ב"ה
Prayers of Rosh Hashanah
A Guide to the High Holiday Services

Per mystical tradition, it is customary to recite seven special verses of King David’s Psalms responsively just before the shofar is blown. The first expresses prayerful hope, reflective of the Shofar's message. In acrostic fashion, the following six verses (all lifted from Psalm 119) form the Hebrew words “Kra Satan” literally translated as “Tear up Satan.” The satanic spirit we seek to destroy is said to refer to Israel's heavenly accuser or adversary, yet it can also indicate the lifting of that which might impede or hinder our spiritual progress and the sweet judgment we now seek.
Related Topics
- Rosh Hashanah (611)
- Machzor (19)