Ma Tovu
Ma Tovu is a prayer recited by religious Jews expressing reverence upon entering synagogues and other places of worship in Judaism.
The prayer begins with Numbers 24:5, which records Balaam, sent to curse the Israelites, as instead being overcome with awe at God and the Israelites' worship. Its first line is a quote of Balaam's blessing and is thus the only prayer commonly used in Jewish prayer services that was written by a non-Jew. The remainder of the text is derived from passages in Psalms relating to entering the house of worship and preparation for further prayer. In this vein is the prayer recited by Jews upon entering the synagogue; in the Western Ashkenazic rite, it is usually sung before beginning on Jewish holidays, especially on the second night of .