Three-Special-Prayers

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Name’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

YYYYYYY

“Three Special Prayers”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

“Live, give, forgive, celebrate and praise: these are still the best ways of making a blessing over life, thereby turning life into a blessing”. (by Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks). May He rest in peace!

In our Hebrew tradition we are taught that piety is an efficacious means of protecting oneself and our family.

Below I have provided three good and meaningful prayers, worthy to be used daily!

1. The “Shema Yisrael”, which is recited daily, and it is an incredibly powerful prayer.

2. Tehillim - Psalms are also loved for protection, in particular Psalms 121 and 91.

3. Perhaps this other famous blessing is the “Priestly Blessing” (Birkat Kohanim).

YYYYYYY

This study is a special addition, as I am including the wisdom of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, thus bringing a modern, eloquent voice to these ancient practices. His philosophy of “turning life into a blessing” serves as the perfect bridge between the actions we take (‘living’, ‘giving’, ‘forgiving’) and the Divine protection we seek through prayer.

To enlarge this section, we can explore the specific “mechanics” of how these three prayers function as shields and blessings in the Hebrew tradition.

The Action (Sacks)	The Prayer (Tradition)	The Result
Celebrate & Praise	Shema Yisrael	A life centered on Divine Unity.
Live & Forgive	Tehillim 91 / 121	A soul protected from bitterness and fear.
Give	Birkat Kohanim	Becoming a channel for Elohim’s bounty.

Expanding the Three Special Prayers:

1. Shema Yisrael (The Declaration).

This is the foundational statement of Hebrew faith. It is traditionally recited with the eyes closed or covered to maximize focus.

Hebrew:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד

Transliteration:

“She’ma Yis’rael, Ado’nai Elo’he’nu, Ado’nai E’chad”.

English:

“Hear, O Israel: יְהוָה - the LORD our Elohim, יְהוָה - the LORD is ONE”.

2. Tehillim (Psalms of Protection).

While both Psalms are long, the opening verses of Psalm 121 and the core promise of Psalm 91 are often used as shorthand for divine guardianship.

Psalm 121:1-2 (The Traveler’s Guard)

Hebrew:

שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת: אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי. עֶזְרִי מֵעִם יְהוָה עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ

Transliteration:

“Shir la’ma’alot: Es’sa ey’nay el he’ha’rim, me’a’yin ya’vo ez’ri. Ez’ri me’im Ado’nai, o’seh sha’ma’yim va’a’retz”.

English:

“A Song of Ascents: I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help comes from יְהוָה - the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth”.

Psalm 91:1-2 (The Shelter).

Hebrew:

יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן. אֹמַר לַיהוָה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אֱלֹהַי אֶבְטַח בּוֹ

Transliteration:

“Yo’shev be’se’ter El’yon, be-tzel Shad-dai yit-lo-nan. O-mar la-Ad-o-nai: mach-si u-me-tzu-da-ti, El-o-hay ev-tach bo”.

English:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’”.

3. Birkat Kohanim (The Priestly Blessing)

In Hebrew, this blessing has a beautiful “ascending” structure: the first line has 3 words, the second has 5, and the third has 7, representing the expanding flow of God's light.

Hebrew:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ. יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָ. יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.

Transliteration:

“Ye’va’re’che’cha Ado’nai ve’yish’me’re’cha. Ya’er Ado’nai pa’nav ey’le’cha vi’chu’ne’cha. Yis’sa Ado’nai pa’nav eylecha ve’ya’sem le’cha sha’lom!

English:

“May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace”.

A Final Touch: The “Rabbi Sacks” connection:

As the verses have been integrated, I hereby wish to remember Rabbi Sacks’ teaching: “Prayer is the bridge between the ‘I’ and the ‘Thou’” When you say these words, you are not just reciting text; you are crossing that bridge to ensure that your home and family are wrapped in that ancient, efficacious protection!

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Enter ...

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

Enter ...

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

-hebraicstudies.net-

Email the Rabbi

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...