SHABBAT MORNING SIDDUR DRASHOT & IYUN TEFILLOT*
The files on this page include 36 drashot (homiletic interpretations) and iyun tefillot (poetic meditations), with accompanying Hebrew text, translations, and transliterations, for the traditional Shabbat morning liturgy.
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לְשֵם יִחוּד (L'sheim Yikhud) For the sake of the sanctification . . . I am ready. This preliminary formulation serves two purposes. It is a statement of intent that the act about to be performed is to fulfill the Torah's commandment. The second purpose, indicated by the mystical references, is a prayer that the Kabbalistic spiritual qualities of the commandment be realized. Music here.
מה טֹּבוּ (Ma Tovu) From Numbers 24:5, Psalms 5:8, 26:8, Cf. 95:6, 69:14. Music here.
אלּוּ דברים (Eilu D'varim) These are the precepts that have no prescribed measure. Music here.
אלֹהי נשמה (Elohai N'shama) My God, the soul. . . . This prayerful blessing is an expression of gratitude to God for restoring our vitality in the morning with a soul of pure, celestial origin, and for maintaining us in life and in health. Music here.
אשרינוּ (Ashreinu) We are fortunate. Although . . . this section of the service was compiled during a period of intense persecution, we do not feel downtrodden. Music here.
בּרוּך שאמר (Barukh She'amar) Blessed is He Who spoke . . . (and the world came into being). God is the Creator Who brought all of Creation into being and maintains it. . . . Music here.
תּוֹרת יי תּמימה (Torat Adonai T'mima) The Torah of Hashem is perfect. . . . Music here.
מי האיש (Mi Ha'ish) Who is the person . . . (who desires life. . . ). The Psalmist urged people to better their lives in This World. . . . Music here.
הוֹדוּ ליי (Hodu Ladonai) Give thanks to God. . . . The Talmud (Pesachim 118a) calls this Psalm הַלֵּל הַגָּדוֹל, the Great Song of Praise, because it lauds God for giving sustenance to every living being. Music here.
טוֹב להֹדוֹת ליי (Tov L'hodot) It is good to thank Adonai. . . . Music here.
צדּיק כּתּמר יפרח (Tzadik Katamar Yifrakh) A righteous person like a date palm will flourish. . . . Music here.
הללוּ אל בּקדשוֹ (Hal'lu Eil B'kodsho) Praise God in His Sanctuary. . . . [The hu]man must enrich his (or her) spiritual self by recognizing God's greatness and kindness and by praising God. Music here.
אז ישיר (Az Yashir) Then chose to sing did Moses and the Children of Israel. . . . Upon seeing the miracle [of Am Israel safely crossing the Reed Sea] the people decided that they would sing. Music here.
נשמת כּל חי (Nishmat Kol Khai) The soul of every living being (shall bless Your Name Adonai. . .). This beautiful and moving prayer is an outpouring of praise and gratitude to God.It depicts our utter dependence on God's mercy. Music here.
אוֹר חדש (Or Khadash) A new light. . . . The new light is actually a return of the original brilliance of Creation. Music here.
אמת ויציב (Emet V'yatziv) True and certain. . . . The morning blessing of אֶמֶת וְיַצִּיב concentrates on God's kindness in having redeemed us from Egypt. . . . Music here.
אדני שׂפתי תּפתּח (Adonai S'fatai Tiftakh) O Lord, my lips open (that my mouth may declare Your praise). [We rise at this introduction and remain standing for the Shemoneh Esrei, the prayer which originally contained 18 blessings.] Music here.
ישׂמח מֹשה (Yismakh Moshe) Moses rejoiced (in the gift of his portion that a servant who is faithful did You call him). God chose him to receive the Tablets of the Ten Commandments. . . . Music here.
ושמרוּ (V'shamru) And Observe (shall the Children of Israel the Sabbath, to make the Sabbath for their generations a covenant for eternity. The Jew who honors the Sabbath without limitations is worthy of the sort of blessing promised to Jacob (Shabbos 118a); see Maharsha). Music here.
עם מקדּשי (Am M'kad'shei) The people that sanctifies (the seventh day, all of them will be satisfied and will be delighted from your goodness. . .). [See previous comment.] Music here.
אלֹהינוּ ואלֹהי אבוֹתינוּ (Eloheinu Veilohei Avoteinu) Our God and the God of our forbearers (may you be pleased with our rest. . . ). We are told that God coveted the Sabbath, a statement made about no other day (Abudraham). Music here.
יברכך יי (Y'varekh'kha Adonai) May Hashem bless you (and keep you. May Hashem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May Hashem turn His countenance to you and establish for you peace). From Numbers 6:24-26. Music here.
שׂים שלוֹם (Sim Shalom) Establish peace (goodness, and blessing, graciousness and kindness, and compassion upon us. . .). Music here.
עֹשׂה שלוֹם (Oseh Shalom) He Who makes peace (in His heights, may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel). Music here.
בּרוּך הבּא (Barukh Haba) Blessed is he who comes (in the name of Hashem, we bless you from the House of Hashem). Music here.
מי שבּרך לחוֹלים (Mi Sheberakh L'kholim) Congregational prayer for all who are ill. Music here.
יהי רצוֹן מלּפניך (Y'hi Ratzon Milfanekha) May it be Your will (nation will not lift up sword against nation, and they will not teach war anymore). Music here.
אשרי (Ashrei) Happy (are those who dwell in Your house, they will continually praise You.) From Psalms 144:15. Music here.
עץ חיים היא (Eitz Khayim Hi) A tree of life it is (for whose who grasp it, and its supporters are praiseworthy). From Psalms 3:18. Music here.
כּבוֹדוֹ מלא עוֹלם (K'vodo Malei Olam) His glory fills the world. Music here.
איו כּאלֹהינוּ (Ein Keiloheinu) There is none like our God. Music here.
אדוֹן עוֹלם (Adon Olam) Master of the universe (Who reigned before any form was created). The song emphasizes that God is timeless, infinite and omnipotent. The prayer concludes with the inspiring note . . . Hashem is with me, I shall not fear. Music here.
הבדלה למוֹצאי שבּת (Havdalah At the Sabbath Conclusion) The concept of Havdalah, literally distinction, is ordained by the Torah as part of the general commandment to "remember the Sabbath," the implication being that its differentiation from other days must be verbalized (Rambam). With the departure of the holy Sabbath and the onset of the workweek, it is essential to be conscious of the differences between sanctity and secularity. Music here, here, here, here, and here.
השבּת שלנוּ הסתיימה עכשיו (Our Sabbath Now Has Ended) Music here.
* The commentary on this page is excerpted from Rabbi Menachem Davis (ed.), Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd., 2002). Because we have used material from a traditional prayerbook, we have not modified the gender of the original material.