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