Parashat Matot: Vows and Oaths

Parashat Matot explores vows, battles, and the tribes' request to settle in the land east of the Jordan River.
parashat matot masei forgive me
[Source photo: parashat matot masei forgive me]

Latest

Parashat Lech Lecha – English reading Source link

Parashat Matot is the 42nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It is found in the book of Numbers, or Bamidbar, specifically in Numbers 30:2-32:42. The name “Matot” translates to “tribes” in Hebrew, which is significant as this portion deals with issues related to the tribes of Israel.

Parashat Matot begins with the discussion of vows and oaths. It addresses the importance of fulfilling one’s commitments and emphasizes the seriousness of making promises to God. The portion outlines the rules and regulations regarding vows made by both men and women, highlighting the importance of honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility in fulfilling one’s obligations.

The narrative then shifts to the Israelites’ encounter with the Midianites, who had seduced the Israelites into idolatry and immorality. God commands Moses to take revenge on the Midianites, and a battle ensues. The Israelites are victorious, and the spoils of war are distributed among the tribes. However, Moses is upset with the commanders and warriors for sparing the Midianite women, who were responsible for leading the Israelites astray. He admonishes them and instructs them to kill all the Midianite women and male children, sparing only the virgin girls.

After the battle, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half the tribe of Manasseh, approach Moses with a request. They note that the land they are currently occupying, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, is ideal for their livestock. They ask Moses if they can settle there instead of entering the Promised Land with the rest of the tribes. Moses is initially angered by their request, fearing that it might discourage the other tribes from fulfilling their obligations. However, after negotiations and a commitment from the tribes of Reuben and Gad to help the rest of Israel conquer the land, Moses agrees to their request.

Parashat Matot concludes with the appointment of cities of refuge. These cities were designated as safe havens for individuals who accidentally caused the death of another person. They provided protection from blood avengers and ensured a fair trial for those seeking refuge.

Overall, Parashat Matot explores themes of personal accountability, integrity, and the importance of fulfilling one’s commitments. It also touches on the consequences of succumbing to temptation and the need for collective responsibility within the community. The portion serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Israelites as they journey towards the Promised Land and the moral and ethical principles that guided their actions.

מטות

במדבר כ״ב:ב׳-כ״ה:ט׳

ל״א
שני
שלישי
רביעי
חמישי
ל״ב
שישי
שביעי

 

Matot

Numbers 30:2-32:42
Moses spoke to the heads of the Israelite tribes, saying: This is what יהוה has commanded:
If a householder makes a vow to יהוה or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.
If a woman makes a vow to יהוה or assumes an obligation while still in her father’s household by reason of her youth,
and her father learns of her vow or her self-imposed obligation and offers no objection, all her vows shall stand and every self-imposed obligation shall stand.
But if her father restrains her on the day he finds out, none of her vows or self-imposed obligations shall stand; and יהוה will forgive her, since her father restrained her.
If she should become someone’s [wife] while her vow or the commitment to which she bound herself is still in force,
and her husband learns of it and offers no objection on the day he finds out, her vows shall stand and her self-imposed obligations shall stand.
But if her husband restrains her on the day that he learns of it, he thereby annuls her vow which was in force or the commitment to which she bound herself; and יהוה will forgive her.—
The vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, however, whatever she has imposed on herself, shall be binding upon her.—
So, too, if, while in her husband’s household, she makes a vow or imposes an obligation on herself by oath,
and her husband learns of it, yet offers no objection—thus failing to restrain her—all her vows shall stand and all her self-imposed obligations shall stand.
But if her husband does annul them on the day he finds out, then nothing that has crossed her lips shall stand, whether vows or self-imposed obligations. Her husband has annulled them, and יהוה will forgive her.
Every vow and every sworn obligation of self-denial may be upheld by her husband or annulled by her husband.
If her husband offers no objection from that day to the next, he has upheld all the vows or obligations she has assumed: he has upheld them by offering no objection on the day he found out.
But if he annuls them after [the day] he finds out, he shall bear her guilt.
Those are the laws that יהוה enjoined upon Moses between a husband and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter while in her father’s household by reason of her youth.

Second

יהוה spoke to Moses, saying,
“Avenge the Israelite people on the Midianites; then you shall be gathered to your kin.”
Moses spoke to the militia, saying, “Let troops be picked out from among you for a campaign, and let them fall upon Midian to wreak יהוה’s vengeance on Midian.
You shall dispatch on the campaign a thousand from every one of the tribes of Israel.”
So a thousand from each tribe were furnished from the divisions of Israel, twelve thousand picked for the campaign.
Moses dispatched them on the campaign, a thousand from each tribe, with Phinehas son of Eleazar serving as a priest on the campaign, equipped with the sacred utensils and the trumpets for sounding the blasts.
They took the field against Midian, as יהוה had commanded Moses, and slew every male.
Along with their other victims, they slew the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also put Balaam son of Beor to the sword.
The Israelites took the women and other noncombatants of the Midianites captive, and seized as booty all their beasts, all their herds, and all their wealth.
And they destroyed by fire all the towns in which they were settled, and their encampments.
They gathered all the spoil and all the booty, human and beast,
and they brought the captives, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite community leadership, at the camp in the steppes of Moab, at the Jordan near Jericho.

Third
 
Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the chieftains of the community came out to meet them outside the camp.
Moses became angry with the commanders of the army, the officers of thousands and the officers of hundreds, who had come back from the military campaign.
Moses said to them, “You have spared every female!
Yet they are the very ones who, at the bidding of Balaam, induced the Israelites to trespass against יהוה in the matter of Peor, so that יהוה’s community was struck by the plague.
Now, therefore, slay every male among the noncombatants, and slay also every woman who has known a man carnally;
but spare every female noncombatant who has not had carnal relations with a man.
“You shall then stay outside the camp seven days; every one among you or among your captives who has slain a person or touched a corpse shall purify himself on the third and seventh days.
You shall also purify every cloth, every article of skin, everything made of goats’ hair, and every object of wood.”
Eleazar the priest said to the troops who had taken part in the fighting, “This is the ritual law that יהוה has enjoined upon Moses:
Gold and silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead—
any article that can withstand fire—these you shall pass through fire and they shall be pure, except that they must be purified with water of lustration; and anything that cannot withstand fire you must pass through water.
On the seventh day you shall wash your clothes and be pure, and after that you may enter the camp.”

Fourth
 
יהוה said to Moses:
“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community take an inventory of the booty that was captured, human and beast,
and divide the booty equally between the combatants who engaged in the campaign and the rest of the community.
You shall exact a levy for יהוה: in the case of the warriors who engaged in the campaign, one item in five hundred, of persons, oxen, asses, and sheep,
shall be taken from their half-share and given to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to יהוה;
and from the half-share of the other Israelites you shall withhold one in every fifty human beings as well as cattle, asses, and sheep—all the animals—and give them to the Levites, who attend to the duties of יהוה’s Tabernacle.”
Moses and Eleazar the priest did as יהוה commanded Moses.
The amount of booty, other than the spoil that the troops had plundered, came to 675,000 sheep,
72,000 head of cattle,
61,000 asses,
and a total of 32,000 human beings, namely, the females who had not had carnal relations.
Thus, the half-share of those who had engaged in the campaign [was as follows]: The number of sheep was 337,500,
and יהוה’s levy from the sheep was 675;
the cattle came to 36,000, from which יהוה’s levy was 72;
the asses came to 30,500, from which יהוה’s levy was 61.
And the number of human beings was 16,000, from which יהוה’s levy was 32.
Moses gave the contributions levied for יהוה to Eleazar the priest, as יהוה had commanded Moses.

Fifth
 
As for the half-share of the other Israelites, which Moses withdrew from those who had taken the field,
that half-share of the community consisted of 337,500 sheep,
36,000 head of cattle,
30,500 asses,
and 16,000 human beings.
From this half-share of the Israelites, Moses withheld one in every fifty humans and animals; and he gave them to the Levites, who attended to the duties of יהוה’s Tabernacle, as יהוה had commanded Moses.
The commanders of the troop divisions, the officers of thousands and the officers of hundreds, approached Moses.
They said to Moses, “Your servants have made a check of the warriors in our charge, and not one of us is missing.
So we have brought as an offering to יהוה such articles of gold as each of us came upon: armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and pendants, that expiation may be made for our persons before יהוה.”
Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from them, all kinds of wrought articles.
All the gold that was offered by the officers of thousands and the officers of hundreds as a contribution to יהוה came to 16,750 shekels.—
But in the ranks, everyone kept his booty for himself.—
So Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the officers of thousands and the officers of hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, as a reminder in behalf of the Israelites before יהוה.

Sixth
 
The Reubenites and the Gadites owned cattle in very great numbers. Noting that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were a region suitable for cattle,
the Gadite and Reubenite [leaders] came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the chieftains of the community, and said,
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon—
the land that יהוה has conquered for the community of Israel—is cattle country, and your servants have cattle.
It would be a favor to us,” they continued, “if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan.”
Moses replied to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here?
Why will you turn the minds of the Israelites from crossing into the land that יהוה has given them?
That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to survey the land.
After going up to the wadi Eshcol and surveying the land, they turned the minds of the Israelites from invading the land that יהוה had given them.
Thereupon יהוה was incensed and swore,
‘None of the men from twenty years up who came out of Egypt shall see the land that I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they did not remain loyal to Me—
none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they remained loyal to יהוה.’
יהוה, incensed at Israel, made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the whole generation that had provoked יהוה’s displeasure was gone.
And now you, a breed of sinful fellows, have replaced your fathers, to add still further to יהוה’s wrath against Israel.
If you turn away from [God], who then abandons them once more in the wilderness, you will bring calamity upon all this people.”
Then they stepped up to him and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children.
And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home, while our children stay in the fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land.
We will not return to our homes until the Israelites—every one of them—are in possession of their portion.
But we will not have a share with them in the territory beyond the Jordan, for we have received our share on the east side of the Jordan.”

Seventh
 
Moses said to them, “If you do this, if you go to battle as shock-troops, at the instance of יהוה,
and every shock-fighter among you crosses the Jordan, at the instance of יהוה, until [God] has personally dispossessed the enemies,
and the land has been subdued, at the instance of יהוה, and then you return—you shall be clear before יהוה and before Israel; and this land shall be your holding under יהוה.
But if you do not do so, you will have sinned against יהוה; and know that your sin will overtake you.
Build towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
The Gadites and the Reubenites answered Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands.
Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our other livestock will stay behind in the towns of Gilead;
while your servants, all those recruited for war, cross over, at the instance of יהוה, to engage in battle—as my lord orders.”
Then Moses gave instructions concerning them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads of the Israelite tribes.
Moses said to them, “If every shock-fighter among the Gadites and the Reubenites crosses the Jordan with you to do battle, at the instance of יהוה, and the land is subdued before you, you shall give them the land of Gilead as a holding.
But if they do not cross over with you as shock-troops, they shall receive holdings among you in the land of Canaan.”
The Gadites and the Reubenites said in reply, “Whatever יהוה has spoken concerning your servants, that we will do.
We ourselves will cross over as shock-troops, at the instance of יהוה, into the land of Canaan; and we shall keep our hereditary holding across the Jordan.”
So Moses assigned to them—to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph—the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, the land with its various cities and the territories of their surrounding towns.
The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified towns or as enclosures for flocks.
The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Nebo, Baal-meon—some names being changed—and Sibmah; they gave [their own] names to towns that they rebuilt.
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and captured it, dispossessing the Amorites who were there;
so Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he settled there.
Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages, which he renamed Havvoth-jair.
And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its dependencies, renaming it Nobah after himself.
ב׳

Jeremiah

1:1-2:3

more on Parashat Parashat Matot: Vows and Oaths

Quick Guide: The Five Books of Moses

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Bereshit
(1:1-6:8)
Shemot
(1:1-6:1)
Vayikra
(1:1-5:26)
Bemidbar
(1:1-4:20)
Devarim
(1:1-3:22)
Noach
(6:9-11:32)
Va'era
(6:2-9:35)
Tzav
(6:1-8:36)
Naso
(4:21-7:89)
Va'etchanan
(3:23-7:11)
Lech Lecha
(12:1-17:27)
Bo
(10:1-13:16)
Shemini
(9:1-11:47)
Behaalotecha
(8:1-12:16)
Ekev
(7:12-11:25)
Vayera
(18:1-22:24)
Beshalach
(13:17-17:16)
Tazria
(12:1-13:59)
Shelach
(13:1-15:41)
Re'eh
(11:26-16:17)
Chaye Sarah
(23:1-25:18)
Yitro
(18:1-20:23)
Metzora
(14:1-15:33)
Korach
(16:1-18:32)
Shoftim
(16:18-21:9)
Toledot
(25:19-28:9)
Mishpatim
(21:1-24:18)
Achare Mot
(16:1-18:30)
Chukat
(19:1-22:1)
Ki Tetze
(21:10-25:19)
Vayetze
(28:10-32:3)
Teruma
(25:1-27:19)
Kedoshim
(19:1-20:27)
Balak
(22:2-25:9)
Ki Tavo
(26:1-29:8)
Vayishlach
(32:4-36:43)
Tetzave
(27:20-30:10)
Emor
(21:1-24:23)
Pinchas
(25:10-30:1)
Nitzavim
(29:9-30:20)
Vayeshev
(37:1-40:23)
Ki Tisa
(30:11-34:35)
Behar
(25:1-26:2)
Matot
(30:2-32:42)
Vayelech
(31:1-30)
Miketz
(41:1-44:17)
Vayakhel
(35:1-38:20)
Bechukotai
(26:3-27:34)
Masei
(33:1-36:13)
Haazinu
(32:1-52)
Vayigash
(44:18-47:27)
Pekude
(38:21-40:38)
V'Zot HaBeracha
(33:1-34:12)
Vayechi
(47:28-50:26)

RESOURCES

Mourner’s Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom), traditionally said by mourners––that is, those who have lost a parent during the previous eleven months or a child, sibling, or spouse during the last thirty days––and by those observing the anniversary of the death of those close relatives. (In many contemporary communities, the full congregation says it in support of the mourners, and in memory of the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust, assuming that at least one died on any given day.) The mourner’s Kaddish omits lines 7 and 8 of the Full Kaddish that asks God to answer our prayers because presumably, God did not grant the mourner’s prayers that the relative recover and live).
אבל: יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
[קהל: אמן] בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיוֹמֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא אבל: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא: [קהל: בריך הוא:] לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]

וְזֹ֖את הַתּוֹרָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ תּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת יַעֲקֹֽב׃ הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֢ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ אִמְרַֽת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃

Before reading the Torah:

הַשֵּׁם עִמָּכֶם.
יְבָרֶכְךָ הַשֵּׁם.

בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ:
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה: [אמן]

After reading the Torah:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת, וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה: [אמן]

Beracha recited before the reading of the Haftara:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בִּנְבִיאִים טוֹבִים. וְרָצָה בְדִבְרֵיהֶם הַנֶּאֱמָרִים בֶּאֱמֶת. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. הַבּוֹחֵר בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ. וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ. וּבִנְבִיאֵי הָאֱמֶת וָצֶדֶק:

Berachot recited after the reading of the Haftara:

גֹּאֲלֵ֕נוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמ֑וֹ קְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. צוּר כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים. צַדִּיק בְּכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת. הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן הָאוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה. הַמְדַבֵּר וּמְקַיֵּם שֶׁכָּל דְּבָרָיו אֱמֶת וָצֶדֶק: נֶאֱמָן אַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְנֶאֱמָנִים דְּבָרֶיךָ. וְדָבָר אֶחָד מִדְּבָרֶיךָ אָחוֹר לֹא יָשׁוּב רֵיקָם. כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ נֶאֱמָן וְרַחֲמָן אָתָּה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן בְּכָל דְּבָרָיו:

רַחֵם עַל צִיּוֹן כִּי הִיא בֵּית חַיֵּינוּ. וְלַעֲלוּבַת נֶפֶשׁ תּוֹשִׁיעַ וּתְשַׂמַּח בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מְשַׂמֵּחַ צִיּוֹן בְּבָנֶיהָ:

שַׂמְּחֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּאֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא עַבְדֶּךָ וּבְמַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶךָ. בִּמְהֵרָה יָבוֹא וְיָגֵל לִבֵּנוּ. עַל כִּסְאוֹ לֹא יֵשֵׁב זָר וְלֹא יִנְחֲלוּ עוֹד אֲחֵרִים אֶת כְּבוֹדוֹ. כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשְׁךָ נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִכְבֶּה נֵרוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מָגֵן דָּוִד:

On Fast-days, the berachot end here. On Shabbat, conclude with this beracha:

עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל הַנְּבִיאִים וְעַל יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לִקְדֻשָּׁה וְלִמְנוּחָה לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת: עַל הַכֹּל. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ. יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת:

On Yom Tov, conclude with this berachah:

עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל הַנְּבִיאִים (לשבת וְעַל יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה), וְעַל יוֹם: לפסח: חַג הַמַּצּוֹת: לשבועות: חַג הַשָׁבוּעוֹת: לסוכות: חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת: לשמ”ע ולש”ת: שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת הֶחָג: הַזֶּה: שֶׁנָּתַתָּ לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ (לשבת לִקְדֻשָּׁה וְלִמְנוּחָה) לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָה, לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת, עַל הַכֹּל. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ. יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מְקַדֵּשׁ (הַשַּׁבָּת וְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזְמַנִים:

On Rosh HaShana, conclude with this berachah:

עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל הַנְּבִיאִים (לשבת וְעַל יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה) וְעַל יוֹם הַזִכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה, שֶׁנָּתַתָּ לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ (לשבת לִקְדֻשָּׁה וְלִמְנוּחָה) לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת: עַל הַכֹּל. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ. יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מְקַדֵּשׁ (הַשַּׁבָּת וְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן:

On Yom Kippur, conclude with this berachah:

עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל הַנְּבִיאִים (לשבת וְעַל יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה) וְעַל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הַזֶּה, שֶׁנָּתַתָּ לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ (לשבת לִקְדֻשָּׁה וְלִמְנוּחָה) לִמְחִילָה וְלִסְלִיחָה וּלְכַפָּרָה, וְלִמְחוֹל בּוֹ אֶת כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ, לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת: עַל הַכֹּל. יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ. יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: וּדְבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וְקַיָם לָעַד, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מֶלֶךְ מוֹחֵל וְסוֹלֵחַ לַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ, וְלַעֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּמַעֲבִיר אַשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה, מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, מְקַדֵּשׁ (הַשַּׁבָּת וְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים:

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ לַקָּהָל

Blessing for the Community
This is the blessing recited for the congregation, usually during synagogue services. This blessing is typically offered for the entire community, asking for divine protection, prosperity, and well-being for all members of the congregation.

יְהִי שֵׁם יְהוָה מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וְדָוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה, וְכָל הַקְּהִלּוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת וְהַטְּהוֹרוֹת, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־כָּל־הַקָּהָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה, גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים, הֵם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְתַלְמִידֵיהֶם, וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם. מַלְכָּא דְעָלְמָא הוּא יְבָרֵךְ יַתְכוֹן, וִיזַכֶּה יַתְכוֹן, וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקָל צְלוֹתְכוֹן, תִּתְפָּרְקוּן וְתִשְׁתֵּזְבוּן מִכָּל צָרָה וְעַקְתָּא, וִיהֵא מֵימְרָא דַּיהֹוָה בְּסַעְדְּכֶם, וְיָגֵן בַּעַדְכֶם, וְיִפְרוֹשׂ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמוֹ עֲלֵיכֶם, וְיִטַּע בֵּינֵיכֶם אַהֲבָה וְאַחְוָה, שָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת, וִיסַלֵּק שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם מִבֵּינֵיכֶם, וְיִשְׁבּוֹר עֹל הַגּוֹיִם מֵעַל צַוָּארֵיכֶם, וִיקַיֵּם בָּכֶם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵכֶ֗ם יֹסֵ֧ף עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם כָּכֶ֖ם אֶ֣לֶף פְּעָמִ֑ים וִיבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶתְכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָכֶֽם׃ בשבת תשובה וְיִכָּתְבוּ בְסֵפֶר חַיִּים טוֹבִים. וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:

Tefilat HaDerech (Hebrew: תפילת הדרך), also known as the Traveler’s Prayer or Wayfarer’s Prayer in English, is a prayer for safe travel recited by Jews when traveling by air, sea, or long car trips. It is recited at the start of every journey, preferably standing, but this is not required. It is frequently inscribed on hamsas, which may also include the Shema or Birkat HaBayit prayer.

In the “Blessing of Thanksgiving” (Birkat HaGomel), persons in four different categories should express gratitude to God for His compassion toward them: One who has done one of the following: a) traveled across the ocean (by an international flight, etc.); b) traversed the desert; c) recovered from a very serious illness; d) been released from prison. All other potentially fatal circumstances that one escapes, such as a wall crumbling on him, an ox goring him, thieves, auto accidents, etc., fall under the category of desert.

Recite the following:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוֹב.

Response:

מִי שֶׁגְמַלְךָ כֹּל טוֹב הוּא יִגְמַלְךָ כֹּל טוֹב סֶלָה.

NameSymbolSephardi
Sof passukב׃‎סוֹף פָּסֽוּק‎
Sof pasuk
Etnachtaב֑‎אַתְנָ֑ח‎
Atnaḥ
Segolב֒‎סְגוֹלְתָּא֒‎
Segolta
Shalsheletב֓‎שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת‎
Šalšeleþ
Zakef katanב֔‎זָקֵף קָט֔וֹן‎
Záqéf Qáţown
Zakef gadolב֕‎זָקֵף גָּד֕וֹל‎
Záqéf Ggádowl
Tifchaב֖‎טַרְחָ֖א‎
Tarḥa
Riviaב֗‎רְבִ֗יע‎
Revia
Zarkaב֮‎זַרְקָא֮‎
Zarqa
Pashtaב֙‎קַדְמָא֙‎
Qadma
Shene pashtinב֨‎ב֙‎תְּרֵ֨י קַדְמִין֙‎
Tere qadmin
Yetivב֚‎יְ֚תִיב‎
Yetiv
Tevirב֛‎תְּבִ֛יר‎
Tviyr
Pazerב֡‎פָּזֶר גָּד֡וֹל‎
Pazer gadol
Qarne farahב֟‎קַרְנֵי פָרָ֟ה‎
Qarne farah
Telisha gedolaב֠‎תִּ֠רְצָה‎
Tirtzah
Gereshב֜‎גְּרִ֜ישׁ‎
Gerish
Gershayimב֞‎שְׁנֵי גְרִישִׁ֞ין‎
Shene gerishin
Munachב׀‎פָּסֵ֣ק׀‎
Paseq
Merchaב֥‎מַאֲרִ֥יךְ‎
Maarich
Munachב֣‎שׁוֹפָר הוֹלֵ֣ךְ‎
Shofar holech
Mahpachב֤‎‏(שׁוֹפָר) מְהֻפָּ֤ךְ‎
(Shofar) mehuppach
Dargaב֧‎דַּרְגָּ֧א‎
Ddarggá
Kadmaב֨‎אַזְלָ֨א or קַדְמָ֨א‎
Azla or Qadma[18]
Telisha ketanaב֩‎תַּלְשָׁא֩‎
Talsha
Mercha kefulaב֦‎תְּרֵי טַעֲמֵ֦י‎
Tere ta’ame
Yerach ben yomoב֪‎יֵרֶח בֶּן יוֹמ֪וֹ‎
Yeraḥ ben yomo

Spanish-Portuguese custom

זַרְקָא֮ מַקַּף־שׁוֹפָר־הוֹלֵ֣ךְ סְגוֹלְתָּא֒ פָּזֵר גָּד֡וֹל
תַ֠לְשָׁא תִּ֩ילְשָׁא אַזְלָ֨א גֵּ֜רֵישׁ פָּסֵק  ׀  רָבִ֗יעַ שְׁנֵי־גֵרֵישִׁ֞ין
דַּרְגָ֧א תְּבִ֛יר מַאֲרִ֥יךְ טַרְחָ֖א אַתְנָ֑ח שׁוֹפָר־מְהֻפָּ֤ךְ
קַדְמָא֙ תְּרֵ֨י־קַדְמִין֙ זָקֵף־קָט֔וֹן זָקֵף־גָּד֕וֹל שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת
תְּרֵי־טַעֲמֵ֦י יְ֚תִיב סוֹף־פָּסֽוּק׃

Sephardic U Calendar

The Five Books

Bereshit, בְּרֵאשִׁית
Noach, נֹחַ
Lech-Lecha, לֶךְ-לְךָ
Vayera, וַיֵּרָא
Chaye Sarah, חַיֵּי שָׂרָה
Toledot, תּוֹלְדֹת
Vayetze, וַיֵּצֵא
Vayishlach, וַיִּשְׁלַח
Vayeshev, וַיֵּשֶׁב
Miketz, מִקֵּץ
Vayigash, וַיִּגַּשׁ
Vayechi, וַיְחִי
Shemot, שְׁמוֹת
Va’era, וָאֵרָא
Bo, בֹּא
Beshalach, בְּשַׁלַּח
Yitro, יִתְרוֹ
Mishpatim, מִּשְׁפָּטִים
Teruma, תְּרוּמָה
Tetzave, תְּצַוֶּה
Ki Tisa, כִּי תִשָּׂא
*Vayakhel, וַיַּקְהֵל
Pekudei, פְקוּדֵי
Vayikra, וַיִּקְרָא
Tzav, צַו
Shemini, שְּׁמִינִי
*Tazria, תַזְרִיעַ
Metzora, מְּצֹרָע
*Achare Mot, אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Kedoshim, קְדֹשִׁים
Emor, אֱמֹר
*Behar, בְּהַר
Behukotai, בְּחֻקֹּתַי
Bemidbar, בְּמִדְבַּר
Naso, נָשֹׂא
Behaalotecha, בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
Shlach, שְׁלַח-לְךָ
Korach, קֹרַח
*Chukat, חֻקַּת
Balak, בָּלָק
Pinchas, פִּינְחָס
*Matot, מַּטּוֹת
Masei, מַסְעֵי
Devarim, דְּבָרִים
Va’etchanan, וָאֶתְחַנַּן
Ekev, עֵקֶב
Re’eh, רְאֵה
Shoftim, שֹׁפְטִים
Ki Tetze, כִּי-תֵצֵא
Ki Tavo, כִּי-תָבוֹא
*Nitzavim, נִצָּבִים
Vayelech, וַיֵּלֶךְ
Haazinu, הַאֲזִינוּ
V’Zot HaBerachah, וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה
Receive the latest news

Get notified about new articles

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Hello!

Login to your account

[ihc-login-popup]
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Get notified about new articles