Ana Bechach Prayer Pendant
Ana becah prayer silver and gold ring studded with cat 's eye
Ana B'koach
One of the most beautiful and well-known piyyutim or liturgical poems is one of
incredible spiritual significance called “Ana B'koach” (“Please with
strength”). This poem originated in the middle ages, and was written in the
Kabbalic Ashkenaz community, most prominently attributed to the tanna Rabbi
Nehunya ben HaKanah. This piyyut is so special and loved that it has became a
staple in other Israeli communities as well, and is often recited on different
occasions due to its spiritual strength. Some people read it during Shacharit
Morning Prayer, while others read it during the Shema prayer at night, on
Kabbalat Shabbat before the Aravit night prayer, and throughout the counting of
the Omer, where particular lines are attributed to each day of the count. The
piyyut expresses a prayer containing 7 lines, each composed of 6 words. The
acronym created by the first letter of each of those words, comprises one of
the 42 letter names of God according to Kabbalic tradition. This is why at the
end of the piyyut, the line "Baruch Shem kevod malchuto le'olam
va'ed" ("Blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and
ever") is added and read standing up.
The role of the piyyut in cleansing
Apart from reading it at the
above mentioned times, the poem should be carried with you wherever you go, as
is written: for any time of trouble, for any crisis, for any great need of
spiritual and physical cleansing and purification, when you feel like you
aren’t moving forward with your life and need those holy words to spiritually
cleanse you and connect you with divine assistance. This is a prayer that opens
up the skies when you are alone on your own with God, and it is carried with
you at all times inside a special amulet with these empowering and purifying
spiritual qualities. The amulet helps you empower yourselves at times of great
physical or spiritual weakness, and that is the significance of these lines and
letter combination which spells out the name of God:
Gem Stones | |
Chrysoberyl | 3 m"m |
Metal | |
Silver | 925 |
Gold | 14K |
Dimension (unit is mm) | |
Height | 0.90 |
Length | 31 |
Width | 25 |