Posted by Avraham ben Yaakov
April 30, 2014

Prayers for All People

based on V'atem Eydai ("You are My Witnesses")
by Rabbi Joel Schwartz
Translated by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum

“For my House will be called the House of Prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 54:7)

Daily prayers

On rising in the morning:

I give thanks to You, living and enduring King, for you have mercifully returned my soul within me, great is Your faithfulness!

And I also give thanks to You for preparing what human beings need in their lives, and You have granted them wisdom, so that they may recognize Your great kindness and understand how to fulfill their purpose.

Sh-mah Yisra-el Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ehad

Hear Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Ve-yadahta hayom ve-hasheyvotah el levavekhah kee Adonai hoo Ha-Eloheem ba-shamayim mee-mah-al ve-al ha-aretz mee-tah-hat eyn od.

And you shall know today and put into your heart that Adonai is God and there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39)

[It is proper to recite the above two verses both in Hebrew and in translation in one's native language.]

And Adonai will be King over all the earth, on that day Adonai will be one and His name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

After the main daily meal:

Blessed are You Adonai, God, King of the Universe, who sustains the entire universe in His goodness, with graciousness, with kindness and compassion. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is for ever. And through His great goodness at all times, we never have lacked nor shall we ever lack sustenance for ever to eternity, because of His great name. For He is God Almighty, Who sustains and gives livelihood to all, bestows goodness on all and prepares sustenance for all the different creations which He has created. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sustains everything.

May He who makes peace in His high places make peace among us and throughout the world!

At night before going to sleep

Sh-mah Yisra-el Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ehad

Hear Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)

I give thanks to you Adonai for all Your kindnesses to us, and in particular for the kindness You have shown to me today. (Specify in your own words.)

I ask Your forgiveness if I have sinned or acted wrongfully, even where unintentional. And likewise, I forgive all who may have hurt me in any way, and I ask You that if I have hurt anybody else, may You put it into their hearts to forgive me too.

When beginning any activity:

“Let us do this in the Name of Adonai, and we shall succeed!”

Before taking any medical treatment:

May it be His will that this treatment will bring healing!

In case of illness:

Recite Psalm 103.

In times of trouble recite Psalm 20.