tagged: Needing Translation (into Arabic) • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

תפילה לשלום העיר תל אביב־יפו | Prayer for the Welfare of Tel Aviv-Yafo, by Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman (1959), amended by Rabbi Esteban Gottfried (2009)

Louis Polisson — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 02:19:56 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)	Contribute a translation
רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְךָ עַל שֶׁהִפְלֵאתָ חַסְדֵךָ לָנוּ בְּהַקָמַת עִיר גְּדוֹלָה וּמְפֹאָרָה וְרַבַּת־עַם בְּאַרְצֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם תֵּל אָבִיב־יָפוֹ.	Master of all Worlds, we give thanks to you for have been wondrous [in sharing] your lovingkindness with us, in establishing this great and magnificent city, and [in bringing] multitudes of people in our land, by the name of Tel Aviv-Yafo.
אַתָּה הִשְׁפַּעְתָּ לִפְנֵי לְמַעְלָה מִמֵאָה שָׁנָה רוּחַ עֵצָה וּתְבוּנָה עַל קְבוּצַת בּוֹנִים מִבְּנֵי צִיוֹן הַיְקָרִים, לִתְקֹעַ יָתֵד עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם לְעִיר עִבְרִית וְחֲנַנְתַּם עֹז וְעָצְמָה לְבַצֵּעַ שְׁאִיפָתָם זוֹ בְּאֹמֶץ וּגְבוּרָה וּבִמְסִירוּת נֶפֶשׁ, וְקַבְעוּ בָהּ סְדָרִים מְתֻקָּנִים, וְהֶעֱמִידוּ מוֹסָדוֹת נַעֲלִים לַתַרְבּוּת עִבְרִית, לְתּוֹרָה וּלִתְפִילָה, לְבָתֵי חִנּוּךְ וְלִמוּד, לְמִסְחַר וּלְחֲרשֶׁת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וּלִפְעֻלּוֹת־חֶסֶד.	For over a hundred years, you have showered a spirit of wisdom and understanding on a group of builders from our dear Children of Ẓíōn, planting a stake at the edge of the sea for a Hebrew city. And you graciously gave them the strength and fortitude to carry out their aspiration with courage, heroism, and devoted self-sacrifice. And they announced in this [city] reformed organizations, and they set up lofty institutions for Hebrew culture, for Torah and for prayer, for houses of education and learning, for commercial trade and for active production, and for acts of lovingkindness.
וְהִנֵה הָעִיר גָּדְלַה וַתִיף, וְרַבִּים מֵאָחֵינוּ וְאַחֲיוֹתֵינוּ נָהֲרוּ אֵלֶיהָ וְנִהְיְתָה לְמֶרְכָּז הַחַיִּים בָּאָרֶץ. תָּמִיד הוֹמִיָּה מֵאֲנָשִׁים וּמְלֵאָה חַיִּים וּתְנוּעָה, קוֹל תִּקְוָה נִשְׁמַע בִּשְׁעָרֵיהָ וְהַלְמוּת עֲמֵלִים בְּחוֹמוֹתֵיהָ וּמַרְכֹּלֶת רָבָּה בִּשְׁוָקֵיהָ.‏	And behold, the city has become great and beautiful, and many of our brethren and sisters [and siblings] have flocked to her, and she has become a center of life in the land. She is always bustling with people and full of life and movement. The voice of hope is heard in her gates, and the beat of laborers within her walls, and many wares are in her marketplaces.
הַמְּחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, מְשׁוֹךְ חַסְדֵּךָ עָלֵינוּ גַּם לְיָמִים יָבוֹאוּ. הָגֵן עַל עִירֵנוּ וְעַל תּוֹשָׁבֵיהָ, הַדְרֵךְ אֶת רֹאשֵׁי הָעִיר לְהוֹלִיכָהּ בְּדַרְכֵי הַחָכְמָה, הַיֹּשֶׁר וְהַצֶּדֶק. עֲזֹר לָנוּ, תּוֹשָׁבֵי הָעִיר שֶׁל הַיּוֹם וּמְעַצְבֵי הָעִיר שֶׁל הַמָּחָר, לִשְׁמוֹר אֶת מַתְנוֹת הַטֶּבַע שֶׁל הָעִיר, כְּחוֹפֵי הַיָּם, וּבַרֵךְ אֶת תּוֹשְבֵי עִירֵנוּ בְּאַהֲבַת אָדָם בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא אָדָם. “עוֹד אֶבְנֵךְ וְנִבְנֵית בְּתוּלַת בַּת צִיוֹן” (כמו ירמיה לא:ד) מִי יִתֵן וְנַמְשִׁיךְ לִבְנוֹת וּלְהִבָּנוֹת בָּעִיר העִבְרִית הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים. אָמֵן.‏	The One who renews each day, continually, the act of creation, draw your lovingkindness upon us also in the days to come. Protect our city and her inhabitants. Guide the heads of the city to lead her in the ways of wisdom, integrity, and justice. Help us, residents of the city of today, and designers of the city of tomorrow, to protect the natural gifts of the city, like the shores of the sea, and bless the inhabitants of our city with love of their fellow human being because they are also human. “I will build you again, and you will be rebuilt, Maiden, Fair Ẓíōn.” (Cf. Jeremiah 31:4) May the One grant that we continue to build and to be built up in this first Hebrew city for many long years. Amen.

This is a prayer composed by Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman, chief rabbi of Tel Aviv, for the city’s 50th anniversary (Jubilee) celebration, amended by Rabbi Esteban Gottfried of Beit Tefillah Yisraeli for the centennial celebration in 2009. English translation added in 2022 by Rabbi Louis Pollison. (Thank you!)

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ לְפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִם | Mi sheBerakh for the redemption of those in captivity (or whose whereabouts are unknown)

Ephraim Mirvis — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 21:50:54 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
תהלים קמב	Psalms 142
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִשְׁמֹר וְיִנְצֹר אֶת הַשְּׁבוּיִים׃ (שמות של השבויים) בְּתוֺךְ שְׁאָר אֲחֵינוּ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה וּבְשִׁבְיָה.	The One who blessed our forefathers, Avraham, Yitsḥaq, and Yaaqov, Yosef, Mosheh, and Aharon, David and Shlomo, may they bless and safeguard and preserve the captives: (name of captive(s)) among their brethren in the House of Yisrael in trouble and captivity.
בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁהַקָּהָל מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעֲבוּרָם, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת, וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק, וּמִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם, וִישִׁיבֵם מְהֵרָה לְחֵיק מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם.‏	In the merit of the prayers of this holy assemblage who pray for them, may the blessed Holy One shower compassion over them, and deliver them from darkness and strife, remove their bondage, deliver them from their afflictions, and return them speedily to their families.
”יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם“ (תהלים קז:לא)‏	Let them give thanks to YHVH for his lovingkindness, and for his miracles to the children of Adam.^[1] Psalms 107:31
וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: ”וּפְדוּיֵי ה׳ יְשׁוּבוּן וּבָאוּ צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם עַל רֹאשָׁם שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יַשִּׂיגוּ וְנָסוּ יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה“ (ישעיהו לה:י)‏ וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.‏	And establish for them that what is written, “And the ransomed of YHVH shall return, and come with singing unto Tsiyon, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10) and let us say, Amen.

This mi sheberakh was published by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth in June 2014, as “Prayer Issued for Missing Israeli Teenagers,” writing: “The prayer…currently being recited across Israel for missing teenagers Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, was issued today to Rabbanim of the United Hebrew Congregations by Chief Rabbi Mirvis.” Recitation of this psalm and mi sheberakh seem appropriate to me in the case of unconscionable, immoral, and unjust state policies that separate children from their caregivers. To help fulfill the mitsvah of ransoming captives, please contribute to funds paying out bail bonds and demonstrate your opposition to these policies. –Aharon Varady

Notes

Notes
1	Psalms 107:31

A Lamentation for Gaza on Tishah b’Av, by Rabbi Brant Rosen (2014)

Brant Rosen — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 18:07:16 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	A Lamentation for Gaza
	Gaza weeps alone. Bombs falling without end her cheeks wet with tears. A widow abandoned imprisoned on all sides with none willing to save her.
	We who once knew oppression have become the oppressors. Those who have been pursued are now the pursuers. We have uprooted families from their homes, we have driven them deep into this desolate place, this narrow strip of exile.
	All along the roads there is mourning. The teeming marketplaces have been bombed into emptiness. The only sounds we hear are cries of pain sirens blaring drones buzzing bitterness echoing into the black vacuum of homes destroyed and dreams denied.
	We have become Gaza’s master leveling neighborhoods with the mere touch of a button for her transgression of resistance. Her children are born into captivity they know us only as occupiers enemies to be feared and hated.
	We have lost all that once was precious to us. This fatal attachment to our own might has become our downfall. This idolatrous veneration of the land has sent us wandering into a wilderness of our own making.
	We have robbed Gaza of her deepest dignity plunged her into sorrow and darkness. Her people crowd into refugee camps held captive by fences and buffer zones gunboats, mortar rounds and Apache missles.
	We sing of Jerusalem, to “a free people in their own land” but our song has become a mockery. How can we sing a song of freedom imprisoned inside behind walls we have built with our own fear and dread?
	Here we sit clinging to our illusions of comfort and security while we unleash hell on earth on the other side of the border. We sit on hillsides and cheer as our explosions light up the sky while far below, whole neighborhoods are reduced to rubble.
	For these things I weep: for the toxic fear we have unleashed from the dark place of our hearts for the endless grief we are inflicting on the people of Gaza.

“A Lamentation for Gaza” was first published by the author on his blog on 1 August 2014.

A Prayer for the Steadfast on the Global Shabbat Against Home Demolitions, by Rabbi Brant Rosen (2016)

Brant Rosen — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:18:00 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	This is a prayer for the steadfast, the ones who stand firm, the ones who say: you can destroy my house but you will never destroy my home.
	This is a prayer for the ones who lose their fields only to clear new ones, uprooting weeds, moving stones, planting zatar seedlings in the hot summer sun.
	This is a prayer for the ones who sift through the rubble of their homes and find dolls, blankets, tea canisters, photos of ancestors gazing at them through shattered glass.
	This is a prayer for the ones who live in tents next to twisted steel and broken concrete knowing they will have to rebuild before winter comes again.
	This is a prayer for the ones who issue appeals and stays and petitions to courts that issue no justice.
	This is a prayer for the ones who put their children to bed at night in huts of corrugated metal, praying they will not awaken to the sounds of bulldozers.
	This is a prayer for the ones who stand amidst the ruins once the soldiers have gone and silently vow: demolish our houses again if you choose but we will never leave.
	We will rebuild, we will replant, we will remain.
	Our very existence is resistance.

“A Prayer for the Steadfast” was first published by Rabbi Brant Rosen on his blog on 10 August 2016 for the Global Shabbat Against Home Demolitions and in response to demolitions of structure that had not been granted building permits by the IDF Civil Authority in Umm al-Kheir and elsewhere in Area C of the occupied West Bank.

A Jewish Prayer for Nakba Day (يوم النكبة), by Rabbi Brant Rosen

Brant Rosen — Tue, 21 May 2019 15:34:58 +0000

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
לָאֵל שֶׁחָפֵץ תְּשׁוּבָה	Le’el she’ḥafets teshuvah, to the One who desires return: Receive with the fullness of your mercy the hopes and prayers of those who were uprooted, dispossessed and expelled from their homes during the devastation of the Nakba.
	Sanctify for tov u’verakha, for goodness and blessing, the memory of those who were killed in Lydda, in Haifa, in Beisan, in Deir Yassin and so many other villages and cities throughout Palestine.
	Grant ḥesed ve’raḥamim, kindness and compassion, upon the memory of the expelled who died from hunger, thirst and exhaustion along the way.
	Shelter beneath kanfei ha’shekhinah, the soft wings of your divine presence, those who still live under military occupation, who dwell in refugee camps, those dispersed throughout the world still dreaming of return.
	Gather them mei’arbah kanfot ha’arets from the four corners of the earth that their right to return to their homes be honored at long last.
	Let all who dwell in the land live in dignity, equity and hope so that they may bequeath to their children a future of justice and peace.
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן	V’nomar and let us say, Amen.
לָאֵל שֶׁחָפֵץ תְּשׁוּבָה	L’El she’ḥafets teshuvah, to the One who desires repentance: Inspire us to make a full accounting of the wrongdoing that was committed in our name.
	Help us to face the terrible truth of the Nakba and its ongoing injustice that we may finally confess our offenses; that we may finally move toward a future of reparation and reconciliation.
לָאֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים	L’El malei raḥamim, to the One filled with compassion: show us how to understand the pain that compelled our people to inflict such suffering upon another – dispossessing families from their homes in the vain hope of safety and security for our own.
עוֹשֶׂה הַשָּׁלוֹם	Osei hashalom, Maker of peace, guide us all toward a place of healing and wholeness that the land may be filled with the sounds of joy and gladness from the river to the sea speedily in our day.
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן	V’nomar and let us say, Amen.

Rabbi Brant Rosen’s “Jewish Prayer for Nakba Day” was first published on his website on April 19, 2018.

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)

Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 04:24:56 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מַתִּיר הָאֲסוּרִים, מִשְׂגָּב לַדָּךְ, מִשְׂגָּב לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה (תהלים ט:י) שְׁלַח, הַצָּלָה שְׁלֵמָה וּפִדְיוֹן גָּמוּר לַנְּתוּנִים בִּשְׁבִי אוֹיֵב: […].	Our God, the One who raised Joseph up from the pit, be “a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalms 9:10) Send complete rescue and full redemption to those held captive by the enemy: [when possible, add names here].
חַזְּקִי רוּחָם, הָבִיאִי לָהֶם אֶת תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ לְשָׁמְרָם מֵרַע.	Strengthen their spirit and bring them our prayers that they be protected from all harm.
תְּנִי בִּינָה בְּלֵב אוֹיֵב לַהֲשִׁיבָם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גּוּף וְנֶפֶשׁ.	Implant understanding in the heart of the enemy that they may return the captives in wholeness of body and spirit.
תְּנִי תְּבוּנָה בְּלוֹחֲמֵי צַהַ״ל לְחַלְּצָם בְּלֹא אִבּוּד נְפָשׁוֹת.	Grant wisdom to the Israel Defense Forces that they may secure freedom for the captives without loss of life.
תֵּן לְכָל בְּנֵי וּבְנוֹת אַבְרָהָם, שָׂרָה וְהַגָּר אֶת עֹז הָרוּחַ וְאֹמֶץ הַלֵּב לְהַתִּיר כִּבְלִי שֶׁבִי וְלִחְיוֹת חַיֵּי חֵרוּת.	Grant strength of spirit and courage of heart to all the sons and daughters of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to release bonds of captivity and allow us all to live in freedom.
יִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ (תהלים צא:טו) וְנֹאמַר, אָמֵן.	“They shall call upon Me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in distress; I will rescue them, and honor them.” (after Psalms 91:15) And we say Amen.

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.

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָּנֶיךָ | Prayer for an End to Injustice on Earth

Justin Kerber (translation) — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:27:13 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָּנֶיךָ, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ, אֶשֶׁת הָרִשְׁעָה תְּעַקֵּר וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וְתַכְנִיעַ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, וְאֶת הַדָּם לֹא יִשְׁפְּכּוּ עוֹד וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ לֹא יֵחָנְפוּ, כִּי תַּמְּשִׁיךְ שָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל וְנִפְלָא בָּעוֹלָם, לֹא־יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא־יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה. (ישעיה ב:ד) וְאַל יִשְׁלוֹט עוֹד הָאָדָם בְּאָּדָם לְרַע לוֹ, כִּי גֵרִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, תּוֹשָׁבִים כְּכָּל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ.	May it be Your will, Hashem our elo’ah and elo’ah of our forefathers and foremothers, that wickedness should be uprooted, broken, overthrown, and humbled, speedily and in our days; and that no more blood should be shed, nor the Land defiled by bloodshed, but rather that a great and miraculous peace should long endure; nation shall not lifting sword against nation, nor learning war any more. (Isaiah 2:4) And may no one have the power over anyone to do harm, for we are all strangers before you, sojourners just as our forebears.
עַל הָעֲשׂוּקִים, עַל הַשְּׁבוּיִים, עַל יִשְׁרֵי הַלֵּב וְעַל שְׁאֵרִית פְּלֵיטַת עַמְּךָ (וּבִפְרָט עַל:…), וְעַל אַחֵינוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל מְיַחֲדֶיךָ, יֶהֱמוּ נָא רַחַמְךָ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ כִּי עָלָה מָוֶת בְּחַלּוֹנֵינוּ, בָּא בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵינוּ לְהַכְרִית עוֹלָל מִחוּץ בַּחוּרִים מֵרְחֹבוֹת.	Upon the oppressed, upon the captives, upon the right-hearted, and upon the remnant of Your people Israel [and in particular on…], and our siblings the people Ishmael, may Your mercy stir, Adonai our elo’ah, for death has climbed up to us through our windows; come in to our courtyards, to cut down our children in the streets and our young men in the public squares.
אָנָה ה׳, אַל תְּכַסֶּה דָּמָם וְאַל יְהִי מָקוֹם לְזַעֲקָתָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר תּוֹצִיא אֶת צִדְקָם לְאוֹרָה, עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּתֵּן פַּחְדְּךָ עַל כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְאֵימָתְךָ עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתָ, וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל הַבְּרוּאִים, וְיֵעָשׂוּ כֻּלָּם אֲגֻדָּהּ אַחַת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵּבָב שָׁלֵם. אָז יִבָּקַע כַּשַּׁחַר אוֹרֵנוּ וּתְקַיֵּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: ”וְהִכְרַתִּי־רֶכֶב מֵאֶפְרַיִם וְסוּס מִירוּשָׁלִַם וְנִכְרְתָה קֶשֶׁת מִלְחָמָה וְדִבֶּר שָׁלוֹם לַגּוֹיִם וּמָשְׁלוֹ מִיָּם עַד־יָם וּמִנָּהָר עַד־אַפְסֵי־אָרֶץ.“ (זכריה ט:י) ”וְיִגַּל כַּמַּיִם מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה כְּנַחַל אֵיתָן.“ (עמוס ה:כד) ”כִּי־מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת־יְהוָה כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים.“ (ישעיה יא:ט) וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.	O, Hashem, do not cover up their blood, and let their be no resting-place for their outcry! Until their righteousness is brought to light; and in Your holiness You give all creation the gift of awe, turning our fear to reverence and wonder; all You have created bowing down to the sovereignty of Your strength; the primacy of Your power, yearning for connection with all that lives, doing Your will with wholeness of heart. So shall our light break as a new dawn, and so shall You fulfill Your promise, as is written: “I shall banish the chariots from Ephraim; and horses from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished. God shall order the nations to surrender; God’s dominion shall be from sea to sea; from river to dry land.” (Zechariah 9:10) “Let justice roll down like waters; righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24) “For the earth shall be as full of knowledge of Hashem as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9) And so may it be Your will. And let us say: Amen.

This “Prayer for an end to injustice on Earth” by an anonymous author, was first published in בצרור החיים: A Yizkor Supplement for Palestinian Life (Halachic Left 2024), pages 34-35. The English translation presented here is very slightly adapted from the one prepared by Rabbi Justin Kerber (replacing “the Lord” with “Hashem” among other divine name replacements).

Source(s)

Prayer for an end to injustice on Earth in Palestine by Anonymous in B’tsarur HeHayyim- A Yizkor Supplement for Palestinian Life (Halachic Left 2024), p. 34

Prayer for an end to injustice on Earth in Palestine by Anonymous in B’tsarur HeHayyim- A Yizkor Supplement for Palestinian Life (Halachic Left 2024), p. 35

תְּפִלָּה לְשִׁחְרוּר הַחֲטוּפִים | Prayer for the Release of the Hostages, by Rabbi Noa Mazor

Noa Mazor — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:18:08 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ, אַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה, רִבְקָה וְיִצְחָק, רָחֵל, יַעֲקֹב וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת כָּל הַשְּׁבוּיִים וְהַשְּׁבוּיוֹת אֲשֶׁר נֶחְטְפוּ בִּידֵי אוֹיֵב, וְאֶת כָּל הַנֶּעֱדָרִים וְהַנֶּעֱדָרוֹת, אֶזְרָחִים וְאֶזְרָחִיּוֹת, חַיָּלוֹת חַיָּלִים, בְּנוֹת וּבְנֵי אָדָם, הַנְּתוּנִים בַּצָּרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה.	May the One who blessed our forefathers and foremothers, Avraham and Sarah, Rivqah and Yitsḥaq, Raḥel, Yaaqov, and Leah bless all the captives who were taken hostage by the enemy and all the missing ones, (and all the) civilians (and all the) and soldiers — daughters and sons — given to tribulation and captivity.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, יְיָ צְבָאוֹת, שֶׁתִּפְדֶּם בִּמְהֵרָה מִשֶּׁבִי וְתַחְזִירֵם לְאַרְצָם, לְמִשְׁפַּחְתָּם וּלְבֵיתָם, בְּרִיאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים בְּגוּפָם וּבְרוּחָם. הַשְׁכֵּן תַעֲצוּמוֹת תִּקְוָה בְּלֵב יַקִּירֵיהֶם הַמְּיַיחֲלִים לְשׁוּבָם בִּדְאָגָה טְרוּפָה. תֵּן תְּבוּנָה בְּלֵב הָעֲמֵלִים לְשִׁחְרוּרָם וְרַחֲמִים בְּלֵב שׁוֹבֵיהֶם.	May it be your will, Hashem Tseva’ot that you quickly redeem them from their captivity and return them to their land, families, and homes, healthy and whole in body and spirit. May hope dwell within the hearts of their beloved dear ones, frenzied and disturbed over their return. Instill wisdom in the hearts of those striving to free them, and mercy in the hearts of their captors.
הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶ(ם/ן), וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה, וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה, וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה, הָשָׁתָא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: ”כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי וְעֵינַיִךְ מִדִּמְעָה… וְיֵשׁ תִּקְוָה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם יְהוָה וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים וּבָנוֹת לִגְבוּלָם“ (ירמיהו לא:טז-יז) וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.	May the Omnipresent have mercy on them and bring them out of their suffering into the open from darkness to light from subjugation to redemption quickly, soon now, and in a short moment and bring about that which is written, “So says Hashem: ‘Refrain thy voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears… and there is hope for your future’ declares Hashem — ‘Your children shall return to their country.’ (Jeremiah 31:16-17) And so we say, Amen.

This prayer for the safe return of the captives taken by HAMA”S and its allies on 7 October 2023 was offered by Rabbi Noa Mazor in the period anticipating the release of the surviving captives in January 2025 as part of a larger ceasefire agreement between the State of Israel and HAMA”S in Gaza. It was first published on her Facebook page on 13 January 2025.