Ritual of Jewish worship...

Preface

In handing to the members of my congregation the Ritual prepared at their request, I deem it expedient to recall to their minds the history of the ritualistic development in our midst.

Over fifteen years ago the necessity had been recognized of changing the old order of worship so as to make it conform to the sentiments of the living generation, and to render it intelligible and attractive to the yonng. But definite action was postponed by common consent, until the services of a competent Rabbi should have been secured, by whose decision all declared themselves willing to abide.

A short time after I had entered into my present position, in the spring of 187 1, I was sent by the congregation to New York, to attend the services at the leading temples, and to select such Ritual for introduction as would seem to me most appropriate for the ii PREFACE.

wants of our people. I did not hesitate then to recommend that of Dr. Einhorn as the only one strictly adhering to the principles of progressive Judaism, and for the most part composed in a language understood by the people.

The only reason why the book was not introduced was that it was in German, unintelligible to some of the members of our congregation and to the majority of the young people. When, one year later. Dr. Einhorn's book was translated into English, its introduction was resolved upon by the congregation ; but owing to the little satisfaction this translation gave, the action was soon reconsidered, and, after many struggles, as a compromise measure, the book used at Temple Emanuel in New York was introduced in 1874.

Like most compromises, this one failed to give satisfaction to either part}'. The only effect of the innovation was that the services were shortened, while the}* were made neither more intelligible nor more attractive to the young than they had been before. Through a number

PREFACE. iii

of years I was urged to make a prayer-book for the congregation ; but being well aware how grave and difficult such a task is, I resisted the demand as long as I could conscientiously do so. For a Ritual for permanent use ought not to be made by one person, but by a commission of competent men working in an harmonious spirit, under the direction of one editor.

But as the years rolled by and the younger element in our midst became more and more predominant, the want of a Ritual in the vernacular became so crying that it was evidently in the interest of the religious life in our congregation to take some decisive step.

At the request of our Board of Trustees I reluctantly prepared a Ritual for temporary and tentative use. It was used the first time on December 14, 1883, an d through six consecutive weeks, on trial, and on January 20, 1884, the congregation resolved to introduce an English Ritual permanently.

Before placing it in the present shape in the hands of the people, I deemed it advisable to

IV PREFACE.

continue its use in the imperfect form in which it had first appeared, and to submit it to a number of Jewish Rabbis in our country. Many have kindly given valuable advice and made welcome criticism, which are hereby thankfully acknowledged. Every suggestion has been taken into careful consideration, and many of them, together with the experience gathered during ten months' use, have been very helpful in making the book more perfect.

It is in the very nature of a Jewish Ritual that it should contain as much old and familiar material as possible. Therefore it has not been attempted to change the frame-work of the ancient liturgy, and besides a liberal advantage has been taken of all the Rituals that were accessible to me. The object was not to create something new — which would be a decided mistake — but to furnish a liturgy which, by suggesting everywhere reminiscences of what is familiarly known, would prove most satisfactory to the congregation.

PREFACE. V

Of all modern Jewish prayer-books existing, it is safe to say. Dr. Einhorn's contains the richest collection of prayers reflecting the ancient Jewish spirit and at the same time teeming with originality. But nearly every one of them needs considerable modification to render the wealth of sentiment contained therein intelligible to the people. A literal translation would in many instances prove altogether obscure. While, therefore, borrowing materially from that book, I have taken the liberty of introducing the most excellent prayers for the Day of Atonement (namely, the Confession of Sins, the ancient Temple Service, the Memorial Service and "Open the Gates") in that modified form in which they have been used here for the last ten years. They have thus become so familiar to the congregation, and every one is so attached to them, that their absence would have caused regret.

I cannot find adequate terms to express my obligations to my dear friend Rev. N. M. Mann, Pastor of Unity Church, for the kind interest he vi PREFACE.

has taken in the preparation of Part First of this Ritual, and the valuable services he has rendered in making the English more idiomatic and perfect.

While this book is designed for our congregation only, it is hoped that it may be found to supply in other places the want which prompted its production here. The desire for English prayers is growing everywhere, and will soon become universal in this country.'''

In its first imperfect edition our Ritual has contributed largely towards rendering our services more attractive to our young people, and ultimately towards establishing harmony and good feeling in our midst. God grant that it may continue to work blessing!

MAX LAXDSBERG.

Rochester. X. Y.. Sept. 19. 1884.

^Indications of this tendency are multiplying, and the recent attempt to introduce an English Service for Friday night at the largest temple in Cincinnati, is undoubtedly only the first step toward a thorough reform in this direction.

Part First. On Entering The Temple

HOW goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! thy tabernacles, O Israel ! With faith in thy infinite grace, O God ! I enter thy house ; in thy fear will I worship at thy holy temple. O Lord ! I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth. I will bow dow T n before thee and adore thee, O Lord ! my creator. Accept my prayer at this hour, in the fullness of thy grace. Hear me, O God ! and afford me thy sure help! Amen.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE SERVICE.

FATHER, grant that thy divine presence and protection may accompany me through life. Guard me from evil thoughts and desires, strengthen me against temptation, and lead me in the paths of virtue and righteousness, so as to render me worthy of thy love and favor, now and for evermore. Amen.

RITUAL.

ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR SABBATH EVE AND THE EVES OF THE THREE FESTIVALS.

A S rest is sweet to the weary, and the cooling stream to him that is athirst, so are thy Sabbaths to us and the fountain that springs up in tinhouse. As the hart desireth the water-brooks, so may our soul thirst after thee, and our hearts and our flesh rejoice in the living God. Amen.

■^Selections from Psalms xcv-xcix and xxix.

Come, let us sing to the Lord, and with loud anthems extol the Rock of our salvation !

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, and sing joyfully to him with psalms.

For boundless is the might of the Lord, and his rule is supreme above all powers.

In his hands are the depths of the earth ; his also are the heights of the mountains.

[Opening Song.]

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Minister and Congregation.

*On the three festivals, in place of these selections follows an introductory prayer by the Minister, after which the Congregation rise.

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The sea is his, he made it ; the dry land, his hands moulded it.

O come, let us worship and bow down, bend our knee before the Lord, our maker.

He is our God ; we are the people of his care, the flock of his pasturing, if we but heed his voice.

Sing unto God a new song ; let all the earth sing unto him.

Sing unto God, praise his name ; be telling of his salvation from day to day.

Proclaim unto the nations his glorious doings, his wonders unto all peoples.

Give unto the Lord the honor due to his name, and with heart-offerings enter into his courts.

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ; let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

Proclaim among the nations : God ruleth ! He laid the foundations of the world, he judgeth the nations in righteousness.

Yea, he judgeth the world in justice and the people in faithfulness.

Light is laid up for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Rejoice, O ye righteous, in the Lord, and praise his holy name !

He has proved his mercy and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel ; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God,

RITUAL.

God giveth strength to his people, God blesseth his people with peace.

Minister.

Praise ye the Lord, to whom all praise is due !

M. Praised be the Lord, who is praised through

TERNAL, our God, King of the universe, on whose creative power and sustaining providence all things depend : thou hast formed the world, and instituted the changes of the days and seasons. ■ Thou hast made our earth to be a home of life and hast set the tokens of thy goodness on every side. Thou art the loving Father of all men. Thou hast guided thy people, Israel, with unchanging love : thou hast planted in our midst the tree of religious knowledge, and revealed teachings and laws which will become a blessing to all mankind. We rejoice in thy truth : it is our light and our life, and we cling to it by day and by night. Give us a due sense of thy mercies, that our hearts may be run D7jr? ?pp90 : % eternity.

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truly thankful to thee, and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips but in our lives. Then can we rest in the assurance of thy wisdom and love. Be praised, O Eternal ! our kind guardian and keeper.

Choir and Congregation. Amen.

Minister.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!

Choir and Congregation.

Minister.

Praised be his name and his glorious kingdom for evermore !

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Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart. Teach them unto thy child-

RITUAL.

ren, and speak of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest on the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.

T^RULY, thou art our God and none besides.

Thou hast saved us from the hand of mighty enemies, and hast wonderfully protected us through many centuries. From the time of Israel's oppression in Egypt thousand-fold dangers have been on our path. But with thine almighty help we have escaped them all ; and on the whole earth Israel still praises thy name in the ancient song of the fathers :

Who is like unto thee among the mighty, O God ! who like thee, glorious in holiness, awe-inspiring, wonder-working !

M. Thy throne is established for evermore.

Choir and Congregation .

M. Be praised, our God ! God of our fathers, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, creator of heaven and earth, shield of our ancestors, who hast implanted eternal life within us, holy God ! We give thanks to thee*

*In place of the following part insert on the festivals :

for the unspeakable love and mercy with which thou didst select our fathers to recognize thee before all the nations of the earth, hast guided us and called us to thy service. Thy grace has given us this beautiful festival

[ON PASSOVER.]

that we may remember the great day on w hich thou brokest the iron yoke of Egypt and gavest liberty to Israel, that it might become a people of priests from whom light and freedom, salvation and bliss should be brought to all those who dwell on earth.

[ON PENTECOST.]

that we may remember the glorious day when tinlaw was revealed to our fathers on Sinai, and never forget the covenant by which Israel was appointed as thy first-born son to be the guardian of the highest and most sacred treasures of mankind, and the light of the nations.

[ox SUCCOTH.]

that we may remember that thou art the giver of every good gift, and may rejoice over tne man}' blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us, and think of the love with which thou guardedst our fathers in the wilderness, when thou gavest them food from heaven, turnedst rocks into springs of

RITUAL.

for this beautiful Sabbath-evening which again finds us gathered in our paternal house. We beseech of thee that we may reap the full benefit of this blessed day. Give us rest from all undue cares and wearying burdens, that we may, with joyfulness of heart, with peace and refreshment of mind, spend its hours in loving communion with each other and with thee. May our inward strength be renewed and our hearts be

water, and protectedst them from scorching heat, from storms and tempests.

[on atzereth.]

that in the midst of falling leaves and withering blossoms we may remember the perishablencss of all worldly things, and also that in the midst of decaying nature thy word abideth forever, that the law given to us by thy servant, Moses, the heirloom of the congregation of Jacob, is a tree of life, which constantly grows in beauty and freshness and is productive of fruits which will become a blessing to all the families on earth.

OUR God and Father we pray to thee that thou wouldst look with kindness and mercy upon Israel, thy people; sanctify us and give us a pure heart that we may serve thee in truth and that our prayers may be acceptable before thee, and grant that we and all Israel may enjoy this holy festival in love and gladness. Be praised, O God ! who sanctifiest Israel and the festivals.

Choir and Congregation. Amen.

made pure to receive the light of thine eternal wisdom, thy perfect holiness and unchanging love. And grant, our God ! that we may find, not only on our day of rest, but in all our labor and conflict and in every experience of our life, the peace which thou alone canst give, the repose of faith and trust in thee.

Choir and Congregation. Amen.

[Hymn.] [Lecture or Prayer.]

gROTHERS and sisters who are mourning for dear friends, departed hence, remember your beloved ones and honor their names by emulating their noble deeds, by continuing the good works which they have left unfinished, by loving and honoring those who were loved and honored by them. Rise and praise with me the name of our Heavenly Father:

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Let the great name of God, the Creator, be extolled and hallowed throughout the universe. May his kingdom be established in your lifetime and in the life of the whole house of Israel. Amen I lO

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Let his great name be praised through all eternity.

Praised and extolled and glorified be he who is sublime above all praise and all glorification that may resound in the world. Amen .'

To all Israel, to all the righteous and to all who have been called hence according to God's will, may there be granted abundance of peace and a blissful portion in the .life eternal, and grace and mercy by the Lord of heaven and earth. Amen .'

May he send us happiness and life.

RITUAL.

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The Mourners :

From the depth of my sorrow I look up to thee, God and Father, who art near to all that seek thee with a broken heart and a contrite spirit !

In thy divine wisdom thou hast called hence my beloved

Humbly and with silent resignation I bow before the decrees of thy holy will, O God of Life !

Thou givest and takest away, thou sendest life and death.

Those who observe the Anniversary of their Father s or Mother s death :

Days pass by and years vanish, but the memory of the just abideth.

This day, O Heavenly Father, specially calls to mind my dear departed father [mother], too soon vanished from these loving eyes and these caressing hands. Yet never shall I forget him [her], and never would I be unmindful of his [her] unwearying care and multiplied fidelities in which I have lived and moved and

May he who preserveth peace in the heavenly spheres bestow peace upon us and upon all his children. Ajnen !

RITUAL.

O, let me find comfort and consolation in my affliction ; teach me even in severest trial to confide in thy goodness and to worship thy wisdom.

May thy holy name be praised and glorified by the glad and the sorrowful, now and for evermore ! Aiuai.

had my being. May the blessed influence of these recollections and of all that was noble and beautiful in him [her] be a constant impulse to virtue and righteousness in my heart, and lead me always to honor his [her ] name in thought and in deed. Auicu.

y^GAIN we lift up our hearts to thee, O God!

who art, and wast, and art to come ; before whose face the generations come and pass away. Age after age the living seek thee, and find that of thy faithfulness there is no end. Our fathers in their pilgrimage walked by thy guidance and rested on thy compassion ; still to their children be thou the cloud by day, the fire by night. Where but in thee have we a covert from storm or shadow from the heat of life? In our manifold temptations thou alone knowest our peril and art ever nigh ; in sorrow thy pity revives the fainting soul ; in our prosperity and ease it is thy spirit only that can wean us from our pride and keep us low.

O, send us hence in the spirit of hope and resolve and confident trust in thy guidance. Give

RITUAL.

T 3 us a lofty aim and a settled purpose in life, a heart filled with thy love and a will in harmony with thine. And may we all strive that the time may come of which it is said : " The Eternal shall be king over all the earth ; on that day shall God be acknowledged One and his name One."

[Closing Sung.]

[The Congregation stand while the Benediction is pronounced.]

Extolled be the living God and praised be his name, Who was, and is, and is to be, eternally the same.

One God is he, no unity like his is there in aught ; A unity unending, Being beyond all thought.

Formless, all lovely forms but intimate his loveliness ; Koly, our holiest thoughts reveal him even less ; Eternal, he was God ere aught was .formed that now appears ;

He is the First, and there was no beginning to his years.

Lo ! he is Lord of all the earth, Creation speaks his praise

And everywhere, above, below, his mighty will obeys.

I4 RITUAL.

His word by ancient prophets came to Israel, chosen race,

The first of whom was Moses, who beheld God face to face.

His word he gave his people by the prophet of his choice,

Whose faithfulness we celebrate with heart and soul and voice.

Established is his law, and changeless it must stand. Written upon our human hearts and on the sea and land.

He knoweth all our secret thoughts, naught from

him is concealed, The end from the beginning stands to him alone

revealed.

RITUAL.

ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR SABBATH MORNING. AND THE MORNINGS OF THE THREE FESTIVALS, AND FOR WEEK-DAYS.

Give unto the Lord glory and praise ; give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name : worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

O, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ; let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

Serve the Lord with gladness ; come before his presence^ with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God ! it is he that hath made us and we are his, his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Psalm c. 2-4.

If thou seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomv iw, 29.

The Minister /nay read one or more of the Sentences.

HE Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Psalm cxlv., iS.

Psalm xxix., 1, 2.

Psalm xcvi. , 9.

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RITUAL.

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy : I dwell in the high and holy place ; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit : to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah lvii., 15.

Thoughts of peace, saith the Lord, do I think towards you. Ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken to you : ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah xxix., 11. 13.

Thus saith the Lord : Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might ; let not the rich man glory in his riches ; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, who exercise loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness on the earth : for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah ix., 23, 24.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy ; long-suffering, and of great goodness. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his goodness toward them that fear him.

Psalm ciii. ; S, 11.

Return unto the Lord and forsake thy sins : make thy prayer before his face. Turn again to

RITUAL.

the Most High, and turn away from iniquity ; for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health. Ecclesiasticus xvii., 25, 26.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place ? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalm xxiw, 3-5.

Thus saith the Lord : The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool ; where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest ? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord. But to this man will I look ; even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit and reveres my word. Isaiah lxvi., 1, 2.

Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. Call upon him in the day of trouble, and he will deliver thee.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm li., 19.

RITUAL.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm lv., 23.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found ; call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will 'have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah lv., 6. 7.

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God ?

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good : and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Micah vi., 6, S.

[Here follows a selection from the Psalms — pages 75-100 in Part Second.]

[For the three Festivals — Psalms cxiii. to cxviii — page 54.] [Hymn.]

[Introductory Prayer by the Minister.] [The Congregation rise.] Minister.

Praise ye the Lord, to whom all praise is due !

Choir and Congregation.

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RITUAL. I9

M. Praised be the Lord, who is praised through eternity.

JgE praised, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of light and darkness ! Wisdom and might are thine. Thou changest the times and seasons. Thou pourest the light of thy sun over the earth and shinest in every star. Thou givest wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that have understanding. Thou revealest the deep and secret things. Thou knowest what is in the darkness : and the light dwelleth with thee.

With great love hast thou loved us. We thank thee that thou didst teach our fathers the laws of life. O enlighten our eyes also, make our hearts cling to thy precepts, and grant that we may never forget the holv mission for Avhich our fathers were set apart, to acknowledge thee and thy unity before all the nations on earth.

Happy are we ; how beautiful is our portion, how pleasant our lot, how blissful our inheritance ! Happy are we who proclaim :

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!

Choir and Congregation .

Minister.

Praised be his name and his glorious kingdom for evermore !

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all tinheart, and with all tin* soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart. Teach them unto thy children, and speak of them when thou sittest in tinhouse, and when thou walkest on the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

T

RULY, thou art our God, our Rock, our Savior. As thou didst redeem our fathers from Egypt and guide them on their wanderings, so hast thou guided us and hast delivered us from manifold dangers.

Therefore we praise and exalt thee in the words of our ancestors :

Who is like unto thee among the mighty, O God ! who like thee glorious in holiness, awe-inspiring, wonder-working !

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Choir and Congregation.

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M. Thy throne is established for evermore.

Choir a7id Congregation.

jgE praised, our God! God of our fathers, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, thou who art great and mighty and supreme, the Giver of all good gifts ; thou who rememberest the pious deeds of the fathers, and bringest redemption and love to their children's children ; thou art our protector and helper. Be praised, O God, shield of Abraham !

Choir and Congregation. Amen.

RITUAL.

^HY power. O Lord, is boundless! Thou sustainest the living with grace, and with mercy redeemcst the souls of thy servants from death. Thou supportest the falling, healest the sick, settest free the prisoners, and keepest thy faith to those who sleep in the dust. Who is like unto thee. Almighty ! Who can be compared unto thee, who kil lest and makest alive, and causest salvation to spring forth ! Be praised, O God, who hast planted eternal life within us !

Clwir and Congregation. Amen.

^JpHOU art holy, and thy name is holy, and tinworshipers daily praise thy holiness.

So let us praise our God and exclaim : Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.

Choir and Congregation.

M. Praised be the glory of the Eternal, which fills the earth and the heavens !

Choir and Congregation.

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J/. God reigneth forever, thy Lord. O Zion ! through all generations. Hallelujah !

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Choir and Congregation .

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J/. Forever will we glorify thee and hallow thy name ; never shall thy praise vanish from our lips. Be praised, O holy God !

Choi?' and Congregation. Amen.

[The Congregation take their seats.] [Here may be introduced any other prayer in place of the following :]

"^JI^E pleased to accept our thanks, O Lord our God ! for the continuance of thy loving-kindness to us through another week. We render thanks unto thee, that thou hast sheltered, sup-

*The prayer to be inserted here on the first day of Passover, see page 38.

On the seventh day of Passover, page 42.

On Pentecost, page 44.

On Confirmation Day, page 46.

On Succoth, page 48.

On Atzereth, page 50.

On Week-days, page 52.

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ported, and led us on safely and brought us to this hour. We joyfully hail the return of this beautiful Sabbath day, set apart by thy providence for the rest of the weary, for the culture of heavenly good, for the communion of the soul with its Maker. May we rightfully improve the precious opportunities of the time, and never forget that thou blessest the fruits of our labor, and providest us with all we need. May we remember that man is sent into the world to live not by bread alone, but by thy word, that he may become holy as thou, O God ! art holy. We enter thy house and pray to thee, that we may be kept steadfast in the duties and patient in the trials which the coming week may bring us We would resolve before thee to apply ourselves to the stead}' and cheerful performance of those tasks which thou hast assigned to us, and to do that whereby thy children may be aided and thy name glorified. Bestow upon us a pure heart and a spirit quickened by thy holy word, and let our life be a constant expression of love for thee and our fellow-men.