לערב ראש השנה 7

כז. על פי א"ב. חתום שלמה חזק ואמץ:

This prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon Ibn Gabirol (1021–1056).

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

אָנָּא עוֹרְרָה אַהֲבָתְךָ הַיְשָׁנָה.

We beseech You, arouse Your old love,

אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ

with which You loved [Israel],

לַעֲדַת מִי־מָנָה.

the uncountable congregation,

בְּכָל־כִּנּוּי חִבָּה וְאַחְוָה.

with every term of love, brotherhood

וְרֵעוּת מְכֻנָּה.

and friendship, You designated them;

לְמַעַן אַחַי וְרֵעָי

for the sake of my brethren and companions,

אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּא:

let me speak, I beseech You.

גַּם בְּצַעְדְּךָ עַל־הַר־גַּבְנוּנִי.

When You set foot on Mount [Sinai]

גִּיל לְשַׁעֲשֵׁעַ חֶמֶד קַדְמוֹנִי.

to delight us with Your ancient treasure,⁶The Torah which existed even before Creation.

דִּמִּיתָ מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים

You likened us to a kingdom of priests

וְגוֹי־קָדוֹשׁ, וּבְנִי.

and a holy nation, [calling us] “My son”;

וְהִיא גַם־הִיא אָמְרָה,

and she [Israel] then said:

אָחִי הוּא, מַלְכִּי וַאֲדוֹנִי:

“He is my brother, my King, and my Master.”

הוֹרַשְׁתָּ

You caused them [Israel] to inherit

נַחֲלַת־צְבִי, חֶבֶל הַנָּעִים.

a delightful heritage, the sweet portion;⁷The Land of Israel.

הִסְתּוֹפֵף לִכְבוֹדְךָ,

Your glory [Shechinah] You caused to frequent

בְּלוֹיוֹת צַעֲצֻעִים.

between the images of the Cherubim;

וְהֵן עַתָּה טִלְטְלוּהָ

and now they [Israel] have been driven away

זָרִים, זֵדִים מְרֵעִים.

by strangers and evil doers.

בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא־לָהֶם,

In a land that is not theirs,

הֲלֹא אַחֶיךָ רוֹעִים:

Your brethren now sojourn.

זְכֹר אַל־תִּשְׁכַּח,

Remember, do not forget,

וְאַל־תֶּחֱרַשׁ וְאַל תִּשְׁקֹט אֵל.

be not silent and do not rest, Almighty,

זָמְמוּ לְהַכְחִידִי אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל.

for Edom and Ishmael wanted to cut me off,

חַנּוּן, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ

Gracious One, You know

אֶת־כָּל הַתְּלָאוֹת הָאֵל.

of all these afflictions,

כֹּה אָמַר אָחִיךָ יִשְֹרָאֵל:

so speak Your brethren, Israel.

טָפְלוּ עָלַי וּבְקָקוּנִי בּוֹקְקִים.

Plunderers beset me and emptied me,

טָהֳרָה בְטֻמְאָה לְהָמִיר,

to exchange the clean for the unclean,⁸To renounce Judaism.

לְחָצוּנִי דּוֹחֲקִים.

oppressors tried to force me,

יוֹם־יוֹם, הִנֵּה

behold, every day

עֲבָדֶיךָ מֻכִּים וְלוֹקִים.

how Your servants are beaten and whipped;

קוֹל דְּמֵי־אָחִיךָ צוֹעֲקִים:

the voice of Your brother’s blood cries out.

כָּרוּ־לִי שִׁיחוֹת לְמוֹקֵשׁ.

They have dug a pit to trap me;

כָּלְתָה וְנִכְסְפָה נַפְשִׁי

my soul faints and yearns

עֶזְרָתָה לְבַקֵּשׁ.

to seek Your help,

לִישׁוּעָתָה־לִי עַל־פְּתָחַי לְנַקֵּשׁ.

knock at my door and be my deliverance,

אֶת־אַחַי אָנֹכִי מְבַקֵּשׁ:

[and say] “I seek my brothers.”

מִיּוֹם כֶּסֶה,

From the Day of Rosh Hashana⁹See Metsudah T’hillim page 165 note 4.

בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ עַל־כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ.

when You sit on Your glorious throne

מַבִּיט לִסְקֹר יַחַד,

and look down to examine simultaneously

לֵב־מוֹרְדֶיךָ

the hearts of those who rebel against You

וְעוֹבְדֶיךָ.

and the hearts of those who serve You,

נְגֹשֹ

exact with force

כָּל בַּעַל מַשַּׁאת בּוֹגְדֶיךָ.

the debt from all who rebel against You;

וַאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֶת־אָחִיךָ,

but whatever Your brother owes You,

תַּשְׁמֵט יָדֶךָ:

let Your hand release.

סְפָרִים עֵת יִקָּרְאוּ,

When the Books [of Life and Death] are read

לִבְרוּאֵי עוֹלָמָךְ

for the creatures of Your world,

שְֹאֵת חַיִּים וְחִלּוּף,

decreeing life or the opposite [of life]

לְשֹׁעַ וָמָךְ.

to the rich and the poor;

עֶלְיוֹן, חֵן וָחֶסֶד

Most High grant favor and kindness

בְּאֻלָּמָךְ.

in Your Sanctuary [of judgement].

עֲרֹב עַבְדְּךָ לְטוֹב,

Be surety for Your servant for good,

וְחֵי אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ:

so that Your brother may live with You.

פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי,

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

וּתְנֵנִי עֶלְיוֹן.

and set me on high,

פַּגֵּר מְנַאֲצֶיךָ

cause those who provoke You to perish

בְּעֹנִי וְרִשְׁיוֹן.

in wretchedness and in poverty;

צָרְכֵי חֹק טֶרֶף,

but when You apportion the sustenance

בְּחַלְקָךְ אַפְסַנְיוֹן.

giving each his yearly provision,

לֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת־יָדְךָ,

do not shut Your hand

מֵאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן:

from Your needy brother.

קִדַּמְתִּי בַנֶּשֶׁף,

I rise before dawn

וָאֲשַׁוֵּעָה־לְךָ מְחוֹלְלִי.

and cry to You my Creator.

קַדְּמָה חַסְדֶּךָ,

Forward Your kindness

וְשָֹא פִשְׁעִי וּמַעֲלִי.

and forgive my transgression and treachery.

רַחֲמֶיךָ יִתְגּוֹלְלוּ עָלַי,

Let Your mercy be extended to me

כִּמְנַחֵם אֶבְלִי.

as one who comforts me in my mourning.

מִי יִתֶּנְךָ כְּאָח לִי:

O that You were like a brother to me.

שְׁעֵה שַׁוְעַת עֲנִיֶּךָ

Consider the supplication of Your poor ones

וְצַעֲקָתָם.

and [hear their] cry,

שָֹבְעָה בְרָעוֹת נַפְשָׁם וְחַיָּתָם.

satiated with troubles are their souls and spirit;

תַּשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצוּלוֹת־יָם

cast into the depths of the sea

כָּל־חַטֹּאתָם.

all their sins;

אָנָּא שָֹא־נָא

we beseech You, forgive now,

פֶּשַׁע אַחֶיךָ,

the transgression of Your brothers,

וְחַטָּאתָם:

and their sins.

שָֹשֹ אָנֹכִי עַל־אִמְרַת־מִבְטָחֶיךָ.

I rejoice at the word of Your promise,

לִבַּבְתִּנִי,

You drew our hearts [to You]

עַל־יְדֵי־צִירִים שְׁלוּחֶיךָ.

through Your messengers [the prophets];

מָתַי תַּחְשֹׂף זְרֹעֲךָ בְּכוֹחֲךָ.

when will You reveal Your mighty arm?

לֶךְ־נָא רְאֵה

Go now and see

אֶת־שְׁלוֹם אַחֶיךָ:

to the peace [welfare] of Your brothers.

הָיִיתָה מִקֶּדֶם מִקְוֵה יִשְֹרָאֵל,

You were always the hope of Israel

וְחֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתָם.

and the sword of their pride,¹⁰Israel took pride that God fought their battles.

חַי, זְקֹף גַּם עַתָּה קוֹמָתָם.

living God, lift up their stature now,

וְאַמֵּץ זְרֹעָם וְתִשְׁכֹּן בֵּינוֹתָם.

strengthen their arm and dwell among them;

וְאֶת־אַחֶיךָ תִּפְקֹד לְשָׁלוֹם,

and Your brothers, remember them for peace

וְאֶת־עֲרֻבָּתָם:

and their families too.

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.”

אַל תָּבֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ

Do not enter into judgement with us

כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶֽיךָ כָּל חָי:

for no living soul will be justified before You.

הַאֲזִינָה יְהוָה תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ

Give ear Adonoy to our prayer,

הַקְשִׁיבָה לְקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ׃

listen to the voice of our supplication.

מַה־נֹּאמַר לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ,

What can we say before You Adonoy our God?

מַה־נְּדַבֵּר

What can we speak?

וּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּק:

And how can we justify ourselves?

אֱלֹהֵינוּ בֹּשְׁנוּ וְנִכְלַמְנוּ

Our God, we are ashamed and embarrassed

לְהָרִים אֱלֹהֵינוּ פָּנֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ

to lift up our faces to You, our God,

כִּי־רַבּוּ מְשׁוּבֹתֵינוּ

for great is our desertion,

לְךָ חָטָאנוּ׃

to You we have sinned.

חָטָאנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ

We have sinned together with our fathers,

הֶעֱוִינוּ וְהִרְשָׁעְנוּ׃

we have been malicious and have done evil.

חַטֹּאת נְעוּרֵינוּ וּפְשָׁעֵינוּ

The sins of our youth, and our transgressions,

אַל־תִּזְכֹּר

do not recall.

כְּחַסְדְּךָ זְכָר־לָנוּ־אַתָּה

According to Your kindness, remember us,

לְמַעַן טוּבְךָ יְהוָה׃

for the sake of Your goodness, Adonoy.

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.