Aleinu
The prayer Aleinu (“It is our duty to praise”) is the closing prayer of the morning, afternoon and evening service. It consists of two prayers, Aleinu and V’al Kein. Some believe Aleinu was written by Tanna Rav in 3rd century Babylonia for Rosh Hashanah services. Rav was the first to institute the Aleinu into the service. However, other Jews believe the prophet Joshua wrote the prayer after conquering Jericho, signifying the Israelites as a superior nation among nations.
Aleinu le’shabeiach la’adon hakol,
lateit gedulah leyotzeir bereshit,
she’lo asanu ke’goyei ha’aratzot,
ve’lo samanu ke’mishpechot ha’adamah,
she’lo sam chelkeinu kahem,
ve’goraleinu ke’chol hamonam.
Va’anachnu korim, u’mishtachavim, u’modim,
lifnei melech, malchei ham’lachim,
hakadosh baruch Hu.
She’hu noteh shamayim, ve’yoseid aretz,
u’moshav yikaro bashamayim mi-ma’al,
u’sh’chinat u-zo be’gavhei me’romim.
Hu Eloheinu, ein od. Emet malkeinu, efes zulato.
Kakatuv be’torato, ve’yadata hayom, ve’hashevota Eil le’vavecha.
Ki Adonai, Hu ha-Elohim, bashamayim mi-ma’al,
ve’al ha’aretz mi-tachat. Ein od.
Kakatuv be’toratecha: “Adonai yimloch le’olam va’ed.”
Ve’ne’emar: “Ve’haya Adonai le’melech al kol ha’aretz,
bayom hahu yihiyeh Adonai echad, u’shemo echad.”
Adon Olam
The song Adon Olam is often sung as a closing tune at the end of services. It is well known as a song that can be sung to virtually any known tune, from the classic style to Elvis and the Beatles.
Adon olam, asher malach,
b’terem kol y’tzir nivra.
L’et na’asah v’cheftzo kol,
azai melech sh’mo nikra.
V’acharey kichlot hakol,
l’vado yimloch nora.
V’hu haya, v’hu hoveh,
v’hu yih’yeh b’tifara.
V’hu echad, v’eyn sheni
l’hamshil lo, l’hachbira.
B’li reishit, b’li tachlit,
v’lo ha’oz v’hamisrah.
V’hu Eli, v’chai go’ali,
v’tzur chevli b’et tzarah.
V’hu nisi umanos li,
m’nat kosi b’yom ekra.
B’yado afkid ruchi
b’et ishan v’a’irah.
V’im ruchi g’viyati,
Adonai li v’lo ira.
