Jehemu ráchámechá

And upon us, may Your mercy be aroused, Adonai our God: is based on the verse,” Your yearning and Your love are being withheld from us.” (Is. 63:15). We mention four groups of people in this passage: the righteous (tzadikim), the pious (hasidim), sincere converts (gerei hatzedek) and us (aleinu) – (we say) may Your mercy be aroused, as we explain in the Mekhilta:  We also say there are four groups who declared before God, “We are Jews! This one shall say, “I am Adonai’s,” This uses the name of “Jacob,” This shall mark his arm “of Adonai” and adopt the name of “Israel.” (Is. 44:5) “One shall say, “I am the Adonai’s,” (Is. Ibid) because there is no sin mixed in me. (Peirush – These are the righteous who are greater than the others because they have never sinned and it is not necessary for them to be Baalei Teshuvah – repentance or to be called Hasidim, pious ones. Regarding Job (we are told he “was a blameless and upright man; he feared God and shunned evil,” (Job 1:1) since he served God out of fear.)  “Another shall call in the name of Jacob,” (Is. Ibid) This refers to those righteous converts.  “Another shall mark his arm “of the Adonai, and shall adopt the name of “Israel.”” (Is. Ibid,) This refers to the Baalei Teshuvah, those who have returned to God. (Peirush – hasidim, the pious ones have some fear of punishment for the sins they performed. As David writes, “Preserve my life, for I am steadfast (hasid),”  In other words, because I am a baal teshuvah, guard me since I am not permitted to call myself hasid. “And others shall mark his arm “of the Adonai, and shall adopt the name of “Israel.”” (Is. Ibid) This refers to those who have fear of heaven. It refers to “us,” may Your mercy be aroused.” We are not presumptuous enough to refer to ourselves as those who serve God out of love.  This verse mentions converts before it mentions baalei teshuvah, the repentant, because the Torah warns us many times to love them and God also loves them, In the Amidah they are mentioned according to their elevated status. Grant bountiful reward to all who trust in Your Name in truth: it states that the four categories of people know the truth of Your name, based on the verse, “Those who know Your name trust You, for You do not abandon those who seek You.” (Ps. 9:11) Grant bountiful reward, is based on the verse, “How abundant is the good that You have in store for those who fear You, that You do in the full view of men for those who take refuge in You.” (Ps. 31:20) May our portion be among all who trust in Your Name: is based on a statement in the Talmud, “May my portion be with the righteous in the Garden of Eden.” May we never be put to shame: Peirush, by our deeds. For in You we have put our trust: Trust is connected with shame, based on the verse, “My God, in You I trust; may I not be shamed, may my enemies not exult over me.” (Ps. 25:2) For we rely, Adonai, God, of our ancestors: “Because they relied on Adonai, God of their fathers.” (II Chr. 13:18) On your kindness based on the verse, “But Adonai’s steadfast kindness is for all eternity.” (Ps. 103:17) Praise are You, Adonai, Support: is based on the verse, “Shall lean no more upon him that beats it, but shall lean on the Holy One of Israel in truth.” (Is. 10:20) And trust of the righteous” is based on the verse, “Happy is the man who makes Adonai his trust, who turns not to the arrogant or followers of falsehood.” (Ps. 40:5)

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