The Blessings of the Amidah: Destruction of Our Enemies

The nineteen blessings of the Amidah make up the core of the Jewish prayer service. The twelfth blessing was actually added to the prayer after the destruction of the Second Temple. This blessing calls for the destruction of the enemies of Torah and Israel.

V’la’mal’shee’nim al t’hee tikvah, v’chol ha’rish’ah k’rega to’vayd, v’chol oy’vay am’cha m’hay’ra ye’kah’ray’too, v’ha’zay’deem m’hayra t’ahkair oot’sha’bayr oot’ma’gayr v’tach’nee’ah bim’hay’ra v’yah’may’nu. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai shoh’vayr oy’veem oo’mach’nee’ah zay’dim.

For the slanderers let there be no hope, and may all wickedness perish in an instant. May all Your people’s enemies swiftly be cut down. May You uproot, crush, cast down and humble the arrogant, swiftly, in our days. Blessed are You, Lord, who destroys enemies and humbles the arrogant.

–Translation reproduced with permission from The Koren Sacks Siddur, © Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.