Modeh ani
Encyclopedia
Modeh Ani or Modeh is a Jewish
prayer
that observant Jews recite daily upon waking
, while still in bed.
states that "The Lord's
mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (. From this, the Shulchan Aruch
deduces that every morning, God renews every person as a new creation
. (Ch. 1, 2.) For this, it is taught that one should thank God, and that is the purpose of the Modeh Ani.
As the Modeh Ani does not include any of the names of God, observant Jews may recite it before washing their hands. According to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
, one should pause slightly between the words "compassion" and "abundant is Your faithfulness."
The tradition to recite Modeh Ani upon waking grew up after the Talmud
. In Talmudic times, upon waking, Jews traditionally said the prayer Elohai Neshamah: "My God, the soul that You have placed in me is pure" (Berakhot 60b.). This prayer has been moved to the morning prayers
.
Because of its simplicity, Modeh Ani has become a favorite prayer for small children.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
that observant Jews recite daily upon waking
Waking
Waking may refer to:*waking up, emerging from sleep*Waking , an alternative rock band*The Waking, a poem written by Theodore Roethke...
, while still in bed.
Text
- Hebrew: מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך.
- TransliterationRomanization of HebrewHebrew uses the Hebrew alphabet with optional vowel points. The romanization of Hebrew is the use of the Latin alphabet to transliterate Hebrew words....
: Modeh ani lifanekha melekh ḥai v'kayam sheheḥezarta bi nishmahti b'ḥemlah, rabah emunatekha. - TranslationTranslationTranslation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: I offer thanks before you, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.
Tradition
LamentationsBook of Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations ) is a poetic book of the Hebrew Bible composed by the Jewish prophet Jeremiah. It mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple in the 6th Century BCE....
states that "The Lord's
Names of God in Judaism
In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title; it represents the Jewish conception of the divine nature, and of the relationship of God to the Jewish people and to the world. To demonstrate the sacredness of the names of God, and as a means of showing respect and reverence for...
mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (. From this, the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
deduces that every morning, God renews every person as a new creation
Creator deity
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world . In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities...
. (Ch. 1, 2.) For this, it is taught that one should thank God, and that is the purpose of the Modeh Ani.
As the Modeh Ani does not include any of the names of God, observant Jews may recite it before washing their hands. According to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch may refer to:#The famous work of that name by Shlomo Ganzfried#A similar Sephardi work entitled "Kitzur Shulchan Aruch" by Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano....
, one should pause slightly between the words "compassion" and "abundant is Your faithfulness."
The tradition to recite Modeh Ani upon waking grew up after the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
. In Talmudic times, upon waking, Jews traditionally said the prayer Elohai Neshamah: "My God, the soul that You have placed in me is pure" (Berakhot 60b.). This prayer has been moved to the morning prayers
Jewish services
Jewish prayer are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
.
Because of its simplicity, Modeh Ani has become a favorite prayer for small children.
See also
- Jewish servicesJewish servicesJewish prayer are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
- List of Jewish prayers and blessings
- Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
ch. 1. The Laws Pertaining to Rising in the Morning. - Nosson SchermanNosson SchermanNosson Scherman born 1935, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Haredi rabbi best known as the general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications.-Biography:...
, The Complete ArtscrollArtScrollArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd., a publishing company based in Brooklyn, New York...
SiddurSiddurA siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
, 3. Mesorah: Brooklyn, N.Y., 1990. ISBN 0-89906-650-X
External links
- Modeh Ani from Chabad
- Ask Moses
- Center for Basic Jewish Education