Blowing of the two trumpets or two shofars together

Transcription

1 Yom Kippur Evening service by Rabbi Simon Altaf Hakohen Written 13 th September 2010 Modified: 9, Mar 2015 Blowing of the two trumpets or two shofars together Order The Ne ilah (shutting of gates) Evening Service Yom Kippur service begins with the following prayer which is the Kol Nidrei prayer to annual all vows in the coming year made in error. Kol Nidrei prayer (annulling of vows) All personal vows we are likely to make, all personal oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established. Let our personal vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths." 1 The above prayer is said 3 times by the leader and two people standing beside him to form a rabbinic court and it should be done before the sunsets when you start your service. Do not do this after sunset. Al Khet prayer At this point people should lightly beat their chests as each sin is mentioned. For the sin that we have committed under stress or through choice; For the sin that we have committed in stubbornness or in error; For the sin that we have committed in the evil meditations of the heart; For the sin that we have committed by word of mouth; For the sin that we have committed through abuse of power; For the sin that we have committed by exploitation of neighbours; For all these sins, O Elohim of forgiveness, bear with us, pardon us, forgive us! In the afternoon service The reading is from the book of Yonah to remind us to seek forgiveness and YHWH is willing to forgive us if we sincerely seek it. 1 Translation of Philip Birnbaum, from High Holyday Prayer Book, Hebrew Publishing Company, NY,

2 The evening service is called is Ne ilah (Shutting) when people pray intensely for forgiveness. We must remember that we are all responsible for each other as one Qahal (assembly), one congregation of Y sra el worldwide. The Amidah prayer (Shimoneh Esrei) The Amidah is done standing and the word means to stand. If outside Israel you face Israel and Jerusalem. If inside Jerusalem you face the holy of holies. If you do not have two Rabbis that is you in the middle and one person each on left and right then you do it standing on your own facing the congregation facing Jerusalem. Begin: Take three steps back and then three steps forward before and after reciting the Amidah the 18 benedictions. The text is first recited quietly by the congregation standing and then the leader recites it loudly by saying Amein at each increase and the congregations also says Amein. The three steps symbolize to remove attention from the material world and also remind us how the priests did the sacrifices in the ancient Temple and step backwards to focus to present yourself to the King of Kings YHWH. Rabbi Alexandri said in the name of Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi: One who has prayed should take three steps backward and afterwards pray for peace. Rav Mordecai said to him: Once he has stepped three steps backward, there he should remain. 2 Start 3 steps forward, bow three steps back. 1. Increased are You, Eternal One our Eloah and Eloah of our fathers, Eloah of Abraham, Eloah of Isaac, and Eloah of Jacob. The great, mighty and awesome Eloah, Eloah Supreme who extends loving kindness and is Master of all, who remembers the gracious deeds of our forefathers, and who will bring a 2 Talmud Tractate Yoma53b 2

3 Redeemer with love to their children's children for His name's sake. King, Helper, Saviour and Protector, increased are You, Eternal One, Protector of Abraham. ( All say Amein) (everyone bows) 2. Your might is eternal, O Eternal One, who revives the dead, powerful in saving, who makes the wind to blow and the rain to fall, who sustains the living with loving kindness, who revives the dead with great mercy, who supports the falling, heals the sick, frees the captive, and keeps faith with the dead; who is like You, Almighty, and who resembles You, O King who can bring death and give life. (All say Amein) 3. You are Set-Apart, and Your name is Set-Apart, and those who are Set-Apart shall praise You every day. Increased are You, Eternal One, the Set-Apart Elohim. ( All say Amein) 4. You grant knowledge to man, and teach understanding to mankind; from your own self, favour us with knowledge, understanding, and sense. Increased are You, Eternal One, giver of knowledge. ( All say Amein) 5. Return us, our Father, to Your Torah, and draw us closer, our King, to Your worship, and bring us back before You in complete repentance. Increased are You, Eternal One, who desires repentance. ( All say Amein) 6. Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned, pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for You are a pardoner and forgiver. Increased are You, Eternal One, gracious One who forgives abundantly. ( All say Amein) 7. Look upon us in our suffering, and fight our struggles, redeem us speedily, for Your name's sake, for You are a mighty Redeemer. Increased are You, Eternal One, Redeemer of Y sra el. ( All say Amein) 8. Heal us, O Eternal One, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our esteem. Send complete healing for our every illness, for You, Divine King, are the faithful, merciful Physician. Increased are You, Eternal One, who heals the sick of His people Y sra el. ( All say Amein) 3

4 9. Increase this year for us, O Eternal One our Eloah, and all its varied produce that it be for good; provide (dew and rain as a ) increase on the face of the earth, satisfy us with Your goodness, and increase this year like the good years. Increased are You, Eternal One, who increased the years. ( All say Amein) 10. Sound the great shofar (to proclaim) our freedom, lift up a banner for the ingathering of our exiles, and bring us together from the four corners of the earth. Increased are You, Eternal One, who gathers together the dispersed of His people Y sra el. ( All say Amein) 11. Restore our judges as at first, and our counsellors as in the beginning, removing from us sorrow and sighing; rule over us, You alone, O Eternal One, with kindness and mercy, and vindicate us in the judgment. Increased are You, Eternal One, King, who loves right-ruling and judgment. ( All say Amein) 12. For slanderers let there be no hope, and let all wickedness instantly perish. May all Your enemies be quickly cut off; and as for the malicious, swiftly uproot, break, cast down, and subdue quickly in our day. Increased are You, Eternal One, who breaks the power of His enemies and subdues the malicious. ( All say Amein) This one was not used but added later after 70 CE. 13. On the righteous and the saintly, on the elders of Your people, the house of Y sra el, and on their surviving scholars, on the true proselyte and on ourselves, let Your compassion flow, O Eternal One our Elohim. Grant a good reward to all who sincerely trust in Your name; place our lot with them forever and let us not be shamed, for in You do we trust. Increased are You, Eternal One, the support and security of the righteous. ( All say Amein) 14. To Jerusalem Your city, return with compassion, and dwell within it as You promised; rebuild it soon in our day, an everlasting structure; and speedily establish in its midst the throne of Dawud. Increased are You, Eternal One, builder of Jerusalem. (All say Amein) 4

5 15. The offspring of Your servant Dawud, quickly cause to flourish, and lift up his power by Your deliverance; for Your deliverance do we constantly hope. Increased are You, Eternal One, who makes the esteem of deliverance to flourish. ( All say Amein) 16. Hear our voice, O Eternal One our Eloah, show compassion and mercy to us, accept our prayers with mercy and favour, for You are the Elohim who hears prayers and supplications. ( All say Amein) 17. Favourably receive, O Eternal One our Eloah, Your people Y sra el and their prayer, restore the worship to Your temple in Tsiyon, receive with love and favour the offerings of Y sra el and their prayer, and may the worship of Your people Y sra el always be favourably received by You, may our eyes behold Your return to Tsiyon in mercy. Increased are You, Eternal One, who restores His divine Presence to Tsiyon. (All say Amein) 18. (Leader bows and others follow) We give thanks to You who is the Eternal One our Eloah and Eloah of our fathers for all eternity. You are the strength of our lives, the shield if our deliverance. In every generation, we shall thank You and declare Your praise for our lives that are entrusted in Your hand, and for our souls that are in Your care, and for Your miracles that are daily with us, and for Your wondrous deeds and goodness that occur at all times, evening, morning, and noon. You are the Benevolent One, for Your mercies are never ended. The Compassionate One, for Your deeds of kindness do not stop, always have we placed our hope in You. For all this, O our King, may Your name be always increased and exalted forever and ever. All the living will forever thank You and praise Your name in truth, O Eloah, our eternal salvation and help. increased are You, Eternal One, whose name is goodness; it is pleasing to give thanks to You. (All say Amein) 19. Establish peace, well-being, increase, grace, loving kindness, and mercy upon us and upon all Y sra el, Your people for by the light of Your presence have you given us, O Eternal One our Elohim, a Torah of life, love of kindness, justice, increase, compassion, life, and peace, and it is good in Your sight to increase Your people Y sra el at all times and in every hour with 5

6 Your peace. Increased are You, Eternal One, who increased His people Y sra el with peace. ( All say Amein) Psalm 1 1 Happy is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the halacha (way) of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the Torah of hwhy; and in his Torah does he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like an etz (tree) planted by the rivers of mayim (water), that brings forth his fruit in its season; and whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For hwhy knows the halacha (way) of the righteous: but the halacha (way) of the wicked shall perish. African-Israel appended increases (Rabbi Simon Altaf) O Abbah YUD, HEY, Wah, Heh, we love you, we strive to do your Torah, forgive us where we have fallen short, teach us, we thank you for Your redemption, to restore us, to bring forth the kingdom in the material world, a big Todah Rabbah (Thank you). The ransom of the Israelites in the nations. Cover, remove and expunge our sins, heal our broken hearts, teach us we thirst for your Torah to be in our lives remove backsliding and rebellion from us, remove the love of money in our lives to restore your love, make us good stewards to serve you. Bring forth the future King Messiah to restore Torah and our nation to establish your right-ruling in your kingdom and to rebuild the 3 rd Temple in Y sra el and restore the two houses of Y sra el into one united kingdom as in the days of your servant Dawud in Shalom and loving-kindness. A increase from the Talmud My the eternal one, keep my tongue and my lips from speaking deceit, and to them that curse me let my soul be silent, and like dust to all. Open my heart in Your Torah, and after [in] Your commandments let me [my soul] pursue. As for those that think evil of [against] me speedily thwart their counsel and destroy their plots. Do [this] for Your name's sake, do this for Your right hand's sake, do this for the sake of Your holiness, do this for the sake of Your Torah. That Your beloved ones may rejoice, let Your 6

7 right hand bring on help [salvation] and answer me... May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Eternal, my rock and my redeemer. 3 On the Sabbaths to be added: Shield of the fathers by His word, reviving the dead by His command, the Set-Apart Elohim to whom none is like; who causeth His people to rest on His Set-Apart Sabbath-day, for in them He took delight to cause them to rest. Before Him we shall worship in reverence and fear. We shall render thanks to His name on every day constantly in the manner of the benedictions. Elohim of the 'acknowledgments,' Lord of 'Peace,' who sanctifieth the Sabbath and increaseeth the seventh [day] and causeth the people who are filled with Sabbath delight to rest as a memorial of the work in the beginning of Creation. The Chazzan or the leader reciting these prayers in the Amidah should bow at four points of the prayer. At the beginning. At the end of the first increases of the (Avot) fathers and the second last increase of Hoda'ah number 18. At the beginning of Hoda ah one bends the knees slightly. Do not worry if you get it wrong but try and do it. It is customary to bow down with your forehead with your knees similar like the Muslims. This is our sign of humility and has nothing to do with Islam. You oh King has chosen us from all the nations, have loved us and you were pleased with us; You have lifted us above all tongues, and have hallowed us by your commandments, and hast brought us, O our King, to your service, and have pronounced over us your great and Set- Apart name. Yud, Heh, Vav Hey. The assembly can make any personal prayers they need silently. Yom Kippurim (Atonement) and Shabbat (Day off) Morning: We'Yikra (Leviticus) 16:1-34 We'Debar (Numbers) 29:7-11 Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 57:14-58:14 Afternoon: We'Yikra (Leviticus) 18:1-30 Yonah (Jonah) 1:1-4:11 Mikahyah (Micah) 7: Talmud Berachot 17a 7

8 If Yom Kippur falls on the Sabbath as it did in 2010 then you can call up seven people to do portions of readings from the Torah written above. This means give a few verses to each person in advance for the evening service. Feasts falling on the Sabbath: The maftir the last person to go up the 7 th can repeat the last few verses of the Torah portion such as say Numbers 29:7-11 can be both read by a number six person and repeated by a maftir as the number 7 th person to go up to read. This increase recited before the Aaronic one. We acknowledge to You, O Eternal One, that You are our Elohim, as You were the Elohim of our ancestors, forever and ever. Rock of our life, Shield of our help, You are immutable from age to age. We thank You and utter Your praise, for our lives that are delivered into Your hands, and for our souls that are entrusted to You; and for Your miracles that are with us every day and for your marvelously kind deeds that are of every time; evening and morning and noon-tide. You are good, for Your mercies are endless: You are merciful, for Your kindnesses never are complete: from everlasting we have hoped in You. And for all these things may Your name be increased and exalted always and forevermore. And all the living will give thanks unto You and praise Your great name in truth, Elohim, our salvation and help. Selah. Increased be You, O Eternal One, Your name is good, and to You it is right to give thanks. The Aaronic increase You the congregation should not look at the leader while he is reciting the increase because in ancient times the divine presence shone on the fingers of the one doing the increases so it was disrespectful to look directly at the Kohen Ha Gadol while today the custom is followed. Make the letter shem with the two hands palms facing outwards then recite the increases: 8

9 Bmidbar (Num) 6:24-26 (HTHS) 24 YHWH increase you, and keep you: 25 YHWH make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: 26 YHWH lift up his countenance upon you, and give you shalom (peace). The Fast We are to fast for 25 hours starting ONE hour before the sunset to the next sunset. Leviticus 23:27. No toothpaste or toothbrush to be used during the fast, no cosmetics, no perfume and no sexual cohabitation with your wives, no wearing of leather because an animal is slaughtered therefore this is prohibited because of the slaughter of an innocent life we cannot seek forgiveness. Children under nine are not encouraged to fast but children older than nine are encouraged to do a partial fast. Girls of 12 and boys of 13 are required to fast 25 hours if they do not have any illness or are not medically unfit. To prepare for the fast Kick all bad habits such as smoking and caffeine at least a week before so you do not have trouble during the fast. Hydration: Prepare your body because the water is the most essential thing needed to survive the fast. My advice drink plenty of water five days before the fast to prepare yourself mentally and then each day drink water and then on the day of the fast I recommend and encourage you to drink at least 2 to three glasses of water for Adults before the fast begins that way your body is hydrated well to cope with the coming 24 hours. I suggest you take a proper made hot chocolate with cocoa one large cup in the late afternoon before the fast followed by a normal average dinner with plenty of water that will be more than enough to get you through. The hot chocolate has the properties to suppress your appetite if made with Cocoa (not the normal one in stores made of chocolate powder) and you will not feel hungry. You will feel thirsty so you leave yourself 3 hours to drink water during this time to finish up with the actual fast just before sunsets then you are mentally and physically prepared. I usually recommend an average meal not a heavy meal. Do not drink Caffeine related drinks they can cause dehydration, stick to plain juicy water nothing is better. If you eat a huge meal just before the fast then your body needs both energy and water to 9

10 process that meal and could leave you in a situation of dehydration that is why I mentioned to drink cocoa hot chocolate in the afternoon and before the fast eat a normal size dinner with plenty of water as your body needs. Do not eat a huge dinner and don t over drink water it can be hazardous to your health and has known to kill people who had some condition and did only drank water. Usually the rule of thumb is to measure you weight so if you are 100 pounds then your water intake is 50 ounces of water that is about six cups. 200 pounds then 100 ounces that is 12 cups but you need to drink what your body can take and do not force yourself to over drink and cause health issues. Eat any combination of complex carbohydrates such as Pasta, beans, bread, legumes, rice and vegetables. These will help your body stay out of hunger and the energy will last. However in my experience I have found hot chocolate drink made with cocoa, milk and sugar as desired the best to beat hunger. During the fast no food or liquid can be consumed unless you are ill, pregnant or have some form of disability in which case the Rabbi can allow these individuals to do a partial fast such as just only on water or some other method of afflicting yourself. If you take medicine or if you are diabetic then you can forgo the fast but still join in the prayer service. Brush your teeth just before the fast starts. If some emergency occurs during the fast then you can break the fast so seek advice from your doctor before you begin the fast or consult your Rabbi. 10