This prayer is part of the daily AmidahLit. Standing One of the central prayers of the Jewish prayer service, recited silently while standing., and traditionally, the prayer requests a restoration of the second Temple, and a restoration of the service Jews performed at the Temple, which included sacrifice. R’tzei asks God to accept our prayer offerings as God previously accepted our fire-offerings. The word for sacrifice in Hebrew is korban, which means “to draw near.”
HaMakom,
Our prayers are the offering
and You are the Temple.
Our words rise to the sky
like smoke from a flame,
swirling above what is burnt,
what is broken.
Holy One of Blessing,
please accept them all:
the words and wonder,
the fear and awe
Life is light and wax and burning.
Every offering we bring before You
is a way to draw near, a promise of our love.
Barukh atah Adonai, mekabel ha’olot
Blessed are You, Holy One, Who accepts our offerings.
