לערב ראש השנה 21

מא. ע"פ א"ב כפול.

אֵלֶיךָ צוּרִי

To You, my Creator

כַּפַּי שִׁטַּחְתִּי.

I have spread my hands [in prayer],

וְגֹדֶל וְגֹבַהּ לֵב הִנַּחְתִּי.

I have abandoned arrogance and haughtiness.

אָכֵן רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה

Truly, a broken spirit,

זָבַחְתִּי.

I [have brought before You as a] sacrifice,

וַאֲנִי בְּחַסְדְּךָ בָטַחְתִּי:

and in Your loving-kindness, I trust.

בָּטַחְתִּי בְּךָ

I trust in You

וְלֹא־בְזַיִן מְכוּרְזָל.

and not upon refined weaponry,

לְהֶרֶג כְּנִמְסַרְתִּי

even when I was threatened with death

רַב וּבַרְזֶל.

[along with] scholars and their students.

בַּקֵּשׁ

Search out [for redemption]

יוֹנַת אֵלֶם וְגוֹזָל.

the speechless dove and nestling,¹“Speechless dove”—i.e. the nation of Israel.

וְהֵשִׁיב אֶת־הַגְּזֵלָה

and let him return the robbery²And—robbery, i.e. let the gentiles return the land that they robbed from us.

אֲשֶׁר גָּזָל:

that he robbed.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

גָּזַל וְאִבַּד

He [the gentile nations] robbed and destroyed

חֲסִידֵי עֶלְיוֹן

the exalted righteous [of our nation]

וִישִׁישָׁיו.

and his wise elders,

וְהֶחֱרִיב בֵּיתוֹ

and destroyed his House³‘House’—i.e. the Temple.

וְחִלֵּל מִקְדָּשׁ וְקָדָשָׁיו.

and desecrated the Holy⁴Holy, i.e. the Temple. and its holies

וְגִדֵּר הַפָּרֹכֶת

and slashed the Curtain⁵I.e. the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple.

וְהָרַג נְבִיאָיו וּקְדוֹשָׁיו.

and slaughtered his prophets and holy men,

זֶה דּוֹר דּוֹרְשָׁיו:

that was a generation that seeked Him.

דּוֹרְשָׁיו דָּמָם

The blood of those that seeked Him

יְהִי־כֹפֶר וּפִדְיוֹם.

shall be a ransom and redemption

לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדְךָ

before Your honorable Throne

אָיֹם.

[that instills] fear [in all creation].

דְּבוּקִים אַחֲרֶיךָ

[We are] attached to You

כִּצְמִידִים וּתְיוֹם.

as linked couplets and twins,

כִּי עָלֶיךָ

because for Your sake

הֹרַגְנוּ כָל־הַיּוֹם:

we are constantly killed.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

On this day

כַּמָּה רְבָבוֹת

how many tens of thousands

נָפְלוּ מֵעַמֶּךָ.

fell [by the sword] from Your nation,

וּמָסְרוּ עַצְמָם

and gave their lives

עַל יִחוּד שְׁמֶךָ.

for the Unity of Your Name.

הוֹצֵא לְמַעֲנָם לָאוֹר

For their sake bring forth into the light

מִשְׁפָּטָם וְדִינָם

their judgments and sentence

מִמְּרוֹמֶיךָ.

from Your heights,

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ אֶל־תְּחִנַּת

and hear the prayers

עֲבָדֶיךָ וְעַמֶּךָ:

of Your servants and Your nation.

וְעַמְּךָ שׁוֹלְלִים וּבוֹזְזִים

And Your nation they loot and rob

וְחֵילָם יָבֹזּוּ.

and their riches they plundered

וּשְׂמֵחִים לִמְחִתָּה

and they rejoice in the fear⁶‘In the fear’ i.e. the fear of the Jewish Nation.

וּלְאֵיד יַעֲלֹזוּ.

and in the breach⁷‘In the break’ i.e. the breach of the Jewish Nation. they revel.

וּמִי־נָתַן לִמְשִׁסָּה יַעֲקֹב

‘And who has given Jacob to loot’

בְּקוֹל יַכְרִיזוּ.

loudly they proclaim,

הֲלֹא יְהֹוָה זוּ:

“Is it not Adonoy that did this!”

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator

זוּ חֵטְא גָּרַם

[To this we respond] ‘Our sins caused this,

וְרוֹדֵף חֲבָטָנוּ.

and [caused our] pursuer to smite us.

סַרְנוּ מִנִּי דֶרֶךְ

We have veered from the path

וְכַסּוֹרֵרָה בָעַטְנוּ.

and like a rebellious counsel we have kicked.

זָעַמְנוּ

We suffered His anger

בְּמִדָּה

according to the measure [that we deserve],

וּכְרֹעַ מַעֲלָלֵינוּ

and according to our evil actions

לָעַטְנוּ.

we have suffered

לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ חָטָאנוּ:

to Adonoy our God we have sinned.

חָטָאנוּ

We have sinned

וְהִנְנוּ בְּאַשְׁמָה גְּדוֹלָה.

and we are still [immersed] in great guilt.

לְלַעַג וָקֶלֶס

To ridicule and mockery

נְתוּנִים בַּגּוֹלָה.

we have been placed in exile.

חֲזוֹן הַמִּקְרָא עָלֵינוּ עָלָה.

[The prophecy of Scripture has befallen us:

הִנֵּה

“Behold!

יְהֹוָה מְטַלְטֶלְךָ טַלְטֵלָה:

Adonoy has made you wander wanderings.”

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

טַלְטֵלָה וְעִצָּבוֹן

The wanderings and sorrows

כִּי גָּבְרוּ וְעָצְמוּ.

became stronger and intensified.

זְאֵבֵי עֲרָבוֹת

The wolves [who attack their prey at] dusk⁸‘The wolves — dusk,’ i.e. the nations of the world.

אָכְלוּ הָמָּמוּ.

devoured and stunned us.

טְרָפוּנוּ

They tore us to pieces

וְלַבֹּקֶר וְלֹא גָּרָמוּ.

and left not even a bone till morning.

אַכְזָרִים הֵמָּה וְלֹא יְרַחֵמוּ:

They are ruthless and do not take pity.

יְרַחֲמוּ מִשָּׁמַיִם

May pity come from the Heavens!

עֲשׂוֹת נֵס.

To do miracles [for us]

וְיַצִּיל עַמּוֹ

and let Him save His people

מִיַּד חָזָק וּמְאַנֵּס.

from the hand of the strong and violent.

יְדִידוּת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתָיו

May His beloved dwelling⁹I.e. the Temple.

לְאֹרֶךְ וְרֹחַב יְפַרְנֵס.

expand its length and breadth

כְּתֹרֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר יְכַנֵּס:

as a mast and as a banner¹⁰May the Temple be so visible and prominent! at the mountaintop.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

כַּנֵּס נוֹתְרָה

As a [lonely] flagpole, [remained]

שְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ.

the remnant of His inheritance,

בְּעָלוּנוּ אֲדוֹנִים זוּלָתוֹ.

Masters, besides Him, lorded over us.

כָּעֵת יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב

Now, let it be told to Jacob¹¹I.e. Israel.

בֶּן־מְחִילָתוֹ.

whom He forgives:

בָּחַר לוֹ יָהּ

“God has chosen him,

יִשְׂרָאֵל לִסְגֻלָּתוֹ:

Israel to be His chosen nation.”

לִסְגֻלָּתוֹ

To His chosen nation

אַל־יְהִי דָּוֶה וְשָׁמֵם.

let there not be pain and destruction.

כִּימֵי קֶדֶם

As in days of yore

חָרְבוֹתַי יְקוֹמֵם.

let my ruins¹²I.e. Jerusalem. be rebuilt.

לְמַלְכִּי יִתֵּן עֹז

To my king let Him give strength

וִירוֹמֵם.

and let him be exalted,

מַשְׁפִּיל אַף מְרוֹמֵם:

[God] Who humbles and exalts.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

מְרוֹמֵם

Exalted One!

יַרְאֵנִי בְשׁוֹרְרַי.

Show me [vengeance] in my enemies,¹³בשוררי—lit. those who see to my destruction.

נִקְמָתוֹ

His vengeance

וְנִקְמַת בְּחִירַי.

and the vengeance of my chosen place¹⁴‘Chosen place,’ i.e. the Temple..

מוּסַר כְּלִמָּתִי לְעָרַי.

Transfer the pain of my shame to my enemies

כִּי־נָשָׂאתִי

for I carried

חֶרְפַּת נְעוּרָי:

the shame of [the wrongdoing] of my youth.

נְעוּרַי זָכַרְתִּי־לוֹ

[God responds:] I remember his youth

אַהֲבָה כְלוּלָה.

the love of betrothal.¹⁵‘I remember — betrothal’ i.e. I remember the kindnesses that I did for you when you first became My nation.

לְעֵת זִקְנָה

[So, too] in her old age

חֶסֶד גּוֹמְלָהּ.

act kindly towards her.

נָא תִּכּוֹן תְּפִלָּתִי

Please! Let my prayer be established

כְּעוֹלָה.

as a burnt-offering.¹⁶‘Let — offering,’ i.e. let my prayer be considered as a sacrifice brought at the time of the Temple.

הַאֲזִינָה אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.

God of Jacob listen to my prayer forever.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

סֶלָה לְקֹוֶיךָ הֱיֵה מַשְׁעֵנָם.

You have always been a support to those who put their hope in You.

לְמַעַנְךָ עֲשֵׂה

For Your sake do [for them],

אִם־לֹא לְמַעֲנָם.

if not for their sake.

שׂוֹטְנֵימוֹ יֵבוֹשׁוּ

[Then] their enemies will be embarrassed

וְיִכָּלְמוּ בְּמַעֲנָם.

and disgraced through their prayers

אֶל יְהֹוָה

[for they will pray] to Adonoy

וְלֹא עָנָם:

and You will not answer them.

עָנָם לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל

Answer [the prayers] of the House of Israel,

וְיִחֲדוּךָ.

who have declared Your oneness,

כִּי־שַׂמְתָּ מֵעִיר לַגָּל

even when You put their cities to rubble

וְחָמְדוּךָ.

they desired You.

עַל כֵּן

Therefore, [even when they had to hide]

בָּאוּרִים

in the cracks [of the earth]

כִּבְּדוּךָ.

they honored You.

יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר פְּקָדוּךָ:

Adonoy, in their anguish, they remembered You.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

פְּקָדוּךָ

They remembered You,

פִּיּוֹת פּוֹנוֹת־לְךָ לִקְרָא.

You to whom lips turn to call [in prayer].

חַלְּצֵם מֵעֹנֶשׁ

Rescue them from punishment

וּמִגְּזֵרָה חֲמוּרָה.

and from severe edicts.

פְּנֵה־נָא אֶל הָרִנָּה

Please! Turn towards their song

וְאֶל הָעֲתִירָה.

and their beseeching.

מָעֻזָּם בְּעֵת צָרָה:

You are their strength in time of anguish.

צָרָה וְצוּקָה

Anguish and distress

הָסֵר מֶנִּי מְחוֹלְלִי.

remove from me, my Creator,

וְשַׁעֲרֵי דְּמָעוֹת

and the gates of tears

לֹא יֻנְעֲלוּ לִי.

shall not be shut for me.

צְבוּרוֹת בְּנֹאדְךָ

For they are gathered in Your vessel;

הֲלֹא בְּסִפְרָתֶךָ גּוֹאֲלִי.

are they not counted by You, my Redeemer!

שִׁוַּעְתִּי שָׁמַעְתָּ קוֹלִי:

I have cried. Hear my voice!

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

קוֹלִי אָרִים דֶּרֶךְ בַּקָּשָׁה.

I will raise my voice in plea

מִפְּנֵי עָקַת

[that You save me] from the oppression

אוֹיֵב הַמַּרְעִישָׁה.

[of My] tumultuous enemy.

קִפַּחַתְנִי

I was overwhelmed

חֲמַת הַמֵּצִיק הַמִּתְקַשָּׁה.

by the severe anger of my oppressor.

אֵם עַל בָּנִים

The mother, together with her children,

רֻטָּשָׁה:

was torn to pieces.

רֻטָּשָׁה

[The mother] was torn to pieces

לְעֵינֶיהָ יְלָדִים נִשְׁחָטִים.

before her eyes are her children slaughtered.

פָּנֶיהָ לִכְלִמּוֹת

Her face was put to shame

וּלְחָיֶיהָ לְמוֹרְטִים.

her cheek plucked.

רוֹזְנִים

The barons

מִלִּשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית

from the Chamber of Hewn Stone¹⁷‘Barons — Stone’ i.e. the Sanhedrin who met in the temple in the Chamber of Hewn Stone to pass judgment.

מִתְמַעֲטִים.

have become few,

שֶׁשָּׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים:

where the tribes [of Israel] ascended.

שְׁבָטִים תָּשִׁיב

Return Your tribes

לִנְוַת בֵּית־עֲטֶרֶת.

to Your glorious dwelling-place¹⁸I.e. the Temple.

לִהְיוֹת שְׁאֵרִית מֻכְתֶּרֶת.

so that the remnant [of Israel] be crowned.¹⁹I.e. that the Kingdom of the House of David return.

תַּשְׁמִיעַ לִפְלֵיטַת יְהוּדָה

Let it be heard by the fugitive of Judah

הַנִּשְׁאֶרֶת.

that has remained

וְהָיִית עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת:

so that she remain a crown of glory.

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

תִּפְאֶרֶת אֱמוּנֶיךָ

Your glorious [people] who trust [in You],

עַם זוּ קָנִיתָ.

this nation that You have acquired.

לֹא שִׁקַּצְתָּם

You have not found them contemptuous,

קְרָאוּךָ וְעָנִיתָ.

when they have called You, You responded.

יָחִיד וְעָנִי קוֹרֵא

[Even when] a single poor person calls,

מְשׁוּבָתְךָ הֵכַנְתָּ.

You have prepared Your reply:

וְשָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם

“I will hear their prayer

וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּתָם

and their plea

אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַנַּנְתָּ:

which [you] pleaded [in their behalf].”

הִתְחַנַּנְתָּ

You have taken pity

עַל בָּנֶיךָ שֶׁכָּלוּ.

on Your annihilated children

וּמֵעַל שֻׁלְחַן אֲבִיהֶם גָּלוּ.

and who were exiled from their father’s table.

אָמַרְתָּ רַחֲמִים

You said: “Compassion

עַל־מִדּוֹתַי יָגֹלּוּ.

shall roll over my attributes.”²⁰“Compassion — attributes” i.e. compassion shall overpower the other attributes of God.

בַּיְהֹוָה יִצְדְּקוּ

In Adonoy they shall find righteousness

וְיִתְהַלָּלוּ:

and they shall be praised [for trusting in God].

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock,

סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

forgive us, our Creator.

וְיִתְהַלְלוּ חוֹסֶיךָ

Those who depend on You shall be praised

תְּפִלָּתָם וּתְפִלָּתִי

for their prayer and my²¹The שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר—who leads the congregation in prayer. prayer

בַּנְּעִימִים.

[were accepted] with pleasantness.

וְהִתְנַהֵג עִמָּהֶם

And conduct Yourself with them

בְּמִדַּת צְדָקָה

with the attributes of righteousness

וְרַחֲמִים.

and compassion.

זְכוּתְךָ קַדְּמֵם

Let Your merit precede them

וּזְכוּת שְׁלֹשֶׁת קְדוּמִים.

and the merit of the three ancients,²²‘Three ancients’ i.e. the Patriarchs.

אֵל מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב

the Almighty King Who sits

עַל־כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים:

on the throne of compassion.

זְכוֹר לָֽנוּ בְּרִית אָבוֹת

Remember to us the covenant of the Patriarchs,

כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתָּ.

as You promised,

וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב

“And I will remember my covenant with Jacob,

וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק

and also my covenant with Isaac,

וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם

and also my covenant with Abraham

אֶזְכֹּר

will I remember,”

וְהָאָֽרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר:

and the land I will remember.