"If the righteous turn away from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and do according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? all his righteousness that he hath done, shall not be mentioned: but in his transgression that he hath committed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."
Eze 18
Sabbath Keepers Fellowship & Prison Ministry
Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
The Selichoth Prayers
The Selichoth Prayers – Standard Edition, can be found at:
https://sabbathkeepersfellowsh....ip.org/articles-book
Yom Chamishy – Fifth Day of the Week
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Blessed be He who spoke and the world was;
Blessed be He – and blessed be His Name.
Tehillah 85
YHWH, You showed grace to Your land; You restored the captivity of Ya’akov.
You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin.
Selah.
You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger.
Restore us, O Elohym of our salvation, and cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, YHWH, and grant us Your salvation.
I will hear what Hael YHWH will say; for He will speak peace to His people, to His righteous ones; but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that esteem may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
Indeed, YHWH will give what is excellent, and our land will yield its produce.
Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.
Tehillah 27
YHWH is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
YHWH is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.
One thing I have asked from YHWH, that I shall seek:
that I may dwell in the house of YHWH all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of YHWH, and to meditate in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to YHWH.
Hear, YHWH, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, YHWH, I shall seek.”
Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O Elohym of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but YHWH will take me up.
Teach me Your way, YHWH, and lead me in a level path because of my foes.
Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the excellence of YHWH in the land of the living.
Wait for YHWH; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for YHWH.
Ben Adam
Son of man!
Why do you slumber?
Arise and call out in supplication; pour out words of prayer; seek forgiveness from the Master of masters.
Wash and purify yourself; do not delay before the days depart, and hurriedly run for help before He who dwells on high.
From transgression and also evil flee, and be dreadful of tragedy.
O, please pay heed to those who know Your name – the loyal ones of Yisrael.
For Yours, Adonay, is righteousness, and ours is nothing but shame.
Stand up like a man and be courageous, to confess your sins.
Seek El Almighty in earnest to atone for your sins, for never are hidden secrets from Him.
And every utterance that is spoken is read before Him.
May He who is merciful have mercy upon us, as a father has mercy for his children.
For Yours Adonay is righteousness and ours is nothing but shame.
Vidduy
I make my sin known to You and do not conceal my iniquity; for I said that it is proper that I confess my transgressions to YHWH, and as a result, You have forgiven the iniquity of my sins.
And it is stated:
He who conceals his transgressions will not succeed, but he, who admits and forsakes them, shall be dealt with mercifully.
Please, YHWH, our Elohym, Elohym of our forefathers, let our prayer come before You, and do not hide Yourself from our supplication – for we are not so insolent nor so obstinate to say before You, YHWH, our Elohym, Elohym of our forefathers, “we are righteous and have not sinned,” rather, truly we have sinned – we as well as our forefathers and our household members:
(With each of the following statements, bring your right fist to your chest, over your heart.)
We have been guilty.
We have betrayed.
We have robbed.
We have spoken gossip and slander.
We have caused iniquity.
We have caused wickedness.
We have acted wantonly.
We have extorted.
We have accused falsely.
We have given bad advice.
We have lied.
We have acted frivolously.
We have rebelled.
We have infuriated.
We have committed adultery.
We have been deviant.
We have committed iniquity.
We have transgressed willfully.
We have oppressed.
We have been obstinate.
We have been wicked.
We have corrupted ourselves and others.
We have committed abominations.
We have strayed and caused others to stray, and we have veered from Your excellent commandments and laws, but it has not benefited us.
But You are righteous regarding all that has befallen us, for You have acted with truth, and it is we who have caused wickedness.
Lemitvaddeh Hattotav
He who confesses his sins and acknowledges his many transgressions, he whose years are spent in futility and whose days terminate in anguish; he cries out from his travails and from amidst the hostilities of his adversaries.
Let us fall, please, at the hand of YHWH, for His mercies are abundant.
From my earliest age, I have drawn upon myself with gossamer ropes – my sin; therefore, have I repented and regretted, for I know not the day of my judgment, and I have sacrificed my flesh, and I have poured as a libation the tears of my eye – perhaps my Maker will have mercy, for His compassion has not ceased.
Let us fall, please, at the hand of YHWH, for His mercies are abundant.
The breasts of my joy have withered, and I have nursed the poison of snakes; the tears of my eyes have worn down – from my intense pain – rocks.
And the mercies of the Father have been distanced, and He has not taken pity upon His children, and toward me have been restrained His yearning and His compassion.
Let us fall, please, at the hand of YHWH, for His mercies are abundant.
He brought me into a lion’s pit and bequeathed to me His wrath.
I was forgotten in a jailhouse, and I have been mired in the sea of His fury.
Every day I descended remarkably after He did prolong His anger toward me.
Has Elohym forgotten to be gracious; has He closed off His mercy in anger?
Let us fall, please, at the hand of YHWH, for His mercies are abundant.
Eileyka YHWH
Toward You, YHWH, I have raised up my eyes; hear the sound of my pleas as befits Your great kindness.
I have trusted in Your Name and have spread out my palms; I have taken words and have come unto You.
My sorrows have been overpowering and my groans have increased, for all of my sins have You set before You.
My delicate soul dissipates from grief; release from anxiety the soul of Your servant.
Remove my sin, O Elohym of my salvation; also my tears may You place in Your flask.
In times of anger, Your mercy may You recall and reconsider, and gladden and console the soul of Your servant.
Our Father, our King, You are our Father!
Our Father, our King, we have no King but You!
Our Father, our King, have mercy on us!
Our Father, our King, be gracious to us and answer us, although we do not possess excellent deeds.
Deal with us with righteousness and kindness for the sake of Your great Name, and save us.
And we know not what more to do, but our eyes look to You.
Recall Your mercies and kindnesses, YHWH, for they have existed from ever.
May Your kindness be upon us, YHWH, as we have hoped in You.
Qaddish
Exalted and sanctified be His great Name in the world that He created according to His will.
May His kingdom reign, and may He cause His redemption to sprout, and may He hasten the coming of His Mashiach in your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the entire house of Yisrael, speedily and very soon; and let us say:
Amein!
May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed, lauded, esteemed, exalted, extolled, honored, upraised, and praised be the Name of the set-apart One; Blessed be He; above all the blessings, songs, praises and words of consolation that may be uttered in the world; and let us say:
Amein!
May your prayers and pleas be accepted together with the prayers and pleas of the entire house of Yisrael before our Father in heaven and earth, in the name of Yehoshua HaMashiach; and let us say:
Amein!
May there be abundant shalom from heaven, life, contentment, salvation, consolation, deliverance, healing, redemption, pardon, atonement, comfort and relief for us and for His entire nation Yisrael; and let us say:
Amein!
Hon Tahon
Be merciful to Your children who are returning to You, and who stand before You with trepidation, fearful of the time they will be called to judgment; it is for that reason that they come in distress.
Recall compassion on the Day of Judgment; do away with anger and wrath at the time You will judge those who fear You and those who dwell on Your Name – they who are sitting in judgment.
Bring near to me the year of the Redeemer, and redeem me; upon restful waters, O Elohym, lead me, and recall for me the merit of the perfect man, Yehoshua HaMashiach, and place me like a seal upon Your heart.
Amein!
Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
Sabbath Keepers Fellowship Weekly Torah Study
Join us on Zoom for prayer, fellowship and discussion of the weekly Torah portion, the Haftarah, the Writings of the Disciples, and the Min Hazaqen Torah Commentary.
Our small, friendly group welcomes beginners and those who are learned in the scriptures, and we always take time for questions and answers.
We begin at 7pm Central Time on the 5th day of each week. Here is the link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4731209848
Join Us!
Do you have a relationship with your church? You minister? You should and the Torah groups set a good example for this!
https://firstcenturychristiani....ty.net/do-you-have-a
Selichoth Prayers - An Introduction
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
Tephillah is the act of prayer. It is the way that we communicate with the Most High. The word tephillah in Hebrew connotes much more than just communication, it implies an actual attachment with that object to which it is directed, or a reattachment of that which has been torn asunder. That is the goal of Selichoth prayers.
Selichoth means “forgivenesses.” Each year as we perform the annual cycle of festivals, fasts and commandments of YHWH, we are meant to ascend ever higher towards understanding, righteousness and perfection. Each year we try with all or most of our hearts to do this, and yet each year we somehow fail. Then, if we are honest with ourselves, we experience a dread at the onset of Yom Teruah and the Days of Judgment. Selichoth prayers are appeals to YHWH for His forgiveness of our failings which are said during the month of Elul, including the entire forty days prior to Yom Hakippurym, in an attempt to reconcile ourselves with Him.
Elul, the sixth scriptural month, is the month of “Repentance and Return.” Each day of Elul, the shofar is blown to awaken the people of YHWH from their spiritual slumber, to warn them of the impending coming of Messiah, and to cause them to repent of their many sins. But repentance without a return to righteousness is a vain thing. Return, or “Teshuvah,” is the object of Selichoth prayers. Each morning during Elul, we rise and pour out our hearts before our Creator in hopes that He will hear and quickly restore us to right-standing with Him before He comes.
There is scriptural precedent for Selichoth prayer. It was during the month of Elul that Moshe returned to Mount Sinai for forty days and nights to obtain the second set of tablets, after breaking the first ones because of the sin of the golden calf. It is thought that the children of Yisrael prayed and fasted during this time of waiting. It was prior to the fall festival that Sh’lomo dedicated the first temple with his famous prayer, asking that YHWH hear and forgive His people their sins wherever they might be, when they turn toward His house and pray to Him with all their hearts. And it was during the month of Elul that Yehoshua Hamashiach prayed, fasted and was tested in the wilderness prior to the beginning of His ministry on earth.
It is not enough to wait until the day of His return, and then plead for forgiveness in Judgment - not for His Remnant, those who will be His at His coming. Like the parable of the Ten Virgins, we must be of those who do not slumber, but remain awake and vigilant, ready and waiting for our Savior’s return. It is to that end that Sabbath Keepers Fellowship is posting this article and presenting our small booklet of Selichoth prayers to our brothers and sisters in faith, in order that they may have oil in their lamps and be dressed in clean white linen on the day that our Bridegroom comes for us. May YHWH speed that day.
By His Grace,
Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
https://www.youtube.com/watch?....v=iphWrgtlcDI&t=
Selichoth prayers are traditionally performed in the early morning before dawn, usually beginning just after midnight. As on any other day, the Modeh Ani, Sh'ma, and other morning blessings are to be be said before doing these or anything else. If for some reason one cannot pray Selichoth in the morning, they should be done whenever possible. The most important thing is that one does pray.
Most of the prayers can be said while seated, with a few exceptions being: the Sh'ma, Qaddish, El Melek and the Vidduy, which are said standing. If available, tephillin and the tallith should be worn. However, it is our opinion that if they are not, one should say the prayers anyway. Repentance and Teshuvah are more important than any clothing.
If possible, Selichoth should be said in a quiet place, free from distraction or interruption. Once begun, they should be said and finished in their entirety. When in private, personal or "free" prayers of repentance may always be added to enhance Selichoth. Each day, the penitent should search for and find deeper meaning and relevance in the prayers until finally, at Yom Hakippurym, they are as prepared as humanly possible to appear before the throne of their King.
Selichoth Prayers - An Introduction
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
Tephillah is the act of prayer. It is the way that we communicate with the Most High. The word tephillah in Hebrew connotes much more than just communication, it implies an actual attachment with that object to which it is directed, or a reattachment of that which has been torn asunder. That is the goal of Selichoth prayers.
Selichoth means “forgivenesses.” Each year as we perform the annual cycle of festivals, fasts and commandments of YHWH, we are meant to ascend ever higher towards understanding, righteousness and perfection. Each year we try with all or most of our hearts to do this, and yet each year we somehow fail. Then, if we are honest with ourselves, we experience a dread at the onset of Yom Teruah and the Days of Judgment. Selichoth prayers are appeals to YHWH for His forgiveness of our failings which are said during the month of Elul, including the entire forty days prior to Yom Hakippurym, in an attempt to reconcile ourselves with Him.
Elul, the sixth scriptural month, is the month of “Repentance and Return.” Each day of Elul, the shofar is blown to awaken the people of YHWH from their spiritual slumber, to warn them of the impending coming of Messiah, and to cause them to repent of their many sins. But repentance without a return to righteousness is a vain thing. Return, or “Teshuvah,” is the object of Selichoth prayers. Each morning during Elul, we rise and pour out our hearts before our Creator in hopes that He will hear and quickly restore us to right-standing with Him before He comes.
There is scriptural precedent for Selichoth prayer. It was during the month of Elul that Moshe returned to Mount Sinai for forty days and nights to obtain the second set of tablets, after breaking the first ones because of the sin of the golden calf. It is thought that the children of Yisrael prayed and fasted during this time of waiting. It was prior to the fall festival that Sh’lomo dedicated the first temple with his famous prayer, asking that YHWH hear and forgive His people their sins wherever they might be, when they turn toward His house and pray to Him with all their hearts. And it was during the month of Elul that Yehoshua Hamashiach prayed, fasted and was tested in the wilderness prior to the beginning of His ministry on earth.
It is not enough to wait until the day of His return, and then plead for forgiveness in Judgment - not for His Remnant, those who will be His at His coming. Like the parable of the Ten Virgins, we must be of those who do not slumber, but remain awake and vigilant, ready and waiting for our Savior’s return. It is to that end that Sabbath Keepers Fellowship is posting this article and presenting our small booklet of Selichoth prayers to our brothers and sisters in faith, in order that they may have oil in their lamps and be dressed in clean white linen on the day that our Bridegroom comes for us. May YHWH speed that day.
By His Grace,
Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
https://www.youtube.com/watch?....v=iphWrgtlcDI&t=
Selichoth prayers are traditionally performed in the early morning before dawn, usually beginning just after midnight. As on any other day, the Modeh Ani, Sh'ma, and other morning blessings are to be be said before doing these or anything else. If for some reason one cannot pray Selichoth in the morning, they should be done whenever possible. The most important thing is that one does pray.
Most of the prayers can be said while seated, with a few exceptions being: the Sh'ma, Qaddish, El Melek and the Vidduy, which are said standing. If available, tephillin and the tallith should be worn. However, it is our opinion that if they are not, one should say the prayers anyway. Repentance and Teshuvah are more important than any clothing.
If possible, Selichoth should be said in a quiet place, free from distraction or interruption. Once begun, they should be said and finished in their entirety. When in private, personal or "free" prayers of repentance may always be added to enhance Selichoth. Each day, the penitent should search for and find deeper meaning and relevance in the prayers until finally, at Yom Hakippurym, they are as prepared as humanly possible to appear before the throne of their King.
Shalom, Chaverym;
This week’s parasha is Shoph’tym – שפטים – “Judges”
Torah readings: D’varym (Deuteronomy) 16:18-21:9
Prophets’ readings: Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 51:12-52:12
Ketuvym Hatalmidym reading: Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:38-48
Shalom aleykhem, achym, b’shem YHWH Avinu, Malkeynu ~ Peace to you, my brothers, in the name of YHWH our Father, our King.
Tamiym tihyeh im YHWH Eloheyka ~ “Perfect you shall be with YHWH Eloheyka.”
The word tamiym in our pesuk is often translated in various ways according to the whims of translators. However, its meaning is truly quite singular – it means perfect, as in completed and whole.
The command to be perfect was given by YHWH in context with the conditions for receiving either the blessings or the curses which were delivered from mounts Gerizym and Eyval. The meaning of this command is that, in order to obtain YHWH’s blessing, one must be undiluted in their religion and their devotion to YHWH and to His Torah. One must be, in fact, a completed human-being. No mixing of religions can be tolerated, and no half-hearted devotion can be enough. The true children of YHWH must be completely His, and His alone.
It is commonly thought by many believers that YHWH’s standards and requirements have loosened and eased since the coming of Messiah for those who will be his at his return. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the opposite is true – they have not been loosened, erased, or otherwise diminished in any way. They have been elevated.
As was pointed out in the previous sedra, Yehoshua also promised blessings and curses from atop a mountain, but the blessings He promised would come only by adhering to a standard of righteousness even higher than that of basic physical Torah obedience. This elevated standard is Torah observance in both its physical and spiritual forms – it is completed, or tamiym form. And that is the standard required of the small and exclusive group called the Qedoshym, who are the bride of Messiah – those who will be His at His coming.
Immediately after commanding that the children of YHWH be perfectwith Him, Moshe prophesied, in YHWH’s name:
“I will raise up a prophet from among them, like you; and I will give my words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”
This prophecy foretold Yehoshua’s coming, and he did all that the Torah and the Prophets said he would do. The words of YHWH were in his mouth, and he only spoke that which YHWH commanded he should. Furthermore, he confirmed that he was indeed the expected prophet and reaffirmed the validity of the commandments when he reiterated YHWH’s command to be perfect at the end of his teaching on the mount. He said,
“Be ye perfect, even as your Father in the heavens is perfect.”
If you belong to Him, and will go with Messiah at his return, this is your calling, brethren. Love Him with all of your heart and walk in all of His ways. Do it with all of your mind and strength. Nothing less will do, for those who will reign with Messiah, judging angels and men. Keep your eyes on him and, with the power of the Spirit, become complete – perfect. May you all hear Him when He calls.
B’Shalom, Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
...You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful.
#deuteronomy 2:4
#devarim
YHWH calls Edomites Israel's brother despite their evident hatred of #israel. God loves Israel, but God loves Edom too.
Other lessons from this:
1. God doesn't approve of abusing a position of power. Don't manipulate the weak through fear.
2. Love your neighbor doesn't mean only your nice, likable neighbors. Sometimes God gives us difficult neighbors to teach us what love really means.
3. Don't steal, even from those who hate you. Deal fairly with everyone whenever possible.
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