USHPIZOT

We invite to our meal holy guests from on high.
Enter, revered mothers of our people, wise women and prophetesses

Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda, Esther

SARAH           HESED
                    lovingkindness


   


  But God said to Abraham,
  Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid;
  whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her,
  for through Isaac your descendants shall be named

  (Genesis 21:12 )

First day of Succot
O Sarah, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther.

MIRIAM       GEVURA
                         
strength
   

                 


  Then Miriam the Prophetess, Aaron's sister,
  took her drum in her hand,
  and all the women followed her out,
  with drums and dances. And Miriam sang to them ...

    (Exodus 15:20-21)

   The Well was given for the merits of Miriam

    (Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 9a)

Second day of Succot
O Miriam, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther.

DEBORAH    TIFERET
                         
splendor

 
                     


  Now Deborah, a Prophetess, wife of Lappidot,
  judged Israel at that time. And she sat under the
  palm-tree of Deborah .... in the hills of Ephraim

    (Judges 4:4)

   Thus may all your enemies perish, O Lord ...

 (Song of Deborah, Judges 5:31)



Third day of Succot
O Deborah, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Miriam, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther.

HANNAH     NETZACH
                         
eternity

 

          


  -and she prayed to the Lord exceedingly.
  Hannah spoke devotedly from her heart;
  only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard

    (1 Samuel 1:12)

  Several important laws are derived from Hannah's prayer

(Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 31a)

Fourth day of Succot
O Hannah, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther.

ABIGAIL            HOD
                           
glory
   

               

 

  ... and your soul shall be bound up
  in the Bond of Life
  with the Lord your God

       (1 Samuel 25:29)
   
(Funeral and Yizkor Memorial Prayers)


 Fifth day of Succot
O Abigail, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Hulda and Esther.

HULDA           YESOD
                      
foundation
             
                 


  So the priest Hilkiah . . . went to
  the Prophetess Hulda, wife of Shallum . . .
  And she said to them, "Thus says the Lord: Behold,
  I will bring evil upon this place and its inhabitants
  fulfilling all the words in the Book . . .
  because they have forsaken me
  and sacrificed to other gods . . . "
   

    (2 Kings 22:14)

Sixth day of Succot
O Hulda, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther.

ESTHER     MALCHUT
                         
kingship

 
 
The Jews had light and gladness
  and joy and honor
 

    (Esther 8:16 )
   
(Havdalah service)

Seventh day of Succot
O Esther, my revered guest, may it please you to have all the exalted guests dwell with us - Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Hulda.



 USHPIZOT CEREMONY

Each day one of the seven spiritual guests is invited before the meal.
The following text, translated from a Hebrew prayerbook, is recited:

May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my ancestors,
to allow Your holy spirit to dwell in our midst;
spread over us the shelter of Your peace;
encircle us with the majesty of Your pure and holy glory.
Give sufficient bread and water to all who are hungry and thirsty.
Grant us many days to grow old upon the earth, the holy land,
that we may serve and revere You.
Blessed be the Lord forever - amen, amen.

I invite to my meal the exalted guests
Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda and Esther

Compiled and designed by Suri Edell Greenberg
September 2004 - Tishrei 5765

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