Candle lighting time is 4:51
ASHREI
Prayers for Friday Night by Rabbi Chaim Miller says of Psalm 145, Ashresi, “This is considered to be the finest of all the Psalms. Contemplate its words deeply, and absorb, in radical amazement, the wonders of God’s creation and His careful providence.”
The Talmud says, “Any person who recites Ashrei three times a day will be granted the World-to-Come.”
At most shuls today Ashrei is chanted in Hebrew, and at B’nai Mitzvahs, the prayer is often led by pre-b’nai mitzvah youth. This was not the case when I was growing up at Parkway Jewish Center. Instead, we read Ashrei in English, responsively in couplets. And, yes, to this day, I read Ashrei in English at services. Yes, I am capable of reading this wonderful prayer in Hebrew, but I find the words to be so inspiring that I prefer to read the English so that I can savor the message. Consider, “On the splendor of thy glorious majesty And on thy wondrous deeds I meditate.” Or, “My mouth speaks the praise of the Lord; Let all creatures bless his holy name forever and ever.” Great words!
Ashrei, as part of the Sabbath morning service, is found on pages 385-388 of our Birnbaum siddurs.
A hymn of praise by David.
I extol thee my God the King,
And bless thy name forever and ever.
Every day I bless thee,
And praise thy name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation to another praises thy works;
They recount thy mighty acts.
On the splendor of thy glorious majesty
And on thy wondrous deeds I meditate.
They speak of thy awe-inspiring might,
And I tell of thy greatness.
They spread the fame of thy great goodness,
And sing of thy righteousness.
Gracious and merciful is the Lord,
Slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is good to all,
And his compassion is over all his works.
All thy works praise thee, O Lord,
And thy faithful followers bless thee.
They speak of thy glorious kingdom,
And talk of thy might,
To let men know thy mighty deeds,
And the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages,
And thy dominion is for all generations.
The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look hopefully to thee,
And thou givest them their food in due season.
Thou openest thy hand,
And satisfiest every living thing with favor.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways,
And gracious in all his deeds.
The Lord is near to all who call upon him,
To all who call upon him sincerely.
He fulfills the desire of those who revere him;
He hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love him,
But all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth speaks the praise of the Lord;
Let all creatures bless his holy name forever and ever.
We will bless the Lord henceforth and forever.
Praise the Lord! (From Psalm 115:18)