The following prayer is taken from the Zohar (Parshas Vayakhail), the basic text of Kabbalah which was written by the Mishnahic sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. The Zohar states, “When the Torah is taken out to be read before the congregation, the heavenly gates of mercy are opened, and the Divine love is aroused; therefore one should say the following prayer.
בְּרִיךְ שְׁמֵהּ Blessed is the Name
דְּמָרֵא עָלְמָא of the Master of the Universe.
בְּרִיךְ כִּתְרָךְ וְאַתְרָךְ. Blessed is Your crown and Your place.
יְהֵא רְעוּתָךְ May Your good will [be]
עִם עַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעָלָם. with Your people Yisrael forever.
וּפֻרְקַן יְמִינָךְ The redemption of Your right hand,
אַחֲזֵי לְעַמָּךְ בְּבֵית מַקְדְּשָׁךְ show Your people in Your Holy Temple.
וּלְאַמְטוּיֵי לָנָא מִטּוּב נְהוֹרָךְ Bestow on us Your excellent light,
וּלְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתָנָא בְּרַחֲמִין. and accept our prayer with compassion.
יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קֳדָמָךְ May it be Your will
דְּתוֹרִיךְ לָן חַיִּין בְּטִיבוּתָא. to prolong our lives in well-being.
וְלֶהֱוֵי אֲנָא פְקִידָא Let me be counted
בְּגוֹ צַדִּיקַיָּא. among the righteous,
לְמִרְחַם עָלַי so that You will have compassion on me
וּלְמִנְטַר יָתִי וְיַת כָּל דִּי לִי and protect me and all that is mine,
וְדִי לְעַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. and all that belongs to Your people, Yisrael.
אַנְתְּ הוּא You are He
זָן לְכֹלָּא וּמְפַרְנֵס לְכֹלָּא. Who nourishes all and maintains all;
אַנְתְּ הוּא שַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא. You are He Who rules over all;
אַנְתְּ הוּא דְּשַׁלִּיט עַל מַלְכַיָּא You are He Who rules over kings,
וּמַלְכוּתָא דִּילָךְ הִיא. and the kingdom is Yours.
אֲנָא עַבְדָּא I am a servant
דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא of the Holy One, blessed is He,
דְּסָגִידְנָא קַמֵּהּ I bow before Him
וּמִקַּמֵּהּ דִּיקַר אוֹרַיְתֵהּ and before the honor of His Torah
בְּכָל עִדָּן וְעִדָּן. at all times.
לָא עַל אֱנָשׁ רָחִיצְנָא. Not in man do I put my trust,
וְלָא עַל בַּר אֱלָהִין סָמִיכְנָא. nor do I rely on any angel;
אֶלָּא בֶּאֱלָהָא דִשְׁמַיָּא. but only in the God of heaven
דְּהוּא אֱלָהָא קְשׁוֹט. Who is the true God,
וְאוֹרַיְתֵהּ קְשׁוֹט. Whose Torah is truth,
וּנְבִיאוֹהִי קְשׁוֹט. Whose prophets are true,
וּמַסְגֵּא לְמֶעְבַּד and Who performs many deeds
טַבְוָן וּקְשׁוֹט. of goodness and truth.
בֵּהּ אֲנָא רָחִיץ In Him I put my trust
וְלִשְׁמֵהּ קַדִּישָׁא יַקִּירָא and to His holy, honored Name
אֲנָא אֵמַר תֻּשְׁבְּחָן. I utter praises.
יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קֳדָמָךְ May it be Your will
דְּתִפְתַּח לִבָּאִי בְּאוֹרַיְתָא. to open my heart to Torah,
וְתַשְׁלִים מִשְׁאֲלִין דְּלִבָּאִי. and to fulfill the desires of my heart
וְלִבָּא דְכָל עַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. and of the heart of Your people Yisrael
לְטַב וּלְחַיִּין וְלִשְׁלָם: for goodness, for life, and for peace.
The Chazzan says:
גַּדְּלוּ לַיהוָֹה אִתִּי Declare the greatness of Adonoy with me,
וּנְרוֹמְמָה שְׁמוֹ יַחְדָּו: and let us exalt His Name together.
The Congregation responds:
לְךָ יְהֹוָה הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַגְּבוּרָה Yours, Adonoy, is the greatness, the might,
וְהַתִּפְאֶֽרֶת וְהַנֵּֽצַח וְהַהוֹד the glory, the victory, and the beauty,
כִּי כֹל בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ for everything in heaven and on earth
לְךָ יְהֹוָה הַמַּמְלָכָה [is Yours]; Yours, Adonoy, is the kingdom,
וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא לְכֹל לְרֹאשׁ: and You are uplifted over all rulers.
רוֹמְמוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, our God
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו and prostrate yourselves at His footstool,
קָדוֹשׁ הוּא: Holy is He.
רוֹמְמוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, Our God
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and prostrate yourselves
לְהַר קָדְשׁוֹ at His holy mountain
כִּי קָדוֹשׁ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: for Adonoy, our God, is holy.
אָב הָרַחֲמִים הוּא יְרַחֵם May the Father of mercy have compassion
עַם עֲמוּסִים on the people borne by Him,
וְיִזְכֹּר and may He remember
בְּרִית אֵיתָנִים the covenant with the patriarchs;
וְיַצִּיל נַפְשׁוֹתֵֽינוּ may He rescue our souls
מִן הַשָּׁעוֹת הָרָעוֹת from evil times;
וְיִגְעַר בְּיֵֽצֶר הָרָע and may He rebuke the Evil Impulse
מִן הַנְּשׂוּאִים from those who have been carried by Him;
וְיָחוֹן אוֹתָֽנוּ and may He graciously grant us
לִפְלֵטַת עוֹלָמִים eternal survival;
וִימַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵֽינוּ and fulfill our requests
בְּמִדָּה טוֹבָה in beneficent measure,
יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים: [for] deliverance and compassion.
When the Torah is unrolled, the Reader says:
וְתִגָּלֶה וְתֵרָאֶה מַלְכוּתוֹ May His sovereignty be revealed and visible
עָלֵֽינוּ בִּזְמַן קָרוֹב to us, soon;
וְיָחוֹן פְּלֵטָתֵֽנוּ and may He be gracious to our remnant
וּפְלֵטַת עַמּוֹ and the remnant of His people,
בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל the House of Yisrael;
לְחֵן וּלְחֶֽסֶד [granting them] favor, kindness,
וּלְרַחֲמִים וּלְרָצוֹן compassion and goodwill,
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן. and let us say Amein.
הַכֹּל הָבוּ גֹֽדֶל לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ Let us all ascribe greatness to our God
וּתְנוּ כָבוֹד לַתּוֹרָה. and give honor to the Torah.
כֹּהֵן קְרָב. Let the Kohein come forward.
יַעֲמֹד (פב"פ) הַכֹּהֵן. Arise, son of , the Kohein,
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה Blessed is He Who gave the Torah
לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ: to His people, Yisrael, in His holiness.
The Congregation responds:
וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם And you who cling to Adonoy, Your God,
חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם: are all alive today.
(The following blessings are recited by every person called to the Torah.)
The Kohein walks up to the Torah, and says:
בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ: Blessed Adonoy, Who is blessed.
The Congregation responds and the Kohein repeats:
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ Blessed is Adonoy, Who is blessed,
לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: forever and ever.
The Kohein says:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe,
אֲשֶׁר בָּֽחַר בָּֽנוּ Who chose us
בָּֽנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים from among all the peoples
וְנָֽתַן לָֽנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ: and gave us His Torah.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה: Giver of the Torah.
After the Torah is read, the Kohein says:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe
אֲשֶׁר נָֽתַן לָֽנוּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת Who gave us the Torah of truth,
וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵֽנוּ: and implanted eternal life within us.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה: Giver of the Torah.
The above blessings are recited by every person called to the Torah.
הַֽאֲזִ֥ינוּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וַֽאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ אִמְרֵי־פִֽי: יַֽעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּשְׂעִירִ֣ם עֲלֵי־דֶ֔שֶׁא וְכִרְבִיבִ֖ים עֲלֵי־עֵֽשֶׂב: כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶקְרָ֑א הָב֥וּ גֹ֖דֶל לֵֽאלֹהֵֽינוּ: (לוי) הַצּוּר֙ תָּמִ֣ים פָּֽעֳל֔וֹ כִּ֥י כָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אֵ֤ל אֱמוּנָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין עָ֔וֶל צַדִּ֥יק וְיָשָׁ֖ר הֽוּא: שִׁחֵ֥ת ל֛וֹ לֹ֖א בָּנָ֣יו מוּמָ֑ם דּ֥וֹר עִקֵּ֖שׁ וּפְתַלְתֹּֽל: הַלְיְהֹוָה֙ תִּגְמְלוּ־זֹ֔את עַ֥ם נָבָ֖ל וְלֹ֣א חָכָ֑ם הֲלוֹא־הוּא֙ אָבִ֣יךָ קָּנֶ֔ךָ ה֥וּא עָֽשְׂךָ֖ וַֽיְכֹֽנְנֶֽךָ: (ישראל) זְכֹר֙ יְמ֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם בִּ֖ינוּ שְׁנ֣וֹת דֹּר־וָדֹ֑ר שְׁאַ֤ל אָבִ֨יךָ֙ וְיַגֵּ֔דְךָ זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ וְיֹ֥אמְרוּ לָֽךְ: בְּהַנְחֵ֤ל עֶלְיוֹן֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם בְּהַפְרִיד֖וֹ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם יַצֵּב֙ גְּבֻלֹ֣ת עַמִּ֔ים לְמִסְפַּ֖ר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: כִּ֛י חֵ֥לֶק יְהֹוָ֖ה עַמּ֑וֹ יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב חֶ֥בֶל נַֽחֲלָתֽוֹ: יִמְצָאֵ֨הוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִדְבָּ֔ר וּבְתֹ֖הוּ יְלֵ֣ל יְשִׁמֹ֑ן יְסֹֽבְבֶ֨נְהוּ֙ יְב֣וֹנְנֵ֔הוּ יִצְּרֶ֖נְהוּ כְּאִישׁ֥וֹן עֵינֽוֹ: כְּנֶ֨שֶׁר֙ יָעִ֣יר קִנּ֔וֹ עַל־גּֽוֹזָלָ֖יו יְרַחֵ֑ף יִפְרֹ֤שׂ כְּנָפָיו֙ יִקָּחֵ֔הוּ יִשָּׂאֵ֖הוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתֽוֹ: יְהֹוָ֖ה בָּדָ֣ד יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר:
When the reading of the Torah is concluded, the Torah is raised so that the congregation can see the script, and the congregation exclaims:
וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂם משֶׁה This is the Torah which Moshe placed
לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל before the children of Yisrael.
עַל פִּי יְהֹוָה בְּיַד משֶׁה: at Adonoy’s command by the hand of Moshe.
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא It is a tree of life
לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ to those who grasp to it,
וְתוֹמְכֶֽיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר: and those who support it are fortunate.
דְּרָכֶֽיהָ דַּרְכֵי נֹֽעַם Its ways are ways of pleasantness,
וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ שָׁלוֹם: and all its paths are peace.
אֹֽרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ Long life is at its right,
בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עֽשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד: at its left, riches and honor.
יְהֹוָה חָפֵץ Adonoy desired,
לְמַֽעַן צִדְקוֹ for the sake of His righteousness,
יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר: to make the Torah great and to glorify it.
The Chazzan takes the Torah and says:
חזן: יְהַלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁם יְהֹוָה They will praise the Name of Adonoy
כִּי־נִשְׂגָּב שְׁמוֹ לְבַדּוֹ: for His Name alone is exalted.
The congregation then says:
הוֹדוֹ עַל־אֶֽרֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם: His majesty is over the earth and the skies.
וַיָּֽרֶם קֶֽרֶן לְעַמּוֹ He will raise the might of His people,
תְּהִלָּה לְכָל־חֲסִידָיו [which is] praise for all His pious ones,
לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל for the Children of Yisrael,
עַם קְרֹבוֹ the people near to Him.
הַלְלוּיָהּ: Praise God.
לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר A Psalm of Dovid:
לַיהֹוָה הָאָֽרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ the earth is Adonoy’s and the fullness thereof,
תֵּבֵל וְיֽשְׁבֵי בָהּ: the inhabited world and those who dwell in it.
כִּי־הוּא עַל־יַמִּים יְסָדָהּ For He founded it upon the seas,
וְעַל־נְהָרוֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ: and established it upon rivers.
מִי־יַעֲלֶה בְהַר־יְהֹוָה Who may ascend the mountain of Adonoy,
וּמִי יָקוּם and who may stand
בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ: in the place of His holiness?
נְקִי כַפַּֽיִם וּבַר־לֵבָב The clean of hands and the pure of heart,
אֲשֶׁר לֹא־נָשָׂא לַשָּׁוְא נַפְשִׁי who has not borne My soul in vain,
וְלֹא נִשְׁבַּע לְמִרְמָה: and has not sworn deceitfully.
יִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה He will bear Adonoy’s blessing
וּצְדָקָה and righteousness
מֵאֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעוֹ: from the God of his deliverance.
זֶה דּוֹר דּוֹרְשָׁיו This is the generation of those who seek Him,
מְבַקְשֵׁי פָנֶֽיךָ the seekers of Your Presence,
יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: [God of] Yaakov, selah.
שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם Lift up your heads, gates,
וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ and be uplifted
פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם [you] entranceways to eternity,
וְיָבוֹא מֶֽלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: so that the King of Glory may enter.
מִי זֶה מֶֽלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד Who is this King of Glory?
יְהֹוָה עִזּוּז וְגִבּוֹר Adonoy, strong and mighty;
יְהֹוָה גִּבּוֹר מִלְחָמָה: Adonoy, the Mighty One in battle.
שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם Lift up your heads, gates,
וּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם and lift up, entranceways to eternity,
וְיָבוֹא מֶֽלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד: so that the King of Glory may enter.
מִי הוּא זֶה מֶֽלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד Who is He, this King of Glory?
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת Adonoy Tzevaos,
הוּא מֶֽלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד סֶֽלָה: He is the King of Glory, selah.
As the Torah is returned to the Ark the following is said:
וּבְנֻחֹה יֹאמַר And when it rested, he would say:
שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה Return, Adonoy,
רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: to the myriads and thousands of Yisrael.
קוּמָה יְהֹוָה לִמְנוּחָתֶֽךָ Arise, Adonoy unto Your resting place,
אַתָּה וַאֲרוֹן עֻזֶּֽךָ: You and the Ark of Your strength.
כֹּהֲנֶֽיךָ Let Your priests
יִלְבְּשׁוּ צֶֽדֶק clothe themselves in righteousness,
וַחֲסִידֶֽיךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ: and let Your devoted ones sing in joy.
בַּעֲבוּר דָּוִד עַבְדֶּֽךָ For the sake of Dovid, Your servant,
אַל תָּשֵׁב פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ: do not reject Your anointed.
כִּי לֶֽקַח טוֹב נָתַֽתִּי לָכֶם For I have given you good instruction,
תּוֹרָתִי אַל תַּעֲזֹֽבוּ: do not forsake My Torah.
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ It is a tree of life to those who grasp it,
וְתוֹמְכֶֽיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר: and those who support it are fortunate.
דְּרָכֶֽיהָ דַּרְכֵי נֹֽעַם Its ways are ways of pleasantness
וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ שָׁלוֹם: and all its paths are peace.
הֲשִׁיבֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶֽיךָ Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,
וְנָשֽׁוּבָה and we shall return;
חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵֽינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם: renew our days as of old.
The Chazzan recites the Half-Kaddish:
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא Exalted and sanctified be His great Name
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא in the world which He created
כִרְעוּתֵהּ according to His will;
וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ and may He rule His Kingdom
בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן in your lifetime and in your days,
וּבְחַיֵּי and in the lifetime
דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, of the entire House of Yisrael,
בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב speedily and in the near future—
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: and say Amein.
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ May His great Name be blessed
לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא forever and for all eternity.
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח Blessed and praised,
וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא glorified, and exalted and uplifted,
וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל honored and elevated and extolled
שְׁמֵהּ דְקוּדְשָׁא, בְּרִיךְ הוּא be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;
לְעֵֽלָּא וּלְעֵֽלָּא far above
מִכָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, all the blessings and hymns,
תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, praises and consolations
דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, which we utter in the world—
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: and say Amein.