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a community-grown, libre Open Access archive of Jewish prayer and liturgical resources
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 Contributor(s):This prayer was offered by Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed in the days following the attacks of Ḥamas and its allies from Gaza on southern Israel beginning Shemini Atseret 5784 (7 October 2023). The English translation was made Rabbi Zac Kamenetz and Rabbi Marc Margolius. . . . Contributor(s):This prayer for rabbis, cantors, educators, and other congregational workers was offered by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared by the author through the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook, 20 October 2023. . . . אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים לְנִשְׁמוֹת תּוֹשָׁבֵי מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֶהַיִשּׁוּבֵי עוֹטֵף עַזָּה | El Malé Raḥamim for the residents of the State of Israel from the communities on the Gaza Border, by Cantor Amnon Seelig Contributor(s):This is an El Malé Raḥamim prayer by Cantor Amnon Seelig for the victims of the invasion of HAMA”S from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784, with an English translation by Rabbi Oren Steinitz. . . . אל מלא רחמים לזכר הנרצחים | El Malé Raḥamim Prayer for the Victims of Terrorism in the Land of Israel Contributor(s):An El Malé Raḥamim prayer for Victims of Terror in Erets Yisrael, with an English translation by Rabbi Hillel Ḥayyim Lavery-Yisraeli from Prayers for Israel, for Protection from Terror Attacks, and In Memory of the Victims (15 October 2023), page 6. . . . 📖 תְּפִלּוֹת לְמַֽעֲן יִשְׂרָאֵל, נֶֽגֶד מַתְקֵפוֹת, וּלְזִכְרָם שֶׁל הַנִּרְצָחִים | Prayers for Israel, for Protection from Terror Attacks, and In Memory of the Victims, by Rabbi Hillel Ḥayyim Lavery-Yisraëli (2023) Contributor(s):A prayer-booklet prepared for a communal prayer service on 15 October 2023, in the aftermath of the massacres of HAMAS and its allies on Shemini Atseret 5784 (7 October 2023). . . . Contributor(s):As I was in NYC, I first heard the news of the pogrom with which Hamas opened the war between Hallel and the Torah reading on Shemini Atseret. The beginnings of what is now the final stanza of this… I am unsure whether to refer to it as a qinah or a piyut first stirred in my soul during Tefillat Geshem, and the refrain of that stanza during Hakafot that evening. Prayer and song, no matter how joyous, has taken on a somber, cutting, desperate edge for me in this new world where the safety I had once taken for granted was revealed to be an illusion, which is reflected in taking from the phrases taken from the liturgy of the Yomim Nora’im. . . . Prayer for Israel, Tishrei 5784 by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 12 October 2023) Contributor(s):A prayer for Israel offered by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Efraim Mirvis on 12 October 2023, in the aftermath of the massacres perpetrated by HAMA”S and their allies in Gaza on the residents and citizens of the State of Israel on Shemini Atseret 5784. The prayer was originally published on the website of the Office of the Chief Rabbi and disseminated via its social media accounts. . . . Contributor(s):This prayer by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff was offered at the Temple Micah, Lunch and Learn, on 11 Oct 2023. . . . הושע נא | Hosha-na [after the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Annie Lewis (10 October 2023) Contributor(s):This litany of Hoshana’ot was written by Rabbi Annie Lewis. Hebrew translation by Shoshana Michael Zucker. . . . A Prayer for Israel [after the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein (10 October 2023) Contributor(s):This prayer for Israel was written by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein and first shared via his Facebook page on 10 October 2023, in the aftermath of the massacres by HAMA”S and its allies on 7 October 2023. He added, “A dear teacher of mine asked me to try and compose an appropriate prayer for this moment.” . . . Contributor(s):“A Prayer from a Traumatized Jewish Heart” was written by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared by the author via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook, 10 October 2023. . . . Contributor(s):This prayer by Rabbi David Wolpe was first shared via his Facebook page in the aftermath of the war begun by Hamas on Shemini Atseret 5784. . . . תְּפִלָּה לִשְׁלוֹם הַמְּדִינָה | Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel [during the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Mira Regev (HaTenuah HaReformit 2023) Contributor(s):This prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel, by Rabbi Mira Regev, was disseminated by HaTenuah HaReformit (The Israel Movement for Reform and progressive Judaism). English translation by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman and Rabbi Efrat Rotem. . . . תְּפִלָּה לְפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִם | Prayer for the Redemption of Israelis Taken Captive [during the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi (2023) Contributor(s):This prayer for the liberation of abducted Israeli citizens and military personnel was offered by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi in response to the war initiated by Hamas from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784. The English translation was prepared by Rabbi Dr. Rachel Sabath Beit Halachmi. . . . תְּפִלָּה לִשְׁלוֹם הַמְּדִינָה | Prayer for the Peace of the State of Israel [during the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi (2023) Contributor(s):This prayer for the State of Israel was offered by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi in response to the war initiated by Hamas from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784. The English translation was prepared by Rabbi Dr. Rachel Sabath Beit Halachmi. . . . תפילה לנוכח המלחמה שפרצה בבוקר שמיני עצרת, תשפ”ד | Prayer in response to the war that broke out on the morning of Shemini Atseret 5784, by Rabbi Gil Nativ (Masorti Movement 2023) Contributor(s):A prayer offered by Rabbi Gil Nativ for the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Knesset haRabanim b’Yisrael in response to the invasion from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784 (2023), and disseminated via their Facebook page. . . . Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hannah Spiro on 5 September 2023 Contributor(s):The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 5 September 2023. . . . תפילת גשם כולל אמהות | Tefillat Geshem including the matriarchs with stanzas in a backwards acrostic, an adaptation by Eliran Sobel Contributor(s):On Shemini Atseret, one is supposed to begin mentioning rain in the second blessing of their Amidah prayers (Ta’anit 2a). In many communities, this is liturgically marked by a poetic introduction in the repetition of the Amidah, called Geshem, specifically with the piyyut “Zekhor Av” written by Rabbi Eleezer BeRabbi Kalir, which alludes to the references of our forefathers’ relations to water. One feature of this poem is that it utilizes an alef-bet-ical acrostic, and while there are various modern adaptations that include biblical women, those break the acrostic. This is my attempt to compose a version including stanzas for our foremothers, while maintaining the acrostic by writing the women’s stanzas as a backwards acrostic (i.e. starting from tav and going to alef). This backwards acrostic containing the foremothers is then interspersed with Kalir’s original. . . . סֶדֶר אוּשְׁפִּיזִין וְאוּשְׁפִּיזַן לְחַג הַסּוּכוֹת | Service of Welcoming Ushpizin and Ushpizan to the Sukkah on the Festival of Sukkoth, by Hayyim Obadyah Contributor(s):The ceremony of welcoming ushpizin originated in the Jewish mystical tradition of Qabbala, for which the ushipizin represented the divine emanations called “sefiroth”, in the context of the sukka as a representation of Ultimate Redemption. Because of this mystical association, the ceremony was rejected by some communities (such as Spanish and Portuguese Jews) and individuals (such as diehard rationalists). Without applying mystical implications, however, we can see this ritual as a symbol of how we bring into our lives diverse aspects of Jewish history and tradition as we navigate our spiritual journeys. . . . Contributor(s):I tried to look at different aspects of what we as Jews contemplate and think about as we move towards the High Holy Days. God’s view of what we did out of fear and loneliness and perhaps why we can never see God’s face and for us to reflect on how we act in the world and what God has asked us of in this lifetime. This poem/prayer is perhaps a little rough, that was intentional. Rather than being a true historical commentary on Elul, I tried to tell a little story about it. . . . Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 8 August 2023 Contributor(s):The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 8 August 2023. . . . Contributor(s):This prayer/poem [‘Call of the Shema’] came out of Rabbi Greene’s (Rabbi of Cong. Har Hashem in Boulder, Colarado) sermon this past Friday and our Torah Study discussion Saturday morning on Parashat Eikev. . . . Contributor(s):While we focus on the Temple’s destruction and all that is related to the ninth of Av I believe that our internal work reflects how we see and perceive the external. . . . Contributor(s):This is an original piyyut, inspired by the structure of the beloved Yom Kippur Ne’ilah piyyut El Nora ‘Alila. In the era of the Sanhedrin, every fast day would have a Ne’ilah service between Minḥa and the conclusion of the fast. While these are no longer in practice for any days other than Yom Kippur, the editor personally feels like it could be worth bringing them back. As part of this idea, this piyyut is meant to be sung after the end of Tishah b’Av mincha but before the fast ends, as we prepare for the weeks of comfort. It is expressly *not* a qinah. . . . Contributor(s):“Comfort in Ruin: Tishah b’Av” was written by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared by the author via the Open Siddur Project Discussion Group on Facebook, 27 July 2023. . . . תפילה לתשעה באב | Prayer for the Wellbeing of the State of Israel on Tishah b’Av 5783, by Rabbi David Bigman Contributor(s):Former students felt the need for a special prayer for peace in the State of Israel in her present condition. I wrote this prayer yesterday (the eve of 7th Av 5783) and I felt as if I was praying while I wrote it. Students and friends, please send your constructive criticism. The prayer is for you to use on Tishah b’Av, on Shabbatot and in synagogues or in any other context. . . . Contributor(s):A mi sheberakh prayer for the preservation of democracy in the face of the judicial reforms of the 37th government of the State of Israel. . . . Contributor(s):“A Jerusalem Prayer” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared by the author via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook, 3 February 2023. . . . Contributor(s):“Morning Prayer” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared via the Open Siddur Project’s Discussion Group on Facebook, 15 June 2023. . . . Benediction at the Commissioning Ceremony of the USS Carl M. Levin, by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (24 June 2023) Contributor(s):This benediction was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at the commissioning ceremony for the USS Carl M. Levin on Saturday morning, 24 June 2023. . . . Invocation at the Commissioning Ceremony of the USS Carl M. Levin, by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (24 June 2023) Contributor(s):This invocation was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at the commissioning ceremony for the USS Carl M. Levin on Saturday morning, 24 June 2023. . . . Benediction at the Dinner Celebrating the Commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin, by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (23 June 2023) Contributor(s):This benediction was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at a dinner celebrating the commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin on Friday night, 23 June 2023. . . . Invocation at the Dinner Celebrating the Commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin, by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (23 June 2023) Contributor(s):This invocation was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at a dinner celebrating the commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin on Friday night, 23 June 2023. . . . Contributor(s):This mi sheberakh prayer, “Farewell to Rabbinic Intern,” was written by Hayyim Obadyah and shared via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook. . . . מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַנִיצָּחוֹן | A Song for Victory Day, a psalm anticipating Death’s end by Aryeh Baruch Contributor(s):An ecstatic psalm envisioning the eventual victory of Humanity over Death itself – the ultimate Victory Day. Although the primary focus is on our ending of the process of biological death, it also touches on the Resurrection of those who have fallen, as well as the defeat of the ultimate Death – that of the Universe itself. . . . מי שברך לסיום קריאת התורה | Mi sheBerakh for Completion of Reading the Entire Torah, by Cantor Ethan Levin Goldberg Contributor(s):A “Mi Sheberakh” prayer for someone who completed public chanting of the entire Torah over the course of thirty years. It takes inspiration from the standard Mi Sheberakh for an aliyah, the “hadran” ritual for a siyyum, and quotes Exodus 24:7. . . . תפילה נוכח הרעה מדרום | Mi sheBerakh in the face of the Missiles Falling On Israel (Masorti Movement in Israel 2023) Contributor(s):“תפילה נוכח הרעה מדרום | Prayer in the face of the Missiles Falling On Israel” was shared by the Masorti Movement in Israel via their social media account on Twitter on 12 May 2023. . . . Contributor(s):“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. . . . תפילה עבור המלך | Prayer for the Monarch at the Coronation of King Charles Ⅲ, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2023) Contributor(s):The Prayer for the Monarch included in the “Prayers of Thanksgiving and Supplication to Mark the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles Ⅲ and Queen Camilla, Shabbat 6th May, 2023 (15 Iyar, 5783)” as circulated via PDF. . . . Contributor(s):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) Contributor(s):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 Contributor(s):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. . . . A prayer for a country poised between demise and rebirth, by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein (Applied Jewish Spirituality 2023) Contributor(s):Written on 6 Nisan 5783, 27 March 2023 (after nightfall), in response to the Israeli people’s spontaneous demonstrations against the government’s attempts to amass virtually unchecked power. . . . תְּפִלָּה עַל הָעַרְבוּת בְּעַד כׇּל יוֹשְׁבֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | Prayer on Erev Shabbat for the Sake of All Residents of Israel, by Rebbitsen Hadassah Froman & Rabbah Tamar Elad-Appelbaum (2023) Contributor(s):A prayer for peace amidst civil disagreement, difference, and strife before the lighting of Shabbat candles on Erev Shabbat. . . . Contributor(s):A prayer of protection for those in the process of gender transitioning, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, inspired by the Tefilat haDerekh (Traveler’s Prayer). . . . Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the Georgia State House of Representatives: Rabbi Dr. Miriam Udel on 2 February 2023 Contributor(s):The invocation for the 11th day of the 157th session of the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in the United States. . . . the song at the sea of ending one story and beginning another, by Kohenet Ilana Joy Streit (February 2023) Contributor(s):This piece emerged in February 2023 upon realizing that instead of reading ים סוף as Yam Suf (generally understood at the Sea of Reeds), it could be read as Yam Sof: Sea of End[ing]. It was apparent to me that we may have approached this sea (escaping from slavery) thinking that it would be the end of us. It was not. But it was the end of *something*. . . . תפילת השעה | Prayer of the Moment [after the Neve Yaakov synagogue shooting], by Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch (Knesset haRabanim l’Yisrael 2023) Contributor(s):“Tefilah haSha’ah” (Prayer of the Moment) 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 was shared by the Rabbinical Assembly via their Facebook page a few hours later. We have transcribed the prayer from the source image and set the Hebrew side-by-side with its translation in English. . . . Contributor(s):“O Mother of Medicine” is an original prayer of intention by Baruch Jean Thaler, for use before a healing journey with the aid of entheogenic, psychedelic medicine. . . . Contributor(s):A prayer-poem for summoning the necessary courage, patience, and clarity for collective liberation as mapped onto the extra month of Adar in a leap year. . . . |
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