1 Likro et Hahallel
2 La'asot Ma'akeh
3 Hanoon Hamarbeh L'sloah
4 Al Nitilat Yadayim
5 Melekh Ohev Tzedakah U'mishpat
6 Dayan Ha'emeth
7 Leshev Ba'Sukkah
8 Lasok b'divrei Torah
9 Kiddush levana
10 Asher yatzar
11 Borei Pri Ha'eitz
12 HaMotzi
13 SheHakol Nihiyeh B'dvaro
14 Shehechiyanu
15 Lihitattef Batzitzit
16 Likboah Mezuzah
17 L'hadlik ner shel hannukah
18 She'asah nisim lavoteinu byamim hahem bazman hazeh
19 HaGomel L'Chayavim tovot, shegimalani kol tov
20 Malbish Arumim
21 L'hadlik ner shel Shabbat
22 Borei pri Hagafen
23 Hazan et HaKol
24 L'havchin bein yom u'vein layla
25 lhanot bahem b'nai adam.
26 borei minei mizonot
27 HaMachazir neshamot lifgarim matim
28 l'hachniso b'brito shel avraham avinu
29 al mikra megillah
30 shomeah tephillah
31 noten hatorah
32 sh'asani b'tzalmo
33 al biur hametz
34 al sefirat ha'omer
35 et amo yisrael bashalom.
36 Haham HaRazim
37 haolam Borei Minei Bisamim
38 matir asurim
39 shepratani meansho shel zeh
40 zokeif kifufim
41 HaBocher  b'amo yisrael b'ahava
42 hamavdil bein kodesh lechol
43 borei meorei haeish
44 magen avraham
45 shover oyvim umachnea zaydim
46 Mikadeish HaShabbat
47 boreh pri ha'adamah
48 al ha'aretz v'al hamazon
49 michayei HaMaitim
50 yotzer ha'adam
51 boneh berachamav yerushalayim
52 she'asani kirtzono

Bracha #3

This blessing can be found on page 110 of Siddur Sim Shalom.

The week before the High Holidays is marked by the recitation of Selichot, prayers asking for forgiveness from God. The words Selichot and Selach lanu come from the same root meaning to forgive. We prepare for the coming season of repentance we begin on the Saturday night prior to the Rosh Hashanah by reciting prayers on that theme.

This bracha is taken from the Amidah that we say every day three times a day. In it we pray that God will forgive us. We acknowledge the mistakes we have made and we ask God to believe we will correct our ways. By saying this bracha we are also showing that repentance is a year round activity. If we think we will just show up on the High Holidays and be successful in turning our lives around, in just ten days, we are mistaken. So, reminds our liturgy reminds us that we must seek forgiveness every day and we must work on bettering ourselves in every season, not just the High Holiday season.

The Abudraham, David Abudraham as 14th century commentary of the prayer book makes the following comment on the word "Michilah," pardon: Pardon means not to even harbor resentment or ill-will. The Abudraham explains that the prayer asks God not to wipe the black board clean but to give us an entirely new black board. We all remember the black boards that have been erased leaving a residue of the marks that were once clearly, written. The Abudraham says forgiveness must be complete, a washed board so to speak.

If we are to ask God for forgiveness we must be willing to do the same ourselves. If we are to ask God to pardon us, we must be willing to pardon others. As we begin the season of the Yamom Noraim, the High Holidays, we must be open to forgiving those who have wronged us and we must be ready to pardon those who have hurt us. Only then will we be in a position, in the proper state of mind to ask God to do the same.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved. 

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