Ana bekoach, g’dulat yemincha, tatir tz’rura; Kabel rinat amcha sagveinu, tahareinu nora; Na gibor dorshei yichudcha, k’vavat shamrem; Barchem, taharem, rachamei tzidkatcha, Tamid gamlem; Chasin kadosh, Berov tuvcha nahel adatecha; Yachid ge’eh le’amcha p’neh, zochrei k’dushatecha; Shavateinu kabel ushma tza’akateinu, yode’a ta’alumot; (Rabbi Nehonia, 1st century CE)

Ana-BeKoach Lyrics in English Translation:

Please, by the great power of thy right hand, O set the captive free; Revered G-d, accept thy people’s prayer; strengthen us, cleanse us; Almighty G-d, guard us as the apple of the eye of those who seek thee; Bless them, cleanse them, pity them; ever grant them thy truth; Mighty, holy G-d, in thy abundant grace, guide thy people; Accept our prayer, hear our cry, thou who knowest secret thoughts; Blessed be the name of his glorious majesty forever and ever;

(Based on original translation by Philip (Paltiel) Birnbaum, Ha-Siddur Ha-Shalem, New York: Hebrew Publishing Co., 1949, p. 33-4)

היום הרת עולםHayom Harat Olam

,היום יעמיד במשפט, היום הרת עולםHayom harat olam, hayom ya’amid bamishpatToday the world is born; today shall stand before You

.ם כעבדיםאם כבנים א , כל יצורי עולמיםKol y’tzurey olamim, im k’vanim im ka’avadim.All the beings of the cosmos, whether as Your children or as Your servants.

:רחמנו כרחמת אם על בנים, אם כבניםIm k’vanim, rachameynu k’rachemet eym al banim.If as Your children, show them mercy, like a mother toward her children.

,ואם כעבדים עינינו לך תלויותV’im ka’avadim eyneynu l’cha t’luyot,If as Your servants, then our eyes are turned toward You in great anticipation,

.איום קדוש, משפטנועד שתחננו ותוציא כאורAd shet’choneynu v’totzi cha’or mishpateynu ayom kadosh.That You may be gracious, rendering judgment for good, on our behalf, as clear as light of day.

Listening to the the sound of the shofar It has been said that it should sound like the crying of a broken heart or the force to break the walls of

a fortress city.

Consider this…

What does your heart break for? What do you cry about?

What does the sound need to evoke in you? How can it light up your T’Shuvah?

Which walls need to get broken down by the sound of the shofar?