Note 215 — Chapter XLI · A.D. 1800-1885. THE JEWS IN ENGLAND—continued.
Reading edition
In the twelfth prayer, used by the Jews for many centuries, in their public worship, occurred the words: ‘Let there be no hope for those who apostatize from the true religion, and let heretics, however so many they be, perish in a moment. And let the kingdom of pride (the Roman empire) be speedily rooted out and broken in our days.’ In the liturgy of the Ashkenazim this prayer (which tradition attributes to Gamaliel) now stands thus: ‘Let the slanderers have no hope, all the wicked be annihilated speedily, and all tyrants be cut off quickly.’ In that of the Sephardim the prayer runs: ‘Let slanderers have no hope, and let all presumptuous apostates perish in a moment. May Thine enemies and those that hate Thee be suddenly cut off, and all those that act wickedly be suddenly consumed, broken, and rooted out; and humble Thou them speedily in our days.’—Horne’s Introduction, iii. 474.