לערב ראש השנה 18

לח. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום שלמה בן מנחם חזק.

This prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon ben Menachem.

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְֹרֵה מִדּוֹת

Thirteen Divine attributes

הָאֲמוּרוֹת בַּחֲנִינָה.

which were pronounced with compassion;

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

by virtue of every fitting attribute,

אֲחַלֶּה פְּנֵי־מַלְכִּי

I beseech the Presence of my King

בִּתְחִנָּה.

with supplication,

לְחַפֵּשֹ זְכוּת

to search for the merit [of Israel]

כְּנוּיִים קְרוּאִים שׁוֹשַׁנָּה.

who were named and called the Rose.

מַלְּטֵם מִכָּל־רָעוֹת

Save them from all evil

בְּזֹאת הַשָּׁנָה:

in this year.

אִם אַשְׁמָתָם גָּדְלָה

If their guilt be so great

עַד־שְׁמֵי־רוּם וְכוֹכְבֵיהֶם.

as to reach the heavens and their stars,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

אֲבַקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם.

I plead for mercy for them,

לְבַטֵּל מֵהֶם כָּתוּב,

to annul for them what is written:¹Deut. 32:26.

אָמַרְתִּי אַפְאֵיהֶם.

“I said I will scatter them etc.”

לָמָּה יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם,

Why should the nations say,

אַיֵּה־נָא אֱלֹהֵיהֶם:

“Where is their God?”²Psalms 115:2.

אִם־גָּבְרוּ עֲוֹנוֹת

If their iniquities are grievous

וְעָצְמוּ מִלְּסַפְּרָה.

and too many to count,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute

דְּחֵה אוֹתָם יְהֹוָה לְהַסְתִּירָה.

cast them away, Adonoy, and conceal them;

דִבּוּבֵי־עֹז בְּתַחַן,

let our vigorous words of supplication

לְבַטֵּל מֵהֶם כָּתוּב,

annul that which is written:

אַסְתִּירָה.

“I will hide [my face from them].”³Deut. 32:20.

לָמָה יְהֹוָה תַּעֲמֹד בְּרָחוֹק,

Why, Adonoy, do You stand far off,

תַּעְלִים לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה:

hiding Yourself in times of trouble?⁴Psalms 10:1.

אִם הֶעֱווּ

If they have acted perversely

פְּנֵי מַלְכָּם

in the Presence of their King,

בְּעַזּוּת־פָּנִים וּמֵצַח.

with a brazen face;

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

אֶתְחַנֶּן־לוֹ בְּפֶצַח.

I offer supplication with a loud voice,

וְנַפְשִׁי

[and say to] my soul:

שִׁפְכִי כַמַּיִם לִבֵּךְ,

“Pour out your heart as water”⁵Lamentations 2:19.

נֹכַח

in the presence of Him

אָדֹם וָצַח.

“Who is pure white and ruddy.”⁶Song of Songs 5:10.

לָמָה אֱלֹהִים זָנַחְתָּ לָנֶצַח:

“Why, God, have You cast us off forever.”⁷Psalms 74:1.

אִם־זְדוֹנוֹת הִשִּׁיאוּ

If willful sins have misled

לֵב־טִפֵּשׁ וְנִשְׁחַץ.

the foolish and haughty heart;

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

חַלֵּץ אוֹתָם יְהֹוָה מִמַּחַץ.

save them, Adonoy, from crushing wounds,

חוּשׁ וּבֹא

hasten and come,

וְשָֹא קוֹל־נַחַץ.

and lift up the strong voice [of redemption]

לָמָּה־קֹדֵר אֶתְהַלֵּךְ בְּלַחַץ:

“Why do I go mourning under oppression.”⁸Psalms 42:10.

אִם־טָפְלוּ שֶׁקֶר

If they have slandered

בְּהֶגֶה וְהַוּוֹת לְעֻמֶךָ.

in words and thoughts against You,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

יְדִידוּת תִּזְכֹּר מִמַּנְעִימֶיךָ.

remember the love of those who praise You

יִתְגּוֹלְלוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ

and let Your compassion be moved

עַל־שְׁאֵרִית עַמֶּךָ.

towards the remnant of Your people.

לָמָה יְהֹוָה יֶחֱרֶה אַפְּךָ

“Why should Your anger burn

בְּעַמֶּךָ:

against Your people.”⁹Exodus 32:11.

אִם־כָּבְדוּ אֹזֶן,

If they harden their ear [from hearing]

לְסַלֵּף מִנִּי הַדֶּרֶךְ.

and pervert their way,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

אֲלַחֵשׁ עַל־עַמִּי בְּעֶרֶךְ.

I offer silent prayer for my people,

וְנַפְשִׁי שִׁפְכִי לִבֵּךְ,

and my soul—pour out your heart

פְּנֵי קוֹנֵךְ וְצוּרֵךְ.

in the Presence of your Possessor and Rock.

לָמָּה פָּרַצְתָּ גְדֵרֶיהָ,

“Why have You broken down her fences,

וְאָרוּהָ כָּל עֹבְרֵי דָרֶךְ:

so that all wayfarers pluck her fruit.”¹⁰Psalms 80:13.

אִם־מָרְדוּ בְרֹב־פִּשְׁעָם,

If they have rebelled with great transgression

לְצוּר מַלְכִּי וּקְדוֹשִׁי.

against the Rock, my King, my Holy One;

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

נַפְשִׁי נֹעַם עֲלֵיהֶם תְּבַקְּשִׁי.

my soul—seek pleasantness for them;

לְנוֹרָא מָרוֹם

before the Awesome, Most High,

וְקָדוֹשׁ.

and Holy One,

בְּעֶתֶר אֵלָיו תִּדְרְשִׁי.

address prayerful supplication.

לָמָה יְהֹוָה

Why, Adonoy,

תִּזְנַח מִשָּׁלוֹם נַפְשִׁי:

do You cast off my soul?¹¹Psalms 88:15.

אִם־סָרְרוּ כְּפָרָה,

If they were stubborn like a heifer

מֵרֹב עִתִּים וְיָמִים.

from their many days and years [of exile];

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

אֶשָֹּא עַיִן לִמְרוֹמִים.

I will lift my eyes to the heavens,

עַל־עַמִּי אֶפְצֶה פֶּה

and open my mouth in behalf of my people,

מְעֻטֵּי עַמִּים.

who are the fewest among peoples.

לָמָּה לָנֶצַח תִּשְׁכָּחֵנוּ,

“Why do You forget us forever,

תַּעַזְבֵנוּ לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים:

[and] forsake us for the length of days?”¹²Lamentations 5:20.

אִם־פְּשָׁעֵנוּ עָצְמוּ,

If our transgressions are enormous

וְגָבְרוּ מְאֹד כְּתֶלֶא.

and overwhelming as a mountain,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

by virtue of every fitting attribute [I pray],

אֲצַפְצֵף־קוֹל לְהַפְלֵא.

with a soft [birdlike] voice for wonders.

צְרוּפָה אִמְרָתְךָ,

On Your refined [faithful] word,¹³That our prayers do not go unanswered. [I rely]

לְחַלּוֹת עַל עַם אֵלֶּה.

to plead for this people.

לָמָּה תָשִׁיב יָדְךָ,

“Why do You withdraw Your hand,

וִימִינֶךָ.

even Your right hand?

מִקֶּרֶב חֵיקְךָ כַלֵּה:

Draw it from Your bosom to consume [evil].”¹⁴Psalms 74:11.

אִם־קִלְקְלוּ מַעֲשִֹים,

If they have perverted their actions

לְהָזִיד וּלְהַרְשִׁיעַ.

willfully and wickedly,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

רָחַשׁ לִבֵּךְ לְהוֹשִׁיעַ

let Your heart be moved to deliver them;

קוּמִי רוֹנִי בַלַּיְלָה

“Arise cry out aloud in the night”¹⁵Lamentations 2:19.

לָאֵל הַמּוֹשִׁיעַ.

to the Almighty, the Deliverer.

לָמָּה תִהְיֶה כְּאִישׁ נִדְהָם,

“Why should You be like a man confused,

כְּגִבּוֹר לֹא־יוּכַל לְהוֹשִׁיעַ:

like a mighty man that cannot save.”¹⁶Jeremiah 14:9.

אִם־אָמְנָם שָׁבוּ כֻלָּם,

If in truth, all have repented

בְּלֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ לְחַלּוֹתֶךָ.

with their heart and soul to appease You,

נָא כָּל־מִדָּה נְכוֹנָה,

[then] by virtue of every fitting attribute,

תַּסְכִּים עִמָּם בִּמְחִילָתֶךָ.

consent to pardon them;

וַעֲשֵֹה אָדוֹן לְמַעַנְךָ.

and do it O Master for Your sake,

סְלַח וּמְחַל לַעֲדָתֶךָ.

forgive and pardon Your congregation.

שׁוּב לְמַעַן עֲבָדֶיךָ,

“Return to us for the sake of Your servants,¹⁷The Patriarchs.

שִׁבְטֵי נַחֲלָתֶךָ:

the tribes of Your heritage.”

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.”

אֵלֶיךָ יְהוָה שִׁוַּעְנוּ

Unto You Adonoy is our plea,

וּבַבֹּקֶר תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ תְקַדְּמֶךָּ׃

and in the morning our prayer is before You.

יְהוָה בֹּקֶר תִּשְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ

Adonoy, in the morning hear our voice,

בֹּקֶר נַעֲרָךְ־לְךָ וַנְצַפֶּה׃

in the morning we beseech You and hope.

נַפְשֵׁנוּ לַאדֹנָי

My soul waits for my Master

מִשֹּׁמְרִים

more than the watchman waits

לַבֹּקֶר

for the morning,

שֹׁמְרִים

[more than] the watchman [waits]

לַבֹּקֶר׃

for the morning.

זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים

The [correct] offerings to God

רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה

is a broken spirit;

לֵב־נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה

a broken and humbled heart,

אֱלֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶה׃

God will not despise.

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.