Menorat David
לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינֹת מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר. אֱלֹהִים יְחָנֵּנוּ וִיבָרְכֵנוּ, יָאֵר פָּנָיו אִתָּנוּ סֶלָה. לָדַעַת בָּאָרֶץ דַּרְכֶּךָ, בְּכָל גּוֹיִם יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ. יוֹדוּךָ עַמִּים אֱלֹהִים, יוֹדוּךָ עַמִּים כֻּלָּם. יִשְׂמְחוּ וִירַנְּנוּ לְאֻמִּים, כִּי תִשְׁפֹּט עַמִּים מִישֹׁר, וּלְאֻמִּים בָּאָרֶץ תַּנְחֵם סֶלָה. יוֹדוּךָ עַמִּים אֱלֹהִים, יוֹדוּךָ עַמִּים כֻּלָּם. אֶרֶץ נָתְנָה יְבוּלָהּ, יְבָרְכֵנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵינוּ. יְבָרְכֵנוּ אֱלֹהִים, וְיִירְאוּ אוֹתוֹ כָּל אַפְסֵי-אָרֶץ.
Explanation For The blessing
Due to its symmetrical form Psalm 67 is of the greatest religious importance. With its seven verses and allusion to the Priestly Blessing, it resembles the shape of the Temple Menorah. The psalm is also known as the 'Menorah Psalm for the Chief Musician' as it is addressed to the Chief Musician of Neginoth. As a result of the special significance attributed by the Kabbalah to the Psalm's Menorah-shape, it was printed on the Shiviti meditative plaques in order to assist the worshippers.
The psalm is unique in its combination of both tefilah (prayer) and tehila (fame) as well as past and future tenses. Scholars have argued that the words "the earth yield her increase" may indicate that the psalm is related to Sukkot, the "Feast of the Ingathering". It was, most probably, recited as a thanksgiving during the offering of sacrifices. The seven lines of the psalm incorporate seven principal themes, symbolized by the seven branches of the Menorah: mercy, blessing, light, salvation, thanksgiving, mirth and song. All these blessings will be showered upon Israel, and all who read this psalm will enjoy peace and success. Reciting the psalm emulates the symbolic magnitude of lighting the Temple Menorah.
In the book Kashrut HaShulchan, Rabbi Ovadia Yossef says: "All those who recite the Menorah-shaped psalm will see many rewards and blessings". Our Sages of Blessed Memory (Chazal) asserted that those who recite the psalm is the morning or after the Amida will drive out evil and know no harm on that day. In Agudat Ezov, the Kabbalah sages ensure that all those who envision the menorah-shaped psalm every day shall find "favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man".
The Kabbalah sages added that the Almighty revealed the psalm to David in His Holy Spirit, and it was written in golden letters and shaped like the Menorah. As written in Numbers (Book 8, verse 4): "Unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick". The blessing should be uttered in the name of Moses and David and while imagining the burning candles of the Temple Menorah.
The central branch gives light to six others – three at its left and three at its right. The six branches further represent the six sides: the four corners of the earth, one direction from above and one from below.
The central branch represents the Almighty as it reigns supreme and watches over all. Accordingly, the Almighty hinted that He feeds and provides for all. The Sabbath is also represented in the Menorah – with three weekdays on both sides, it is the central tree of life – a day of holiness.
The Menorah also alludes to Jerusalem as the world has six "climates" (parts) and Jerusalem is the navel of human settlement, facing the Garden of Eden. The seventh climate is the Land of Israel, surrounded by all other lands. The central branch is the Temple and its light is the Holiest of Holies.
If the psalm appears on the Holy Ark, it protects the worshipper from evil and some believe the whole world is encoded in the Menorah:
The blessing is pronounced against harm, for protection from the evil eye, and when moving into a new house. It can be recited at any hour of the day or night.
