Evening service for weekdays
Ma'ariv for Weekdays
Some have the custom to sing Psalm 67 and Psalm 144 before the Ma'ariv Service.
He is compassionate. He forgives iniquity and does not destroy.
Repeatedly He suppresses His anger, not rousing His full wrath.
LORD, save! May the King, answer us on the day we call.
Blessings of the Shema
The Leader says the following, bowing at “Bless,” standing straight at “the LORD”:
LeaderBless the LORD, the blessed One.
CongregationBless the LORD, the blessed One, for ever and all time.
Maariv Aravim
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who by His word brings on evenings, by His wisdom opens the gates of heaven, with understanding makes time change and the seasons rotate, and by His will orders the stars in their constellations in the sky.
He creates day and night, rolling away the light before the darkness, and darkness before the light. He makes the day pass and brings on night, distinguishing day from night: the LORD of hosts is His name. May the living and forever enduring God rule over us for all time. Blessed are You, LORD, who brings on evenings.
Ahavat Olam
With everlasting love have You loved Your people, the house of Israel. You have taught us Torah and commandments, decrees and laws of justice. Therefore, LORD our God, when we lie down and when we rise up we will speak of Your decrees, rejoicing in the words of Your Torah and Your commandments for ever.
For they are our life and the length of our days; on them will we meditate day and night. May You never take away Your love from us. Blessed are You, LORD, who loves His people Israel.
The Shema
The Shema must be said with intense concentration. When not with a minyan, say: God, faithful King!
Listen, Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is One.
Quietly:
Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and all time.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words which I command you today shall be on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children, speaking of them when you sit at home and when you travel on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be an emblem between your eyes. Write them on the doorposts of your house and gates.
If you indeed heed My commandments with which I charge you today, to love the LORD your God and worship Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain in your land in its season, the early and late rain; and you shall gather in your grain, wine and oil. I will give grass in your field for your cattle, and you shall eat and be satisfied. Be careful lest your heart be tempted and you go astray and worship other gods, bowing down to them. Then the LORD’s anger will flare against you and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain. The land will not yield its crops, and you will perish swiftly from the good land that the LORD is giving you. Therefore, set these, My words, on your heart and soul. Bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be an emblem between your eyes. Teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit at home and when you travel on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and gates, so that you and your children may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, for as long as the heavens are above the earth.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments for all generations. They shall attach to the tassel at each corner a thread of blue. This shall be your tassel, and you shall see it and remember all of the LORD’s commandments and keep them, not straying after your heart and after your eyes, following your own sinful desires. Thus you will be reminded to keep all My commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.
The LORD your God is true –
Emet V'emuna
– and faithful is all this, and firmly established for us that He is the LORD our God, and there is none besides Him, and that we, Israel, are His people. He is our King, who redeems us from the hand of kings and delivers us from the grasp of all tyrants. He is our God, who on our behalf repays our foes and brings just retribution on our mortal enemies; who performs great deeds beyond understanding and wonders beyond number; who kept us alive, not letting our foot slip; who led us on the high places of our enemies, raising our pride above all our foes;
who did miracles for us and brought vengeance against Pharaoh; who performed signs and wonders in the land of Ham’s children; who smote in His wrath all the firstborn of Egypt, and brought out His people Israel from their midst into everlasting freedom; who led His children through the divided Reed Sea, plunging their pursuers and enemies into the depths. When His children saw His might, they gave praise and thanks to His name, and willingly accepted His Sovereignty. Moses and the children of Israel then sang a song to You with great joy, and they all exclaimed:
“Who is like You, LORD, among the mighty? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?”
Your children beheld Your majesty as You parted the sea before Moses. “This is my God!” they responded, and then said: “The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” And it is said, “For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and rescued him from a power stronger than his own.” Blessed are You, LORD, who redeemed Israel.
Hashkiveinu
Help us lie down, O LORD our God, in peace, and rise up, O our King, to life. Spread over us Your canopy of peace. Direct us with Your good counsel, and save us for the sake of Your name. Shield us and remove from us every enemy, plague, sword, famine and sorrow. Remove the adversary from before and behind us. Shelter us in the shadow of Your wings, for You, God, are our Guardian and Deliverer; You, God, are a gracious and compassionate King. Guard our going out and our coming in, for life and peace, from now and for ever. Blessed are You, LORD, who guards His people Israel for ever.
Half Kaddish
LeaderMagnified 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.
AllMay His great name be blessed for ever and all time.
LeaderBlessed and praised,
glorified and exalted, raised and honored,
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.
Amida
The Amida is said silently, standing with feet together.
When I proclaim the LORD’s name, give glory to our God.
O LORD, open my lips, so that my mouth may declare Your praise.
Patriarchs
Blessed are You, LORD our God and God of our fathers,
God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob;
the great, mighty and awesome God, God Most High,
who bestows acts of loving-kindness and creates all,
who remembers the loving-kindness of the fathers
and will bring a Redeemer to their children’s children
for the sake of His name, in love.
Remember us for life, O King who desires life,
and write us in the book of life –
for Your sake, O God of life.
King, Helper, Savior, Shield:
Blessed are You, LORD, Shield of Abraham.
Divine Might
You are eternally mighty, LORD.
You give life to the dead and have great power to save.
The phrase “He makes the wind blow and the rain fall” is added from Simhat Torah until Pesah. In Israel the phrase “He causes the dew to fall” is added from Pesah until Shemini Atzeret.
In Israel, in spring: He causes the dew to fall.
He sustains the living with loving-kindness,
and with great compassion revives the dead.
He supports the fallen, heals the sick,
sets captives free,
and keeps His faith with those who sleep in the dust.
Who is like You, Master of might,
and to whom can You be compared,
O King who brings death and gives life,
and makes salvation grow?
Who is like You, compassionate Father,
who remembers His creatures in compassion, for life?
Faithful are You to revive the dead.
Blessed are You, LORD, who revives the dead.
Holiness
You are holy and Your name is holy,
and holy ones praise You daily, Selah!
Blessed are You, LORD, the holy God.
(If forgotten, repeat the Amida.)
Knowledge
You grace humanity with knowledge
and teach mortals understanding.
You have graced us with the knowledge of Your Torah, and taught us to perform the statutes of Your will. You have distinguished, LORD our God, between sacred and profane, light and darkness, Israel and the nations, and between the seventh day and the six days of work. Our Father, our King, may the days approaching us bring peace; may we be free from all sin, cleansed from all iniquity, holding fast to our reverence of You. And
Grace us with the knowledge, understanding
and discernment that come from You.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who graciously grants knowledge.
Repentance
Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah.
Draw us near, our King, to Your service.
Lead us back to You in perfect repentance.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who desires repentance.
Forgiveness
Strike the left side of the chest at °.
Forgive us, our Father, for we have °sinned.
Pardon us, our King, for we have °transgressed;
for You pardon and forgive.
Blessed are You, LORD,
the gracious One who repeatedly forgives.
Redemption
Look on our affliction, plead our cause,
and redeem us soon for Your name’s sake,
for You are a powerful Redeemer.
Blessed are You, LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel.
Healing
Heal us, LORD, and we shall be healed.
Save us and we shall be saved,
for You are our praise.
Bring complete recovery for all our ailments,
May it be Your will, O LORD my God and God of my ancestors, that You speedily send a complete recovery from heaven, a healing of both soul and body, to the patient (name), son/daughter of (mother’s name) among the other afflicted of Israel.
for You, God, King, are a faithful and compassionate Healer.
Blessed are You, LORD, Healer of the sick of His people Israel.
Prosperity
The phrase “Grant dew and rain as a blessing” is said from December 5th (in the year before a civil leap year, December 6th) until Pesah. In Israel, it is said from the 7th of Marheshvan. The phrase “Grant blessing” is said from Hol HaMo’ed Pesah until December 4th (in the year before a civil leap year, December 5th). In Israel it is said through the 6th of Marheshvan.
Bless this year for us, LORD our God,
and all its types of produce for good.
In other seasons: Grant blessing
on the face of the earth,
and from its goodness satisfy us,
blessing our year as the best of years.
Blessed are You, LORD, who blesses the years.
Ingathering of Exiles
Sound the great shofar for our freedom,
raise high the banner to gather our exiles,
and gather us together from the four quarters of the earth.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.
Justice
Restore our judges as at first,
and our counselors as at the beginning,
and remove from us sorrow and sighing.
May You alone, LORD,
reign over us with loving-kindness and compassion,
and vindicate us in justice.
Blessed are You, LORD,
the King who loves righteousness and justice.
Against Informers
For the slanderers let there be no hope,
and may all wickedness perish in an instant.
May all Your people’s enemies swiftly be cut down.
May You swiftly uproot, crush, cast down
and humble the arrogant swiftly in our days.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who destroys enemies and humbles the arrogant.
The Righteous
To the righteous, the pious,
the elders of Your people the house of Israel,
the remnant of their scholars,
the righteous converts, and to us,
may Your compassion be aroused, LORD our God.
Grant a good reward to all who sincerely trust in Your name.
Set our lot with them,
so that we may never be ashamed, for in You we trust.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who is the support and trust of the righteous.
Rebuilding Jerusalem
To Jerusalem, Your city, may You return in compassion,
and may You dwell in it as You promised.
May You rebuild it rapidly in our days as an everlasting structure,
and install within it soon the throne of David.
*Blessed are You, LORD,
who builds Jerusalem.
Console, O LORD our God, the mourners of Zion and the mourners of Jerusalem, and the city that is in sorrow, laid waste, scorned and desolate; that grieves for the loss of its children, that is laid waste of its dwellings, robbed of its glory, desolate without inhabitants. She sits with her head covered like a barren childless woman. Legions have devoured her; idolaters have taken possession of her; they have put Your people Israel to the sword and deliberately killed the devoted followers of the Most High. Therefore Zion weeps bitterly, and Jerusalem raises her voice. My heart, my heart grieves for those they killed; I am in anguish, I am in anguish for those they killed. For You, O LORD, consumed it with fire, and with fire You will rebuild it in the future, as is said, “And I Myself will be a wall of fire around it, says the LORD, and I will be its glory within.” Blessed are You, LORD, who consoles Zion and rebuilds Jerusalem.
Continue with “May the offshoot” below.
Kingdom of David
May the offshoot of Your servant David soon flower,
and may his pride be raised high by Your salvation,
for we wait for Your salvation all day.
Blessed are You, LORD,
who makes the glory of salvation flourish.
Response to Prayer
Listen to our voice, LORD our God.
Spare us and have compassion on us,
and in compassion and favor accept our prayer,
for You, God, listen to prayers and pleas.
Do not turn us away, O our King,
empty-handed from Your presence,
for You listen with compassion
to the prayer of Your people Israel.
Blessed are You, LORD, who listens to prayer.
Temple Service
Find favor, LORD our God,
in Your people Israel and their prayer.
Restore the service to Your most holy House,
and accept in love and favor
the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer.
May the service of Your people Israel always find favor with You.
Our God and God of our ancestors, may there rise, come, reach, appear, be favored, heard, regarded and remembered before You, our recollection and remembrance, as well as the remembrance of our ancestors, and of the Messiah son of David Your servant, and of Jerusalem Your holy city, and of all Your people the house of Israel – for deliverance and well-being, grace, loving-kindness and compassion, life and peace, on this day of Rosh Hodesh. On it remember us, LORD our God, for good; recollect us for blessing, and deliver us for life. In accord with Your promise of salvation and compassion, spare us and be gracious to us; have compassion on us and deliver us, for our eyes are turned to You because You, God, are a gracious and compassionate King.
And may our eyes witness Your return
to Zion in compassion.
Blessed are You, LORD, who restores His Presence to Zion.
Thanksgiving
Bow at the first nine words.
We give thanks to You,
for You are the LORD our God
and God of our ancestors
for ever and all time.
You are the Rock of our lives,
Shield of our salvation
from generation to generation.
We will thank You and
declare Your praise for our lives,
which are entrusted into Your hand;
for our souls,
which are placed in Your charge;
for Your miracles
which are with us every day;
and for Your wonders and favors
at all times, evening,
morning and midday.
You are good –
for Your compassion never fails.
You are compassionate –
for Your loving-kindnesses never cease.
We have always put our hope in You.
[We thank You also] for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds, the salvations, and the victories in battle which You performed for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
In the days of Mattityahu, son of Yohanan, the High Priest, the Hasmonean, and his sons, the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to force them to transgress the statutes of Your will. It was then that You in Your great compassion stood by them in the time of their distress. You championed their cause, judged their claim, and avenged their wrong. You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the arrogant into the hands of those who were engaged in the study of Your Torah. You made for Yourself great and holy renown in Your world, and for Your people Israel You performed a great salvation and redemption as of this very day. Your children then entered the holiest part of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courts, and designated these eight days of Hanukka for giving thanks and praise to Your great name.
Continue with “For all these things.”
[We thank You also] for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds, the salvations, and the victories in battle which You performed for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
In the days of Mordekhai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, the wicked Haman rose up against them and sought to destroy, slay and exterminate all the Jews, young and old, children and women, on one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. Then You in Your great compassion thwarted his counsel, frustrated his plans, and caused his scheme to recoil on his own head, so that they hanged him and his sons on the gallows.
Continue with “For all these things.”
For all these things may Your name be blessed and
exalted, our King, continually, for ever and all time.
And write, for a good life,
all the children of Your covenant.
Let all that lives thank You, Selah! and praise Your name in truth,
God, our Savior and Help, Selah!
Blessed are You, LORD, whose name is “the Good”
and to whom thanks are due.
Peace
Grant great peace
to Your people Israel
for ever,
for You are
the sovereign LORD
of all peace;
and may it be good
in Your eyes
to bless Your people Israel
at every time,
at every hour,
with Your peace.
In the book of life, blessing, peace and prosperity,
may we and all Your people the house of Israel be remembered
and written before You for a good life, and for peace.*
Blessed are You, LORD, who blesses His people Israel with peace.
*Between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur outside Israel, many end the blessing: Blessed are You, LORD, who makes peace.
Concluding Meditation
My God,
guard my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech.
To those who curse me, let my soul be silent;
may my soul be to all like the dust.
Open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul
pursue Your commandments. As for all who plan evil against me,
swiftly thwart their counsel and frustrate their plans.
Act for the sake of Your name; act for the sake of Your right hand;
act for the sake of Your holiness; act for the sake of Your Torah.
That Your beloved ones may be delivered,
save with Your right hand and answer me.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
find favor before You, LORD, my Rock and Redeemer.
Bow, take three steps back, then bow, first left, then right, then center, while saying:
May He who makes peace in His high places,
make peace for us and all Israel – and say: Amen.
May it be Your will, LORD our God and God of our ancestors,
that the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days,
and grant us a share in Your Torah.
And there we will serve You with reverence,
as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD
as in days of old and as in former years.
Full Kaddish
LeaderMagnified 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.
AllMay His great name be blessed for ever and all time.
LeaderBlessed and praised,
glorified and exalted, raised and honored,
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.
May the prayers and pleas of all Israel
be accepted by their Father in heaven –
and say: Amen.
May there be great peace from heaven,
and life for us and all Israel –
and say: Amen.
Bow, take three steps back, as if taking leave of the Divine Presence, then bow, first left, then right, then center, while saying:
May He who makes peace in His high places,
make peace for us and all Israel –
and say: Amen.
Aleinu
Stand while saying Aleinu. Bow at *.
It is our duty to praise the Master of all,
and ascribe greatness to the Author of creation,
who has not made us like the nations of the lands
nor placed us like the families of the earth;
who has not made our portion like theirs,
nor our destiny like all their multitudes.
(For they worship vanity and emptiness,
and pray to a god who cannot save.)
*But we bow in worship
and thank the Supreme King of kings,
the Holy One, blessed be He,
who extends the heavens and establishes the earth,
whose throne of glory is in the heavens above,
and whose power’s Presence is in the highest of heights.
He is our God; there is no other.
Truly He is our King, there is none else,
as it is written in His Torah:
“You shall know and take to heart this day
that the LORD is God,
in heaven above and on earth below. There is no other.”
Therefore, we place our hope in You, LORD our God,
that we may soon see the glory of Your power,
when You will remove abominations from the earth,
and idols will be utterly destroyed,
when the world will be perfected
under the sovereignty of the Almighty,
when all humanity will call on Your name,
to turn all the earth’s wicked toward You.
All the world’s inhabitants will realize and know
that to You every knee must bow and every tongue swear loyalty.
Before You, LORD our God, they will kneel and bow down
and give honor to Your glorious name.
They will all accept the yoke of Your kingdom,
and You will reign over them soon and for ever.
For the kingdom is Yours,
and to all eternity You will reign in glory,
as it is written in Your Torah:
“The LORD will reign for ever and ever.”
And it is said: “Then the LORD shall be King over all the earth;
on that day the LORD shall be One and His name One.”
Mourner’s Kaddish
The following prayer, said by mourners, requires the presence of a minyan.
MournerMagnified 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.
AllMay His great name be blessed for ever and all time.
MournerBlessed and praised,
glorified and exalted,
raised and honored,
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.
May there be great peace from heaven,
and life for us and all Israel –
and say: Amen.
Bow, take three steps back, as if taking leave of the Divine Presence, then bow, first left, then right, then center, while saying:
May He who makes peace in His high places,
make peace for us and all Israel –
and say: Amen.
English text: The Koren Shalem Siddur, The Lobel Edition (Ashkenaz).