Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz Linear, The Morning Prayers, Yishtabach

Rabbeinu Alfasi (Maseches Berachos 32) refers to Baruch She'amar as the opening blessing of the Pesukei Dezimrah, and Yishtabach as the concluding blessing.

יִשְׁתַּבַּח שִׁמְךָ לָעַד מַלְכֵּֽנוּ Praised be Your Name forever, our King,

הָאֵל הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ Almighty the great and holy King

בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ, in heaven and on earth.

כִּי לְךָ נָאֶה For to You it is fitting [to offer]

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Adonoy, our God,

וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ and God of our fathers,

שִׁיר וּשְׁבָחָה הַלֵּל וְזִמְרָה song and praise, glorification and hymns,

עֹז וּמֶמְשָׁלָה [to proclaim your] strength and dominion,

נֶֽצַח גְּדֻלָּה וּגְבוּרָה victory, grandeur, and might,

תְּהִלָּה וְתִפְאֶֽרֶת praise and glory,

קְדֻשָּׁה וּמַלְכוּת, holiness and sovereignty,

חזן: בְּרָכוֹת וְהוֹדָאוֹת blessings and thanksgivings,

מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם: from now, forever.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,

אֵל Almighty,

מֶֽלֶךְ גָּדוֹל בַּתִּשְׁבָּחוֹת King [Who is] great in [our] praise

אֵל Almighty,

הַהוֹדָאוֹת of [to Whom we offer our] thanksgiving,

אֲדוֹן הַנִּפְלָאוֹת Master of [Whom we praise for His] wonders,

הַבּוֹחֵר בְּשִׁירֵי זִמְרָה the Selector of song-hymns,

מֶֽלֶךְ King,

אֵל Almighty,

חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים: Life of [all] the worlds.

The following Psalm (130) is said responsively:

In this Psalm, the Jewish soul sings of the Jewish spirit ascending from the depths of the deepest misery of all, the burden of sin and guilt.

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת A Song of Ascents.

מִמַּעֲמַקִּים Out of the depths

קְרָאתִֽיךָ יְהֹוָה: I have called to You, Adonoy.

אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה בְקוֹלִי My Master, hear my voice;

תִּהְיֶֽינָה אָזְנֶֽיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֹת let Your ears be attentive

לְקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנָי: to the voice of my supplications.

אִם־עֲו‍ֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר־יָהּ If You God should take account of iniquities,

אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד: my Master, who could survive?

כִּי־עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה For with You is forgiveness,

לְמַֽעַן תִּוָּרֵא: in order that You be feared.

קִוִּֽיתִי יְהֹוָה קִוְּתָה נַפְשִׁי I hope for Adonoy, my soul hopes;

וְלִדְבָרוֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי: and for His word, I wait.

נַפְשִׁי לַאדֹנָי My soul [waits] for my Master

מִשֹּׁמְרִים more than the watchman [waits]

לַבֹּֽקֶר for the morning,

שֹׁמְרִים [more than] the watchman [waits]

לַבֹּֽקֶר: for the morning.

יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָה Wait, Yisrael, upon Adonoy,

כִּי־עִם־יְהֹוָה הַחֶֽסֶד for with Adonoy there is loving-kindness,

וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת: and with Him there is much redemption.

וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל And He will redeem Yisrael

מִכֹּל עֲו‍ֹנוֹתָיו: from all its iniquities.

The Half-Kaddish is recited by the Chazzan

Here, as elsewhere in the Liturgy, the Half-Kaddish marks the end of a distinct section of the prayers, in this case, the Pesukei Dezimrah.

It is called the Half-Kaddish, the final three verses of the complete Kaddish having been omitted.

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, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: which we utter in the world—and say Amein.

It has become a universally accepted custom to recite Barechu before proceeding to the blessings of Shema. Barechu, like Kaddish and Kedushah, cannot be recited unless a quorum—a minyan of ten adult males—is present. Barechu is also said by one who is called upon to read from the Torah.

The practice of saying Barechu is mentioned numerous times in the Talmud. It is even cited in the Mishnah (Maseches Berachos 49b) in the names of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael.

The Chazzan says:

בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ: Bless Adonoy Who is blessed.

The congregation responds and the Chazzan repeats:

בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ Blessed is Adonoy, Who is blessed

לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: forever and ever.

The two blessings יוֹצֵר אוֹר “Former of light” and אַהֲבָה רַבָּה “[With] unbounded love,” are referred to as the blessings preceding Shema (Maseches Berachos 11a). According to Rambam they were formulated by Ezra and his Court (Laws of Shema 1:7).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe,

הַפּוֹתֵחַ לָנוּ שַׁעֲרֵי רַחֲמִים Who opens for us the gates of mercy

וּמֵאִיר עֵינֵי and enlightens the eyes

הַמְחַכִּים לִסְלִיחָתוֹ of those who yearn for His pardon.

יוֹצֵר אוֹר Former¹Forming, יוצֵר, is the act of refining or modifying an original substance, whereas, creating, בּורֵא, refers to creating the original substance from nothing. For example, when one shapes a wooden table, to make it round, he “forms” the wood, the original substance which was “created.” Similarly, Hashem “forms the light” which is His act of modifying or limiting the darkness He created. —Siddur HaGra of light

וּבוֹרֵא חֽשֶׁךְ Creator of darkness,

עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם Maker²Making, עושֶׂה, is the act of completion, such as when one completes a table by painting it. Similarly, Hashem’s finishing touch of creation is “making peace,” the vessel that holds it all together, as stated in the Mishnah, “Hashem found no vessel to contain blessing other than peace.” לֹא מָצָא הקב"ה כְּלִי מַחְזִיק בְּרָכָה אֶלָא הַשָּׁלום— Siddur HaGra of peace

וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל: Creator³The verse in Yeshaya (45:7) on which this blessing is based concludes with the words, “and creates evil.” In His original creation Hashem created the potential for evil, which He constantly limits and controls as the Former and Maker.—Siddur HaGra of all things.

Chazzan and congregation:

When Yom Kippur occurs on Shabbos, continue on page 000.

הַמֵּאִיר לָאָֽרֶץ He illuminates the earth

וְלַדָּרִים עָלֶֽיהָ [and provides light] for those who dwell on it

בְּרַחֲמִים, with compassion;⁴Hashem causes light to appear in stages, gradually. This is an act of great compassion for if He made it appear all at once, we would be overwhelmed and blinded by its brightness.— Avudraham

וּבְטוּבוֹ and in His goodness

מְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד renews every day, continually,⁵Hashem is not a far-off observer of a mechanism which He created and ignores, but a Living Ruler, Who guides the universe and continually maintains it.

מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית: the work of creation.

מָה־רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ יְהֹוָה, How many are Your works, Adonoy;

כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִֽׂיתָ, You made them all with wisdom,

מָלְאָה הָאָֽרֶץ קִנְיָנֶֽךָ: the earth is full of Your possessions.⁶Lit., Your acquisitions: See Bereishis 14:22.

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַמְּרוֹמָם לְבַדּוֹ מֵאָז, The King Who alone is exalted from then,⁷I.e., before Creation. Hashem was King before all creatures were created.

הַמְּשֻׁבָּח וְהַמְּפֹאָר Who is praised and glorified

וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא and uplifted,

מִימוֹת עוֹלָם: from the beginning of time.⁸I.e., after Creation. Ever since Creation, Hashem has been praised and glorified by His creatures.

אֱלֹהֵי עוֹלָם Eternal God,

בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים in Your abundant mercy,

רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ have compassion on us,

אֲדוֹן עֻזֵּֽנוּ Master, Who is our strength,

צוּר מִשְׂגַּבֵּֽנוּ Rock, Who is our stronghold

מָגֵן יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ Shield, of our deliverance,

מִשְׂגָּב בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ: [Be] a stronghold for us.

אֵל בָּרוּךְ גְּדוֹל דֵּעָה, The blessed Almighty, great in knowledge,

הֵכִין וּפָעַל זָהֳרֵי חַמָּה, prepared and made the rays of the sun.

טוֹב יָצַר [The] Good [One] created [everything]

כָּבוֹד לִשְׁמוֹ, for the glory of His Name:⁹See Yeshaya 43:7: “All that is called by My Name, I have created for My glory.” —Avudraham

מְאוֹרוֹת נָתַן the luminaries He set

סְבִיבוֹת עֻזּוֹ, around His strength (His throne).

פִּנּוֹת צְבָאָיו קְדוֹשִׁים The chiefs of His hosts are holy beings,¹⁰“Holy beings” are angels. In Hebrew the word for angels means messenger, and includes all the instruments of Divine purpose, whether in human form, or in the forces of nature.—Kuzari

רוֹמְמֵי שַׁדַּי, the exalters of Shadai¹¹A name of Hashem (Bereishis 17:1; 35:11; 43:14 etc.) which refers to His setting boundaries and limits throughout creation.

תָּמִיד מְסַפְּרִים continually recount

כְּבוֹד אֵל the glory of the Almighty¹²The Heavenly throne is thus conceived of as surrounded by angels and all the adoring heavenly bodies.—See Yeshaya 6:12

וּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ: and His holiness.

תִּתְבָּרֵךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Be Blessed, Adonoy, our God,

עַל שֶֽׁבַח מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶֽיךָ for the excellent works of Your hands,

וְעַל מְאֽוֹרֵי אוֹר and for the light-giving luminaries

שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ which You made;

יְפָאֲרֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: they will glorify You forever.¹³Those of His creatures capable of praising Him do so. The rest are evidence of His astonishing wisdom and arouse the others to praise Him.

Continue “Be blessed” on page 000.

When Yom Kippur occurs on Shabbos, begin here:

הַכֹּל יוֹדֽוּךָ. וְהַכֹּל יְשַׁבְּחֽוּךָ. All will thank You, all will praise You,

וְהַכֹּל יֹאמְרוּ and all will proclaim:

אֵין־קָדוֹשׁ כַּיהֹוָה. “There is none holy like Adonoy.”

הַכֹּל יְרוֹמְמֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה All will exalt You, forever,

יוֹצֵר הַכֹּל. Creator of all.

הָאֵל הַפּוֹתֵֽחַ בְּכָל יוֹם The Almighty Who opens each day

דַּלְתוֹת שַׁעֲרֵי מִזְרָח. the doors of the gates¹⁴This is an allusion to the sun, rising in the east. Hashem opens the doors each day to permit the sun to rise. Every sunrise is thus an act of Hashem. of the east

וּבוֹקֵֽעַ חַלּוֹנֵי רָקִֽיעַ. and pierces the windows of the firmament;

מוֹצִיא חַמָּה מִמְּקוֹמָהּ Who brings the sun out of its place

וּלְבָנָה מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתָּהּ. and the moon from its dwelling-place;

וּמֵאִיר לְעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ and illuminates the entire world

וּלְיוֹשְׁבָיו and to its inhabitants,

שֶׁבָּרָא whom He created

בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים. with [His] attribute of mercy.¹⁵Hashem saw that the world could not exist if He were to govern it on the basis of His attribute of pure justice. He therefore joined His attribute of compassion with that of justice and dispenses both justice and mercy as He sees fit.—Avudraham

הַמֵּאִיר לָאָֽרֶץ He illuminates the earth

וְלַדָּרִים עָלֶֽיהָ and those who dwell on it

בְּרַחֲמִים. with compassion,

וּבְטוּבוֹ and in His goodness

מְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל־יוֹם תָּמִיד renews every day, continually,

מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. the work of creation.

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַמְּרוֹמָם לְבַדּוֹ מֵאָז. The King Who alone is exalted from then;¹⁶From before Creation.

הַמְּשֻׁבָּח וְהַמְּפוֹאָר וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא Who is praised, glorified, and uplifted

מִימוֹת עוֹלָם. from the beginning of time.¹⁷Ever since Creation He has been praised and glorified by all created beings.

אֱלֹהֵי עוֹלָם Eternal God—

בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים in Your abundant mercy,

רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ. have compassion on us,

אֲדוֹן עֻזֵּֽנוּ. Master Who is our strength,

צוּר מִשְׂגַּבֵּֽנוּ. Rock Who is our stronghold,

מָגֵן יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ. Shield of our deliverance,

מִשְׂגָּב בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ. [Be] a stronghold for us.

אֵין כְּעֶרְכֶּֽךָ There is none to be compared to You,

וְאֵין זוּלָתֶֽךָ. and there is none other than You,

אֶֽפֶס בִּלְתֶּֽךָ nothing exists without You

וּמִי דוֹמֶה לָךְ. and who is like You?

חזן: אֵין כְּעֶרְכְּךָ There is none to be compared to You,

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Adonoy, our God,¹⁸In this world where there are so many false gods, we proclaim that he is Adonoy our God.—Avudraham

בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. in this world;

וְאֵין זוּלָתְךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ and there is none beside You, our King¹⁹In the World to Come, Hashem’s sovereignty will be clearly revealed so even now, we proclaim that He is our King.

לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. in the life of the World to Come;

אֶֽפֶס בִּלְתְּךָ Nothing exists without You

גּוֹאֲלֵֽנוּ our Redeemer²⁰Ultimate total redemption will come in the Messianic era, and thus we say that Hashem is our Redeemer.—Avudraham

לִימוֹת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ. in the days of the Messiah;

וְאֵין דוֹמֶה לְךָ and there will be none like You,

מוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ our Deliverer,²¹The resurrection of the dead is the culmination of deliverance and we say that He is our Deliverer.—Avudraham

לִתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים: at the time of the resurrection of the dead.