Tefillah Achar HaErusin — Prayer After the Betrothal (Erusin)

A beautiful prayer for the groom and bride following their betrothal

I come before You, Adonai, my God and the God of my ancestors, like a pauper at the doorway seeking Your abundant mercy.

Please, Adonai, Father of Compassion, as a father has compassion on his children, have compassion on me.

And even though I am not worthy or deserving of all this,

still, receive my prayer before You, and answer me as a gift of grace.

Grant me favor and make me worthy — (the groom says the bride's name, and the bride says the groom's name)

[So-and-so, son/daughter of so-and-so]

to build a faithful house in Israel together with

(the groom says the bride's name, and the bride says the groom's name)

[So-and-so, daughter/son of so-and-so],

and may we merit to enter the wedding canopy at a good and auspicious hour, according to the law of Moses and Israel,

and instill in our hearts a spirit of purity and holiness, and a soul that is clean and clear, between me and her/him.

May it be Your will, Adonai, my God and the God of my ancestors,

that our union flourish beautifully,

a union of love and brotherhood and peace and friendship,

and of mutual respect for one another,

a fitting union rooted in awe of Heaven and awe of sin,

a union in which we merit offspring who will endure,

and to raise sons and grandchildren,

holy seed, cleaving to Adonai

and illuminating the world through commandments and good deeds,

a union in which this verse may be fulfilled:

"Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the inner chambers of your house;

your children like olive shoots around your table" —

a union through which You will draw down upon our souls, our spirits, our inner selves, and our bodies

holiness and purity in thought, in speech, and in deed.

May it be Your will to purify us and to sanctify us,

and to pour down upon us an abundance of Your blessings from Heaven,

and to cause Your holy Presence to dwell between us,

and to find favor in our deeds,

and to grant us the merit of doing Your will always, all the days of our lives.

[From here on, the bride adds alone:]

May it be Your will that I may support

(the groom's name:) [So-and-so, son of so-and-so]

in Your service,

and that he may rise and ascend ever higher in the levels of Torah and awe of God.

Brighten his eyes that he may know how to perceive the true meaning of Torah,

and kindle within him the fire of Torah and holiness,

and may he merit to dwell in the tent of Torah all the days of his life,

and may the words of Torah be sweet and pleasant in his mouth.

Teach him Your way, Adonai, and guide him on a straight and level path;

give him the strength to learn with steadfastness,

and may his portion be among the righteous of the world.

Make me worthy to be a loving wife,

one who cherishes her husband and her children,

and may I merit to be "a capable woman who does the will of her husband."

[Here the bride's addition ends.]

Shed upon us from Your heights a spirit of purity and holiness,

awe and joy,

and save us from every evil thought, every evil word, and every ugly thing,

whether in thought, whether in speech, whether in deed,

and grant us our portion in Your Torah,

make Your face shine upon us and we shall be saved,

and fulfill all the desires of our hearts for good.

Amen, may this be His will.