Tefillah Summary: Week 36

ה’ א-להינו
HASHEM OUR G-D

You are Hashem our G-d and therefore our trust is only in You. We ask of You to please hear our voice because You are our G-d, interested solely in us, Your devoted children.
 
חוס ורחם עלינו
SPARE AND HAVE PITY ON US
“חוס”, spare us, just as one would spare a vessel, not out of pity, but because of the loss of its function and purpose. And “רחם”, remember Your love for us, and have pity upon us, Your beloved children.
 
וקבל (ברחמים וברצון) את תפלתנו
AND ACCEPT (WITH PITY AND WITH FAVOR) OUR PRAYER
Not only do we desire that You “hear our voice” and answer our tefillos, but we wish that our tefillos be accepted (קבל) as if we have brought before You a gift or offering that You derive pleasure therefrom.
 
ברחמים וברצון
WITH PITY AND WITH FAVOR
“Accept with pity” and compassion as You listen to our plight and our desperate need, but “with favor” as well, like a gift that You can, in a sense, be happy with and derive pleasure therefrom.