּת הַתּוֹרָה, וְתַטְעִימֵם נוֹעַם זִיוָךְ עַד שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה כֻלָּנוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מְהֵרָה,	Open their eyes, mind and heart so that they will sense the pleasantness of the Torah. Allow them to taste the pleasantness of your radiance until we all, your people, the House of Yisrael, quickly and truly recognize you.
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנוֹעַם יְהֹוָה וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ. (תהלים כז:ד) תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אוֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת פָּנֶיךָ נְעִימוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח׃ (תהלים טז:יא)	May we “gaze upon the pleasantness of HaShem and visit in His palace.” (Psalms 27:4) “Let me know the way of life, the satiety of joy before your countenance, the pleasantness at your right hand forever.” (Psalms 16:11)
* * *
וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ תָמִיד מִתַּלְמִידִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ כִּי בָּשָׂר וָדָם אֲנַחְנוּ, וְאֵין אִתָּנוּ יוֹדֵעַ עַד מָה אֵיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר וּלְהִשָּׁמֵר מֵהֶם,	Guard us and rescue us always from unworthy students. You know that we are flesh and blood, and no one knows how to protect and guard himself from such students.
חוּסָה עַל כְּבוֹד הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁלֹּא תַגִּיעַ לְתַלְמִידִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים, שֶׁאֵינָם רְאוּיִם לְקַבְּלָהּ.	Have pity on the glory of the holy Torah, so that it will not come to unworthy students who are unfit to receive it.
(וְתָחוֹס) וּתְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וּתְשִׁיבֵם מְהֵרָה בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְקַבֵּל אֲמִתַּת נְעִימוּת הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה,	And have [pity and] compassion on those unworthy students. Quickly bring them back to you in complete repentance, so that with your compassion, they will receive the true pleasantness of the holy Torah.
וּתְגַלֶּה הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹּחַ לְהַשֶּׁקֶר לְהַסְתִּיר וּלְהַעְלִים הָאֱמֶת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.	Reveal the truth to the world. May falsehood have no ability to hide or conceal the truth, Heaven forbid.
וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ כָּל יָמֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם מֵעוֹנֶשׁ תְּפִיסָה וּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁלֹּא נָבוֹא לְעוֹלָם לִתְפִיסָה וּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים.	In your compassion, guard and rescue us all of our days, forever, from the punishment of imprisonment and incarceration, Heaven forbid, so that we will never be imprisoned or confined.
וּתְרַחֵם עַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְפְּסוּ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים, שֶׁתְּמַהֵר לְהוֹצִיאָם מִשָּׁם בְּשָׁלוֹם וָנַחַת,	Have compassion on your entire people, the House of Yisrael, who have already been imprisoned. Hurry to bring them forth in wellbeing and comfort.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ צַעֲרָם וּמַכְאוֹבָם וְעֹצֶם הָרַחֲמָנוּת אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶם, הוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם תְּנַתֵּק, יְהֹוָה מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים, (תהלים קמו:ז) אֱמוֹר לַאֲסוּרִים צֵאוּ וְלַאֲשֶׁר בַּחֹשֶׁךְ הִגָּלוּ. (ישעיה מט:ט)	You know their suffering and pain, and the acute pity that they deserve. Bring them out from darkness and the shadow of death, release the bound. “HaShem frees the imprisoned.” (Psalms 146:7) “Tell the imprisoned, ‘Go forth!’ and the darkness, ‘Show yourself!”‘ (Isaiah 49:9)
וְתֵן לָנוּ פַּרְנָסָתֵנוּ בְהַרְחָבָה גְּדוֹלָה מֵאִתְּךָ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ לְעוֹלָם.	Give us our livelihood with great generosity, for a good life and peace, so that we will truly be in accordance with your good will all of the days of our lives, forever.
וִיהִי נֹעַם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ. (תהלים צ:יז)	“May the pleasantness of Adonai our elo’ah be upon us. May He establish our handiwork for us, and may He establish our handiwork.” (Psalms 90:17)
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי. (תהלים יט:טו)	“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before you, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalms 19:15)
וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ יְהֹוָה עֵת רָצוֹן אֱלֹהִים בְּרָב חַסְדֶּךָ עֲנֵנִי בֶּאֱמֶת יִשְׁעֶךָ. (תהלים סט:יד) יְהֹוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְהֹוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם. (תהלים כט:יא) בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן: (תהלים פט:נג)	“HaShem, may my prayer come before you at a time of favor. Elohim, in your vast kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.” (Psalms 69:14) “HaShem will give might to His people; HaShem will bless His people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11) “Blessed is HaShem forever, amen and amen.” (Psalms 89:53)

Often, when people refer to “Rebbe Naḥman’s Prayer for Peace,” they are referring to a more recent prayer combining portions of a number of prayers of Reb Nosson of Nemyriv, including from this one: Liqutei Tefilot Ⅱ:53. In addition to a prayer for peace and the eradication of war, the prayer requests rain in its due time, excellence in Torah study, and protection from unworthy students of Torah. Reb Noson of Nemyriv adapted his teḥinot from the teachings of Rebbe Naḥman of Bratslav in Liqutei Moharan Ⅱ:60.

The text of Liqutei Tefilot here is copied from the Sefaria Project. (Thank you!) The English translation presented here is adapted from that provided in The Fiftieth Gate vol. 7 (Breslov Research Institute 2016). I have added citations and arranged the translation in a linear format, phrase by phrase, with some occasional small stylistic edits to the translation. (For example, I prefer “livelihood” for parnasah over ‘income’.) –Aharon Varady

A Prayer for Justice, Blessing, and Praise on Shabbat Shoftim, by Virginia Spatz (2015)

Virginia Spatz — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:37:15 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source(English)
	How lovely are these tents!^[1] Numbers 24:5 not far from housing that has seen better days and housing that has seen too many awful ones.
	I love the place of Your house, reached through streets collecting cigarette butts, the odd chicken wing, echoes of homicide.
	Through Your abundant love, I enter Your house, where these peaceful walls remind us: “If I am for myself alone, what am I?”^[2] Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot 1:14 while a few miles away homes reel from gunshots and mourning, makeshift memorials of teddy bears and candles pooled with tears and rain. Meetings and vigils and “let this be the last.”
	My prayer seeks a favorable time – Does joy come in the morning, where weeping has not tarried for the night? Can we dance together, if we have not yet joined in lament?
	You answer with your saving truth: Your glory’s dwelling-place spans mountain top and pit. We are shaken and we stand firm. Remove our sackcloth and dress us to praise You, Source of Healing and Help.

This prayer is a kavvanah for the morning blessings, using language and images from the prayer “Mah Tovu” [how lovely are your tents], commonly recited in the early morning blessings, and Psalms 30. Offered with special intention for the healing of Congress Heights, Capitol View, and other neighborhoods in Washington, DC, rocked by persistent violence.

A photo of a street side homicide memorial in Buffalo, New York.” Memorials like these are common in the city of Buffalo. (credit:Joseph Augstell , license: CC BY-SA)

Notes

Notes
1	Numbers 24:5
2	Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot 1:14

A Prayer for Pittsburgh [after the Tree of Life synagogue massacre], by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2018)

Menachem Creditor — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 07:27:55 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Dear God,
	Your precious Children are crying. We have every reason to become numb, to become used to this blasphemous trend, to barely even register that Your Images are being erased by cold guns wielded by hurtful hearts.
	God, we know we must act, and we know that, in order to act, we must feel the urgency – Your Urgency. We must channel Your pain at the deaths of Your children – in Your Holy Home – and remind ourselves and our leaders to look to the Tree of life
	and choose life
	We’ve been too quiet, mistaking status updates and reactionary prayers for repentance. Our nation has endured the epidemic of Gun Violence for far too long.
	And so, God, as we feel the beginnings of our own weariness after two mass shootings within four hours we remember the wisdom of Your Prophet, who taught that:
וְקוֹיֵ יְהוָה יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ יַעֲלוּ אֵבֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִים יָרוּצוּ וְלֹא יִיגָעוּ יֵלְכוּ וְלֹא יִיעָפוּ׃ (ישעיה מ:לא)	“…those who hope in God will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”^[1] Isaiah 40:31
	We pray to You for renewal as we spread our protective wings over one another again, running to justice, refusing weariness, and choosing life.
	May we sing louder than weapons and merit to see You in each other’s eyes, sanctifying Your Name by standing together by rising up again, this time rebuilding Your World by saving each other.
	Amen.

“A Prayer for Pittsburgh” was first published by Rabbi Menachem Creditor at his website, and shared with the Open Siddur Project via our Facebook discussion group.

Notes

Notes
1	Isaiah 40:31

תפילה לארצות הברית לאחר הטבח בפּיטסבּורג | Prayer for the United States after the Pittsburgh Massacre, by Rabbi Stephen Belsky (2018)

Stephen Belsky — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 00:51:16 +0000

Hebrew	English
הַנּוֹתֵן מֶמְשָׁלָה לְמַנְהִיגִים וְאַחְרָיוּת לְאֶזְרָחִים, מַלְכוּתוֹ כָּל עוֹלָמִים – שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן, (תהלים קכא:ד) שֶׁהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יַעֲקֹב מִיַּד לָבָן, וּבְכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד רוֹדְפֵינוּ – הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַמְּדִינוֹת הַמְּאוּחָדוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, מַלְכוּת הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר מָצָאנוּ בָהּ מָנוֹחַ, וְיַשְׁרֶה אַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה בֵין כָּל תּוֹשָׁבֶיהָ.	May Gd who grants dominion to rulers and responsibility to citizens, whose kingdom is all eternities – the guardian of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps,^[1] Psalms 121:4 who rescued Jacob from the hands of Lavan, and in every generation saves us from our persecutors – bless these United States, the compassionate country in which we have found rest, and inspire all its inhabitants with love and brotherhood.
בְּרַחֲמָיו הָרַבִּים יְעַקֵּר וִישַׁבֵּר אֶת תַּרְבוּת הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת וְהַשִּׂנְאָה מֵעָלֵינוּ, וּמִבֵּינֵינוּ, וּמִתּוֹכֵנוּ, וְיִתֵּן בְּלֶב כָּל מַנְהִיגֵינוּ לְקַיֵּם שְׁלוֹם הָאָרֶץ וְחֵירוּתָהּ, עַד בִּיאַת יוֹם חֲזוֹן נְבִיאֵינוּ, בּוֹ יְנַחֵם כְּאֵם גּוֹלִים וּמָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת יי כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים. (ישעיהו יא:ט, חבקוק ב:יד)	In Gd’s great mercies, uproot and destroy the culture of cruelty and hatred from upon us, among us, and within us, and place in the hearts of all our leaders to preserve the peace and freedom of the land, until the coming of the day of our prophets’ vision when Gd consoles exiles like a mother and the world is full of the knowledge of God as water covers the seas.^[2] Cf. Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14
כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.	Let this be Gd’s will, and let us say amein.

This “Prayer for the United States after the Pittsburgh Massacre,” by Rabbi Stephen Belsky, was written to be recited this Shabbos (3 November 2018), following Av haRaḥamim, an El Malei for the martyrs, and a prayer for the injured victims and police officers.

Notes

Notes
1	Psalms 121:4
2	Cf. Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14

Prayer after a Mass Shooting at a Public School, by Rabbi David Dine Wirtschafter (2018)

David Dine Wirtschafter — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 10:37:33 +0000

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Marshall County, Kentucky who, now have joined an ever growing list of places to experience a mass shooting at a public school. We grieve for the families of the two teenagers who were killed. May the 18 others who were injured speedily recover from their wounds. These incidents are terrible no matter where they happen but there is something all the more unsettling when they occur so close to home.

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	God of Abel and Cain, Eve and Adam, the victims and the victimizers. In the depths of our heartbreak and pain we pray:
	May this one be the last one. May there be no next one. No more murders, no more murderers, No more parents burying their children. No more funerals for fifteen-year-olds.
	Help us to end this plague. Give us the courage to work for real and lasting change. The blood of our children cries out to us from the ground.^[1] Cf. Genesis 4:10
	Rather than cover our ears, make us listen to the cries. Rather than closing our eyes, let us give the bloodshed of this day a long hard look. Rather than turning our heads, grant us the wisdom to use our minds to finally bring an end to this plague. Rather than throwing up our hands, let us use them to reach out with a meaningful response. Rather than hardening our hearts, give us the compassion to turn the pain of others to a plea for justice.

This prayer was first shared by Rabbi Wirtschafter via his Facebook account, here.

Notes

Notes
1	Cf. Genesis 4:10

From the Depths: A Prayer For Christchurch, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2019)

Menachem Creditor — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:38:28 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Dear God, From the depths we call to You.
	Our broken hearts, shattered like glass, like a windshield, or a child’s glasses, or a sanctuary window…
	This wounding moment – there, here, to every ‘us’ imaginable, Divine reflections fractured and bloodied again and again, like a sick dream.
	Dear God, how do You endure this madness? How do we? Look what Your children are willing to do to each other…
	We collect these hard, cold, things, glorify them like treasured keepsakes forgetting their purpose is pure: to kill.
	Holy One, we’re devastated. Again. It’s really hard to remember a world without bulletproof backpacks and armed guards outside of every sanctuary.
	Help us remember a world that felt lighter than this one.
	Fill our torn hearts with Your spirit as we do the impossible work of burying our dead, cut down during prayer. Again.
	Remind us to show up at our neighbors’ mosque’s today, with flowers and tears and outstretched arms.
	Help us heal. Help us heal each other and fix the very broken world you bequeathed us. We need You. We really need You.
	Amen.

“From the Depths: A Prayer For Christchurch” was written by Rabbi Menachem Creditor in response to the massacre of Muslims at worship during Friday services in Christchurch, NewZealand. He shared it through the Open Siddur Project via the Open Siddur Project’s Discussion Group on Facebook. #EndGunViolence #BuildOnLove

אֵלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה, נוּסַח פִּיטְסְבּוּרְג | Eileh Ezkarah for Pittsburgh, by Rabbi Jonathan Perlman with Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum & Rabbi Martin Cohen (2019)

Jonathan Perlman — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 03:39:39 +0000

Beth Kissilef writes:

I wish the eleven kedoshei Pittsburgh (martyrs) were still with us. But I am very proud that my husband initiated a collaboration to have a meaningful religious response to the tragedy. This is a modern version of the prayer for martyrs read on Yom Kippur. It was written by Rabbi Jonathan Perlman [New Light Congregation, Pittsburgh] in collaboration with Rabbis Tamar Elad-Appelbaum of קהילה ציון ארצישראלית – Kehilat Ẓion Jerusalem and Martin Cohen of the Shelter Rock Jewish Center with nekudot (vowels) by Tova Admon of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh and typesetting by David Zvi Kalman. Please read, use and share as the authors would like this response to be known and understood. A version is on the Rabbinical Assembly website and will be on the New Light Congregation site too. Shana tova u’metuka – a good and sweet new year.

Hebrew	English
אֵֽלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה וְנַפְשִׁי עָלַי אֶשְׁפְּכָה כִּי בְלְָעֽוּנוּ זָרִים כְּעֻגָּה בְּלִי הֲפוּכָה, כִּי בִימֵינוּ אֲנוּ לֹא עָלְתָה אֲרוּכָה, לַאַחַד עָשָֹר הֲרוּגֵי קְהִילָתֵינוּ הַקְדוֹשָׁה.	These things do I remember and my heart is grieved! How the arrogant have devoured our people! Who would believe that in our day there would be no intervention For the eleven slaughtered from our holy community?
שַׁבָּת בַּבֹּקֶר כְּמִידֵי שַׁבָּת הַיְתָה וַיַשְׁכִּימוּ כְּעֶשְׂרִים מִבְּנֵי הַקְּהִילָה וּבָאוּ לִקְרֹא אֶת פָּרַשַׁת וַיֵרַא מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְלֹא יָדְעוּ וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִרְאוֹת בְּאַסְפַּקְלַרְיָה כִּי סִּדְרַא תְגַלֶּה מְאַשֶׁר אוֹתָם יִקְרֶה	That Shabbat morning was like every Shabbat The twenty early-risers from the three shuls Came to read Parshat Vayera from the Torah And they did not know nor could they see in the reflection of God’s mystery, That the portion would reveal what would happen to them.
וְקָרְאוּ׃ וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת־נְעָרָיו וְאֶת בְּנוֹ יְחִידוֹ אֲשֶׁר אָהַב וַיֵּֽלְכוּ אֶל הַר הָמּוֹרִיָה יַחְדָּו. יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ עַל יָדוֹ וּשְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו מֵאֲחוֹרָיו. דּוֹם הָלְכוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַיַּחֲרִישׁוּ כִּי לֹא מָצְאוּ דָּבָר וְהִנֵה הִגִיעוּ אֶל הָהָר וְשָׁם נִסָּה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת אַבְרָהָם. וַיַּנַּח אַבְרָהָם אֶת־נַעֲרָיו שָׁם בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר וַיֹּאמֶר יְיָ אֶל־אַבְרָהָם עֲלֵה אֵלַי הָהָרָה כִּי אֲנַסֶּךָּ.	And they read: Abraham rose early and brought his servant lads And his only son who he loved They went to Mount Moriah together His son Isaac by his side and two lads behind They walked three days in silence. They went in hushed voices for nothing occurred to them. Finally they arrived at Moriah And there God tested Abraham And Abraham let the youths rest at the bottom of the hill. God said to Abraham: Ascend to me on the hill and I will test you there.
וְרָאוּ׃ וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם וַיַּעַל אֶל־הַר הָאֱלֹהִים הוּא הַר הָמּוֹרִיָה וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־הָהָר וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ לֵאמֹר כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב וְכֹה תַגֵּיד לִבְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי וְכֹל הַרוֹצֶה לִכְרוֹת בְּרִיתִי וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלִי, בְּבוֹא הָעֵת אֶת שְׁמִי הַקָדוֹשׁ יְקַדֵּשׁ בְּרַבִּים כִּי אֶל אֱלֹהִים חַיִים יִקְרָא וְאֶת קְדֻשַּׁת הָחַיִּים וְאָהֲבָתוֹ בְּלֶב כֹּל יִיטַע וַיַשׁוּבוּ כּוּלָם אַבְרָהָם לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיֵלְכוּ נִפְרָדִים לְבֵּיתָם וַיִדֹמוּ כוּלָם מִפְּנֵי הַחָזוֹן הַחָרֶד אַשֶׁר רָאֲתָה עֵינָם	And they saw: And Abraham rose He ascended the mountain of God, the hill of Moriah And a cloud covered the mountain and God called to him saying: Thus will you say to the house of Jacob and thus will you tell the house of Israel: You will be holy for I am holy And everyone who wishes to enter my covenant and visit my Sanctuary That time when the many will come to sanctify my Holy Name in public And to the living God they will call And unto the Sanctity of Life and of Love that is implanted in every heart And then the group returned, Abraham leading, And they walked separately to their homes And they were silent all of them in reaction to the frightful vision their eyes saw.
וְכֵן שָׁמְעוּ מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַפַּרְגּוֹד׃ וְאִם תִּשְׁאֲלוּ בְּמָרָה זוֹ תּוֹרָה וְזֶה שְׂכָרָהּ, תְּשׁוּבָתִי יְדוּעָה׃ גְּזֵרָה הִיא מִלְּפָנַי וְאֵין לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מִדּוֹתָי.	And thus they heard from behind the Veil of Mystery: And if you ask in your bitterness, “This is Torah and this is its reward?” “My answer is known: It has been decreed … Don’t dwell too much on what separates You from Me.
וְכֵן קָרָה בְּמִקְדַּשׁ הַמְעַט שֶׁלָּנוּ בְּבוֹא הַצָר לְנַסוֹת אוֹתָנוּ. חַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה לְהַכְרִית אֶת זִכְרוֹנֵינוּ מִמְקוֹמֵינוּ. אֶת קְדוֹשֵׁינוּ מָצָא כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ׃ מֵהֶם פְּנֵיהֶם זֶה אֶל זֶה לִפְנֵי קָדִיֹש דְּרַבָּנָן וּמֵהֶם פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי חוּץ לְקַבֵּל אוֹרְחִים מֵהֶם מְמַהָרִים לַעֲזוֹר לִיְדִידִים לִמְצוֹא אֶת מְקוֹמָם בַּסִּדּוּר מֵהֶם מְכִינִים אֶת פָּרַשַׁת הַתּוֹרָה וּמֵהֶם בַּמִטְבַּח מְכִינִים אֶת הַמַנָה הַבָּאָה.	What occurred in our Holy Sanctuary that day As the enemy came to tread upon our holy space His wielding sword to break apart our memories from that place The sanctified recalled a few that remained – Among some their faces turned to one another before “Kaddish d’Rabbanan” Among some their faces turned toward the door to welcome new faces Among some they quickly assisted their friends in finding their place in the Siddur Among some those engaged in Torah Study And among some who were in the kitchen preparing the next meal.
וְאֶל אַחַד עַשַׂר אָמַר יְיָ בְּלַחַשׁ הִגִיעַ זְמַנְכֶם לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת שִׁמִי בַּרַבִּים וְיוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁלֹא בִּיקַשְׁתֶּם זֹאת וּבְכׇל זֹאת זִכְרוּ וְהַבִּיטוּ לְעֲקֵידַת יָחִיד	And to the eleven, God spoke in a whisper “The time has arrived to sanctify My Name in public. “And I know you did not ask for this.” Even so, they would be remembered and looked upon as personally bound to the Altar as one united.
כִּי בַּעָתִיד יִזְכְּרוּ יְלַדִים וּקְּהִילוֹת שֶׁאַנַחְנוּ אֶת קְדוֹשָׁת הַחָיִים בָּאנוֹ לִחְיוֹת כִּי קַמְנוּ עַמָדְנוּ הִמְשָׁכְנוֹ בְּדָרְכְּכֶם כִּי זָכַרְנוּ אֶמוּנָה וִידִידוּת כַּאן לְאוֹרְכֶם.	For in the future their children and congregations would remember That we are Sanctifiers of Life who come to live For we arose, we stood as your followers in your path For we remembered faith and friendship here toward your light.
אֶת חַלְלֵינוּ קַבָרִנוּ וְעֲלֵיהֶם בָּכִינוּ וּבְכׇל זאֹת לֹא נִשְׁבַּרְנוּ. וּבְכׇל זֹאת אֲנַחְנוּ בִּמְקוֹמֵינוּ עַמַדְנוּ! וְנַמְשִׁיךְ לַעֲמוֹד.	We buried our bodies. And upon them we wept And even so, this did not break us. Nonetheless we were steadfast in our place And we continued to stand.
וּבְכֵן, אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ, עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן הֲרוּגֵינוּ עַל שֵׁם קׇדְשֶֽׁךָ וְעַשֵׂה עַל טַף וַיְלַדִים וְכֹל אַנְשֵׁי אֶמוּנַתֶךָ זָכְרֵינוּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, כִּי זוֹכְרִים אַנָחְנוּ לָךְ עֲזְרֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּינוּ, כִּי מִתְפַּלְלִים אַנָחְנוּ לָךְ וְהַצִּילֵֽנוּ יוֹצְרֵינוּ, כִּי עָלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ.	And so, Our Father our King, act for the sake of those who were slaughtered for your holy name. And act for the babies and children and for all the people of your faith. Remember us, our King, for we keep You in mind. Help us, our King, for we prayed to You. Save us, our Creator, for our eyes are upon you.
וְכֹל עוֹד נְשָׁמָה בְּאַפֶּינוּ נְבַקֶשׁ עוֹלַמֵנוּ וְעֶרֶב וַבּוֹקֶר בְכֹל יוֹם תַמִיד נְקַבֵּץ וְנַכְרִיז כְּאֶחָד׃	As long as this breath is within us We ponder the world you created for us And evening and morning, each and every day. We gather and we cry out as one:
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה׳ אֶחָד.	Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.^[1] Deuteronomy 6:4.

Source(s)

https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Eleh-Ezkerah-nusah-Pittsburgh-Jonathan-Perlman-Tamar-Elad-Applebaum-and-Martin-Samuel-Cohen-2019.pdf

Notes

Notes
1	Deuteronomy 6:4.

Gratitude Prayer, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor on the first anniversary of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life massacre (2019)

Menachem Creditor — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:37:38 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Gratitude Prayer
	in memory and in solidarity with 11 beautiful souls from Pittsburgh who lived and whose gifts live on
	Dear One,
	I know there’s enough here to do things worth doing with other doers.
	Sometimes, because of what we’ve lost, because of what we’re afraid of losing, it can be hard to remember what we have.
	So please remind us to be mindful of what we have so that we don’t lose it while we still have it.
	Amen.

“Gratitude Prayer” was first published by Rabbi Menachem Creditor on his Facebook page and in the Facebook discussion group of the Open Siddur Project.

TODAY: A Rosh haShanah Prayer to End Gun Violence, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2019)

Menachem Creditor — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 18:45:00 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Dear God, God, we stand waiting for a world, this world, our world to be reborn.
	It’s not a statement we make lightly; it is a statement of need.
	This world needs rebirthing. Our hearts need deep healing. Our lives need rebuilding after all the pointless deaths we’ve endured this past year.
	Dear God, Guns and violence have destroyed tens of thousands of lives in America this year. Tens of thousands.
	We call to You, Adonai, and beg that you stand in Din, in Judgment, of our carelessness and our callousness at the senseless, avoidable loss of many human lives.
	We call to you, Adonai, to infuse our souls with Ḥesed, Your Love, so that we really start to cry out from the pain our nation has endured for far too long.
	May we be inspired by You and act to save many, many lives this coming year. We know that only then will we be worthy of a world reborn.
	Hayom, Today, we remember Your command to choose life is not a given in Your broken world but rather a demand upon us all.
	Hayom, Today, we sing louder than weapons: Those who sow in tears, will reap, will reap in joy.^[1] Psalms 126:5.
	God, May we merit to see You in each other’s eyes and sanctify Your Name by standing together by rising up again, this time rebuilding Your World by saving each other’s.
	Amen.

“Today — A Rosh HaShannah Prayer to End Gun Violence” was first published during Elul Zman (the season of ḥeshbon nefesh) by Rabbi Menachem Creditor on his Facebook Page, and shared through the Open Siddur Project via our Facebook discussion group. The prayer is a riff from Hayom T’amtsenu, a litany that concludes the Musaf service of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a fragment of a longer piyyut which is found in its complete form in the Italian synagogue rite.

Notes

Notes
1	Psalms 126:5.

A Prayer for Uvalde [after the Massacre at Robb Elementary School], by Rabbi Stephen Belsky (25 May 2022)

Stephen Belsky — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 21:30:42 +0000

A prayer for Uvalde and for all of us, from a little over three hours away, up the road in Austin…

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	May Gd who grants dominion to rulers and responsibility to citizens – whose kingdom is all eternities – comfort, console and strengthen those who were injured yesterday in the attack on Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, along with the bereaved families and friends of those who were murdered.
	Heal the grieving community of Uvalde; protect our distraught state of Texas; bless the entire United States of America, and inspire all its inhabitants with love and brotherhood.
	In Gd’s great mercies, uproot and destroy all cruelty, hatred, and violence from upon us, among us, and within us, and place in the hearts of all our leaders to love peace, and to preserve the peace and freedom of the land, until the coming of the day of our prophets’ vision – when Gd consoles exiles like a mother, and the world is full of the knowledge of God as water covers the seas.
	Let this be Gd’s will, and let us say amein.
	(And when we pray, think carefully about what we mean to ask from God – and what we need to demand of each other.)

This prayer was first shared by Rabbi Stephen Belsky on his Facebook page, 25 May 2022.

תפילת השעה | Prayer of the Moment [after the Neve Yaakov synagogue shooting], by Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch (Knesset haRabanim l’Yisrael 2023)

the Rabbinical Assembly of America — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 23:56:14 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ יְהוָה׃ אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה בְקוֹלִי תִּהְיֶינָה אָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֹת לְקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנָי׃ אִם־עֲוֺנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר־יָהּ אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד׃ כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא׃ קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה קִוְּתָה נַפְשִׁי וְלִדְבָרוֹ הוֹחָלְתִּי׃ נַפְשִׁי לַאדֹנָי מִשֹּׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר שֹׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר׃ יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהוָה כִּי־עִם־יְהוָה הַחֶסֶד וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת׃ וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכֹּל עֲוֺנֹתָיו׃ (תהלים ק״ל)	A song of ascents. Out of the depths I call you, YHVH. My Lord, listen to my cry; let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. If you keep account of sins, Yah, my Lord, who will survive? Yours is the power to forgive so that you may be held in awe. I and my soul hope for YHVH, and I await their word. I am more eager for my Lord than watchmen for the morning, [than] watchmen for the morning! O Yisrael, wait for YHVH; for with YHVH is a steadfast love and a great power to redeem. It is they who will redeem Yisrael from all their iniquities. (Psalms 130)
ריבון כל העולמים, מלך שהשלום שלו שים שלום בארץ והסר ממנה אכזריות איבה ושנאה	May the One who has dominion over all, Sovereign of Peace Establish peace in the Land, and turn aside enmity and hatred.
שלח מאורך ואמיתך לכל יושביה למען ידעו לכבד זה את זה	Send forth your light and your truth to all its inhabitants, that they will treat one another with mutual respect.
ולדבר זה עם זה למען יכבדו את צלמך המצוי בהם ובכל אדם אחר היושב בארץ הזו	May they come to see your image in one another, among all the inhabitants of Erets Yisrael.
שלח מרוחך לראשי שרי ויועצי מדינתנו על מנת שידעו לפעול בשום שכל ובנחת רוח לצמצם ולהסיר שפיכות דמים מן הארץ	Inspire government leaders and advisors to act with wisdom and patience, to minimize and remove bloodshed.
המצא רפואה שלמה לכל הפצועים, ושלח נחמה למשפחות הרוגים	Send speedy and full healing to the injured, and comfort to the families of the dead.
וקיים בנו מהרה מקרא שכתוב לֹא־יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא־יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה (ישעיה ב:ד חלק)	And fulfill the promise made in scripture, “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4 part) And let us say, Amen.

“Tefilah haSha’ah” (Prayer of the Moment) with Psalms 130 was offered by Rav Avi Novis-Deutsch and shared by the Knesset haRabbanim l’Yisrael via their Facebook page on 29 January 2023. The English translation of the prayer was shared by the Rabbinical Assembly via their Facebook page a few hours later.

The translation of Psalms 130 is derived from the Sefaria Community translation. (I have re-hebraicized divine names, de-capitalized ‘you/your,’ and replaced default masculine pronouns for the divine with the gender inclusive singular ‘they.’) We have transcribed the prayer from the source image and set it and Psalms 130 side-by-side with their translations in English. –Aharon Varady

Source(s)

Tefilah haSha’ah (Avi Novis-Deutsch 2023)

This Shall Not Continue: A Prayer to End Gun Violence, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2023)

Menachem Creditor — Sat, 06 May 2023 02:30:39 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Oh America, where the guns roam free, blood stained streets full of weeping parents and neighbors.
	Where Jeremiah’s prophetic tears for innocent lives cruelly torn from this world stream eternally down our cheeks, as weapons of death turn infinite profits plowshares turned into mass-produced swords and there is no comfort, only piercing grief.
	Why do we continue to do this to each other? Are we simply waiting our turn? Our children’s turns? There can be no peace in a city where innocent lives are so casually undone.
	Dear God, our despairing hearts have watched this endless hellish cycle for far too long. We, your children, are refractions of You. We know. We hear Your pain welling up from within our souls with each and every deadly bullet fired into Your Images, old and young, over and over and over and over.
	These tears on our cheeks, this pain in our souls, this rage in our minds, this sacred work for a terrified world work that shouldn’t be needed in this world of Your Imagining –
	– these are Your Tears on our cheeks, Your Pain in our souls, Your Rage in our minds, Your Compassion coursing through us.
	This is Your Work in our hands.
	And we declare: this shall not continue.
	We will, Holy One, build a world of Love, where children can safely go about their lives, where neighbors act like neighbors, where hope feels nearer, where You are seen by everyone in everyone.
	We will, through the tears, pain, and the rage, through the grief, the grief… the grief… and through the Love, Dear God, we will rescue this world.
	In the memories of all those we’ve lost and in the names of those to come, we will End Gun Violence.
	We ask of you, God: Be with us, as we do this sacred work. Bless the intentions of our hearts and bless the works of our hands. Heal us as we work to save Your children. Amen.

“This Shall Not Continue: A Prayer to End Gun Violence” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared on 30 April 2023 via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook.

A Prayer for New York City After a Mass Shooting, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (29 July 2025)

Shoshana Michael Zucker (translation) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 18:48:57 +0000

Translation (Hebrew)	Source (English)
אל מלא רחמים, הרופא לנשברי לב הנותן לעייף כוח, אנו מתאספים בצער, בזעם, בתקווה רועדת. אמש, חמישה נפשות יקרים נקטפו באלימות חסר היגיון – כל אחד מהם עולם ומלא. ביניהם אחד המופקד על שלום הציבור אשר נרצח בעת מילוי תפקידו. בעינינו זיכרונם קדוש.	El maleh raḥamim, God of Compassion, God of broken hearts, God of weary souls, We gather in grief, in rage, in trembling hope. Last night, five precious lives were taken in an act of senseless violence — each of them was a world complete. A guardian of peace among them, slain in service. We name their memories sacred.
אנחנו, בני דתות רבים, נזעקים בקול אחד ומסרבים לקהות חושינו. יהי רצון שדמעותינו יהפכו לתפילות, תפילותינו למעשים, ומעשינו למרפא. שמור־נא על האבלים. חזק־נא את המרפאים. הגן־נא על המגינים עלנו. היו עם אלה שמשפחותיהם מרוסקות. אנא, הפר־נא את האלימות בנו וסביבנו.	We cry out together, across all faiths, refusing numbness. Let our tears become prayers, our prayers become action, our action become healing. Shelter the grieving. Strengthen the healers. Protect our protectors. Be with those whose families are shattered. Disrupt the violence in us and around us.
העיר שלא יודע שינה, מתעוררת עתה מצער, אנו מעזים לומר: אין זה סוף הדרך. הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ (תהלים קכו:ה).	In the city that never sleeps, now shaken awake by sorrow, We dare to say: this is not the end. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalms 126:5).
קדוש ונורא, הושיע־נא, נחם־נא את עירנו ואת כל אחד מאיתנו בעת הזאת, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן	We ask that You comfort our city and each of us now, Holy One. Amen.

“A Prayer for New York City After a Mass Shooting” was offered by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared through the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook, 29 July 2025 after the 2025 Midtown Manhattan shooting the previous day. Hebrew translation by Shoshana Michael Zucker offered on 1 August 2025.

A Prayer for the Shabbat After Bondi Beach, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor

Menachem Creditor — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:59:33 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Ribbono Shel Olam, God of life, God of light:
	We come before You on a Shabbat bruised by terror, still carrying the images we cannot unsee and the names we cannot stop whispering.
	This week, hatred erupted in a place meant for joy, at a shoreline where Jewish families gathered to kindle light. Blood was spilled where candles were meant to glow. Lives were taken. Lives were shattered. Lives were spared by miracle.
	We thank You for the healing underway, for the hands that stopped the bleeding, for breath that continues when it might not have. And we ache — deeply — for those whose breath was stolen, for families now learning how to live with an empty chair and a silence that screams.
	God, we say clearly what must be said: antisemitism is blasphemy against life. It is an assault not only on Jews, but on the sacred image You placed in every human being.
	And yet — we refuse to surrender the night.
	We light candles anyway. Not as denial. Not as decoration. But as defiance.
	Ḥanukkah’s lights are a sacred protest. They declare that we will not be quiet. We will not hide. We will not allow terror to dictate the terms of Jewish existence.
	Courage, this week, looks like flames held steady by trembling hands. It looks like three candles in a wounded week, refusing to go out. It looks like families showing up, like communities standing closer together than before.
	Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh. All Jews are responsible for one another. All Jews are family.
	This truth has never felt more literal, more urgent, more demanded of us.
	So shape us, God, into what this moment requires: strong, outstretched hands — ready to help, to protect, to be of service, to build, and rebuild.
	Bless those who labor for justice and safety. Strengthen those who refuse despair. Comfort the brokenhearted. And let our light — not only our candles, but our actions — push back the darkness inch by inch.
	May this Shabbat be a pause for breath, not a retreat. A gathering of strength, not an escape.
	And may the light we kindle together carry us forward — visible, proud, unafraid — with work still to do in Your world. Amen.

“A Prayer for the Shabbat After Bondi Beach” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was offered via Open Siddur Project’s discussion group on Facebook, 19 December 2025, in response to the Bondi Beach shootings in Sydney, Australia on 14 December 2025.