Page:Philip Birnbaum - ha-Siddur ha-Shalem (The Daily Prayer Book,1949).pdf/123

98 days of old and as in former years. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years.

Hallel (page 566) is recited here on Rosh Ḥodesh, Ḥol ha-Mo‘ed and Ḥanukkah.

Grant us, Lord our God, wisdom to learn thy ways; subject our heart to thy worship; forgive us so that we may be redeemed; keep us from suffering; satisfy us with the products of thy earth; gather our dispersed people from the four corners of the earth. Judge those who stray from thy faith; punish the wicked; may the righteous rejoice over the rebuilding of thy city, the reconstruction of thy Temple, the flourishing dynasty of thy servant David and the continuance of the offspring of thy anointed, the son of Jesse. Answer us before we call. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hearest prayer.

Our Father, our King, abolish all evil decrees against us.

is mentioned in the Talmud (Ta‘anith 25b) as the prayer of Rabbi Akiba on a fast day. There is a close resemblance between some of its phrases and the Shemoneh Esreh. In the ninth century Siddur of Amram Gaon there are only twenty-five verses of Avinu Malkenu. In the course of time the number has been increased on account of disaster and persecution.