ליום רביעי דעשי"ת 4

עט. חתום גרשום בר יהודה (מאור הגולה)

This prayer was composed by Rabbenu Gershom, the “Light of the Exile.”

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

אָמְנָם אֲנַחְנוּ חָטָאנוּ

Truly we have sinned

וְהֶעֱוִינוּ.

and caused others to sin,

בָּגוֹד בָּגַדְנוּ בְּךָ אָבִינוּ.

we have surely betrayed You, our Father;

גָּלִינוּ מִבְּלִי דַעַת

we were exiled because we lacked perception,¹To follow Your paths.

וְנִדְוִינוּ.

and we have suffered;

דְּחוּיִים דְחוּפִים

though we have been dispersed and oppressed,

לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּינוּ:

we hope for Your deliverance.

הַעֲבֵר אָדוֹן עֲווֹן עֲבָדֶיךָ.

Remove, O Master, the iniquity of Your servant,

וְאַל־תַּט בְּאַף

and do not turn away in anger

זֶרַע יְדִידֶיךָ.

the children of Your loved one [the Patriarchs];

זְכֹר רַחֲמֶיךָ יְהֹוָה

remember Your mercies, Adonoy

וַחֲסָדֶיךָ.

and Your kindnesses,

חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת

[grant them] kindness and truth

נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לִידִידֶיךָ:

as You swore to Your loved ones.

טֵרוּד וְעִנּוּי

[They were punished with] exile and torture

מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם.

because of their way of transgression,

יִסּוּרֵי תּוֹכָחוֹת

and were afflicted

שְׁמוֹנָה וְתִשְׁעִים.

with the ninety eight curses²See Deuteronomy 28:15–68.

כָּרַתָּ

upon which You made a covenant

וְהִכְתַּבְתָּ לְאַיֵּם פּוֹשְׁעִים.

to admonish transgressors;

לֹא־תַאֲשִׁים אוֹם

do not accuse Your people

בְּךָ נוֹשָׁעִים:

who will be delivered through You.

מִפֶּשַׁע רַב נַקֵּה בָּנֶיךָ.

Acquit Your children of great transgression,

נִכְנָעִים שָׁבִים

they are humble in their repentance

וּמִתְחַנְּנִים לְפָנֶיךָ.

and entreat You with supplications;

סִרְחוֹן כִּתְמָם לַבֵּן

cleanse the stain of their guilt

בְּהַעֲבָרַת סַמְמָנֶיךָ.

with Your Divine cleansers,

עֲווֹנָם תִּכְבֹּשׁ

conceal their iniquities

וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בְּצוּל

and cast them into the depths

שְׁאוֹנֶךָ:

of Your raging waters.

פְּקַח־קוֹחַ אֲסוּרֶיךָ לְהַתֵּר.

“Open their eyes,” release Your bound ones,³See Isaiah 61:1. This is a plea for redemption.

צַחַן שִׁמְצָתֵנוּ תַּעֲבִיר

remove the stench of our iniquity,

כְּבַנֶּתֶר.

as with nitre,

קְרַע שְׁטָרֵינוּ

tear up our records [of guilt],

וְחוֹבוֹתֵינוּ וַתֵּר.

and waive our liabilities;

רַחֵם תִּזְכֹּר

remember to show us compassion

פָּנִים בְּהַסְתֵּר:

even though Your Presence is concealed.

שְׁבוּעָה זְכֹר וּבְרִית קַדְמוֹנִית.

Remember the oath and covenant of long ago,

תָּחֹן בִּזְכוּת־אָבוֹת

be gracious in the merit of the Patriarchs,

מְנוּיֵי אֲחוֹרַנִּית.

who are listed backwards.⁴See Leviticus 26:42. Jacob is written before Isaac and Isaac before Abraham.

גְּדֵרַת הֲגִינָה

The platform upon which the Levites sang,

מְלֶאכֶת הַתָּכְנִית.

the blue-print of the Temple—

רְצֵה לְהַחֲזִיר

may it be Your will to return them to us,

חִבָּה רִאשׁוֹנִית:

with Your love of old.

שָׁפְטָה מִשְׁפָּטִי

Take my revenge

מִזֵּדִים עוֹשְׁקִים.

from those who oppressed me,

מֵאֲנוּ לְשַׁלְּחֵנוּ

they refused to free us,

וּבָנוּ מַחֲזִיקִים.

and they held us with force;

בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הָעֲשׁוּקִים.

the oppressed children of Judah of Israel—

יָהּ שׁוּב שְׁבִיתָם

God, bring back their exiles

כְּבַנֶּגֶב אֲפִיקִים:

like springs in the desert.⁵Revive them as springs can revive an arid desert.

הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם

Look from the heavens,

מִזְּבוּל מְרוֹמֶיךָ.

from Your palace on high,

וְגֹל יִתְגֹּלְלוּ

and let be revealed

הֲמוֹן מֵעֶיךָ וְרַחֲמֶיךָ.

the abundance of Your pity and compassion;

דַּי תֹּאמַר לְיִסּוּרֵי נְעִימֶיךָ.

say: “Enough!” punishment for Your beloved,

הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ

do good, as You see fit

עִירְךָ וְעַמֶּךָ:

to Your city and Your people.

חַטֹּאתֵינוּ בִּמְצוּלוֹת יָם תַּצְלִיל.

Drown our sins in the depths of the sea,

זְבוּל קָדְשְׁךָ

Your Holy Palace [the Temple]

בִּמְרוֹם הָרִים תַּתְלִיל.

raise it above the high mountains,

קְנוּיֶיךָ

[Israel] Your possession,

יֵלְכוּ בְּשִׂמְחַת לֵבָב

may they go with joyous hearts [to Jerusalem]

וְחָלִיל

accompanied with flutes;

אָז תַּחְפֹּץ זִבְחֵי־צֶדֶק

then You will desire their righteous offerings,

עוֹלָה וְכָלִיל:

burnt-offerings and priest’s meal offerings.⁶Which were totally consumed on the Altar.

אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ.

Almighty! King!

יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים.

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת.

governs with kindness

מוֹחֵל עֲו‍ֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ.

forgives the iniquities of His people.

מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן.

He removes their sins one by one,

מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים.

and pardon to transgressors.

עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת

Acting righteously

עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ.

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

לֹא כְרָעָתָם

not according to their wickedness

תִּגְמוֹל:

does He repay them.

אֵל

Almighty!

הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר

You instructed us to recite

שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the thirteen Divine attributes;

וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם

remember unto us this day

בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made them known

לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם.

to the humble Moses of old,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written,

וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם

and stood with him there,

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses],

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity, and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin;

וְנַקֵּה:

and Acquitter of those who repent.

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲו‍ֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי

“For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.”

אֱ‍לֹהִים

God!

בָּאוּ גוֹיִם בְּנַחֲלָתֶךָ

Nations have entered into Your inheritance;

טִמְּאוּ

they have defiled

אֶת הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ

the Sanctuary of Your holiness,

שָׂמוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם לְעִיִּים:

they have made Jerusalem into heaps of ruins.

שְׁפָךְ־עֲלֵיהֶם זַעְמֶךָ,

Pour out Your wrath upon them,

וַחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ יַשִּׂיגֵם:

and let Your fierce anger overtake them.

הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָרֶץ

Arise Judge of the earth,

הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל־גֵּאִים:

repay the arrogant their just reward.

תֶּן־לָהֶם כְּפָעֳלָם

Give them according to their deeds,

וּכְרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם

and their evil deceptions;

כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם תֵּן לָהֶם

according to their actions, grant them,

הָשֵׁב גְּמוּלָם לָהֶם:

repay them their just reward.

הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּוֹן

Do good, as You see fit, to Zion

תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם:

may You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים

As a father has compassion on his children

כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ:

so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה,

Deliverance is Adonoy’s;

עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה:

upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ

Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה:

a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת,

Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ:

fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה,

Adonoy, deliver us;

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:

the King will answer us on the day we call.

סְלַח נָא לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה,

“Please pardon the sins of this nation

כְּגֹֽדֶל

in accordance with the greatness

חַסְדֶּֽךָ.

of Your lovingkindness;

וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה.

and as You forgave this people

מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה.

from when it left Egypt until now.”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה

“And Adonoy said,

סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”

הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע,

Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,

פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ,

open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,

וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ

and the city which is called by Your Name;

כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ,

for it is not on account of our righteousness

אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ,

that we let fall our supplication before You,

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but because of Your great mercy.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה,

My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה,

My Master, listen and take action,

אַל תְּאַחַר.

do not delay!

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי,

For Your sake, my God,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא

because Your Name is proclaimed

עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:

over Your city and over Your people.