לערב ראש השנה 8

כח. על פי א"ב. חתום יואל בר יצחק הלוי:

This prayer was composed by Rabbi Joel ben Isaac HaLevi.

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

אֶל אֶלוֹהַּ דָּלְפָה עֵינִי.

My eye pours out tears to God

אֲשַׁוֵּעַ וְיֹאמֶר הִנֵּנִי.

when I cry to You, say, “I am here;”

אֲמָרַי הַאֲזִינָה בְּהִתְחַנְּנִי.

give ear to my words when I pray,

עֲנֵנִי יְהֹוָה עֲנֵנִי:

Answer me God, answer me.

בְּמֹאזְנַיִם כִּי תְפַלֵּס דַּרְכִּי.

When You weigh my actions on the scale,

בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ

[You will see] that in Your commandments,

דַלּוֹתִי חֶלְקִי וְחִשְׁקִי.

my share and desire is insignificant,

וְאִם כְּפָעֳלִי תַּשְׁלִים חֻקִּי.

and if You reward me according to my work

וָאִירָא כִּי עֵירוֹם אָנֹכִי:

I am afraid, for I am bare [of good deeds].

גָּרֵשׁ כַּלֵּה חֵטְא וָמֶרִי.

Banish and consume, sin and rebellion

גַּלֵּה נַרְתֵּק מַרְפֵּא וּצֳרִי.

uncover the flask of healing, [heal my soul]

וְעָנְתָה־בִּי צִדְקָתִי

let [only] my righteousness testify

לְיוֹצְרִי.

before my Creator,

בְּיוֹם־מָחָר

tomorrow [Rosh Hashana]

כִּי־תָבֹא עַל־שְֹכָרִי:

when You come to decide my recompense.

דֹּפִי כַּבֵּס

Wash away the stain

וְלַבֵּן אֲדַמְדָּם.

and whiten the redness [of sin].

דְּרֹשׁ אֶת־עֲפַר־יְסוֹדָם.

Consider that their origin is dust,

וְאַל־תְּשַׁלֵּם כִּגְמוּל יָדָם.

repay them not according to their deeds

כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת־הָאָדָם:

for great is the wickedness of man.

הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַחוֹטֵאת בַּמֶּה תִתְכַּפֵּר.

The sinful soul, how can it be atoned?

הוֹן לֹא־יוֹעִיל וְרֹב כֹּפֶר.

Riches are of no avail, nor great ransom

הֶעֱמַדְתָּ עֵד

for You have set as witness [Satan]

מְמַהֵר לְסַפֵּר.

who is quick to testify

מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ בַּכֹּפֶר:

to our sins, committed inside and outside.

וּמַה־יִכְפֹּר

How can one deny [his] guilt

וּבְיָדוֹ סְדוּרוֹת.

when his own hand lists

עִוּוּת מַעֲשָֹיו וְכָל־הַקּוֹרוֹת.

his perverse deeds and all his activities,

וְאֵיךְ־יֹאמַר

and how can he say:

מִי־יוֹדֵעַ סְפֻרוֹת.

“Who knows the count [of my misdeeds]?”

וְהִנֵּה הַנֶּגַע בַּקִּירוֹת:

When the plague is engraved on the wall.¹¹When his sins are obvious.

זַכִּים הַמְלַוִּים עִמְּךָ

The pure [angels] who accompany you

בְּכָל־פֶּלֶךְ.

in every region,

זְרִיזִים לִשְׁמָרְךָ

who are alert to guard you

בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ.

wherever you go;

וְשׁוֹכֶבֶת־בְּחֵיק,

even [the soul] that lies within man

תָּעִיד בְּעָשִׁיר וָהֵלֶךְ.

testifies against rich and poor alike

וְעָמְדָה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ:

when it stands before the King.¹²Each evening the soul returns to Heaven and reports man’s activities.

חַלְתִּי לֹא־יִכְחַד כֹּל מֶנְהוּ.

I tremble, for nothing is hidden from Him,

חַוּוֹת לְאָדָם מַה־שִׂיחֵהוּ.

Who relates to man his every word,

וְאִם עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּב הוּא,

and even his thoughts as he lies on his bed.

וְחִשַּׁב עִם קוֹנֵנוּ:

He must give an accounting to His Creator.

טֶרֶם יִתְנַגְּפוּ רַגְלֶיךָ

Before your feet stumble [before death]

בְּעֵרָבוֹן.

[when your] pledge [the soul is returned]

טַהֵר עַצְמְךָ מִכָּל־עָוֹן.

cleanse yourself from all iniquity,

לֹא־יוּכַל לְהִמָּלֵט

because you will not be saved

בְּכָל־עִזָּבוֹן.

by all the wealth you leave behind,

יֹאמְרוּ הַמּוֹשְׁלִים בֹּאוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹן:

when the Ruler says, “Come, give account.”

יִעֵד אַרְבָּעָה פְרָקִים וְהֶחְרִית.

You appointed four periods¹³See Mesechet Rosh Hashana 16a. and set them

יָדוּן בָּמוֹ נַחֲלַת שְׁאֵרִית.

to judge the remnant of Your inheritance,

וְאִם־מָעֲלוּ־בָךְ,

and if they have trespassed against You

הַבֵּט לַבְּרִית.

regard the covenant [with the Patriarchs]

וְאַל תַּעֲמֹד־עַל־הַפֶּרֶק

and do not stand in the crossway

לְהַכְרִית:

to cut them off.

כִּי בְּיוֹם כֶּסֶה

For on the day of Rosh Hashana¹⁴See Metsudah T’hillim page 165 note 4.

יָבֹא. כָּל־מִקְרֵה־אִישׁ

every man’s fate comes

לִפְנֵי חוֹצְבוֹ.

before his Creator,

אִם־דַּל אִם־עָשִׁיר בְּרִיבוֹ.

be he poor or rich, he is judged,

עוֹלִים וְיוֹרְדִים בּוֹ:

some go up and some go down.

לְעַמְּךָ מֵלִיץ יֹשֶׁר תְּמַנֶּה.

Appoint a just advocate for Your people,

לְעֵת יָבֹאוּ כָּל־בְנֵי־אָדָם,

when all mankind come

בְּשִׁבְטוֹ לְהִמָּנֶה.

to be counted with Your rod,

תַּעֲבֹרְנָה הַצֹּאן

like a flock of sheep passing by

עַל־יְדֵי מוֹנֶה:

the hand of one who counts them.

מִשְׁפַּט עַמּוֹ תְּחִלָּה בִּקְרֹב.

Let Your people’s judgement be first.¹⁵Before the Almighty is angered by the other nations.

מִשַּׁחַת תַּעַל חַיָּתָם

Lift their souls from destruction,

לְטוֹב תַּעֲרֹב.

assure them of goodness,

וְיָדִין לְאֻמִּים לְבַדָּם מִלַּעֲרֹב.

and judge each nation by itself,

לְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת שָׁם עָרֹב:

let there not be an inter-mixture.

נָאוֹר,

Illustrious God,

אֵלֶיךָ מִי־יְחֻבָּר.

who can be associated with You?

נוֹהֵג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,

Ordinarily

אֵין מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּכְלִי מְשֻׁבָּר.

no one uses a broken vessel,

וְלֹא־תִבְזֶה,

but You do not despise

לֵב נִדְכֶּה וְנִשְׁבָּר.

a humble and broken heart;

הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהֹוָה דָּבָר:

is anything too miraculous for Adonoy?

סַתְּתוּ אֶבֶן־נֶגֶף

Clear away the stumbling block¹⁶The Evil Inclination.

לְעֵמֶק־שָׁוֶה.

that the path may become smooth,

סוּרוּ טָמֵא,

“Depart you unclean one!”

קִרְאוּ כְּסִיל הַמְחֻבֶּא.

call out to the concealed fool,

כִּי אֵין־הַצָּר בְּנֶזֶק שֹׁוֶה.

for the enemy cares not of our hurt;

הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ

come let us deal wisely with him,

פֶּן־יִרְבֶּה:

lest he become too mighty.

עוֹבֵד שְׁנֵי־אֲדוֹנִים

Man serves two masters

כְּפִי־שָׁנָיו.

during the years of his life,

עֲשֹוֹת לְיוֹצְרוֹ

doing the will of his Creator

וּלְיִצְרוֹ כִּרְצוֹנָיו.

or serving his [evil] inclination;

וְטוֹב הִדָּבֵק לְבוֹרְאוֹ

but well for him who clings to his Creator

כָּל־זְמַנָּיו.

all of his [life] time,

וְעֶבֶד חָפְשִׁי מֵאֲדוֹנָיו:

then he is a servant free from his master.¹⁷The Evil Inclination.

פְּנוֹת הַיּוֹם סְעוּדָתוֹ יִכֹּן.

He who prepares his meal before evening,

פַּעֲלוֹ לָזֶה

he who works in this [world]

וְלַבָּא יְהִי נָכוֹן.

will be prepared for the future [world];

וְעוֹשֵֹהוּ בַשַּׁבָּת

but he who waits for the Sabbath,¹⁸When death approaches.

מַה־יִסְכֹּן.

what gain will he have?¹⁹This is a paraphrase of the saying, “He who prepares before the Sabbath, will have what to eat on the Sabbath.”

מְעֻוָּת

That which is crooked

לֹא־יוּכַל לִתְקֹן:

cannot be made straight.²⁰Koheles 1:15.

צְעָקָה לָכֵן קִדַּמְנוּ

Therefore, we hasten to pray even before

לְיוֹם הַדִּין, וְתַקְשִׁיב.

the Day of Judgement, listen to our prayer;

צוֹם וּתְשׁוּבָה־שְׁלֵמָה

fasting and whole-hearted repentance

חֲמָתְךָ יָשִׁיב.

will turn away Your wrath,

וְלֹא

but not [like the dog]

כְּשָׁב עַל־קִיאוֹ,

which returns to his vomit

בְּאֶחֱטָא וְאָשִׁיב.

to sin again and repent,

לֹא מָצְאָה יָדוֹ

for no opportunity will be given him

דֵּי־הָשִׁיב:

to repent.

קוּמוּ יְשֵׁנֵי־מַכְפֵּל

Rise you who sleep in the cave of Machpelah,²¹The Patriarchs.

לְסַעֲדִי.

and help me,

קַלּוֹתִי וּמַעַשֹ אֵין בְיָדִי.

I am disgraced, and I have no good deeds,

וְזַעֲקוּ וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ לְאֵל עִמָּדִי.

cry out and pray to God, with me,

וּמִכֹּחֲכֶם

and from the strength [of your deeds]

שִׁחֲדוּ בַּעֲדִי:

offer a gratuity on my behalf.

רַחֲמִים תְּעוֹרֵר,

Arouse Your mercy

לָתֵת עָצְמָה לְאֵין אוֹנִים.

to strengthen those that are powerless,

רָם,

Exalted One, [do it]

כִּי־נִשְׁכְּחוּ זֶה כַּמֶּה־שָׁנִים.

for they were forgotten these many years,

שַׁעֲרֵי־דְמָעוֹת תִּפְתַּח

open the gates of tears

לְנִטְעֵי נַעֲמָנִים.

for [Your] beautiful plants [Israel],

בִּבְכִי יָבֹא וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים:

who come weeping and supplicating [to You].

שַׁדַּי, בְּמֶרְיֵינוּ

Almighty One, because of our rebellion,

הֲלֹא כְּנָכְרִים נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ.

we are considered strangers,

שַׁבְנוּ אֵלֶיךָ,

but now that we return to You

וּכְאָב עַל־בֵּן תְּרַחֲמֵנוּ:

have mercy on us as a father on his sons;

זְכֹר כִּי בָנִים קְרָאתָנוּ,

remember that You called us children,

וְאָב אֶחָד לְכֻלָּנוּ.

and You are the one Father of us all,

לָמָּה יִגָּרַע שֵׁם־אָבִינוּ:

why diminish the Name of our Father?

תְּשׁוּרָה אֵין בְּיָדִי לְפָנַי.

I have no offering to present to You,

תְּמוּרָתָהּ תִּכֹּן תְּפִלָּתִי וְתַחֲנוּנָי.

in exchange accept my prayer and plea,

קַח נָא אֶת הַמִּנְחָה

please accept the present

הַהוֹלֶכֶת לְפָנָי.

that goes before me,

וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל הָעָם־הַזֶּה

and let all these people know

כִּי־אַתָּה יְהֹוָה:

that You are Adonoy.

יָדַע וְהֵכִין

You made known and ordained

מֵרֵאשִׁית תְּשׁוּבָה.

repentance even before creation,²²God knew that the world could not exist without repentance.

אֱלֹהִים חֲשָׁבָהּ לְטוֹבָה.

God considered it a benefit [to man],

בְּכֵן רַצְנוּ עָדֶיךָ לָשׁוּבָה.

and so we hasten to return to You;

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ

cause us to return to You Adonoy

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

יְדִידִים צָעֲקוּ

Your loved ones cry out,

חָלוּ, קְרוֹת בִּמְהוּמִים.

they beseech You with great murmuring,

הַקּוֹל לִמְכוֹן וִעוּדוֹ, יִשָּׁמַע

let their voice be heard in His Dwelling,

מִמְּרוֹמִים.

from on high;

יִכָּמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו,

may His mercy be aroused

בִּזְכוּת שְׁלשֶׁת תְּמִימִים.

in the merit of the three Patriarchs,

אֵל־שַׁדַּי, יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים:

may Almighty God grant you mercy.

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.”

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ

The Rock, His work is perfect,

כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט

for all His ways are justice.

אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל

Almighty of faithfulness, without iniquity,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא׃

just and right is He.

לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ עָמְדוּ הַיּוֹם

For Your judgement they stand today,

כִּי הַכֹּל עֲבָדֶיךָ׃

for they are all Your servants.

תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר

Blow the shofar on the new month,

בַּכֵּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ׃

at the appointed time for our festive day.

כִּי חֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא

For it is a statute for Israel,

מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב׃

a day of judgement of the God of Jacob.

צִדְקָתְךָ

Your righteousness

כְּהַרְרֵי־אֵל

is like the mighty mountains,

מִשְׁפָּטֶךָ תְּהוֹם רַבָּה

Your judgements like the great deep;

אָדָם־וּבְהֵמָה תוֹשִׁיעַ יְהוָה׃

man and beast, You deliver, 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.