Shemoneh Esrei: Blessings 16 & 17: Hear our Prayer and Temple Service
Shemoneh Esrei: 16th Blessing – Hear our Prayer
- This is also called “Av Harachamim” [Father of Compassion].
- This petition serves also as a praiseful declaration of the faithfulness of G-d. He is the G-d Who Hears Prayer.
Scriptures for Sh’ma Koleinu [Hear our Prayer]
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matt 7:7-11
You who hear prayer,
To You all flesh will come.
Psalms 65:2
Sh’ma Koleinu [Hear our Prayer]
(Av Harachamim... [Compassionate Father...])
Sh’ma koleinu HaShem Elokeinu
Be attentive to our cry, O HaShem our G-d
Chus v’rachem aleinu
Show compassion and mercy to us.
V’kabel b’rachamim v’b’ratzon et t’filateinu
Accept our prayers gently and lovingly.
Ki el shomea t’filot v’tachnunim atah
For You are a G-d who listens to prayers and supplications
V’mil’fenechah Malkeinu, rekom al t’shiveinu
From your face, our King, let us not turn away empty.
Ki atah shomea t’filot amecha Yisrael b’rachamim
For You are attentive to the prayers of Your people Israel with compassion
Baruch Atah HaShem Shomea t’filah
Blessed art Thou, HaShem, Who hears prayers.
Shemoneh Esrei: 17th Blessing – Temple Service
- Petitioning for the return of Temple Service [Avodah] is a petition for the Messianic Age, and the Temple of Messiah to be built in Jerusalem.
- This is a petition, that because it is faithful to the promises that G-d has made, is one He will fulfill – and hence is a praise to HaShem’s faithfulness.
Scriptures for Avodah [Temple Service]
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G-d, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to G-d, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of G-d.
Romans 12:1-2
Then the glory of HaShem departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim...
nd the glory of HaShem went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.
Ezekiel 10:18; 11:23
Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of HaShem, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the Torah shall go forth, and the word of HaShem from Jerusalem.
Micah 4:2
Avodah [Temple Service]
Retzeh HaShem Eloheinu
Take delight, HaShem our G-d,
B’amecha Yisrael v’ b’t’filatam
In Your people Israel, and in their prayers,
v hashev et ha avodah l‘ d’vir bayitecha
and restore true worship to Your House.
v’ aishi Yisrael v t’filatam
And the fire of Israel, and their prayers,
B’ahava t’k’vel b’ratzon
Take pleasure in, and receive unto Yourself with love.
v’ t’hi l’ratzon tamid avodah Yisrael amecha
And may You always take pleasure in the worship of Your people Israel
v’ t’chezinah ay’ninu
And may our eyes behold
b’shuvecha l’Tzion b’rachamim
Your Compassionate Mercies returning to Zion.
Baruch Atah HaShem,
Blessed art Thou, HaShem,
Ha mach’zir Sh’kinato l’Tzion.
Who is restoring His Sh’kinah to Zion.