Prayer for King Charles VI

Unknown

1724

May He Who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, bless this entire holy congregation together with all the holy congregations; they and their wives, their sons and daughters, and all that is theirs. And as for those who designate synagogues for prayer, and those who enter therein to pray, and those who donate lamps for lighting, wine for Kiddush and Havdalah, bread for wayfarers, charity for the poor, and all such as occupy themselves in good faith with the needs of their community, may the Holy One favor them, and may He remove from them all sickness, heal their body, and forgive all their iniquity; and may He bestow blessing and prosperity upon all the works of their hands as well as upon all Israel; and let us say, Amen.

He Who gives salvation unto kings and dominion unto princes, Whose kingdom is an eternal kingdom, Who rescued David, His servant, from the sword of evil, Who makes a way through the sea, and a pathway through the mighty waters—may He bless, and guard, and protect, and assist, and exalt, and magnify, and elevate our Lord—our Lord, the Emperor Charles [VI], may his Majesty be exalted! May the Supreme King of kings in His mercy preserve him in life, protect him from all trouble, sorrow, and harm, and may He save him, and subdue nations under his feet, and fell his enemies before him—and may he succeed in all his endeavors. May the Supreme King of kings put compassion into his heart and into the hearts of all his counselors and nobles, so that they may deal kindly with us and with all Israel. And in his days, and in ours, may Judah be saved, and Israel dwell in security; and may the Redeemer come unto Zion—may this be His will; and let us say, Amen.

He Who performed miracles for our fathers, and redeemed them from slavery to freedom, may He redeem us and gather our exiles from the four corners of the earth, even all Israel united in fellowship; and let us say, Amen.

Rosh Ḥodesh [the New Moon] of [such-and-such month] will be on [such-and-such day].

May the Holy One renew it unto us and unto all His people, the House of Israel, for life and peace, for gladness and joy, and for salvation and consolation; and let us say, Amen.

Recite Ashre (Psalms 84:5 and 145), [followed by] Yehallelu (Psalms 148:13–14 and 29).

Translated by
David E.
Cohen
.

Credits

Author Unknown, “Ha-noten teshua (Prayer for King Charles VI)” (manuscript, Vienna, 1724; Slg. IKG 6671, Jewish Museum Vienna). Published as: “Lobpreisung für Karl VI. im Wiener Memorbuch, 1724,” in Quellen zur jüdischen Geschichte im Heiligen Römischen Reich und seinen Nachfolgestaaten, ed. Dieter J. Hecht et al. (Vienna: Böhlau, 2014), pp. 69–70.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

Engage with this Source

Jewish prayers for the welfare of the government are associated with an injunction found in the book of Jeremiah, and which also appears in Pirke Avot, ordering Jews to pray for the well-being of local rulers. Such prayers, varying according to location, became a part of the standard Sabbath and festival liturgy (following the reading of the Torah) and were recited for even some of the most hostile rulers, such as the monarchs ruling Spain in 1492. This prayer was written in Vienna during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (crowned in 1711). Although Jews were exiled from Vienna in 1670, some wealthy and influential Jews were permitted to remain in the city. These included court Jews such as rabbi and financier Samson Werthheimer, who served as the emperor’s chief financial administrator and may have penned or commissioned this prayer. However, Charles VI’s attitude to Jews was generally hostile. Although he permitted the printing of the Talmud and renewed the privileges granted to Jews in Moravia, he threatened the Jews of Vienna with expulsion in 1715 and would not allow them to build a house of worship.

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