Ben Ish Chai's Prayer Before the Mikveh (for Women)
"Ribono shel Olam, galui veyadua lefanecha shekiyamti mitzvotecha beshmirat yemei nidah, vesafarti shivah neki'im, vehineini be'itah anochi muchenet umezumenet lekayem mitzvat hatevilah bemayim hak'sherim, kemitzvotecha asher tzivitani, vehineini mekayemet mitzvah zo.
Leshem yichud Kudsha Berich Hu u-Shechinteh beyichud shalem beshem kol Yisrael, letaken shoresh mitzvah zo bemakom elyon, veya'aleh lefanecha ke'ilu kivanti bechol hakavanot hare'uyot lechaven.
Ucheshem she'anochi metahe'ret gufi min hatumah bamayim, ken berov rachamecha uverov chasadecha teta'her nafshi mikol tumah vezohamah, vekayem banu mikra shekatuv, vezarakti aleihem mayim tehorim vetehartem, vene'emar, mikveh Yisrael Ha-Shem.
Yehi Ratzon milfanecha Ha-Shem Elokeinu ve-Elokei avoteinu, shetihe chashuvah umekubelet uretzuyah lefanecha mitzvat shemirat yemei nidah, vemitzvat sefirat shivah yamim neki'im, vemitzvat hataharah vehatevilah bemayim hak'sherim, letaken et kol pegameinu ve'et pigmei Adam ve-Chavah, veyitparedu kol hasigim min hakdushah, venogah ka'or tihyeh el mekom hakodesh, vihi Ratzon milfanecha Ha-Shem Elokeinu ve-Elokei avoteinu shetiten li ule'ishi ko'ach veyecholet ve'ezer vesiyua lezivug shelanu, venizkeh levanim tzadikim chachamim u-mevonim baTorah:
- Ana Ad-nai hoshia na, ana Ad-nai hoshia na,
- Ana Ad-nai hatzlicha na, ana Ad-nai hatzlicha na.
“Vihi noam Ad-nai Elokeinu aleinu, uma'aseh yadeinu konenehu aleinu, uma'aseh yadeinu konenehu.”
Translation:
"Master of the universe, it is revealed and known before You that I have fulfilled Your commandments by observing the days of separation and counting seven clean days, and now, at the proper time, I am fully prepared to fulfill the mitzvah of immersion in the prescribed waters, in accordance with the commandment You gave me.
And I am fulfilling this mitzvah for the sake of the unity of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah, a complete unity, in the name of all Israel, in order to rectify the root of this mitzvah in the supernal realm.
May it rise before You as though I had prayed with all the appropriate kavanot.
And just as I cleanse my body of impurity in water, so, through Your abundant mercy and great kindness, cleanse my soul of all impurity and defilement.
And fulfill for us what is written (Ezekiel 36:25): «I will sprinkle pure water upon you, and you shall be purified…».
And it is said (Jeremiah 14:8): «The hope (mikveh) of Israel—the Most High…».
May it be Your will, the L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that the mitzvah of observing the days of separation, the mitzvah of counting seven clean days, and the mitzvah of purification and immersion in the prescribed waters, which I have performed, be esteemed, accepted, and pleasing before You, to rectify all our failings and the failings of Adam and Eve.
May everything intermingled with holiness be separated, «and its radiance shall be like the light…» (Habakkuk 3:4) to the place of holiness.
May it be Your will, the L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, to grant me and my husband strength, power, help, and support for our union, and may we merit righteous children who are wise and understanding in Torah.
We beseech You: L-rd, save us. We beseech You: L-rd, save us.
We beseech You: L-rd, grant us success. We beseech You: L-rd, grant us success.
«May the pleasantness of the L-rd our G-d be upon us, and establish for us the work of our hands; establish the work of our hands.»
(from the book "Ben Ish Chai—Laws for Women," translated by Rabbi Gedaliah Spinadel)
Birkat Kallah—Bride's Prayer Before the Chuppah
