לערב ראש השנה 23

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

Hear, Israel,

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Adonoy is our God,

יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

Adonoy is one.

מַלְכֵּנוּ בָּאנוּ

Our King! We come before You

בְּכֹחַ יִחוּדֶךָ.

with the power of Your Unity,¹I.e. with the merit that we express the Unity of the Name of God.

כִּי־אֵין לָנוּ

for we have nothing [else]

בַּמֶּה לְקַדְּמֶךָ.

with which to greet You

כִּי אִם מַלְכוּתְךָ

but with [our acceptance of] Your Kingdom

וּמַעְבָּדֶיךָ.

and [recognition] of Your deeds.

לָכֵן בְּכָל לֵב

Therefore, with the whole heart

נְיַחֲדֶךָ:

we will express Your Unity.

נְיַחֲדֶךָ יַחַד

We will express Your Unity together,

גְּדוֹלֵינוּ וּקְטַנֵּינוּ.

old and young.

מְחָק נָא שְׁטָרֵי חוֹבוֹתֵינוּ.

Please erase our writs of guilt,

וּכְתֹב בְּסֵפֶר הַחַיִּים

and inscribe in the Book of Life

זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ.

our remembrance,

וְתִגְזֹר עַתָּה

and decree now

לְהֵיטִיב שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ:

that our years be for good.²‘Years for good,’ i.e. that we have a good life.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

Hear, Israel,

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Adonoy is our God,

יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

Adonoy is one.

סְגֻלָּה אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִיתָ

The chosen [nation] that You redeemed

בְּמַסּוֹת בְּאוֹתוֹת וּבְנִסִּים.

with trial, tests and miracles

בְּשִׁמְךָ חוֹסִים

in Your Name they find protection

וְעַל־שְׁמַע פּוֹרְסִים.

and the Sh’ma they read with blessings.³‘Sh’ma — blessings,’ i.e. twice a day they read the Sh’ma with the appropriate blessings before and after.

אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב

These [nations] with chariots

וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים.

and others with horses.

וַאֲנַחְנוּ

But, we, [however]

בְּשֵׁם־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עוֹמְסִים:

trust in the Name of Adonoy, our God.⁴‘These nations — God,’ i.e. whereas, other nations depend on the might of their weapons we depend solely on the help of God.

עוֹמְסִים

We carry [the Name of God]

בְּיִרְאָה וּבְפַחַד וּבְרַעַד.

with fear, trepidation, and trembling.

לְעוֹדְדָם מֵאֻמּוֹת

Strengthen them against the nations

וּלְהַסְעַד.

and support them,

כְּמוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי קָדְשְׁךָ מוּעַד.

as promised in Your holy word⁵I.e. the Holy Scriptures.:

הֵמַּה כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ

“They will kneel and fall

וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַמְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָד:

and we will rise and be strengthened.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

Hear, Israel,

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Adonoy is our God,

יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

Adonoy is one.

פַּסּוּ עֲבוֹדוֹת־פְּנִימָה

The Inside Services have come to an end⁶I.e. the Service of Yom Kippur in the Holy of Holies can no longer be performed.

וּשְׂעִירֵי כַפָּרָה.

[so, too, the Service of] the goats of atonement.⁷I.e. the service of the “two goats” performed only on Yom Kippur.

וְאָפֵס כֹּהֵן

And the priest is no more

לְשַׁכֵּךְ עֶבְרָה.

to placate the anger [of God],

וְנִשְׁאַרְנוּ

and we have been left

כְּלֵב אִשָּׁה

like the heart of a woman

מְצֵרָה.

who is in fear of her labor pains,

שְׁעוּנִים בְּאֹמֶר

we depend on that which was said:

יַעַנְךָ יְהֹוָה

“Adonoy will answer you

בְּיוֹם צָרָה:

on the day of distress.”

צָרָה בִּהְיוֹת לְיַעֲקֹב.

When affliction comes to Jacob,

זֶה־יֹאמַר

this one [the righteous] says:

לַיהֹוָה־אָנִי בְּלִי לַעֲקֹב.

“I am for Adonoy” without deceit⁸I.e. they say this with all sincerity.

וְזֶה

and the other one [the unrighteous]

יִקְרָא בְשֵׁם יַעֲקֹב.

proclaim that they are of Jacob,⁹I.e. despite their wrongdoing, their allegiance remains with the Jewish nation.

וְכֻלָּם שְׁעוּנִים בְּהַבְטָחַת

and they all depend on the promise

שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:

that the God of Jacob [will redeem them].

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

Hear, Israel,

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Adonoy is our God,

יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

Adonoy is one.

שִׁמְךָ בָּנוּ נִקְרָא

We are called by Your name¹⁰I.e. we are called the people of God.

רַב־עֲלִילוֹת.

[You Who are] abundant in deeds.

שְׁעֵה מֶנּוּ שַׁוְעָה

Turn towards us to our cries

וְקַבֵּל תְּפִלּוֹת.

and accept our prayers.

וְהָסֵר מֶנּוּ רֹעַ מַעֲלָלוֹת.

And remove from us our evil deeds

וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ

You the Holy One

יוֹשֵׁב תְּהִלּוֹת:

Who sits [awaiting] praises [of Israel].

תְּהִלּוֹת דַּר,

You Who awaits praises!

הָקֵץ רְדוּמִים.

Awaken those who slumber¹¹I.e. those whom the suffering of the exile has desensitized.

חֲשׁוּכִים בֵּין הָאֻמִּים.

in darkness amongst the nations.

פְּדֵם וְנַקֵּם מִכְּתָמִים.

Redeem them and cleanse them of their stains,

אֵל מֶלֶךְ

Almighty, King

יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים:

Who sits on the throne of compassion.

עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ כְּמָה שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּֽנוּ.

Do unto us as You promised,

וְאַף גַּם זֹאת

“And yet for all that,

בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶֽרֶץ אוֹיְבֵיהֶם

when they are in the land of their enemies,

לֹא מְאַסְתִּים

I will not reject them

וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם

and I will not abhor them, to destroy them,

לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם

to annul My covenant with them;

כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם:

for I am Adonoy, their God.”

הִמָּֽצֵא לָֽנוּ בְּבַקָּשָׁתֵֽנוּ

Be accessible to us when we seek You,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

as it is written:

וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם

“And from there

אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

you will seek Adonoy, your God,

וּמָצָֽאתָ

and you will find Him;

כִּי תִדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ

if you search after Him

בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ

with all your heart

וּבְכָל נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:

and with all your soul.”

מוֹל אֶת לְבָבֵֽנוּ

Open our hearts

לְאַהֲבָה אֶת שְׁמֶֽךָ

to love Your Name,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written in Your Torah:

וּמָל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ אֶת לְבָבְךָ

“And Adonoy, your God will open your heart,

וְאֶת לְבַב זַרְעֶֽךָ

and the heart of your descendants,

לְאַהֲבָה אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

to love Adonoy, your God,

בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ

with all your heart,

וְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ

and with all your soul,

לְמַֽעַן חַיֶּֽיךָ:

that you may live.”

זְרֹק עָלֵֽינוּ מַֽיִם טְהוֹרִים

Sprinkle clean water upon us,

וְטַהֲרֵֽנוּ כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

and cleanse us, as it is written:

וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַֽיִם טְהוֹרִים

“And I will sprinkle clean water upon you,

וּטְהַרְתֶּם

and you will be clean;

מִכֹּל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶם

from all your defilements,

וּמִכָּל גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם

and from all your idols,

אֲטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם:

I will cleanse you.”

מְחֵה פְשָׁעֵֽינוּ

Sweep aside our transgressions

כָּעָב וְכֶעָנָן

as a thick cloud and as a mist,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

as You have promised:

מָחִֽיתִי כָעָב

“I have swept away like a thick cloud

פְּשָׁעֶֽיךָ

your transgressions,

וְכֶעָנָן חַטֹּאתֶֽיךָ

and like a mist, your sins;

שׁוּבָה אֵלַי כִּי גְאַלְתִּֽיךָ:

return to Me, for I have redeemed You.”

מְחֵה פְשָׁעֵֽינוּ לְמַעַנְךָ

Blot out our transgressions for Your sake,

כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתָּ.

as You promised:

אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי

“I, I [alone] am He

הוּא מוֹחֶה פְשָׁעֶֽיךָ

Who blots out your transgressions

לְמַעֲנִי

for My own sake;

וְחַטֹּאתֶֽיךָ לֹא אֶזְכֹּר:

and your sins, I will not recall.”

הַלְבֵּן חֲטָאֵֽינוּ כַּשֶּֽׁלֶג וְכַצֶּֽמֶר

Make our sins as white as snow or wool,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

as it is written:

לְכוּ נָא וְנִוָּכְחָה

“Come now, let us reason together,

יֹאמַר יְהֹוָה

says Adonoy,

אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים

though your sins be as scarlet,

כַּשֶּֽׁלֶג יַלְבִּֽינוּ

they shall be as white as snow;

אִם יַאְדִּֽימוּ כַתּוֹלָע

though they be red as crimson,

כַּצֶּֽמֶר יִהְיוּ:

they shall become [white] as wool.”

רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ וְאַל תַּשְׁחִיתֵֽנוּ

Have compassion on us and do not destroy us,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written:

כִּי אֵל רַחוּם יְהֹוָה

“For an Almighty of mercy is Adonoy,

אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

your God;

לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ

He will not abandon you or destroy you,

וְלֹא יִשְׁכַּח

and He will not forget

אֶת בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ

the covenant of your fathers

אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לָהֶם:

which He swore to them.”

קַבֵּץ נִדָּחֵֽינוּ כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

Gather our dispersed ones, as it is written:

אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲךָ

“If your dispersed

בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם

are in the farthermost part of heaven,

מִשָּׁם יְקַבֶּצְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

from there Adonoy, your God will gather you,

וּמִשָּׁם יִקָּחֶֽךָ:

and from there He will take you.”

הָשֵׁב שְׁבוּתֵֽנוּ

Bring back our captivity

וְרַחֲמֵֽנוּ

and have compassion on us,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

as it is written:

וְשָׁב יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

“And Adonoy, your God will return

אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְרִחֲמֶֽךָ

your captivity and have compassion on you;

וְשָׁב וְקִבֶּצְךָ

and He will again gather you

מִכָּל הָעַמִּים

from [among] all the peoples,

אֲשֶׁר הֱפִיצְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ שָֽׁמָּה:

where Adonoy, your God has scattered you.”

תְּבִיאֵנוּ אֶל הַר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ

Bring us to Your holy mountain,

וְשַׂמְּחֵֽנוּ בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתֶֽךָ

and make us joyful in Your House of Prayer,

כְּמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב.

as it is written:

וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל הַר קָדְשִׁי

“And I will bring them to My holy mountain,

וְשִׂמַּחְתִּים בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתִי

and make them joyful in My House of Prayer;

עוֹלוֹתֵיהֶם וְזִבְחֵיהֶם

their burnt-offerings and sacrifices

לְרָצוֹן עַל מִזְבְּחִי

will be accepted with favor on My Altar,

כִּי בֵיתִי

for My House,

בֵּית תְּפִלָּה יִקָּרֵא

will be called a House of Prayer

לְכָל הָעַמִּים:

for all peoples.”