Yishtabach

The prayer of Yishtabach begins with the words “Praised be your name”, and contains fifteen expressions of praise (song, praise, hymn, Psalm, strength, dominion, victory, greatness, might, renown, glory, holiness, sovereignty, blessings, and thanksgivings). The number fifteen is not an accident but has a deep significance. We find this number again in the Psalms, in the fifteen consecutive Psalms beginning with Shir Hamaalot (A Song of Ascents) which were recited by the Levites in the Holy Temple as they ascended the fifteen steps leading to the sanctuary. We also find that the figure fifteen is represented in the Hebrew alphabet by the Yud and Hei which form the Divine Name. The prayer concludes with the words Chei Haolamim (the Life of the worlds). This conclusion of the verses of praise is a very fitting one. We have been praising G-d, His might, wisdom and kindness; we have extolled Him as the Creator of everything that exists and breathes. But He is not merely the creator of these things; He is the very life of all these things. He is the origin of Life and He is life, the never ending and never-resting energy and driving force of the whole universe. This prayer can be found on page 38 for the weekday prayers and on page 201 for the Shabbat prayers in the Chabad Tehillat Hashem Annotated Edition Prayer translation and insights are copyright Kehot publication Society.