September 2021 • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶּקט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 10 September 2021

Contributor(s):

United States Congressional Record and Arnold E. Resnicoff

Categories:

September 11 National Day of Service, United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

House of Representatives, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, September 11 attacks, 117th Congress, תחינות teḥinot, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 10 September 2021. . . .

הושענא לימי הקרונה | Hoshana in the days of Corona for Sukkot 5782, by Rabbi Gustavo Surazski (2021)

Contributor(s):

Shoshana Michael Zucker (translation) and Gustavo Surazski

Categories:

Hoshana Rabbah

Tags:

הושענות hoshanot, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., alphabetic mesostic, COVID-19 coronavirus, 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Israel

A hoshana prayer in the times of the COVID pandemic. . . .

📖 זמירות המזרח: מחזור ליום כפור (מנהג הספרדים)‏ | Zemirot haMizraḥ: Maḥzor for Yom Kippur, by Daniel Cayre (Kanisse 2021)

Contributor(s):

Daniel J. Cayre and Kanisse

Categories:

Maḥzorim for Yom haKippurim

Tags:

gender inclusive, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Nusaḥ Sefaradi, traditional egalitarian

A bilingual Hebrew-English Sepharadi Jewish prayerbook (maḥzor) for Yom Kippur, with gender inclusive language, compiled and translated by Daniel Cayre for Kanisse: a Modern Sephardic + Mizrahi Community. . . .

כַּפָּרוֹת | Kaparōt (using money dedicated for charity), the ritual for the expiation of offenses before Yom Kippur

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Unknown Author(s)

Categories:

Redemption, Yom Kippur

Tags:

צדקה tsedaqah, כפרות kaparot, expiation, redemptive almsgiving, Angels as advocates, atonement, Needing Source Images

The ritual of kaparot using a bundle of money dedicated for tsedaqah. . . .

Additions to the Rosh haShanah Seder Akhilat haSimanim, from Rabbi David Seidenberg (neohasid.org)

Contributor(s):

David Seidenberg and neohasid.org

Categories:

Seder Akhilat haSimanim, Symbolic Foods

Tags:

eco-conscious, symbolic foods, punning, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., ecoḥasid

If you are doing a Rosh Hashanah seder of simanim (signs, augurs, portents) using food puns, here are some topical additions including for beginning the Shmitah year. . . .

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֶת כֹּל הַח‍וֹ‍לִים/וֹת | Mi Sheberakh for the Ill During the COVID Pandemic

Contributor(s):

Ḥayyim Obadyah

Categories:

Epidemics & Pandemics

Tags:

מי שברך mi sheberakh, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M.

This mi sheberakh for the ill, and the two additional prayers, all appear on page 15-16 of Hayyim Obadya’s Seder Akhilat haSimanim for 5781. . . .

תְּפִלָה לְאִשָׁה לְאָמְרָהּ לִפְנֵי שֶׁמְגַלַּחַת אֶת שַׁעֲרוֹת רֹאשָׁהּ | Prayer for a woman to say before her hair is shorn

Contributor(s):

Yahnatan Lasko (translation), Aharon N. Varady (translation), Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Unknown Author(s)

Categories:

Engagements & Weddings

Tags:

Jewish Women's Prayers, hair, hair-cutting, 20th century C.E., תחינות teḥinot, 58th century A.M., Needing citation references

A supplication of a woman cutting her hair as an act of tsanua, per a contemporary custom in many Ḥaredi communities. . . .

Life Is What We Make It, a prayer-poem based on the writings of Rabbi Leo Baeck by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1945)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Mordecai Kaplan

Categories:

Repenting, Resetting, and Forgiveness

Tags:

תשובה teshuvah, אמת ואמונה Emet v'Emunah, 20th century C.E., סליחות seliḥot, 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers adapted from teachings

A prayer-poem by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan based on the writings of Rabbi Leo Baeck, as published in the Sabbath Prayer Book (Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation 1945), p.426-7. . . .

כִּי אֶשְׁמְרָה שַׁבָּת | Ki Eshmera Shabbat, a piyyut by Avraham ibn Ezra (rhyming translation by Israel Abrahams, 1914)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Israel Abrahams and Avraham ibn Ezra

Categories:

Se'udat Yom Shabbat

Tags:

זמירות zemirot, פיוטים piyyutim, 12th century C.E., rhyming translation, 50th century A.M., כי אשמרה שבת Ki Eshmerah Shabbat

The piyyut and popular shabbat table song, Ki Eshmera Shabbat, in Hebrew with a rhyming translation. . . .

צוּר מִשֶּׁלּוֹ אָכַֽלְנוּ | Tsur Mishelo Akhalnu, a paraliturgical Birkat haMazon (translation by Nina Salaman 1914)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Nina Davis Salaman (translation) and Unknown Author(s)

Categories:

Blessings After Eating

Tags:

פיוטים piyyutim, Acrostic signature, paraliturgical birkat hamazon, צור משלו Tsur Mishelo, זמירות zemirot

The paralitugical Birkat haMazon Tsur Mishelo, in Hebrew with an English translation. . . .

Hálaima a bajból való menekülésért | Thanksgiving for deliverance from trouble, by Rabbi Arnold Kiss (1897)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Aharon N. Varady (translation) and Arnold Kiss

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

Hungarian Jewry, teḥinot in Magyar, Magyar vernacular prayer, 19th century C.E., תחינות teḥinot, 57th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers

This prayer of thanksgiving by Rabbi Arnold Kiss for deliverance from danger, “Hálaima a bajból való menekülésért,” was first published in his anthology of prayers for Jewish women, Mirjam (1897) on p.286-288. . . .

Bajban | Prayer in a personal crisis, by Rabbi Arnold Kiss (1897)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Aharon N. Varady (translation) and Arnold Kiss

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

Magyar vernacular prayer, 19th century C.E., תחינות teḥinot, 57th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers, Hungarian Jewry, teḥinot in Magyar

This prayer by Rabbi Arnold Kiss for when one is confronted by grave difficulties, “Bajban,” was first published in his anthology of prayers for Jewish women, Mirjam (1897) on p.285-286 . . .

Országos bánat, közös baj idején | Prayer in a time of national crisis, by Rabbi Arnold Kiss (1897)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Aharon N. Varady (translation) and Arnold Kiss

Categories:

Government & Country, Hungary, War

Tags:

תחינות teḥinot, 57th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers, Hungarian Jewry, teḥinot in Magyar, Magyar vernacular prayer, Kingdom of Hungary, 19th century C.E.

This prayer by Rabbi Arnold Kiss for the kingdom of Hungary in a time of national crisis, “Országos bánat, közös baj idején,” was first published in his anthology of prayers for Jewish women, Mirjam (1897) on p.289-291. . . .

On Composing Prayers Outside of the Prayerbook, an introduction by Isaac Leeser to “Two Short Prayers” (1851)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Isaac Leeser (translation)

Categories:

Pedagogical Essays on Jewish Prayer

Tags:

19th century C.E., English vernacular prayer, American Jewry of the United States, teḥinot in English, Jewish women

Thoughts on petitionary prayer literature (teḥinot) and Jewish women’s prayer literature in the mid-19th century United States of America. . . .

אוֹדֶה לָאֵל | Odeh la-El Levav Ḥoqer B’ran Yaḥad Kokhvei Boqer, a morning piyyut by Rabbi Shamayah Ḳosson (ca. 16th c.) translation by Len Fellman

Contributor(s):

Len Fellman (translation) and Shamayah Ḳosson

Categories:

Baqashot

Tags:

פיוטים piyyutim, בקשות Baqashot, 16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., אודה לאל Odeh la-El

“Odeh La-Él” sings to the waking soul, calling on it to return to the service of the Divine. . . .

שַׁעֲרֵי אוֹרָה שַׁעֲרֵי בְּרָכָה | Gates of Light Gates of Blessing, a mesostic piyyut

Contributor(s):

Ḥayyim Obadyah and Unknown Author(s)

Categories:

Repenting, Resetting, and Forgiveness

Tags:

סליחות seliḥot, alphabetic mesostic, תענו ותעתרו Tayanu v'tayatru

This prayer appears on page 13-16 of Hayyim Obadya’s Seder Akhilat haSimanim for 5781. It is a variation of the piyyut Tayanu v’Tayatru albeit with a different opening line. . . .

אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם | Avinu Shebashamayim, an acrostic supplication recited during Seliḥot

Contributor(s):

Ḥayyim Obadyah and Unknown Author(s)

Categories:

Repenting, Resetting, and Forgiveness

Tags:

סליחות seliḥot, acrostic, Alphabetic Acrostic, אלהינו שבשמים Elohenu Shebashamayim

This prayer appears on page 11-12 of Hayyim Obadya’s Seder Akhilat haSimanim for 5781. It is a variant of the prayer, “Eloheinu Shebashamayim,” a supplication read in the sephardic tradition during seliḥot. This version contains twenty-five lines as found in Sefer Selihot haShalem, Hazon Ovadia, p.48-51/. Other variations have fifty or more lines. . . .

יְדִידִי שִׂים סְבָרָא | Yedidi Sim Severa, performed in honor of the Ḥatan Bereshit before the reading of Bereshit Bara (the first aliya)

Contributor(s):

Ḳaraite Jews of America

Categories:

During the Aliyot, Shemini Atseret (and Simḥat Torah)

Tags:

Nusaḥ haKaraim

This song is performed in honor of the Ḥatan Bereshit – the person who reads the first aliya of the torah, which begins Bereshit Bara. These words – Bereshit Bara – are repeated throughout the poem. The poem is similar in structure and meter to Kelil Yofi, which is performed in honor of the Hatan Torah, the person who reads the last aliya of the Torah, which begins Vaya’al Moshe. . . .

יְדִיד נֶפֶשׁ | Yedid Nefesh, a piyyut transmitted by Elazar ben Moshe Azikri (ca. 16th c.) translation by Nina Salaman (1897)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Nina Davis Salaman (translation) and Elazar ben Moshe Azikri

Categories:

Ḳabbalat Shabbat, Baqashot

Tags:

16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., Divine name acrostic, rhyming translation, acrostic, פיוטים piyyutim, בקשות Baqashot, Openers, ידיד נפש Yedid Nefesh

The piyyut, Yedid Nefesh, in Hebrew with an English translation. . . .

יוֹם זֶה לְיִשְׁרַאֵל | Yom Zeh l’Yisrael, a piyyut by Rabbi Yitsḥaq Luria (translation by Nina Salaman, 1914)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Nina Davis Salaman (translation) and Yitsḥak Luria

Categories:

Se'udat Yom Shabbat

Tags:

יום זה לישראל Yom Zeh l'Yisrael, זמירות zemirot, פיוטים piyyutim, 16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., Acrostic signature

A translation of the piyyut Yom Zeh l’Yisrael. . . .

יָהּ רִבּוֹן | Yah Ribōn, a piyyut by Rabbi Yisrael Najara (16th c.) rhyming translation by Israel Abrahams (1914)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Israel Abrahams and Yisrael Najara

Categories:

Se'udat Leil Shabbat, Se'udat Yom Shabbat

Tags:

Aramaic, פיוטים piyyutim, 16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., Acrostic signature, rhyming translation, יה רבון Yah Ribon, זמירות zemirot, acrostic

The piyyut, yah Ribon Olam, in Hebrew with a rhyming English translation. . . .

עֵת שַׁעֲרֵי רָצוֹן | Eit Shaarei Ratson, a piyyut by Rabbi Yehuda ben Shmuel ibn Abbas (ca. 12th c.)

Contributor(s):

Stephen Belsky and Yehudah ben Shmuel ibn Abbas

Categories:

Rosh haShanah (l’Maaseh Bereshit)

Tags:

שופר shofar, עקדת יצחק Akeidat Yitsḥaq, 12th century C.E., shofar blowing, Acrostic signature, 50th century A.M.

This is the piyyut, עֵת שַׁעֲרֵי רָצוֹן (Eit Shaarei Ratson) by Rabbi Yehuda ben Shmuel ibn Abbas (12th century Aleppo, Syria (born in Fez, Morocco)). The English translation presented here is by Rabbi Stephen Belsky. . . .

אֲֽדֹנָי נֶגְדְּךָ כׇל־תַּאֲוָתִי | Adonai Negdekha kol Ta’avati, a piyyut by Yehudah haLevi (early 12th c.) rhyming translation by Alice Lucas (1894)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Alice Lucas (translation) and Yehudah ben Shmuel haLevi

Categories:

Yom Kippur, Baqashot

Tags:

פיוטים piyyutim, 12th century C.E., 49th century A.M., rhyming translation

A rhyming English translation of the piyyut Adonai Negdekha kol Ta’avati. . . .

שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶּשְׁךָ | Shaḥar Avaqeshkha (At dawn I seek you), a reshut by Shlomo ibn Gabirol (ca. 11th c.) translated by Nina Salaman (1901)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Nina Davis Salaman (translation) and Shlomo ibn Gabirol

Categories:

Baqashot

Tags:

רשות reshut, שחר אבקשך Shaḥar Avaqeshkha, Dawn, פיוטים piyyutim, 11th century C.E., 49th century A.M., rhyming translation, Needing Source Images

The reshut for praying at dawn, in Hebrew with English translation. . . .

💬 הַפְטָרָה לְחַג הַפַּאי | Haftarah for the Festival of π (I Kings 7:23-26 and 8:54-66), the twenty-second day of the seventh month (which falls on Shmini Atseret)

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) and Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)

Categories:

Melakhim (Kings), π Day Readings, Shemini Atseret & Simḥat Torah Readings

Tags:

Aramaic, circle drawing, π day, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Mathematics, Aramaic translation, 3.14159..., רשות reshut

Shmini Atseret is a strange festival. In some ways part of Sukkot, in some ways its own thing, it occupies an equivocal place in the yearly cycle. But one thing that is completely true: Shmini Atseret is on Pi Day. Well, Pi Approximation Day — the twenty-second day of the seventh month. Inspired by my friend and math enthusiast Aryeh Baruch (may he have a long life), I’ve compiled this altered form of the haftarah for Shmini Atseret in the diaspora, including the description of King Solomon’s “molten sea,” as well as an Aramaic “reshut” poem with a numeral acrostic of the first few digits of pi. . . .