Prayer for a Righteous Government, the Reinstitution of the Sanhedrin and our Anointed King

Parashat Shoftim

Prayer for a Righteous Government,
the Reinstitution of the Sanhedrin and our Anointed King
 
Hashem, please grant Israel a government according to Your directions!
How many more times will we need to keep being called to elections? 
 
When the coalitions are so full of imperfections,
how can we be capable to make the right selections?
 
How long can we bear the lack of lasting connections
between our leaders in charge of our corrections?
 
Please bestow upon Israel Your Divine protections!
May our leaders to be united without objections!
 
Guide us to appoint righteous judges in our Holy Land,
in all our cities according to the Divine command!
 
Let it be officials who are not afraid to take a stand,
of acting against those whom it is required to disband!
 
Empower our leaders to reconquer our villages buried in the sand!
Rid our Promised Land of terrorists and refute their one-sided demand!
 
Hashem upon all our enemies show Your mighty hand,
So, we can live and possess the land that You will expand!
 
The Sanhedrin of wise Rabbis please renew!
According to their just judgment we shall do!
 
May they be a pure channel receiving straight from You
Let us trust that everything they tell us is completely true!
 
May we never turn away from their word, left or right!
Allowing them to guide us to overcome every plight!
 
This way we will avoid many a fight
never losing sight of Your boundless might,
 
When the light of our soul will shine bright,
may we walk on the Holy Land upright!
 
From the seed of David may we anoint a righteous king,
who will elevate us all and bring us a new song to sing! 

Based on Devarim Chapter 16 and 17

 

ספר דברים פרק טז

(יח) שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת הָעָם מִשְׁפַּט צֶדֶק:

(יט) לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים וְלֹא תִקַּח שֹׁחַד כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר עֵינֵי חֲכָמִים וִיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִם:

(כ) צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ:

“You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials for yourself in all your cities that Hashem, your G-d, is giving you, for your tribes, and they shall judge the people [with] righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism, and you shall not take a bribe, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts just words. Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land Hashem, your G-d, is giving you” (Devarim 16:18-20).

 

ספר דברים פרק יז פסוק ח כִּי יִפָּלֵא מִמְּךָ דָבָר לַמִּשְׁפָּט בֵּין דָּם לְדָם בֵּין דִּין לְדִין וּבֵין נֶגַע לָנֶגַע דִּבְרֵי רִיבֹת בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְקַמְתָּ וְעָלִיתָ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ:

(ט) וּבָאתָ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְאֶל הַשֹּׁפֵט אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ אֵת דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט:

(י) וְעָשִׂיתָ עַל פִּי הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידוּ לְךָ מִן הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְדֹוָד וְשָׁמַרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ:

(יא) עַל פִּי הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ וְעַל הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה לֹא תָסוּר מִן הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידוּ לְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל:

“If a matter eludes you in judgment, between blood and blood, between judgment and judgment, or between lesion and lesion, words of dispute in your cities, then you shall rise and go up to the place Hashem, your G-d, chooses. Then you shall come to the Levitic kohanim and to the judge who will be in those days, and you shall inquire, and they will tell you the words of judgment. You shall do according to the word they tell you, from the place, Hashem will choose, and you shall observe to do according to all they instruct you. According to the law, they instruct you and according to the judgment they say to you, you shall do; you shall not divert from the word they tell you, either right or left” (Devarim 17:8-11).

 

ספר דברים פרק יז פסוק טו שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ מִקֶּרֶב אַחֶיךָ תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת עָלֶיךָ אִישׁ נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא אָחִיךָ הוּא:

“You shall set a king over you, one whom Hashem, your G-d, chooses; from among your brothers, you shall set a king over yourself; you shall not appoint a foreigner over yourself, one who is not your brother” (Devarim 17:15).

Prayer to Overcome Modern Idolatry and Keep Hashem’s Mitzvot Perpetually in the Land

 

Parashat Re’eh

Prayer to Overcome Modern Idolatry
and Keep Hashem’s Mitzvot Perpetually in the Land
 
Hashem, we want the blessing of serving You the best we can.
Please support us to stay away from worshipping any man!
 
Even modern idol-worship is included in the Torah’s ban.
So, from the curses of money, status and beauty worship we ran!
 
You empowered us from the temptations of exile to withstand.
Thank G-d for allowing us to live on the blessed Holy Land!
 
May the holiness of the Promised Land continue to expand.
Through our increased ability to keep the Torah’s command!
 
May we be blessed with the heart to understand,
how to live in the land the way You have planned!
 
Let us constantly keep the Torah lit,
always to each of its mitzvot submit!
 
May we continue performing mitzvot the way You see fit,
while keeping the fire of Torah going and never quit!
 
Guide us how to keep Your holy brit,
without adding or subtracting from it!
 
Hashem help us to no longer any sin commit
So, we can purify the Holy Land bit by bit!
 
Let it be our holy aim
to remove all guilt and shame!
 
Despite being different and not the same,
May we no longer each other blame!
 
May the place Hashem will choose to establish His Name,
in the entire world become a place of acclaim!
 
When the impure parades and bells from Jerusalem cease,
then the true holiness of Your chosen abode can increase.
 
Any idolatrous residue may we be able to release,
so that Jerusalem for all nations becomes a city of peace! 

Based on Devarim Chapter 11-13

 

ספר דברים פרק יא פסוק כו רְאֵה, אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם:  בְּרָכָה, וּקְלָלָה:          

כז( אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ, אֶל-מִצְוֺת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם, הַיּוֹם:         

כח( וְהַקְּלָלָה, אִם-לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ אֶל-מִצְוֺת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְסַרְתֶּם מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם: לָלֶכֶת, אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יְדַעְתֶּם: {ס}

כט( וְהָיָה, כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ וְנָתַתָּה אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה עַל-הַר גְּרִזִים, וְאֶת-הַקְּלָלָה עַל-הַר עֵיבָל:ל( הֲלֹא-הֵמָּה בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, אַחֲרֵי דֶּרֶךְ מְבוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, בְּאֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי, הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּעֲרָבָה מוּל, הַגִּלְגָּל, אֵצֶל, אֵלוֹנֵי מֹרֶה: לא( כִּי אַתֶּם, עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן, לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם נֹתֵן לָכֶם; וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֹתָהּ, וִישַׁבְתֶּם-בָּהּ: לב( וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשׂוֹת, אֵת כָּל-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת-הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם, הַיּוֹם:

“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that you will heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d, which I command you today; and the curse, if you will not heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d, but turn away from the way I command you this day, to follow other gods, which you did not know. Then it will be, when Hashem your G-d, will bring you to the land to which you come, to possess it, that you shall place those blessings upon Mount Gerizim, and those cursing upon Mount Eval. Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, way beyond, in the direction of the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites, who dwell in the plain, opposite Gilgal, near the plains of Moreh? For you are crossing the Jordan, to come to possess the land which Hashem your G-d, is giving you, and you shall possess it and dwell in it. And you shall keep to perform all the statutes and ordinances that I am setting before you today” (Devarim 11:26-32).

 

ספר דברים פרק יב פסוק ב אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת-כָּל-הַמְּקֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ-שָׁם הַגּוֹיִם, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹרְשִׁים אֹתָם אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם:  עַל-הֶהָרִים הָרָמִים וְעַל-הַגְּבָעוֹת, וְתַחַת כָּל-עֵץ רַעֲנָן: ג(ְ נִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת-מִזְבְּחֹתָם, וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת-מַצֵּבֹתָם, וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ, וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן; וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת-שְׁמָם, מִן-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא: ד(  לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן, לַהָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם:   

ה( כִּי אִם-אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, מִכָּל-שִׁבְטֵיכֶם, לָשׂוּם אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, שָׁם לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ, וּבָאתָ שָּׁמָּה:          

ו( וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה, עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם, וְאֵת מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם, וְאֵת תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם; וְנִדְרֵיכֶם, וְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶם, וּבְכֹרֹת בְּקַרְכֶם, וְצֹאנְכֶם: 

ז( וַאֲכַלְתֶּם-שָׁם, לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם בְּכֹל מִשְׁלַח יֶדְכֶם, אַתֶּם וּבָתֵּיכֶם אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַכְךָ, הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ:       

ח (לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים פֹּה, הַיּוֹם:  אִישׁ, כָּל-הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו: ט (כִּי לֹא-בָאתֶם, עַד-עָתָּה אֶל-הַמְּנוּחָה, וְאֶל-הַנַּחֲלָה, אֲשֶׁר-הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ, נֹתֵן לָךְ: י( וַעֲבַרְתֶּם, אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן, וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מַנְחִיל אֶתְכֶם; וְהֵנִיחַ לָכֶם מִכָּל-אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב, וִישַׁבְתֶּם-בֶּטַח: יא (וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בּוֹ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם שָׁמָּה תָבִיאוּ, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם:  עוֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם, מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וּתְרֻמַת יֶדְכֶם, וְכֹל מִבְחַר נִדְרֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּרוּ לַהָשֵׁם:

יב (וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם, לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶם, וְעַבְדֵיכֶם וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶם; וְהַלֵּוִי אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶם, כִּי אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה אִתְּכֶם:           

“You shall utterly destroy from all the places where the nations, that you shall possess, worshipped their gods, upon the lofty mountains and upon the hills, and under every lush tree. And you shall tear down their altars, smash their monuments, burn their asherim with fire, cut down the graven images of their gods, and destroy their name from that place. You shall not do so to Hashem your G-d. But only to the place which Hashem your G-d shall choose from all your tribes, to set His Name there; you shall inquire after His dwelling and come there. There you shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the separation by your hand, and your vows and your donations, and the firstborn of your cattle and of your sheep. There you shall eat before Hashem your G-d, and you shall rejoice in all your endeavors you and your households, as Hashem your G-d, has blessed you. You shall not do as all the things that we do here this day, every man [doing] what he deems fit. For you have not yet come to the resting place or to the inheritance, which Hashem your G-d, is giving you.  You shall cross the Jordan and settle in the land Hashem your G-d, is giving you as an inheritance, and He will give you rest from all your enemies surrounding you, and you will dwell securely. It will be, that the place Hashem your G-d, will choose in which to establish His Name there you shall bring all that I am commanding you: Your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the separation by your hand, and the choice of vows which you will vow to Hashem. Then you shall rejoice before Hashem your G-d you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite who is within your cities, for he has no portion or inheritance with you” (Devarim 12:2-12).

 

ספר דברים פרק יב פסוק כח שְׁמֹר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ, אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי, מְצַוֶּךָּ: לְמַעַן יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ, עַד-עוֹלָם כִּי תַעֲשֶׂה הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר, בְּעֵינֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ:

“Keep and hearken to all these words that I command you, that it may benefit you and your children after you, forever, when you do what is good and proper in the eyes of Hashem your G-d.” (Devarim 12:28).

 

ספר דברים פרק יג פסוק א אֵת כָּל-הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם אֹתוֹ תִשְׁמְרוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹת: לֹא-תֹסֵף עָלָיו, וְלֹא תִגְרַע מִמֶּנּוּ: 

ה) אַחֲרֵי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם תֵּלֵכוּ, וְאֹתוֹ תִירָאוּ; וְאֶת-מִצְוֺתָיו תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּבְקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ, וְאֹתוֹ תַעֲבֹדוּ וּבוֹ תִדְבָּקוּן:

Everything I command you that you shall be careful to do it. You shall neither add to it, nor subtract from it… You shall follow Hashem your G-d, fear Him, keep His commandments, heed His voice, worship Him, and cleave to Him (Devarim 13:1,5).

Prayer for Receiving Abundant Blessings in the Holy Land, and for Remembering that Hashem is the Source of our Blessings

Parashat Ekev

Prayer for Receiving Abundant Blessings in the Holy Land, 

 and for Remembering that Hashem is the Source of our Blessings

Hashem, let me feel Your love!
I need your blessings from Above!
 
Please bless all the goodness of our fruit!
Connect them all firmly to their root!
 
Let Your blessing be absolute!
Please do not my prayer refute!
 
Don’t regard me as a brute,
when I tell you that it’s acute.
 
Wouldn’t it be a great loss,
if You didn’t multiply us?
 
Although we may have many flaws,
we try to listen to Your laws!
 
Keeping Your mitzvot is not because
we desire everyone’s applause.
 
Yet how long must we wait
for the right one to date?
 
Didn’t You already create
our perfect predestined soulmate?
 
For the singles and barren, it’s getting late.
Please bestow upon us all a fruitful fate!
 
Remove every plague and awful disease!
Let us no longer need any of these!
 
Please heal every coughing wheeze,
and grant us a refreshing breeze!
 
May we merit the good land, with streaming brooks and fountains,
where abundant bug-free fruit grows in valleys and mountains!
 
Let not the abundant blessings make us grow insolent and proud!
May we never forget our G-d with whose goodness we are endowed!

Based on Devarim Chapter 7 and 8 

ספר דברים פרק ז פסוק יב וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם וְשָׁמַר הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ אֶת הַבְּרִית וְאֶת הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ: (יג) וַאֲהֵבְךָ וּבֵרַכְךָ וְהִרְבֶּךָ וּבֵרַךְ פְּרִי בִטְנְךָ וּפְרִי אַדְמָתֶךָ דְּגָנְךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹת צֹאנֶךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לָתֶת לָךְ: (יד) בָּרוּךְ תִּהְיֶה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ עָקָר וַעֲקָרָה וּבִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ: (טו) וְהֵסִיר הָשֵׁם מִמְּךָ כָּל חֹלִי וְכָל מַדְוֵי מִצְרַיִם הָרָעִים אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִׂימָם בָּךְ וּנְתָנָם בְּכָל שֹׂנְאֶיךָ:

“It shall be, because you will heed these laws and keep them and perform, that Hashem, your G-d, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your soil, your grain, your wine, and your oil, the offspring of your cattle and the choice of your flocks, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples: There will be no sterile male or barren female among you or among your livestock. Hashem will remove from you all illness, and all of the evil diseases of Egypt which you knew, He will not set upon you, but He will lay them upon all your enemies (Devarim 7:12-15).

 

ספר דברים פרק ח פסוק ג וַיְעַנְּךָ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת הַמָּן אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַעְתָּ וְלֹא יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ לְמַעַן הוֹדִעֲךָ כִּי לֹא עַל הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם כִּי עַל כָּל מוֹצָא פִי הָשֵׁם  יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם: וְיָדַעְתָּ עִם לְבָבֶךָ כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יְיַסֵּר אִישׁ אֶת בְּנוֹ הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְיַסְּרֶךָּ: (ו) וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת מִצְוֹת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו וּלְיִרְאָה אֹתוֹ: (ז) כִּי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה אֶרֶץ נַחֲלֵי מָיִם עֲיָנֹת וּתְהֹמֹת יֹצְאִים בַּבִּקְעָה וּבָהָר: (ח) אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה וְגֶפֶן וּתְאֵנָה וְרִמּוֹן אֶרֶץ זֵית שֶׁמֶן וּדְבָשׁ: (ט) אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר לֹא בְמִסְכֵּנֻת תֹּאכַל בָּהּ לֶחֶם לֹא תֶחְסַר כֹּל בָּהּ אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲבָנֶיהָ בַרְזֶל וּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָ תַּחְצֹב נְחֹשֶׁת: (י) וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ עַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ: (יא) הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְבִלְתִּי שְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם: (יב) פֶּן תֹּאכַל וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבָתִּים טוֹבִים תִּבְנֶה וְיָשָׁבְתָּ: (יג) וּבְקָרְךָ וְצֹאנְךָ יִרְבְּיֻן וְכֶסֶף וְזָהָב יִרְבֶּה לָּךְ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ יִרְבֶּה: (יד) וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ אֶת הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים: 

He afflicted you and let you go hungry, and then fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your forefathers know, so that He would make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but rather by, whatever comes forth from the mouth of Hashem does man live… You shall keep the commandments of Hashem your G-d, to go in His ways, and to fear Him. For Hashem your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land with brooks of water, fountains and depths, that emerge in valleys and mountains, a land of wheat and barley, vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil-producing olives and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, you will lack nothing in it, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose mountains you will hew copper. You will eat and be sated, and you shall bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good land He has given you. Beware that you do not forget Hashem, your G-d, by not keeping His mitzvot, His laws, and His statutes, which I command you this day, lest you eat and be sated, and build good houses and dwell therein, and your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold increase, and all that you have increased, and your heart grows haughty, and you forget Hashem, your G-d, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Devarim 8:3, 6-14). 

Prayer on Behalf of Those Who Yearn to Return to Israel and Make Aliyah

 

Watch Yocheved Feibush singing this week's Parasha Prayer (for women only).

Parashat Va’Etchanan

Prayer on Behalf of Those Who Yearn to Return to Israel and Make Aliyah
 
Hashem, I feel like a fish separated from living waters.
Not only me, but also my husband, sons and daughters.
 
In the exile of the desert, I have lost my soul,
I have even forgotten my spiritual goal!
 
Part of my core is no longer alive.
Please Hashem when will you let it revive?
 
O how I long to return to the land of Your light,
where the sky is so blue, and the sun is so bright!
 
In the land of Israel, my soul feels at home.
Not so in the lands of the cathedral dome.
 
I yearn to swap the desert sand for fertile loam.
Let me like a mountain goat in the mountains roam!
 
In the heart of Tzion my soul journey can begin.
In Judea, I breathe the Divine Spirit within.
 
I can feel Your caress from the rocks of the Wall,
answering my prayer softly when I try to call.
 
From the heights of holiness why must I fall?
Since leaving the land, I am missing it all!
 
I feel stuck in the muck, caught in the family net.
Thirsting for living waters for my feet to get wet.
 
Help raise me up, connect my head to my feet!
Let me taste the Torah of the land so sweet!
 
Here in the tasteless exile, I feel so incomplete,
Help me get away and to the Promised Land retreat!
 
Here I want to settle down in my permanent seat!
learning to once again hear my deepest heartbeat!
 
Please throw me a rope to get out of the sand!
Raise me up and fly me to Your Holy Land! 

Based on Devarim Chapter 3 verse 3:23-27

ספר דברים פרק ג פסוק כג וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל הָשֵׁם בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר: (כד) הָשֵׁם אֶלוֹקִים אַתָּה הַחִלּוֹתָ לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת עַבְדְּךָ אֶת גָּדְלְךָ אֶת יָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה אֲשֶׁר מִי אֵל בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה כְמַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְכִגְבוּרֹתֶךָ:

(כה) אֶעְבְּרָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן הָהָר הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה וְהַלְּבָנֹן:

(כו) וַיִּתְעַבֵּר הָשֵׁם בִּי לְמַעַנְכֶם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלָי וַיֹּאמֶר יְדֹוָד אֵלַי רַב לָךְ אַל תּוֹסֶף דַּבֵּר אֵלַי עוֹד בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה:

(כז) עֲלֵה רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה וְשָׂא עֵינֶיךָ יָמָּה וְצָפֹנָה וְתֵימָנָה וּמִזְרָחָה וּרְאֵה בְעֵינֶיךָ כִּי לֹא תַעֲבֹר אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה:

“I entreated Hashem at that time, saying, ‘O Hashem G-d, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand, for who is [like] G-d in heaven or on earth who can do as Your deeds and Your might? Please let me cross over and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, this good mountain and the Levanon.’ But Hashem was angry with me because of you, and He did not listen to me, and Hashem said to me, ‘It is enough for you; speak to Me no more regarding this matter. Go up to the top of the hill and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward and see with your eyes, for you shall not cross this Jordan’” (Devarim 3:23-27).