“Akedat Yitzchak” 7 times yashar ve-afukh (forward and reverse reading), according to the Gaon Yanuka

“Akedat Yitzchak” 7 times yashar ve-afukh (forward and reverse reading), according to the Gaon Yanuka Gaon Yanuka—Rabbi Shlomo Be'eri in the name of the mekubalim of previous generations, offers a very powerful and unusual recitation of “Akedat Yitzchak” for levatel gezerot (annulling decrees) and hamtakat dinim (sweetening judgments). “Akedat Yitzchak” should be read 7 times, alternately forward and in reverse: the first time forward, the second time in reverse, the third time forward, the fourth time in reverse, and so on until the reading is completed for the seventh time. The Ben Ish Chai’s Prayer Before Akedat Yitzchak [optional, but highly recommended] רִבּוֹן עָֽלְמָא יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קַמָּךְ לְמֵיהַב לָן חֵילָא לְאִתְעֲרָא בִּיקָרָךְ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתָךְ, וּלְסַדְּרָא כֹֽלָּא כִּדְקָא יָאוּת. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית אֲנַן יָֽדְעִֽין לְשַׁוְּאָה רְעוּתָא וְלִבָּא לְתַקְּנָא כֹֽלָּא, יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קַמָּךְ דְּתִתְרְעֵי בְמִלִּין וּצְלוֹתָא דִּילָן, לְתַקָּנָא תִּקּוּנָא דִלְעֵֽלָּא כִּדְקָא יָאוּת, וְלֶהֱווּ הֵיכָלִין עִלָּאִין, וְרוּחִין עִלָּאִין עַיְלֵי הֵיכָלָא בְּהֵיכָלָא, וְרוּחָא בְּרוּחָא, עַד דְּמִתְחַבְּרָן בְּדוּכְתַּיְהוּ כִּדְקָא חָזֵי, שַׁיְפָא בְשַׁיְפָא, וְאִשְׁתְּלִימוּ דָּא בְדָא, וְאִתְיַחֲדוּ דָּא בְדָא עַד אִנּוּן חָד, וְנַהֲרִין דָּא בְדָא, וּכְדֵין נִשְׁמְתָא עִלָּאָה דְכֹלָּא אַתְיָא מִלְּעֵלָּא וְנָהִיר לוֹן, וְלֶהֱווּ נְהִירִין כֻּלְּהוּ בוֹצִינִין בִּשְׁלִימוּ כִּדְקָא חָזֵי, עַד דְּהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה אִתְּעַר, וְכֹלָּא אָעִיל לְגַבֵּי קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, וְאִתְבָּרְכָא וְאִתְמַלְיָא כְּבֵירָא דְמַיִּין נָבְעִין וְלָא פָסְקִין, וְכֻלְּהוּ מִתְבָּרְכָן לְעֵלָּא וְתַתָּא, וְהַהוּא דְלָּא אִתְיְדַע וְלָא אָעִיל בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא רְעוּתָא דְלָא אִתְּפַס לְעָלְמִין בָּסִים לְגוֹ לְגוֹ בְּגַוָּיְהוּ וְלָא אִתְיְדַע הַהוּא רְעוּתָא וְלָא אִתְּפַס לְמִנְדַּע, וּכְדֵין כֹּלָּא רְעוּתָא חֲדָא עַד אֵין סוֹף וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ בִּשְׁלִימוּ מִלְּתַתָּא וּמִגּוֹ לְגוֹ עַד דְּאִתְעָבִיד כֹּלָּא חָד, וְאִתְמַלְיָא כֹּלָּא וְאִשְׁתְּלִים כֹּלָּא וְאִתְנְהִיר וְאִתְבַּסָּם כֹּלָּא כִּדְקָא יָאוּת: רִבּוֹן עָֽלְמָא יְהֵא רְעוּתָךְ עִם עַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעָלַם, וּפֻרְקַן יְמִינָךְ אַחֲזֵי לְעַמָּךְ בְּבֵית מַקְדְּשָׁךְ, וּלְאַמְטוּיֵי לָנָא מִטּוּב נְהוֹרָךְ, וּלְקַבְּלָא צְלוֹתָנָא בְּרַחֲמֵי, יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קַמָּךְ דְּתֶהֱוֵי סָעִיד וְסָמִיךְ לָן, דְּנֵימָא מִלִּין בְּאֹרַח מֵישַׁר, בְּתִקּוּנָא דִלְעֵלָּא, בְּתִקּוּנִין דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא קַדִּישָׁא, וּלְמֶעְבַּד יִחוּדָא שְׁלִים, לְאַשְׁלָפָא לְהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָה דְכָל־חַיֵי מִדַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא עַד סוֹפָא דְכָל־דַרְגִּין, בְּגִין דְּתֶהֱוֵי הַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחָא בְּכֹלָּא וּמִתְפַּשְּׁטָא בְּכֹלָּא, דְּהָא עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא תַּלְיָן בְּהַהִיא נִשְׁמְתָא וּמִתְקַיְּמֵי בָהּ: “Ribon alma! Yehe raava kamach lemeihav lan cheila leit'ara bikarach, u-lemeevad reutach, u-lesadara kola ki-deka yaot. Ve af-al-gav de-leit anan yadin le-shava'a reuta ve-liba le-takana kola, yehe raava kamach de-tit'ra'ei be-milin ve-tzelota di-lan, le-takana tikuna di-le'eila ki-deka yaot, ve-lehevei heichalin ila'in ve-ruchin ila'in aylei heichala be-heichala ve-rucha be-rucha, ad de-mitchabran be-duchtaihu ki-deka chazei, sheifa be-sheifa, ve-ishtlimu da be-da, ve-ityachadu da be-da ad inun chad, ve-naharin da be-da. U-ch'dein nishmeta ila'a de-chola atya mil'eila, ve-naher lon, ve-lehevei nehirin kolhu butzin be-shleimu ki-deka chazei. Ad de-hahu nehورا ila'a it'ar ve-chola a'eil legabei Kodesh-Kodashim, ve-itbarcha ve-itmalia ke-beira de-mayin nav'in ve-la paskin. Ve-kolhu mitbarchan le-eila ve-tata. Ve-hahu de-la it'yeda ve-la a'eil be-chushbana, reuta de-la itpas le-almin basim le-go le-go be-gavaihu, ve-la it'yeda hahu reuta, ve-la itpas le-minda. U-ch'dein kola reuta chada ad Ein Sof, ve-chola ihu bi-shleimu mil'tata u-mi-go le-go ad de-it'abed kola chad, ve-itmalia kola ve-ishtlem kola, ve-itnehar ve-itbasem kola ki-deka yaot. Ribon alma! Yehe reutach im amach Yisrael le-alam, u-furkan yeminach achazei le-amach be-Veit HaMikdashach, u-leamtuyei lana mi-tuv nehorach, u-lekabla tzelotana be-rachamei. Yehe raava kamach de-tehevei sa'id ve-samech lan, de-neima milin be-orach meishar, be-tikuna di-le'eila, be-tikunim de-Malka Kadisha u-Matronita Kadisha, u-lemeevad yichuda shlim, le-ashlafa le-hahi nishmeta de-chol chayei mi-darga le-darga ad sofa de-chol dargin. Be-gin de-hevei hahi nishmeta mishtachacha be-chola u-mitpashta be-chola, de-ha eila ve-tata tlayin be-hai nishmeta u-mitkaymei ba”. Translation Master of the universe! May it be Your will to grant us the strength to awaken in the radiance of Your glory, to fulfill Your will, and to arrange everything in the proper order. Although we do not know how to align our will and our hearts so as to set everything right, may it be Your will to accept favorably the words of our prayer and, through them, to bring about the proper rectification in the upper worlds; may the lofty palaces and lofty spirits rise upward until they reach their proper places, each limb with its corresponding limb, and become complete in one another and united with one another in perfect unity, illuminating one another. Then the higher soul encompassing all will descend from above and illuminate them, so that all the lights will shine in complete perfection, as is fitting, until that supernal light is awakened. Then everything will enter the Holy of Holies, be blessed and filled like a wellspring of flowing waters that never cease, and all will be blessed above and below. That which is unknowable and beyond reckoning, whose will can never be grasped, will be sweetened and suffused with fragrance within. That will itself will remain unknowable and beyond comprehension. Then all will become one will, extending to Ein Sof; everything will be complete below and within, until all becomes one, everything is filled and perfected, illuminated and sweetened, as is fitting. Master of the universe! May Your will be with Your people Israel forever. Reveal Your right-handed redemption to Your people in Your Holy Temple, grant us from the goodness of Your light, and accept our prayer with mercy. May it be Your will to support and sustain us, so that we may utter words in a straight path, in accordance with the rectification above, through the rectifications of the Holy King and the Holy Matron, and perform a complete unification, elevating that soul of all life from level to level, to the end of all levels, so that this soul may be found in everything and spread throughout everything, for above and below depend upon it and are sustained through it. Introduction אֱלֹקינוּ וֵאלֹקי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ זָכְרֵנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹב לְפָנֶיךָ, וּפָקְדֵנוּ בִּפְקֻדַּת יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים מִשְּׁמֵי שְׁמֵי קֶדֶם, וּזְכָר לָנוּ יי אֱלֹקינוּ אַהֲבַת הַקַּדְמוֹנִים אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶיךָ, וְאֶת הַבְּרִית וְאֶת הַחֶסֶד וְאֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּעְתָּ לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, וְאֶת הָעֲקֵדָה שֶׁעָקַד אֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ:

“Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, zachrenu be-zichron tov milfanecha, u-fokdenu bi-fekudat yeshu'a ve-rachamim mi-sh'mei sh'mei kedem, u-zchor lanu Adonai Eloheinu ahavat ha-kadmonim—Avraham, Yitzchak ve-Yisrael, avadecha, et ha-berit, ve-et ha-chesed, ve-et ha-shevu'a she-nishbata le-Avraham avinu be-Har HaMoriah, ve-et ha-akeda she-akad et Yitzchak beno al-gabei ha-mizbe'ach, ka-katuv be-Toratecha”

The Prayer “Akedat Yitzchak” Yashar ve-Afukh [7 times]

א וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹוקים נִסָּה אֶת-אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי: ב וַיֹּאמֶר קַח-נָא אֶת-בִּנְךָ אֶת-יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר-אָהַבְתָּ אֶת-יִצְחָק וְלֶךְ-לְךָ אֶל-אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעֹלָה עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ: ג וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבשׁ אֶת-חֲמֹרוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת-שְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו אִתּוֹ וְאֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיְבַקַּע עֲצֵי עֹלָה וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-אָמַר-לוֹ הָאֱלֹקים ד בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת-עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת-הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק: ה וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֶל-נְעָרָיו שְׁבוּ-לָכֶם פֹּה עִם-הַחֲמוֹר וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּעַר נֵלְכָה עַד-כֹּה וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם: ו וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם אֶת-עֲצֵי הָעֹלָה וַיָּשֶׂם עַל-יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ אֶת-הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת-הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו: ז וַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל-אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֶּנִּי בְנִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה הָאֵשׁ וְהָעֵצִים וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה: ח וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹקים יִרְאֶה-לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו: ט וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר-לוֹ הָאֱלֹקים וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיַּעֲרֹךְ אֶת-הָעֵצִים וַיַּעֲקֹד אֶת-יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתוֹ עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִמַּעַל לָעֵצִים: י וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְרָהָם אֶת-יָדוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת-הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת לִשְׁחֹט אֶת-בְּנוֹ: יא וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ ה’ מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי: יב וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל-הַנַּעַר וְאַל-תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה כִּי עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי-יְרֵא אֱלֹקים אַתָּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת-בִּנְךָ אֶת-יְחִידְךָ מִמֶּנִּי: יג וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת-עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה-אַיִל אַחַר נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת-הָאַיִל וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה תַּחַת בְּנוֹ: יד וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא ה’ יִרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר הַיּוֹם בְּהַר ה’ יֵרָאֶה: טו וַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ ה’ אֶל-אַבְרָהָם שֵׁנִית מִן-הַשָּׁמָיִם: טז וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם ה’ כִּי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת-בִּנְךָ אֶת-יְחִידֶךָ: יז כִּי-בָרֵךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכַחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל-שְׂפַת הַיָּם וְיִרַשׁ זַרְעֲךָ אֵת שַׁעַר אֹיְבָיו: יח וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי: יט וַיָּשָׁב אַבְרָהָם אֶל-נְעָרָיו וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ יַחְדָּו אֶל-בְּאֵר שָׁבַע וַיֵּשֶׁב אַבְרָהָם בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע: Transliteration [yashar—forward reading]

Vayehi achar ha-devarim ha-eleh, ve-ha-Elohim nissah et-Avraham, va-yomer elav: Avraham. Va-yomer: Hineni.
Va-yomer: Kach-na et-bincha, et-yechidcha, asher ahavta, et-Yitzchak; ve-lech lecha el-eretz ha-Moriah; ve-ha'alehu sham le-olah, al achad he-harim, asher omar elecha.
Va-yashkem Avraham baboker, va-yachavosh et-chamoro; va-yikach et-shenei ne'arav ito, ve-et Yitzchak beno; va-yivaka atzei olah; va-yakom va-yelekh el-ha-makom, asher amar lo ha-Elohim.
Ba-yom ha-shelishi, va-yissa Avraham et-einav, va-yar et-ha-makom me-rachok.
Va-yomer Avraham el-ne'arav: Shevu-lachem poh im-ha-chamor, va-ani ve-ha-na'ar nelchah ad koh, ve-nishtachaveh ve-nashuvah aleichem.
Va-yikach Avraham et-atzei ha-olah, va-yasem al-Yitzchak beno; va-yikach be-yado et-ha-esh ve-et ha-ma'achelet; va-yelechu sheneihem yachdav.
Va-yomer Yitzchak el-Avraham aviv, va-yomer: Avi. Va-yomer: Hineni veni. Va-yomer: Hineh ha-esh ve-ha-etzim, ve-aye ha-seh le-olah?
Va-yomer Avraham: Elohim yir'eh-lo ha-seh le-olah, beni. Va-yelechu sheneihem yachdav.
Va-yavo'u el-ha-makom, asher amar lo ha-Elohim; va-yiven sham Avraham et-ha-mizbe'ach, va-ya'aroch et-ha-etzim; va-ya'akod et-Yitzchak beno, va-yasem oto al-ha-mizbe'ach, mi-ma'al la-etzim.
Va-yishlach Avraham et-yado, va-yikach et-ha-ma'achelet, lishchot et-beno.
Va-yikra elav mal'ach Adonai, min-ha-shamayim, va-yomer: Avraham, Avraham. Va-yomer: Hineni.
Va-yomer: Al-tishlach yadcha el-ha-na'ar, ve-al-ta'as lo me'umah, ki atah yadati, ki-yerei Elohim atah, ve-lo chasachta et-bincha, et-yechidcha, mimeni.
Va-yissa Avraham et-einav, va-yar, ve-hineh ayil, achar, ne'echaz ba-sevach be-karnav; va-yelekh Avraham, va-yikach et-ha-ayil, va-ya'alehu le-olah, tachat beno.
Va-yikra Avraham shem-ha-makom ha-hu: Adonai yir'eh, asher ye'amer ha-yom: be-har Adonai yera'eh.
Va-yikra mal'ach Adonai el-Avraham, shenit, min-ha-shamayim.
Va-yomer: Bi nishba'ti, ne'um-Adonai, ki ya'an asher asita et-ha-davar ha-zeh, ve-lo chasachta et-bincha, et-yechidcha,
Ki varech avarechecha, ve-harbeh arbeh et-zar'acha, ke-chochvei ha-shamayim, ve-cha-chol asher al-sefat ha-yam; ve-yirash zar'acha et sha'ar oyevav.
Ve-hitbarechu ve-zar'acha kol goyei ha-aretz, ekev asher shama'ta be-koli.
Va-yashov Avraham el-ne'arav, va-yakumu va-yelechu yachdav el-Be'er Sheva; va-yeshev Avraham bi-Be'er Sheva.

[afukh—reverse reading]

Sheva Be'er bi-Avraham va-yeshev Sheva Be'er el yachdav va-yelechu va-yakumu ne'arav el-Avraham va-yashov
Be-koli shama'ta asher ekev ha-aretz goy kol ve-zar'acha ve-hitbarechu
Oyevav sha'ar et-zar'acha ve-yirash ha-yam sefat al asher ve-ha-chol ha-shamayim ke-chochvei zar'acha et arbeh ve-harbeh avarechecha varech ki
Yechidecha et-bincha et-chasachta ve-lo ha-zeh ha-davar et-asita asher ya'an ki Adonai ne'um nishba'ti bi va-yomer
Ha-shamayim min shenit Avraham el-Adonai mal'ach va-yikra
Yera'eh Adonai be-har ha-yom ye'amer asher yir'eh Adonai ha-hu ha-makom shem Avraham va-yikra
Beno tachat le-olah va-ya'alehu ha-ayil et va-yikach Avraham va-yelekh be-karnav ba-sevach ne'echaz achar ayil ve-hineh va-yar einav et-Avraham va-yissa
Mimeni yechidecha et-bincha et-chasachta ve-lo atah Elohim yerei ki yadati atah ki me'umah lo ta'as ve-al ha-na'ar el-yadecha tishlach al va-yomer
Hineni va-yomer Avraham Avraham va-yomer ha-shamayim min-Adonai mal'ach elav va-yikra
Beno et lishchot ha-ma'achelet et va-yikach yado et Avraham va-yishlach
La-etzim mi-ma'al ha-mizbe'ach al oto va-yasem beno Yitzchak et va-ya'akod ha-etzim et va-ya'aroch ha-mizbe'ach et Avraham sham va-yiven ha-Elohim lo amar asher ha-makom el va-yavo'u
Yachdav sheneihem va-yelechu beni le-olah ha-seh lo yir'eh Elohim Avraham va-yomer
Le-olah ha-seh ve-aye ve-ha-etzim ha-esh hineh va-yomer veni hineni va-yomer avi va-yomer aviv Avraham el-Yitzchak va-yomer
Yachdav sheneihem va-yelechu ha-ma'achelet ve-et ha-esh et be-yado va-yikach beno Yitzchak al va-yasem ha-olah atzei et Avraham va-yikach
Aleihem ve-nashuvah ve-nishtachaveh koh ad nelecha ve-ha-na'ar va-ani ha-chamor im poh lachem shevu ne'arav el-Avraham va-yomer
Me-rachok ha-makom et va-yar einav et-Avraham va-yissa ha-shelishi ba-yom
Ha-Elohim lo amar asher ha-makom el va-yelekh va-yivka olah atzei va-yivka beno Yitzchak ve-et ito ne'arav shenei et va-yikach chamoro et va-yachavosh baboker Avraham va-yashkem
Elecha omar asher he-harim achad al le-olah sham ve-ha'alehu ha-Moriah eretz el lech lecha ve-lech Yitzchak et ahavta asher yechidcha et-bincha et na kach va-yomer
Hineni va-yomer Avraham elav va-yomer Avraham et nissa Elohim ve-ha devarim ha-eleh achar va-yehi.

Translation Our G-d and the G-d of our fathers! Remember us favorably and attend to us with salvation and mercy from the ancient heavenly heights. Remember for our sake, Adonai our G-d, the love of the early ones—Avraham, Yitzchak and Yisrael, Your servants; the covenant, the kindness, and the oath that You swore to Avraham our father on Mount Moriah; and the binding of Yitzchak, whom he bound upon the altar, as it is written in Your Torah: And it came to pass after these events that G-d tested Avraham and said to him: “Avraham!” And he said: “Here I am.” And He said: “Please take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitzchak, and go to the land of Moriah; bring him up there as an elevation-offering on one of the mountains that I will tell you.” Avraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took his two young men with him and Yitzchak his son, split wood for the elevation-offering, rose, and went to the place of which G-d had told him. On the third day Avraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from afar. Avraham said to his young men: “Stay here with the donkey, while I and the lad go there; we will worship and return to you.” Avraham took the wood for the elevation-offering and placed it upon Yitzchak his son; he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them went together. Yitzchak said to Avraham his father: “My father!” And he said: “Here I am, my son.” And he said: “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the elevation-offering?” Avraham said: “G-d will provide the lamb for the elevation-offering, my son.” And the two of them went together. They came to the place of which G-d had told him; Avraham built the altar there, arranged the wood, bound Yitzchak his son, and placed him upon the altar, above the wood. Avraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But an angel of Adonai called to him from heaven and said: “Avraham, Avraham!” And he said: “Here I am.” And he said: “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear G-d, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.” Avraham lifted his eyes and saw: behold, a ram behind him, caught in the thicket by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram, and brought it up as an elevation-offering in place of his son. Avraham named that place: “Adonai will provide”; as it is said today: “On the mountain of Adonai it will be seen.” The angel of Adonai called to Avraham a second time from heaven and said: “By Myself I swear, declares Adonai: Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and greatly multiply your offspring, like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the shore of the sea; and your offspring shall inherit the gate of its enemies. And all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your offspring, because you have obeyed My voice.” Avraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Be'er Sheva; and Avraham settled in Be'er Sheva. ושחט אתו על ירך המזבח צפנה לפני יהוה וזרקו בני אהרן הכהנים את־דמו על־המזבח סביב — “Ve-shachat oto al yerech ha-mizbe'ach tzafonah lifnei Adonai, ve-zarku b'nei Aharon ha-kohanim et-damo al-ha-mizbe'ach saviv” — (The sacrificial animal must be slaughtered before Adonai on the north side of the altar, and the sons of Aharon, the kohanim, shall sprinkle its blood around the altar.) Conclusion יְהִי רָצון מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלהֵנוּ וֵאלהֵי אֲבותֵינוּ, שֶׁתִּתְמַלֵּא רַחֲמִים עָלֵינוּ. וּבְכֵן בְּרב רַחֲמֶיךָ תִּזְכּר לָנוּ עֲקֵדָתו שֶׁל יִצְחָק אָבִינוּ בֶּן אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלום, כְּאִלּוּ אֶפְרו צָבוּר וּמֻנָּח עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְתַבִּיט בְּאֶפְרו לְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וּלְבַטֵּל מֵעָלֵינוּ כָּל גְּזֵרות קָשׁות וְרָעות, וּתְזַכֵּנוּ לחזור בתשובה שלמה לפניך ותצילנו מיצר הרע ומכל חטא ועוון. ותאריך ימינו בטוב ושנותינו בנעימים “Yehi ratzon milfanֶcha, Adonai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, she-titmале rachamim aleinu. U-vechen be-rov rachamecha tizkor lanu Akedato shel Yitzchak Avinu ben Avraham Avinu, alav ha-shalom, ke-ilu efro tzavur u-munach al gabei ha-mizbe'ach, ve-tabיט be-efro le-rachֶm aleinu, u-levatel me-aleinu kol gezerot kashot ve-ra'ot, u-tezakeinu la-shuv be-teshuvah shelemah le-fanecha. Ve-tatzileinu mi-yetzer ha-ra u-mi-kol chet ve-avon, ve-ta'arich yameinu ba-tov u-shenoteinu be-na'imim”. (May it be Your will, Adonai our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that You be filled with mercy for us. Therefore, in Your abundant mercy, remember for us the binding of our father Yitzchak, son of our father Avraham, may he rest in peace, as though his ashes were gathered and placed upon the altar. Look upon his ashes, have mercy on us, annul all harsh and evil decrees against us, and grant us the merit of returning to You in complete repentance. Save us from the evil inclination and from every sin and transgression, and lengthen our days in goodness and our years in pleasantness.) רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּבַשׁ אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֶת רַחֲמָיו, לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם, כֵּן יִכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ אֶת כַּעַסְךָ מֵעָלֵינוּ, וְיָגוֹלּוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עַל מִדּוֹתֶיךָ. וְתִתְנַהֵג עִמָּנוּ יי אֱלֹקינוּ בְּמִדַּת הַחֶסֶד וּבְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים, וּבְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל יָשׁוּב חֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ מֵעַמְּךָ וּמֵעִירְךָ וּמֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִנַּחֲלָתֶךָ, וְקַיֶּם לָנוּ יי אֱלֹקינוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ כָּאָמוּר. וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב, וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק, וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר, וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר “Ribono shel olam, kemo she-kavash Avraham Avinu et-rachamav la'asot retzonecha be-levav shalem, ken yichb'shu rachamecha et-ka'asecha, ve-yagolu rachamecha al midotecha, ve-titnaheg imanu Adonai Eloheinu be-middat ha-chesed u-ve-middat ha-rachamim, ve-tikanes lanu lifnim mi-shurat ha-din, u-ve-tuvecha ha-gadol yashuv charon apecha me-amecha, u-me-irecha, u-me-artzecha, u-mi-nachalatecha. Ve-kayem lanu Adonai Eloheinu et-ha-davar she-hivtach'tanu be-Toratecha, al yedei Moshe avdecha, ka-amur: Ve-zacharti et-beriti Yaakov, ve-af et-beriti Yitzchak, ve-af et-beriti Avraham ezkor, ve-ha-aretz ezkor”. (Master of the universe! Just as our father Avraham subdued his compassion in order to fulfill Your will wholeheartedly, so may Your compassion overcome Your anger. May Your compassion prevail over Your attribute of strict justice. Deal with us, Adonai our G-d, with the attribute of kindness and the attribute of mercy. In Your great goodness, may Your anger turn away from Your people, Your city, Your land, and Your heritage. Fulfill for us, Adonai our G-d, the promise You made to us in Your Torah through Moshe Your servant, as it is said: “I will remember My covenant with Yaakov, and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avraham I will remember, and I will remember the Land.”)

Was this helpful?

100% of readers found this article helpful (49 votes).

Please note: some articles on our site contain the holy Names of the Almighty. If you print these articles, they may not be thrown away or destroyed. Please handle printed copies with care and respect.

Tags: Prayer, Akeidat Yitzchak, Yanuka

25 Sep 2025

The Ben Ish Chai’s Prayer for a Good Year at the Close of Rosh Hashanah 14 Sep 2026

The Ascent of Prayer to the Higher Worlds According to the Zohar HaKadosh 25 Apr 2026

Secrets of Bowing in Jewish Prayer 11 Mar 2026

All articles

“Akedat Yitzchak” 7 times yashar ve-afukh (forward and reverse reading), according to the Gaon Yanuka

The Prayer “Akedat Yitzchak” Yashar ve-Afukh [7 times]

Was this helpful?

Related articles