Page:Philip Birnbaum - ha-Siddur ha-Shalem (The Daily Prayer Book,1949).pdf/119

94 stand by them in the time of their distress. Thou didst champion their cause, defend their rights and avenge their wrong; thou didst deliver the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the arrogant into the hands of the students of thy Torah. Thou didst make a great and holy name for thyself in thy world, and for thy people Israel thou didst perform a great deliverance unto this day. Thereupon thy children entered the shrine of thy house, cleansed thy Temple, purified thy sanctuary, kindled lights in thy holy courts, and designated these eight days of Hanukkah for giving thanks and praise to thy great name.)

(We thank thee for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds and triumphs, and for the battles which thou didst perform for our fathers in those days, at this season—

In the days of Mordecai and Esther, in Shushan the capital [of Persia], when the wicked Haman rose up against them and sought to destroy, slay and wipe out all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month Adar, and to plunder their wealth. Thou in thy great mercy didst frustrate his counsel and upset his plan; thou didst cause his mischief to recoil on his own head, so that he and his sons were hanged upon the gallows.)

For all these acts may thy name, our King, be blessed and exalted forever and ever.

(Inscribe all thy people of the covenant for a happy life.)

All the living shall ever thank thee and sincerely praise thy name, O God, who art always our salvation and help. Blessed art thou, O Lord, Beneficent One, to whom it is fitting to give thanks.

Our God and God of our fathers, bless us with the threefold