Ahavah Rabah - Abundant Love and more

Ahavah Rabbah

 (Heb. אַהֲבָה רַבָּה; "With great love"); AHAVAT OLAM (Heb. אַהֲבַת עוֹלָם; "Everlasting love"), two versions of the second of the two benedictions preceding the recitation of the Shema in the morning and evening services. In the Talmud there is a difference of opinion as to which is the correct version (Ber. 11b) and a baraita is quoted which definitely favors Ahavah Rabbah. This controversy continued even into medieval times (see Levin, Oẓar, vol. 1, p. 29; ET, vol. 4, p. 391). As a compromise decision Ahavah Rabbah was adopted for the morning service and the other for the evening (Tos.,MG Ber.). The Sephardi and Italian rites, however, only have Ahavat Olam. It is not clear whether the difference between the two versions was limited to the opening formula or whether it extended to the content. From the prayer book of *Saadiah Gaon it would appear that the former is the case. In their present form the two prayers have the same basic theme, but they differ considerably in presentation, and Ahavah Rabbah is much the longer and the more complex of the two. Both benedictions tell of God's love as the explanation for Israel's receiving the Torah. The prayers introduce the Shema which is basically a Torah reading – and promise, in consequence, continual preoccupation with its study and observance. In both, God is besought to continue bestowing His love on His people, but in Ahavah Rabbah the idea of the election of Israel is stressed. Ahavat Olam ends, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who lovest His people Israel," whereas Ahavah Rabbah closes with "Who has chosen His people Israel in love." The Mishnah (Tam. 5:1), as interpreted in the Gemara (Ber. 11b–12a), records that Ahavah Rabbah was the benediction with which the priestly prayer service in the Temple commenced. According to the halakhah (Sh. Ar.,OḤ 47:7) either of the two can serve as a substitute for the *Birkat ha-Torah, the blessing to be recited before study.

In the Middle Ages various piyyutim were composed for insertion into Ahavah Rabbah and Ahavat Olam on festivals. Those for the latter are still recited in some synagogues. Both benedictions appear with minor textual variations in the different rites; Ahavat Olam much less, however, than Ahavah Rabbah. The Reform ritual has retained the traditional text of the former but has abbreviated the latter considerably, omitting the messianic passages. Ahavat Olam has been set to music by Mombach and others, and forms part of the repertoire of most synagogue choirs.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0001_0_00581.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Elbogen, Gottesdienst, 20–21, 25, 100–1; Abrahams, Companion, xlviiiff., CX; J. Heinemann, Ha-Te'fillah bi-Tekufat ha-Tanna'im ve ha-Amora'im (1964), 43, n. 34; 106; E. Munk, World of Prayer (1954), 107.

[Raphael Posner]

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Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.

* Further resource, please see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahava_rabbah

My Chrome browser has decided to stop displaying Hebrew properly so I don't know how this text will be displaying on your, the reader's, browser either. Oh well, here goes.
אַהֲבָה רַבָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ חֶמְלָה גְדוֹלָה וִיתֵרָה חָמַלְתָּ עָלֵנוּ. אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ בַּעֲבוּר אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבָּטְחוּ בְךָ וַתְּלַמְּדֵם חֻקֵּי חַיִּים כֵּן תְּחָנֵּנוּ וּתְלַמְּדֵנוּ. אָבִינוּ הָאָב הָרַחֲמָן הָמְרַחֵם רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְתֵן בְּלִבֵּנוּ לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל לִשְׁמֹעַ לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶךָ בְּאַהֲבָה.

וְהָאֵר עֵינֵינוּ בְּתּוֹרָתֶךָ וְדַבֵּק לִבֵּנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵנוּ לְאַהֲבָה וּלְיִרְאָה אֶת שְׁמֶךָ. וְלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשְׁךָ הַגָדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא בָּטָחְנוּ. נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ 

http://www.adatelohim.org/Ahava-Raba-s/7645.htm

וַהֲבִיאֵנוּ לְשָׁלום מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפות הָאָרֶץ. וְתולִיכֵנוּ קומְמִיּוּת לְאַרְצֵנוּ: 
כִּי אֵל פּועֵל יְשׁוּעות אָתָּה. וּבָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ מִכָּל עַם וְלָשׁון. וְקֵרַבְתָּנוּ לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדול סֶלָה בֶּאֱמֶת: 
לְהודות לְךָ וּלְיַחֶדְךָ בְּאַהֲבָה: 
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַבּוחֵר בְּעַמּו יִשרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה:

http://www.onlinesiddur.com/shac/

Ahava raba ah'havtanu Ado-nai Elo-heinu, chemla g'dola viyseira chamalta aleinu. Avinu malkeinu, ba'avur avoseinu shebatchu vecha, vatelam'dem chukei chayim, ken techaneinu u'selamdeinu. Avinu ha'av harachaman hamerachem, rachem aleinu, vesein b'libeinu le'havin u'lehaskil, lish'mo'a lil'mode u'lelamed, lish'more vela'asos u'lekayem es kol divrei salmud torasecha be'ahava. Ve'ha'er eineinu besorasecha, vedabek libeinu bemitzvosecha, ve'yached levaveinu la'ahava u'leyir'a es sh'mecha, veh'lo neh'voshe le'olam va'ed. Ki veshem kadshecha haga'dole ve'hanora batachnu, nagila venis'mecha biy'shu'asecha. Va'havi'einu lesha'lome me'arba kan'fose ha'aretz, veh'solicheinu komemiyus le'artzeinu. Ki E-l po'el yeshu'os ata, u'vanu vacharta mi'kol am vela'shone. Vekeravtanu leshimcha haga'dole selah be'emes, le'ho'dose lecha u'leyach'decha be'a'hava. Baruch Ata Ado-nai, habocher be'amo Yisra'el be'ahava. http://www.torah.org/learning/tefila/three/ahavaraba.html

Deep is Your love for us, Adonai our God, boundless Your

tender compassion.

Avinu Malkenu, You taught our ancestors They trusted in

You; for their sake graciously teach us.

Our Maker, merciful Provider, show us grant us

discernment and understanding.

Then will we study Your Torah, heed its words, teach its

precepts, and follow its instruction, mercy; lovingly

fulfilling all its teachings and life-giving laws.

Open our eyes to Your Torah; help our hearts cleave to

Your mitzvot.

Unite all our thoughts to love and revere You.

Then we will never be brought to shame, for we trust in

Your awesome holiness, and will delight in Your

deliverance.

Bring us safely from the four corners of the earth, and

lead us in dignity to our holy land, for You are the Source

of deliverance, You have called us from all peoples and

tongues, constantly drawing us nearer to You, that we

may lovingly offer You praise, proclaiming Your Oneness.

Praised are You Adonai, who loves the people Israel.

https://ehazzan.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/share-a-prayer-ahavah-rabbah/

Ahavah Rabbah audio

Veha'er Eineinu

Vehavi'einu L'Shalom

Barucha - end of vahavi'einu L'Shalom