A hallmark of memorial services in IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. is praising God by selecting meaningful verses from Psalms that start with the successive letters of the name of the deceased. This tradition in Judaism, also employed in many prayers, dates back to the Psalms themselves.
For someone named Moshe משה, as an example, the following might be read:
מָגִנִּי עַל-אֱלֹהִים; מוֹשִׁיעַ, יִשְׁרֵי-לֵב.
Transliteration:
Magini al-Elohim; moshia, yishrey lev.
שֹׁמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה–עָדֶיךָ, כָּל-בָּשָׂר יָבֹאוּ.
Transliteration:
ShemaThe most central prayer in Jewish liturgy, the Shema states: "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One." These words are written inside mezuzot and t'fillin. It is traditionally said during all major services and when waking and going to sleep. tefilah– adeykha, kol basar yavo’u.
הַבֹּטְחִים בַּיהוָה–כְּהַר-צִיּוֹן לֹא-יִמּוֹט, לְעוֹלָם יֵשֵׁב.
Transliteration:
Haboykhim baAdonay- k’har tzion lo yimot, l’olam yeshev.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
–Psalm 7:11
You who hear prayer, unto You does all flesh come.
–Psalm 65:3
They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
–Psalm 125:1
