Traditional Prayer Before Torah Study
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לַעַסוֹק בְּדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה
Baruḥ Atah Adonai, Elohaynu Meleḥ Ha’olam,
Asher Kideshanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu La’asok B’divray Torah.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Spirit of the universe,
Who makes us holy with Your mitzvot and
gives us the mitzvah of busy-ing with matters of Torah.
Additional Prayer Before Study
by Rabbi Pamela Frydman
נְבָרֵךְ אֶת עֵין הָחַיִים, נִשְׁמָתֵינוּ, רוּחַ חֵי הָעוּלָמִים
שֶׁקִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶךָ, וְקֵרָבְתָנוּ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְיִרְאָה
דֶרֶךְ עִיוּן וְלִמוּד תּוּרָה
N’varayḥ et Ayn haḥayim, nishmataynu, Ru’aḥ Ḥay ha’olamim, shekideshanu b’mitzvoteḥa, v’kyravtanu b’ahavah uv’yirah, dereḥ iyun v’limud Torah.
We bless the no-thing-ness of life, our breath, spirit of the universe,
Who makes us holy with your mitzvot and brings us closer with love and awe,
Through meditation and study of torah.
Prayer To Be Recited After Study
by Rabbi Pamela Frydman
כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְבָרְכִים אֶת עֵין הָחַיִים, כֵּן מְבוֹרָכִים אֲנַחְנוּ
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁחַיֵנוּ יִהְיוּ מְלֵאִים, שֶׁכַוָונוֹתֵינוּ יִהיוּ טְהוֹרִים
שֶׁמָחֶשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ וּמָעֲשֵׂנוּ יִגְרְמוּ לְשִׁינוּיִים חִיוּבִיִים
וּמַשְׁמָעוּתִיִים בְּעוֹלָמֵינוּ
Kemo shemevarḥim et ayn haḥayim, kayn mevoraḥim anaḥnu.
yehi ratzon sheḥayaynu yih’yu m’lay’im,
sheḥavanotaynu yih’yu tehorim,
shemaḥ’shevotaynu uma’asaynu
yigremu leshinu’yim ḥiyuvi’im umashma’uti’im be’olamaynu.
As we bless the source of life, so we are blessed.
May our lives be full, may our intentions be pure, may our thoughts and actions
make a positive and meaningful difference in the world around us.