Hebrew Daily Prayer Book. Jonathan Sacks

heard their cry at the Sea of Reeds. You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his servants and all the people of his land, because You knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You created for Yourself renown that remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through the sea on dry land, but You cast their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters.

       THE SONG AT THESEA

      EXODUS 14:30–15:19

       That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and believed in the LORD and in His servant, Moses.

       Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD, saying:

      I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously;

      horse and rider He has hurled into the sea.

      The LORD is my strength and song; He has become my salvation.

      This is my GOD, and I will beautify Him,

      my father’s GOD, and I will exalt Him.

      The LORD is a Master of war; LORD is His name.

      Pharaoh’s chariots and army He cast into the sea;

      the best of his officers drowned in the Sea of Reeds.

      The deep waters covered them;

      they went down to the depths like a stone.

      Your right hand, LORD, is majestic in power.

      Your right hand, LORD, shatters the enemy.

      In the greatness of Your majesty, You overthrew those who rose

      against You.

      You sent out Your fury; it consumed them like stubble.

      By the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up.

      The surging waters stood straight like a wall;

      the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

      The enemy said, “I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoil.

      My desire shall have its fill of them.

      I will draw my sword. My hand will destroy them.”

      You blew with Your wind; the sea covered them.

      They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

      Who is like You, LORD, among the mighty?

      Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory,

      working wonders?

      You stretched out Your right hand,

      the earth swallowed them.

      In Your lovingkindness, You led the people You redeemed.

      In Your strength, You guided them to Your holy abode.

      Nations heard and trembled;

      terror gripped Philistia’s inhabitants.

      The chiefs of Edom were dismayed,

      Moab’s leaders were seized with trembling,

      the people of Canaan melted away.

      Fear and dread fell upon them.

      By the power of Your arm, they were still as stone –

      until Your people crossed, O LORD,

      until the people You acquired crossed over.

      You will bring them and plant them on the mountain of Your heritage –

      the place, LORD, You made for Your dwelling,

      the sanctuary, LORD, Your hands established.

      The LORD will reign for ever and all time.

      The LORD will reign for ever and all time.

      When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and riders went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked on dry land through the sea. For kingship is the LORD’S and He rules over the nations. Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion to judge Mount Esau, and the Lord’s shall be the kingdom. Then shall the LoRD be King over all the earth. On that day shall the LoRD be One and His name One, as it is written in Your Torah, saying: Listen, Israel: the LORD is our GOD, the LORD is ONE.

       BLESSING AFTER VERSES OF PRAISE

       May Your name be praised for ever, our King, the great and holy GOD, King in heaven and on earth. For to You, LORD our GOD and GOD of our ancestors, it is right to offer song and praise, hymn and psalm, strength and dominion, eternity, greatness and power, song of praise and glory, holiness and kingship, blessings and thanks, from now and for ever. Blessed are You, Lord, God and King, exalted in praises, GoD of thanksgivings, Master of wonders, who delights in hymns of song, King, GOD, Giver of life to the world.

      Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and on Hoshana Rabba, some congregations say this psalm responsively, verse by verse. The Ark is opened for this psalm.

      PSALM 130

       A song of ascents. From the depths I have called to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea. If You, LORD, should keep account of sins, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be held in awe. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and great is His power to redeem. It is He who will redeem Israel from all their sins.

      The Leader says half-Kaddish.

      Leader:

       Magnified and sanctified may His great name be, in the world He created by His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of all the House of Israel, swiftly and soon – and say: Amen.

      All:

       May His great name be blessed for ever and all time.

      Leader:

      Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, raised and honoured, uplifted and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond any blessing, song, praise and consolation uttered in the world – and say: Amen.

      The Leader says the following, bowing at “Bless', standing straight at “The LORD”:

      Bless the LORD, the blessed One.

      The Congregation, followed by the Leader, responds, bowing at “Bless”, standing straight at “The LORD”:

      Bless the LORD, the blessed One, for ever and all time.

      BLESSINGS OF THE SHEMA