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In אנא בכח, I've usually said "בָּרְכֵם, טַהֲרֵם, רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ תָּמִיד גָמְלֵם". However, in my Artscroll Siddur I noticed it says רחמם (with a ם instead of י). Which of these are correct?

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3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

I've heard there are are sources for both, and I hope someone will answer with more info. I'll just copy what Rabbi Yaakov Emden writes in his sidur:

Combine every pair of words, and pause a bit [after each]; say rachame, not rachamim. But at kabel rinas am'cha put all three words together.

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Shaare T'shuva to OC 48 also says to pair the words, though he doesn't say anything about rachame. – msh210♦ Jun 2 '11 at 7:06
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The quote from Rav Ya'akov Emden suggests there is a third girsa, not mentioned in the question: _racha_mim rather than _racha_mem. – WAF Jun 5 '11 at 13:50
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The instruction to connect each pair of words should be enough to prove it's rachame and not rachamem. The former would be translated as "bless them [those who seek Your unification], purify them / the mercy of your justice / continually grant them", whereas the latter would be "bless them, purify them / love them. Your justice / continually grant them". If we are told where the breaks should be, is it not reasonable to assume they are meant to be phrase boundaries? – WAF Jun 5 '11 at 13:56
up vote 2 down vote

The Nusah in the original source of the prayer, Pirkei Heichalos of Rabi Yishmael is "rahamei". I will bli neder source this after Yomtov.

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up vote 1 down vote

The original Nusah is correct (not Artscroll's). All Sephardic siddurs (with Haskamot from Rab Ovadia Yosef and other Gedolim). Specifically the one which was checked "beiyun rav" by Rabbi Dawid Yosef Shelit"a.

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what is the source? – Shmuel Brin Oct 19 '11 at 5:05
The original Nusah is correct because it is that of the AriZal. – Rabbi Gabriel Oct 19 '11 at 15:17
All Sephardic siddurs (with Haskamot from Rab Ovadia Yosef and other Gedolim). Specifically the one made by Rabbi Dawid Yosef Shelit"a. – Rabbi Gabriel Oct 19 '11 at 15:24
Please edit your answer to include your sources. – Isaac Moses Oct 19 '11 at 19:17
checked by Rav David Yosef = perfect in every way, shape and form?? – Baal Shemot Tovot Mar 26 '12 at 4:43
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