אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ זָכְרֵֽנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹב לְפָנֶֽיךָ וּפָקְדֵֽנוּ בִּפְקֻדַּת יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים מִשְּׁמֵי שְׁמֵי קֶֽדֶם וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ אַהֲבַת הַקַּדְמוֹנִים אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶֽיךָ אֶת הַבְּרִית וְאֶת הַחֶֽסֶד וְאֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִֽינוּ בְּהַר הַמֹּרִיָּה וְאֶת הָעֲקֵדָה שֶׁעָקַד אֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ: Our God and God of our fathers, remember us favorably before You and be mindful of us for deliverance and compassion from the eternal high heavens. Remember in our behalf, Adonoy, our God: the love of our ancestors, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yisrael, Your servants; the covenant, the kindness, and the oath which You swore to our father Avraham on Mount Moriah, and the binding of Yitzchak, his son on the altar, as it is written in Your Torah.37Bereishis 22:1-19:
וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵֽלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּֽאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּֽאמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי: וַיֹּֽאמֶר קַח־נָא אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַֽבְתָּ אֶת־יִצְחָק וְלֶךְ־לְךָ אֶל־אֶֽרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה וְהַעֲלֵֽהוּ שָׁם לְעֹלָה עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶֽיךָ: וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּֽקֶר וַיַּחֲבשׁ אֶת־חֲמֹרוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו אִתּוֹ וְאֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיְבַקַּע עֲצֵי עֹלָה וַיָּֽקָם וַיֵּֽלֶךְ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמַר־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִֽים: בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק: וַיֹּֽאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֶל־נְעָרָיו שְׁבוּ־לָכֶם פֹּה עִם־הַחֲמוֹר וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּֽעַר נֵלְכָה עַד־כֹּה וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנָשֽׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם: וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֲצֵי הָעֹלָה וַיָּֽשֶׂם עַל־יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶֽלֶת וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו: וַיֹּֽאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל־אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיֹּֽאמֶר אָבִי וַיֹּֽאמֶר הִנֶּֽנִּי בְנִי וַיֹּֽאמֶר הִנֵּה הָאֵשׁ וְהָעֵצִים וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָֽה: וַיֹּֽאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה־לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו: וַיָּבֹֽאוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָֽמַר־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיִּֽבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ וַיַּעֲרֹךְ אֶת־הָעֵצִים וַיַּעֲקֹד אֶת־יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיָּֽשֶׂם אֹתוֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ מִמַּֽעַל לָעֵצִים: וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יָדוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶֽלֶת לִשְׁחֹט אֶת־בְּנוֹ: וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וַיֹּֽאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּֽאמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי: וַיֹּֽאמֶר אַל־תִּשְׁלַח יָֽדְךָ אֶל־הַנַּֽעַר וְאַל־תַּֽעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה כִּי עַתָּה יָדַֽעְתִּי כִּי־יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים אַֽתָּה וְלֹא חָשַֽׂכְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי: וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה־אַֽיִל אַחַר נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו וַיֵּֽלֶךְ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הָאַֽיִל וַיַּעֲלֵֽהוּ לְעֹלָה תַּֽחַת בְּנוֹ: וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא יְהֹוָה יִרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר הַיּוֹם בְּהַר יְהֹוָה יֵרָאֶה: וַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֶל־אַבְרָהָם שֵׁנִית מִן־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם: וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי נִשְׁבַּֽעְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה כִּי יַֽעַן אֲשֶׁר עָשִֽׂיתָ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא חָשַֽׂכְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידֶֽךָ: כִּי־בָרֵךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְכַחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם וְיִרַשׁ זַרְעֲךָ אֵת שַֽׁעַר אֹיְבָיו: וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָֽרֶץ עֵֽקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַֽעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי: וַיָּֽשָׁב אַבְרָהָם אֶל־נְעָרָיו וַיָּקֻֽמוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ יַחְדָּו אֶל־בְּאֵר שָֽׁבַע וַיֵּֽשֶׁב אַבְרָהָם בִּבְאֵר שָֽׁבַע: After these events,38These events refer to the previous nine tests by which Hashem tested Avraham. This was to be the tenth and the most difficult test of all.—Ha’amek Dovor God tested Avraham and said to him, “Avraham!” and he [Avraham] said, “Here I am.” He said, “Please, take your son, your only one,39Yitzchak was Avraham’s only son by Sarah. whom you love—Yitzchak— and go to the land of Moriah, and bring him up as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will designate to you. Avraham awoke early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took his two attendants40Yishmael and Eliezer.—Rashi with him, and also his son Yitzchak. He split the wood of the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went to the place that God had designated to him. On the third day, Avraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from afar. Avraham said to his attendants, “You stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go to that place. We will prostrate ourselves [in worship] and return41Avraham prophesied that both of them would return.—Rashi to you.” And Avraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and placed it on his son Yitzchak. In his hand he took the fire and the knife,42The Hebrew word is “maacheles” (root: אכל = to eat) which means that it renders meat fit for eating through slaughtering the animal. Another interpretation is: his knife is called maacheles because we still enjoy (eat) the reward of Avraham’s virtue when he agreed to use it to slaughter his son.—Rashi and they both went together. Yitzchak spoke to Avraham his father and said, “Father,” and he said, “Here I am my son.” He said, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering?” Avraham said, “God Himself will show the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went together.43Although Yitzchak understood that he was going to be slaughtered, “They went together”— with like hearts.—Rashi They came to the place that God had designated to him, and Avraham built the44The Torah says that he built “the” altar not just “an” altar, to indicate that Avraham rebuilt the same altar which was originally built by Adam and used by Kayin, Hevel and by No’ach.—Targum Yonoson ben Uziel altar there, and arranged the wood, and bound his son Yitzchak, and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. Avraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. An angel of Adonoy called to him from heaven and said, “Avraham! Avraham!” and he said, “Here I am.” He [God] said, “Do not harm the boy, nor do anything to him; for now I know that you are one who fears God and have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.” Avraham raised his eyes and beheld a ram45Tradition tells us that this ram was prepared for this purpose from the time of creation. Rashi (from Maseches Avos 5:6) after it had been caught in the thicket by its horns; and Avraham went and took the ram, and brought it up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. Avraham called the name of that place, “Adonoy will see”;46The Midrash interprets the following: “Hashem will see the binding of Yitzchak and through its merit He will pardon Yisrael every year and rescue them from trouble. It will thus be said, “On this day,” by all generations that the ashes of Yitzchak are seen by Hashem and serve as our atonement.—Rashi as it is said [to] this day “On Adonoy’s mountain, He will be seen.” An angel of Adonoy called to Avraham a second time from heaven, and said, “‘I have sworn by Myself,’ declares Adonoy, ‘that because you performed this deed, and did not withhold your only son, I will greatly bless you and make your descendants as numerous47If these blessings were intended to increase the population of Avraham’s descendants, it was superfluous, since Hashem had previously blessed him for that purpose. Hashem here blessed the descendants of Avraham with the nobility of spirit and courage to fulfill the command to sanctify Hashem even when self-sacrifice is required. Only the nation of Yisrael, Avraham’s children, were commanded to fulfill this mitzvoh, because of the legacy we inherited from him.—Ha’amek Dovor. as the stars of the sky and like the sand on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the gate of their enemies. Through your children, will be blessed all the nations of the world, because you heeded My voice.’” Avraham returned to his attendants, and they rose and went together to Beer Sheva, and Avraham dwelt in Beer Sheva.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ שֶׁתִּזְכֹּר לָֽנוּ בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּבַשׁ אַבְרָהָם אָבִֽינוּ אֶת רַחֲמָיו מִבֶּן יְחִידוֹ וְרָצָה לִשְׁחֹט אוֹתוֹ כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנֶֽךָ כֵּן יִכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמֶֽיךָ אֶת כַּעַסְךָ מֵעָלֵֽינוּ וְיָגֹֽלּוּ רַחֲמֶֽיךָ עַל מִדּוֹתֶֽיךָ, וְתִכָּנֵס אִתָּֽנוּ לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת דִּינֶֽךָ וְתִתְנַהֵג עִמָּֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בְּמִדַּת הַחֶֽסֶד וּבְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים וּבְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל יָשׁוּב חֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ מֵעַמְּךָ וּמֵעִירְךָ וּמֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִנַּחֲלָתֶֽךָ וְקַיֶּם לָֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּֽנוּ עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה עַבְדֶּֽךָ, כָּאָמוּר וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת־בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָֽרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר: Master of the Universe! May it be Your will Adonoy, our God and God of our fathers, to recall for our sake the covenant of our fathers. Just as our father, Avraham suppressed his compassion for his only son and would have slaughtered him to do Your will, so may Your compassion suppress Your anger against us; and may Your compassion prevail over Your [other] attributes,48This refers to Hashem’s attribute of stern justice. to deal with us more leniently than the letter of Your law. Deal with us, Adonoy, our God, kindly and with compassion. In Your great goodness, turn Your fierce anger away from Your people, and from Your city, from Your land, and from Your territorial heritage. Fulfill for us, Adonoy, our God, the promise You made, through Your servant Moshe, as was said,49Vayikra 26:42. “I will recall My covenant with Yaakov, also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avraham will I recall; and I will recall the land.”
לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם יְרֵא שָׁמַֽיִם בַּסֵּֽתֶר וּבַגָּלוּי וּמוֹדֶה עַל הָאֱמֶת וְדוֹבֵר אֱמֶת בִּלְבָבוֹ וְיַשְׁכֵּם וְיֹאמַר: A person should always be in fear of God, privately as well as openly,50Some people conduct themselves in a God-fearing manner in the presence of others (in public), but in the privacy of their homes, do whatever they please. There are others who do just the opposite. In private they are governed by fear of Hashem, but in the presence of others they are too embarrassed or intimidated to be God-fearing. A Jew must always fear Hashem, in private as well as in public.—Si’ach Yitzchak [he should] admit the truth,51Acknowledging the truth is fundamental to serving Hashem, and to all human behavior. One who is concerned merely with “winning the argument” will go to any extreme to come out on top. This attitude caused the downfall of the 250 leaders who joined Korach, rather than acknowledge the truth of Moshe’ declaration (Bamidbar 16:2-35).—Si’ach Yitzchak and speak truth in his heart,52It is not sufficient to merely acknowledge the truth verbally but one must speak truth in his heart as well. Rashi on the Talmud (Maseches Makos 24a) cites the following incident as an example of how one should speak truth in his heart: A buyer once offered to purchase an article from Rav Safra while he was reciting the Shema. Because he could not indicate his acceptance, the anxious purchaser increased his offer. Rav Safra refused the increment because in his heart he had already accepted the original offer. and rise early and proclaim:
רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים לֹא עַל צִדְקוֹתֵֽינוּ אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים, מָה אָֽנוּ מֶה חַיֵּֽינוּ מֶה חַסְדֵּֽנוּ, מַה צִּדְקוֹתֵֽינוּ, מַה יְּשׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ, מַה כֹּחֵֽנוּ מַה גְּבוּרָתֵֽנוּ, מַה נֹּאמַר לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ הֲלֹא כָּל הַגִּבּוֹרִים כְּאַֽיִן לְפָנֶֽיךָ וְאַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם כְּלֹא הָיוּ וַחֲכָמִים כִּבְלִי מַדָּע וּנְבוֹנִים כִּבְלִי הַשְׂכֵּל כִּי רוֹב מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם תֹּֽהוּ וִימֵי חַיֵּיהֶם הֶֽבֶל לְפָנֶֽיךָ, וּמוֹתַר הָאָדָם מִן הַבְּהֵמָה אָֽיִן כִּי הַכֹּל הָֽבֶל: Master of all the worlds! Not on account of our righteousness do we offer our supplications before You, but on account of Your abundant mercy. What are we? What is our life? What are our acts of kindness? What is our righteousness? What is our deliverance?53Of ourselves or others. What is our strength? What is our might? What can we say before You, Adonoy, our God and God of our fathers? Are not all the mighty men as nothing before You? Famous men as though they had never been? The wise as if they were without knowledge? And men of understanding, as if they were devoid of intelligence? For most of their actions are a waste,54In terms of achievement.—Dover Sholom and the days of their life are trivial55In terms of time.—Dover Sholom in Your presence. The superiority of man over the beast is nil, for all is futile.
אֲבָל אֲנַֽחְנוּ עַמְּךָ בְּנֵי בְרִיתֶֽךָ, בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם אֹהַבְךָ שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לּוֹ בְּהַר הַמֹּרִיָּה, זֶֽרַע יִצְחָק יְחִידוֹ שֶׁנֶּעֱקַד עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ, עֲדַת יַעֲקֹב בִּנְךָ בְּכוֹרֶֽךָ שֶׁמֵּאַהֲבָתְךָ שֶׁאָהַֽבְתָּ אוֹתוֹ וּמִשִּׂמְחָתְךָ שֶׁשָּׂמַֽחְתָּ בּוֹ קָרָֽאתָ אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישֻׁרוּן: However, we are Your people, children of Your covenant, children of Avraham, Your beloved,56Others translate, “Children of Avraham who loved You.” See commentaries on Yeshaya 41:8. to whom You swore on Mount Moriah; the seed of Yitzchak, his only son, who was bound on top of the altar; the community of Yaakov, Your firstborn, [whom]—because of Your love for him and Your joyous delight in him— You named him Yisrael57The name Yisrael symbolizes Yaakov’s wandering through history proclaiming the sovereignty of Hashem, while the name Yeshurun indicates his task to fulfill Hashem’s will as revealed to him, and to devote his life to the execution of that which is right in the eyes of Hashem.—S.R. Hirsch and Yeshurun.58Devarim 33:5.
לְפִיכָךְ אֲנַֽחְנוּ חַיָּבִים לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ וּלְשַׁבֵּחֲךָ וּלְפָאֶרְךָ וּלְבָרֵךְ וּלְקַדֵּשׁ וְלִתֵּן שֶֽׁבַח וְהוֹדָיָה לִשְׁמֶֽךָ: אַשְׁרֵֽינוּ מַה טּוֹב חֶלְקֵֽנוּ וּמַה נָּעִים גּוֹרָלֵֽנוּ וּמַה יָּפָה יְרֻשָּׁתֵֽנוּ: חזן: אַשְׁרֵֽינוּ שֶׁאֲנַֽחְנוּ מַשְׁכִּימִים וּמַעֲרִיבִים עֶֽרֶב וָבֹֽקֶר וְאוֹמְרִים פַּעֲמַֽיִם בְּכָל יוֹם: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד: Therefore, we are obligated to thank You, to praise You, and to glorify You; to bless, to sanctify, and to offer praise and thanks to Your Name. We are fortunate! How good is our portion! How pleasant is our destiny! How beautiful is our heritage! We are fortunate that we rise early and stay late evening and morning, and say twice each day: “Hear Yisrael, Adonoy is our God, Adonoy is One.”
The following three lines are to be said silently
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: Blessed [is His] Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.
אַתָּה הוּא עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, אַתָּה הוּא מִשֶּׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, אַתָּה הוּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה הוּא לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, חזן: קַדֵּשׁ אֶת שִׁמְךָ עַל מַקְדִּישֵׁי שְׁמֶֽךָ וְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת שִׁמְךָ בְּעֹלָמֶֽךָ, וּבִישׁוּעָתְךָ תָּרוּם וְתַגְבִּֽיהַּ קַרְנֵֽנוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת שִׁמְךָ בָּרַבִּים: You existed before the world was created. You exist [in the same way] now that the world has been created. You exist in this world, and You will exist in the World-to-Come. Sanctify Your Name through those who sanctifyYour Name and sanctify Your Name in Your world. And through Your deliverance You will be exalted and You will uplift our power. Blessed are You, Adonoy, the Sanctifier of Your Name among the multitudes.
אַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ וּבִשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַֽיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים, אֱמֶת אַתָּה הוּא רִאשׁוֹן וְאַתָּה הוּא אַחֲרוֹן וּמִבַּלְעָדֶֽיךָ אֵין אֱלֹהִים: קַבֵּץ קֹוֶֽיךָ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָֽרֶץ, יַכִּֽירוּ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם כִּי אַתָּה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַדְּךָ לְכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָֽרֶץ. אַתָּה עָשִֽׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְאֶת הָאָֽרֶץ אֶת הַיָּם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּם וּמִי בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶֽיךָ בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים אוֹ בַתַּחְתּוֹנִים שֶׁיֹּאמַר לְךָ מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה. אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַֽיִם עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ חֶֽסֶד בַּעֲבוּר שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁנִּקְרָא עָלֵֽינוּ וְקַיֶּם־לָֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב, בָּעֵת הַהִיא אָבִיא אֶתְכֶם וּבָעֵת קַבְּצִי אֶתְכֶם כִּי־אֶתֵּן אֶתְכֶם לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה בְּכֹל עַמֵּי הָאָֽרֶץ בְּשׁוּבִי אֶת־שְׁבוּתֵיכֶם לְעֵינֵיכֶם אָמַר יְהֹוָה: You are Adonoy, our God, in heaven and on earth, and in the highest heavens. In truth, You are First,59We refer to Hashem as “First” to preclude the notion that anything existed before Him, but not to assert that He has a beginning.—Kuzari and You are Last.60Similarly, “Last” is used only to repudiate the idea that there is an end to His existence, not to fix a term for Him.—Kuzari And besides You there is no God. Gather those who hope in You from the four corners of the earth. Let all mankind recognize and know that You alone are the God61Elohim is a descriptive term which signifies Hashem as ruler or judge.—Kuzari over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. Who is there among all Your handiwork, among the heavenly or earthly creatures, that can say to You, “What are You doing?” Our father in Heaven, deal kindly with us for the sake of Your great Name which is called upon us62The Jewish people are called “Hashem’s People” and the name ישר-אל—officers of Hashem “Yisrael,” by which they are called, includes Hashem’s Name. and fulfill for us, Adonoy, our God that which is written: “‘At that time, I will bring you in and at that time, I will gather you: for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes,’ said Adonoy.”63Zephaniah 3:20.