Mah Tovu -

How goodly are your tents, O Jacob!

The Mah Tovu is a mixture of verses from different places in the Tanakh: Numbers 24:5 and Psalms 5:8, 26:8, 95:6 and 69:14. The custom is to recite Mah Tovu as you enter the synagogue (or shortly thereafter). The theme of Mah Tovu is expressing our appreciation for being able to come together and worship in a makom kadosh (holy place).

Translation:

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! As for me, through Your abundant kindness I will enter Your house; I will prostrate myself toward Your Holy Sanctuary in awe of You.* O LORD, I love the House where You dwell, and the place where Your glory tabernacles. I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the LORD my Maker. As for me, may my prayer to You, LORD, be at a favorable time; O God, in Your abundant kindness, answer me with the truth of Your salvation!

* Bow here.

Transliterated:
Mah Tovu
Mah Tovu

Mah tovu ohaleykha Ya’akov, mishkenoteykha Yisrael.
Va’ani berov chasdekha avo veytekha,
eshtachaveh el heikhal kodeshekha beyiratekha.
Adonai, ahavti me’on beytekha umekom mishkan kevodekha.
Va’ani eshtachaveh ve’echra’ah, evrekhah lifnei Adonai osi.
Va’ani tefillati lekha Adonai, eit ratson,
elohim berov chasdekha, aneni be’emet yish’ekha.

Kavanah: Preparing to “Cross Over”

The Mah Tovu helps us get our attitude readied before we go in to worship at the synagogue. We pause, attune ourselves to new surroundings, and leave our “baggage” behind us. We should feel as if we area passing over bridge into a new country. The Mah Tovu was first uttered by Balaam, an outsider of Israel, who nevertheless was awestruck with the glory of the God of Israel (Numbers 22-24). In the same way, we seek to apprehend and behold the glory of God as we make our way to worship before Him.

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