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Combining the candy and costumes of Halloween, the plays and parades of Mardi Gras, the mischief and masquerades of April Fools’ Day, and more booze than you can wobble your fist at, Purim is surely one-of-a-kind. Or is it? In fact, there is an ancient custom around the Jewish world to establish and celebrate “Second Purims” in honor of community redemptions or family celebrations. These would often incorporate feasting, celebration, and even the reading of a new Megillah specifically written in honor of the specific miracle!
In North Africa, a unique custom developed of reciting a Mi Khamokha v-Ein Kamokha piyyut, inspired by the famed Shabbat Zakhor work of Yehuda haLevi (found here), on the Shabbat before a local Purim. This piyyut, written by R. Avraham ben Rafael Khalfon, was recited on the Shabbat before 29 Tevet in the community of Tripoli, to celebrate the victory of the Karamanlid dynasty over the despotic usurper Ali Burghul (after events transpiring from 1793-1804). The editor found this piyyut in Ephraim Hazan’s work “Mi Khamokha — Piyyutim of Local Miracles and Redemption in North African Communities,”[1] חזן, אפרים ורחל חיטין־משיח. מי כמוך – פיוטים על נס והצלה מקומיים בקהילות צפון אפריקה. מוסד ביאליק. בער שבע, תשע״ג. but as far as he is aware this is the first ever translation into English.
Note: “The CAUSE” is used to translate the Divine Name YHVH, based on the philosophical idea of God as the Prime Mover and on the interpretation of the Name as a causative form of the copula – “causes to be.” This translation also uses the plural pronoun to refer to God as a pluralis majestatis, and to avoid the implications of God being assigned a gender. (Find Ibn Ezra’s commentary on Genesis 1:1 for a discussion of the pluralis majestatis when referring to God.)
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| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
מִי כָמֹֽכָה וְאֵין כָּמֹֽכָה מִי דוֹמֶה לָךְ וְאֵין דּוֹמֶה לָךְ׃ |
Who is like You? And none is like You! Who is comparable to You? And none is comparable to You! |
אַזְכִּיר מַעֲשֵׂה יְיָ בִּקְהַל עֲדָתוֹ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ כִּי זָכַר לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֣וּם יהו֑ה׃ |
As I recall the CAUSE’s deeds to Their witness community, the One who has not left Their mercy or truth (Genesis 24:27) Who remembers Their covenant forever — Merciful and compassionate is the CAUSE! (Psalms 145:8) |
בְּרִיתוֹ זָכַר וְלֹא שְׁכָחָֽנוּ לֹא גְעָלָֽנוּ וְלֹא מְאָסָֽנוּ וְאִם יִסְרָֽנוּ לַמָּֽוֶת לֹא נְתָנָֽנוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יהו֣ה׃ |
By Their covenant They remembered, and did not forget us, nor loathe nor abandon us, and when punishing us, did not give us to death, for a compassionate God is the CAUSE! (Deuteronomy 4:31) |
גְּדוֹל הָעֵצָה וַעֲצָתוֹ הִיא תָקוּם מֵאוֹיֵב הָאַכְזָר דַּם עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם וַיָּֽפֶץ וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ בְּאֶֽפֶס מָקוֹם כִּ֛י י֥וֹם נָקָ֖ם לַֽיהו֑ה׃ |
Great in planing, and Their plans survive The vicious enemy; Their servants’ blood They avenge; and [the enemy] will be scattered and cast to nowhere, for a day of vengeance of the CAUSE! (Isaiah 34:8) |
דַּרְכֵי אֵל מֵאָז נָכֽוֹנוּ מֵרוֹב עֲוֺנֵֽינוּ עֲצָבֽוּנוּ וְנָפַֽלְנוּ בְּיַד רְשָׁעִים וְעִנּֽוּנוּ לָ֣מָּה תַתְעֵ֤נוּ יהוה֙׃ |
Divine paths are established of old, And from our great iniquity we were aggrieved And we fell by the hand of the wicked, who tormented us — Why make us swerve, o CAUSE? (Isaiah 63:17) |
הַיּוֹם אַבִּֽיעָה חִידוֹת עַל־הַנִּסִּים וְעַל־הַנִּפְלָאוֹת שֶׁעָֽשָׂה־לָֽנוּ יוֹצֵר הָרוּחוֹת מַה־גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יהו֑ה׃ |
Ere this day, let me expound parables Of the miracles and the wonders That the Creator of Spirits did for us. How great are Your works, o CAUSE! (Psalms 92:6) |
וַיְהִי בִּימֵי עַֽלִי בַּאֽשָׁה קָרָאמַֽלִי זֶֽרַע הַפַּרְתְּמִים אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים בָּא עַלִי גּוּרְגִ׳י רָשָׁע וְאִישׁ דָּמִים אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀ יהוֽה׃ |
Why, in the days of ’Ali Basha Qaramaali[2] ’Ali ibn Mehmed, of the Karamanli line, who ruled Tripolitania 1754 to 1793. of the ruling line, A lover of Israel who walked in purity, Arose ’Ali Gurji,[3] also known as Ali Burghul or Trablusu Ali Pasha. Raised as a slave in Algeria, he rose to the position of the head of the navy. There is some debate over whether or not his interference in Tripoli was done with Ottoman support or not — but this text clearly treats him as the villain of the story. a wicked bloody man. Bloody deceitful men are abhorrent to the CAUSE! (Psalms 5:7) |
זֶֽרַע מְרֵעִים שְׁנַת התקנ”ג בָּא לָעִיר בְּט’ אֳנִיּוֹת יָוָן וְתוֹגַרְמָה וּבְנֵי שֵׂעִיר בְּאֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים לְחֹדֶשׁ אָב עָלֶֽיהָ הֵעִיר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יהו֑ה׃ |
Zoomed the wicked seed in the year 5553[4] AM, 1793 CE to the city, with nine Greek and Togarmite[5] Turkish and Edomite[6] A general euphemism for Christians. In this case, referring to Spanish mercenaries. ships, on the twenty-first of the month of Av,[7] 30 July 1793 Gregorian they came upon it, to do evil in the eyes of the CAUSE. (Judges 4:1) |
חֲרָדָה וְאֵימָה נָפְלָה עַל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ וַיָּֽקׇם הוּא וְכׇל־אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ וַיֵּֽלֶךְ וְנָשָׁיו וּבְנֹתָיו בָּכֹה בָכוּ וַיֵּֽלֶךְ כִּי נָגְעָה בָם יַד־יהוה׃ |
Horror and trembling fell upon the king, and he rose with all the men of his house and went, and his wives and daughters wept, wept and went, for striking them was the hand of the CAUSE. |
טָמַן שִׂנְאָה בְלִבּוֹ אִישׁ הַבְּלִיַֽעַל וַיִּשְׁקֶה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר כּוֹס שֶׁל־רַֽעַל וּבְכׇל־יוֹם וָיוֹם תּוֹסִיף חֲמָתוֹ וַתַּֽעַל וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יהו֑ה׃ |
THe lowlife man buried hatred in his heart and made the townsfolk drink a cup of poison, and every day, his rage increased and went up, and he did evil in the eyes of the CAUSE. (II Kings 21:2) |
יָעַץ הָרָשָׁע בְּלִבּוֹ תַּחְבּוּלוֹת לַהֲרוֹג מֵאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר בְּמִרְמוֹת וַתִּפּוֹל אֵימָתוֹ וּפַחְתּוֹ עַל־הַבְּרִיּוֹת וַיַּֽעַשׂ כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹת יהוה׃ |
Yet the wicked man plotted schemes in his heart, To kill the townsfolk with lies, And fear and dread of him fell on all the creatures, And he did all the abominations of the CAUSE. |
כְּאַרְיֵה שָׁאַג עַל־זֶֽרַע יַעֲקֹב וַיִּקַּח מֵאִתָּם כְּשִׁשִׁים אֶֽלֶף מַחְבּוּבּ וּבְכׇל־יוֹם וָיוֹם עֲלֵיהֶם יֶאֱרוֹב מֶ֤לֶךְ עַז֙ יִמְשׇׁל־בָּ֔ם נְאֻ֥ם יהו֥ה[8] Isaiah 19:4 (one word missing) |
Crouching like a lion over the seed of Jacob, he took from them sixty thousand mahbub,[9] A gold coin used in the Ottoman Empire. And every day he would lurk upon them A strong king would reign over them, declared the CAUSE. |
לֹא־נָח וְלֹא־שָׁקֵט מֵעַל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיּוֹסֶף בְּכַעְסוֹ וּבְרִשְׁעוֹ לְהִתְעוֹלֵל וְאֵין־סוֹמֵךְ וְאֵין־מֵלִיץ עֲלֵיהֶם לְחוֹלֵל כִּֽי־אַתָּ֬ה לְבַדֶּ֑ךָ שִׁמְךָ֣ יהו֣ה׃[10] Psalms 83:19 (order altered) |
Lo, he did not cease nor be still against the children of Israel, and added to his anger and in his evil to act. And none supported or interceded for the despised, for You alone are named the CAUSE. |
מִכְּנַף הָאָֽרֶץ בָּאָה צָרָה עַל־שְׁנֵי עִבְרִים אַפּוֹ חָרָה וַיִּתְפְּשֵׂם וַיִּשְׂרְפֵם בְּאֵשׁ בּוֹעֲרָה אֵ֣ל קַנּ֤וֹא וְנֹקֵם֙ יהו֔ה׃ |
Misfortune from the land’s end came — against two Hebrews[11] Ephraim Hazan suggests that one of these two martyrs described here was the son of the author. his anger flared, and he grabbed them and burned them in blazing fire. A zealous and avenging God is the CAUSE! (Nahum 1:2) |
נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ עַד־מְאֹד נִבְהֲלָה כִּי רָאִֽינוּ בָּעֲרוּ בָהֶם הָאֵשׁ הַגְּדוֹלָה גוּפָם נִשְׂרַף וְנַפְשָׁם עוֹלָה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הָאָדוֹן יהוה׃ |
Now our souls were very distraught, For we saw they set them ablaze in great fire. Their bodies were burned but their souls arose Before the Sovereign Master, the CAUSE. |
סָמַר בְּשָׂרֵֽנוּ בַּעֲשׂוֹתוֹ זֹאת וַעֲלֵיהֶם יִבְכּוּ בָּנִים גַּם אָבוֹת רָחוֹק וְקָרוֹב יִזְלוּ דְמָעוֹת אֶת־הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר שָׂרַ֥ף יהוֽה׃ |
Seizing up was our flesh when this was done, and for them children with parents would weep. Near and far would drip tears for the burning that was burned by the CAUSE. (Leviticus 10:6) |
עֲדַת עָרִיצִים נוֹעֲדוּ עָלֵֽינוּ לְהַשְׁמִיד וּלְהַכְרִית אֶת־שְׁמֵֽנוּ לוּלֵא יהוה שֶׁהָיָה עֶזְרָתֵֽנוּ כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לְעוֹלָ֖ם יִזְנַ֛ח אֲדֹנָֽי׃ |
Onto us gathered a congregation of tyrants To destroy and cut off our names. Had it not been for the CAUSE who was our help! For not forever are we abandoned by the CAUSE.[12] Lamentations 3:31 (order altered). Technically, this verse spells out אֲדֹנָי in place of the tetragrammaton, and would normally be translated as “the Master,” but this translation seeks to preserve the consistent conclusion of each stanza with God’s name, and in any case the terms sound the same to the reader. |
פָּֽצוּ עָלֵֽינוּ פִּיהֶם הַמּוֹרְדִים וּבָֽנוּ בְּכׇל־יוֹם מַכִּים וְרוֹדִים מָֽשְׁלוּ בָֽנוּ יָוָן וַעֲבָדִים כׇּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם י֝הו֗ה׃ |
Pulling open their mouths at us, the rebels struck us and followed every day . Greece and slaves ruled over us! All the nations surround me; in the name of the CAUSE! (Psalms 118:10) |
צָרִים עָֽבְדוּ בָּֽנוּ עֲבוֹדַת פָּֽרֶךְ לֹא חָמְלוּ עַל נַֽעַר זָקֵן וָהֵֽלֶךְ בְּכׇל־עֲבוֹדַת בֵּית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י יהו֣ה׃ |
Challengers served us grueling work, without mercy on young, old, or passersby With all the work of the king’s house, in their eyes contemptible, for the reverent of the CAUSE. (Psalms 15:4) |
קַֽיִץ וָחֹֽרֶף הָלַךְ עָבַר וְעֻלּוֹ עָלֵֽינוּ הוֹסִיף הָאַכְזָר בְּיַד אַכְזָרִים אוֹתָֽנוּ מָסַר וְאֵ֣ין שָׁל֔וֹם אָמַ֥ר יהו֖ה׃[13] Isaiah 48:22 (with added vav) |
Quarterly passed summer and winter, and the vicious man’s yoke over us grew; we were passed to the power of the vicious, and there is no peace, said the CAUSE. |
רְשָׁעִים הוֹסִֽיפוּ בְּרִשְׁעָתָם עַל־תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל־בֵּית רַבָּן בִּטְלוּם מִתּוֹרָתָם וַיִּקְחוּם לַעֲבוֹד עֲבוֹדָתָם הַעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה תִתְאַפַּ֖ק יהו֑ה׃ |
Rapidly the wicked increased their wickedness Upon schoolchildren they nullified their Torah, and took them to labor at their work. Will You restrain your self from all this, CAUSE? (Isaiah 64:11) |
שָׁבְתוּ שַׁבָּת וְיוֹם טוֹב מִמֶּֽנּוּ וְחִלַּֽלְנוּ אוֹתָם בְּעַל כׇּרְחֵֽנוּ גַּם־עֲבוֹדַת כָּתֵף סָבַֽלְנוּ עַל־שִׁכְמֵֽנוּ זְכׇר־זֹ֗את א֭וֹיֵב חֵרֵ֣ף׀ יהו֑ה׃ |
Shabbat and festivals ceased from us, and we were forced to desecrate them. And we shouldered on, suffering our backbreaking work. Remember this! The enemy derides the CAUSE! (Psalms 74:18) |
תָּמַךְ בְּרִשְׁעָתוֹ אִישׁ הַדָּמִים לַעֲבוֹד בָּֽנוּ עֲבוֹדַת הַיָּם בְּאֶֽפֶס דָּמִים בִּטֵּל מִמֶּֽנּוּ תְּפִלָּה וַעֲנִיַּת אָמֵנִים וְלֹ֣א אוּכַ֔ל לָב֖וֹא בֵּ֥ית יהוֽה׃[14] Jeremiah 36:5 (with added vav) |
Trudging on with his wickedness, the bloody man worked us with maritime labor for no pay. He nullified from us prayer and the responses of “Amen!” And I could not come to the house of the CAUSE. |
מִמָּרוֹם הוֹצִיא כְּלֵי זַעְמוֹ וּמְסָרָֽנוּ בְּיַד אִישׁ יִמַּח שְׁמוֹ וּמְשָׁרְתָיו כְּאַרְיֵה נָהוֹם יִנְהֲמוּ יַצְמִיתֵ֑ם יַ֝צְמִיתֵ֗ם יהו֥ה׃ |
From on High came down the tools of Divine rage and They gave us over to one whose name should be erased! And his servants like lions roared and roared. Annihilate them, annihilate them, CAUSE! (Psalms 94:23) |
נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֨עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ גָּדַל עֲוֺנֵֽנוּ וְגָבְרוּ חַטאֹתֵֽינוּ אַתָּה יהוה רִיבָה רִיבֵֽנוּ וּגְאָלֵֽנוּ נִצָּ֥ב לָרִ֖יב יהו֑ה׃ |
We have sinned and rebelled; (Lamentations 3:42) our iniquities have grown and our sins have prevailed. You, CAUSE, dispute our disputation, and save us! Standing for dispute is the CAUSE. (Isaiah 3:13) |
צוּרֵֽנוּ אַתָּה תּוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ כִּי עָלֶֽיךָ הִשְׁלַֽכְנוּ יְהָבֵֽנוּ אַתָּה תָקוּם תָּשׁוּב תְּרַחֲמֵֽנוּ רַחֲמֶ֖יךָ רַבִּ֥ים ׀ יהו֑ה׃ |
Our Rock are You, You will save us, for upon You we have cast our burdens. You wil arise, return, have mercy on us! Your mercies are manifold, CAUSE. (Psalms 119:156) |
פְּדֵֽנוּ אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב שָׁמַֽיִם כִּי לָקִֽינוּ עַל־חַטֹאתֵינוּ כִּפְלַֽיִם כִּי בָֽאנוּ בָּאֵשׁ וּבַמַּֽיִם וְיָשֹׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יהו֖ה׃ |
Save us, You who dwells in heaven, for we were struck doubly for our sins, for we went in fire and water. And turn back the boiling wrath of the CAUSE! |
כָּלְתָה לִתְשׁוּעָתְךָ נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ כִּי אֵלֶֽיךָ קִוִּינוּ וּלְךָ חִכִּֽינוּ לְךָ תְלוּיוֹת עֵינֵֽינוּ וְלִבֵּֽנוּ יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יה֫וה׃ |
Our soul longs for Your redemption For to You we hope, and for You we tarry. To You are turned our eyes and hearts. Let Israel wait for the CAUSE! (Psalms 130:7) |
אֱלֹהִים שָׁב וְנִחַם עַל־עַמּוֹ כִּי עָלְתָה צַעֲקָתָם לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא הֲדוֹמוֹ קִבֵּל וְשָׁמַע תְּפִלָּתָם מִשְׁמֵי מְרוֹמוֹ כִּֽי־שֹׁמֵ֣עַ אֶל־אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים יהו֑ה׃ |
God returned and forgave Their people for their cry rose before Their throne’s footstool They received and heard their prayers from the high heavens, For a Listener to the destitute is the CAUSE. (Psalms 69:34) |
נִחַם יהו֑ה עַל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת[15] Exodus 32:14 (first word reconjugated) וַיַּֽעַשׂ לָֽנוּ נָסִים וְנִפְלָאוֹת וַיּוֹצִיאֵֽנוּ מֵעַבְדוּת לְחֵרוּת תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יהו֑ה׃ |
The CAUSE renounced the harm They said They would do, and did for us miracles and wonders, and brought us from slavery to freedom. You listen to the desires of the lowly, CAUSE! |
יוֹם וָיוֹם נְסַפֶר תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כׇּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ וּבְכׇל־יוֹם נַגִיד נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ וּנְסַפֶר אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂה יהוה׃ |
Every day we will recount Your glory for You have raised Your name, Your word over all (Psalms 138:2) and every day we will tell Your wonders, and tell the works of the CAUSE. |
אַחַר כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים חַמֽוּדַא בַּֽאשָׁא לַעַֽלִי קָרָאמַֽלִי וּבָנָיו הָרִים וַיְנַשְׂאֵֽהוּ מֵעַל כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִים כִּי לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יהו֑ה׃ |
After all of these things, Ḥamuda Basha[16] Hammuda ibn Ali, bey of Tunis from 1782 to 1814 raised ’Ali Qaramaali and his sons And set him over all the princes for the heart of a king is in the hand of the CAUSE. (Proverbs 21:1) |
בִּשְׁנַת קָנְתָ֥״ה יְמִינֽוֹ הֶרְאָֽנוּ יָדוֹ הַנִּפְלָאָה בְּזֶֽרַע עוֹבְדֵי פֶֽסֶל הַקִּנְאָה אַפּוֹ חָרָה מֵאָז רָאָה אֶת־הָאִישׁ שָׂנֵא יהוה׃ |
In the year Their right hand acquired[17] An untranslatable gematria pun, citing Psalms 78:54. The gematria of קָנְתָה (“had acquired”) is 555, referring to the year 5555 AM or 1795 CE. , Their wondrous hand was shown to us. Against the seed of the worshippers of infuriating idols Their anger flared of old, and saw the man who hated the CAUSE. |
רָץ וְהֵכִין לָהֶם מִלְחָמָה וּכְלֵי זַֽיִן וְהַכֶּֽסֶף נֶחְשַׁב לִפְנֵיהֶם כְּאַֽיִן וּפָרָשִׁים וְרַגְלִים מִסְפָּרָם אַֽיִן וַיַּעֲבֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵי יהוה׃ |
He ran and set up war and weapons for them, and silver was accounted as naught before them, and cavalry and infantry without number and their king passed before the CAUSE. |
הַיּוֹם יוֹם הַשַׁבָּת הִגִּיעָה הַמִּלְחָמָה עַל־פְּנֵי הָעִיר וַתִּחַן שָׁמָּה בְּשִׁשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים לְטֵֽבֵת דִּגְלָהּ הֵרִימָה כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב יוֹם־יהו֖ה׃ |
That day, the day of Shabbat, the war arrived before the city, and encamped there. On the twenty-sixth of Tevet[18] 17 January 1795 Gregorian their flag was raised For near is the day of the CAUSE! (Obadiah 1:15) |
מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַׁבָּת יָצְאוּ לִקְרָאתָם וַיַּעַרְכוּ מִלְחָמָם אִתָּם וַיִּכְבְּשׁוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה מְקוֹמָם לא נוֹתַר דָּבָר נְאֻם יהוה׃ |
On the day after Shabbat they went out to meet them, And they arranged their war witht hem, and the warriors conquered their place. Nothing was left, declared the CAUSE. |
בִּרְאוֹתָם הַחַיָּלִים כִּי גָבְרָם יָדָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ בְלִבָּם בָּא יוֹם אֵידָם לֹא נִשְׁאַר מֵהֶם בְּהֵמָה וְאָדָם אָ֤דָֽם־וּבְהֵמָ֖ה תוֹשִׁ֣יעַ יהוֽה׃ |
Whent the soldiers saw that their hands had prevailed, They said in their hearts, ”Their day of disaster has come!” Neither man nor beast was left of them, Man and beast You save, CAUSE! (Psalms 36:7) |
נִכְנְסוּ הַחַיָּלִים עַל־הַשָּׂדוֹת וַיִּקְחוּ כׇּל־הָעֲבָדִים וְהַשְׁפָחוֹת וַיִּתְעוֹלְלוּ בַנָּשִׁים וּבַבְּתוּלוֹת וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יהו֔ה׃ |
The soldiers went out on the fields and took all the male and female slaves, and had their way with the women and virgins,[19] Disturbingly enough, this passage seems to be referring to the liberators of the town! Sexual assault as a weapon of war was, of course, par for the course at the time, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing for the modern reader. never saying, ”Where is the CAUSE?” (Jeremiah 2:6) |
רָאָה הָרָשָׁע כִּי כָלְתָה מַמְלַכְתּוֹ וַיּוֹצֵא הָאֲסִירִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיִּתְפְּשֵׂם וַיַּהַרְגֵם בַּחֲמָתוֹ וַיּוֹרִידֵם לַטֶּֽבַח נְאֻם יהוה׃ |
The wicked one saw that his kingdom was over, and he brought out the prisoners with him, and grabbed them and killed them in rage, and brought them to slaughter — declares the CAUSE. |
פָּעַר פִּיו אַכְזָר לִבְלִי חוֹק וַיֹּֽאמֶר בְּלִבּוֹ לֹא עֵת לִשְׂחוֹק וַיָּבֵא עֲצוֹת מֵרָחוֹק לִבְרֽוֹחַ מִפְּנֵי יהוה׃ |
The vicious lawless one gaped his mouth and said in his heart, ”It is not a time to cheer,” and brought counsel from afar to flee from the face of the CAUSE. |
אַחַר חֲצוֹת לַֽיְלָה בָּאָה שִׁפְלוּתוֹ וּגְזֵרָה עוֹמֶֽדֶת לְעֻמָּתוֹ וַיִּבְרַח הוּא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בֵּ֣ית גֵּ֭אִים יִסַּ֥ח ׀ יהו֑ה׃ |
After midnight, his downfall came, and a decree stands against him and he fled with all that was his. The house of the proud will be torn down by the CAUSE! (Proverbs 15:25) |
לְמָחָר בִּקְשֽׁוּהוּ וְלֹא־נִמְצָא אַחַר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה כְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר רָצָה וַיִּקַּח עִמּוֹ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר מָצָא כֶּֽסֶף וְזָהָב אָמַר יהוה׃ |
The next day, they sought him but he was not found, after he did all he wanted, and he took with him all he had found, silver and gold, said the CAUSE. |
כִּרְאוֹתָם כִּי בָרַח וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ וּסְפִינוֹתָיו נוֹסְעוֹת לְפָנֵֽינוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּגִּֽידוּ לַאֲדוֹנֵֽנוּ בּאוּ וּרְאוּ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַת יהוה׃ |
When they saw he had fled and was not there, and his ships went on before him, they went and told our master, ”Come and see the salvation of the CAUSE!” |
לֹא נַֽחְנוּ וְלֹא שָׁקָט לִבֵּֽנוּ מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַבָּאָה עָלֵֽינוּ כִּי שָׁמַֽעְנוּ אוֹמְרִים לָבוֹז וְלִשְׁלוֹל שְׁלָלֵנוּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ קֽוּמוּ כִּי נָתַן יהוה׃ |
We did not cease, nor were our hearts still From the war coming upon us. For we heard them say to pillage and plunder our plunder, and they said, ”Get up, for it was given by the CAUSE!” |
פְּנוֹת בֹּֽקֶר בַּעֲלוֹת הַשַֽׁחַר בָּאוּ סִי׳ חְמֶד וְסִי׳ יֽוּסֶף לְפֶֽתַח הַשַֽׁעַר וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ בָם טַף וְזָקֵן וָנַֽעַר כֻּלָּם יָרֹֽנּוּ בִּגְאוֹן יהוה׃ |
That morning, at sunrise, Came Sidi Ḥmed[20] Ephraim Hazan believes this to be another reference to Hammuda ibn Ali, but to me it seems more likely to refer to Ḥamet Karamanli, the elder son of ‘Ali ibn Mehmed and the previously appointed successor to the throne. Unlike Ḥammuda, who helped plan the retaking of the city, Ḥamet was there. and Sidi Yusef[21] Yusuf Karamanli, the younger son of ‘Ali ibn Mehmed. After this reclaiming of power, Yusuf would exile his brother and take the throne for himself, reigning until 1832 and bearing the distinction of being the first ever ruler to have his country blockaded by the US Navy. to the entrance of the gate, and children and elders and youths rejoiced; they all would cheer in the pride of the CAUSE. |
וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת־אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה כִּי הֵם רַבִּים וְהֵם כַּחֲמִשָּׁה אֶֽלֶף סוּסִים לְבַד מֵהַשָׂרִים וְהָרַגְלִים מָֽה־רַבּ֬וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֨יךָ ׀ יֽהו֔ה׃ |
And they saw that the warriors were great, and they were around five thousand horses not to mention the generals and infantry. How manifold are Your works, o CAUSE! (Psalms 104:24) |
נָמֵס לִבָּם וַיָּחֶרְדוּ חָרוֹד וַיַּעֲלוּ עַל־הַחוֹמָה וַיַּעַמְדוּ עָמוֹד וַיִּתְחַנְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיִּסְגְדוּ סָגוֹד צָעַ֥ק לִבָּ֖ם אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֑י׃[22] Find note above on Lamentations 3:31 (“Technically, this verse spells out…”) |
Their hearts melted,[23] The Jews of the town, who didn’t know if this new force of soldiers was coming to help or hurt them. Perhaps they had heard rumors of the sexual assault described several verses prior. and they feared, fearing, and they went up to the wall and stood, standing, and they begged before them, and bowed, bowing. Their hearts shouting to the CAUSE. (Lamentations 2:18) |
נָֽתְנוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר קוֹלָם בִּצְעָקָה וּבְכִיָּה כִּי בָאָה תַּאֲנִיָּה וַאֲנִיָּה וְלִבָּם וְעֵינָם לָאֵל צוֹפִיָּה לֹ֣א יָשׁ֗וּב חֲרוֹן֙ אַף־יהו֔ה׃ |
The people of the town gave voice in shouting and crying, because mourning and moaning came, and their hearts and eyes gazed to God — ”Hasn’t it turned back, the boiling wrath of the CAUSE?” (Jeremiah 30:24) |
רָאוּם בְּנֵי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ וַיְרַחֲמוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיָּבֹֽאוּ לִפְנֵי שָׂרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּשְׁתַּטְחוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם לְבִלְתִּי יִכָּנְסוּ הַחַיָּלִים אֲלֵיהֶם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־יהוֽה׃ |
The king’s sons saw them and had mercy on them, and they came before the generals prostrate before them, that the soldiers not enter them,[24] The houses of the Jews king and generals, declared the CAUSE. (Jeremiah 49:38) |
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ לָהֶם וַיִּתְּנוּ כָרוֹז לְבַל־יִכָּנֵס אִישׁ לִשְׁלל וְלָבוֹז וַיַּאֲמִֽינוּ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ וַיַּעֲלוֹז כִּי גּוֹאֲלָם חָזָק יהוה׃ |
And they listened to them, and set an announcer that no man shall enter to pillage or plunder. And they believed and rejoiced and celebrated, for their mighty Redeemer, the CAUSE. |
יוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בְּתִשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים נִכְנְסוּ סִי׳ חְמֶד וְסִי׳ יֽוּסֶף וְהַשָּׂרִים וַיּוֹשִֽׁיבוּ סִי׳ חְמֶד עַל־כִּסֵּא הַמְּלָכִים אֶת־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה פָּעַל יהוה׃ |
On Tuesday the twenty-ninth,[25] 20 January 1795 Gregorian Sidi Ḥmed and Sidi Yusef and the generals entered, and Sidi Ḥmed was seated on the royal throne, all of which was done by the CAUSE. |
צַעֲקַת הַשִּׂמְחָה נִשְׁמְעָה לְמֵרָחוֹק כִּי בָא אֵלֵֽינוּ הַמְּקַיֵּם בְּרִית וָחוֹק וְאַבֵּד הָאַכְזָר יִמַּח וְיִשְׁחוֹק כֵּ֠ן יֹאבְד֤וּ כָל־אוֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ יהו֔ה׃ |
The cry of joy was heard from afar, for the Upholder of covenant and law came upon us, and perished the vicious one — be he erased and worn out![26] The death of Ali Burghul was reported to have occurred in February 1804. Thus may all Your enemies perish, o CAUSE! (Judges 5:31) |
וְהָיָה כְּשֶֽׁבֶת סִי׳ חְמֶד עַל־כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיִּקְרָא לְכׇל־אַנְשֵׁי עֲדָתוֹ שְׁבוּ אִישׁ אִישׁ עַל־עֲבוֹדָתוֹ עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הָֽרֹאֹ֔ת אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה׃[27] Deuteronomy 11:7 (one word missing) |
And when Sidi Ḥmed sat on the royal throne, he sent for and called all the men of his community: ”Let each man return to his work. Your eyes have seen the deed of the CAUSE!” |
חַנּוּן הַנִּדְרָשׁ לְכׇל־שׁוֹאֲלוֹ וְלֹא־שִׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּפִי פָעֲלוֹ וְדוֹרְשֵׁי יהוה שְׁמוֹ יְהַלְלוּ כִּ֤י לֹֽא־עָזַ֖בְתָּ דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ יהוֽה׃ |
The Merciful One seeks out all who ask for Them, and does not repay a person per their deeds. And those who seek the CAUSE will praise Their Name, for You have not abandoned those who seek You, o CAUSE. (Psalms 9:11) |
זַךְ וְיָשָׁר אַתָּה הֶחֱיִתָֽנוּ וּמִיַּד זָרִים אַכְזָרִים מְלַטְתָּֽנוּ שַׂ֭מְּחֵנוּ כִּימ֣וֹת עִנִּיתָ֑נוּ יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח לֵ֤ב ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י יהוֽה׃ |
Pure and Upright! You gave us life, and from the hand of vicious foreigners rescued us. Let us rejoice per the days we were afflicted! (Psalms 90:15) Rejoice the heart of those asking for the CAUSE! (Psalms 105:3) |
קָרוֹב אַתָּה לְכׇל־מְבַקְשֶֽׁךָ וּמָצוּי לְכׇל־דּוֹרְשֶֽׁיךָ נָגִֽילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ אָמֵן וְאָמֵן יֹאמַר יהוה׃ |
Close are You to all who ask for You, and findable by all who seek You. Let us cheer and rejoice in Your salvation! Amen and amen, may it be said by the CAUSE! |
אִכְלוּ רֵעִים וְשִׁכְרוּ יְדִידִים כִּי הִצִילָֽנוּ אֱלֹהִים מִיַּד מַעֲבִידִים הִכָּם בְּאַף וְהִשְׁמִידֵם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יהוֽה׃ |
Eat, friends, and drink, beloved, For God saved us from the hand of enslavers, striking them in rage and destroying them from under the heavens of the CAUSE. (Lamentations 3:66) |
מִי הָאִישׁ צַדִּיק וִירֵא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת יוֹם זֶה כִּימֵי הַפּוּרִים לָתֵת מַתָּנוֹת לַעֲנִיִּים מְרוּדִים לִקְרֹ֤א כֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יהו֔ה׃ |
A man whom is righteous and reverent of God, should make this day as the days of Purim, to give gifts to the lowly and wretched that they all call by the name of the CAUSE. (Zephaniah 3:9) |
נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ מִיָּד צַר צוֹרֵר הָצִיל וְעָלֵֽינוּ לְהוֹדוֹת לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ וּלְהַלֵּל כִּי הוֹצִיאָֽנוּ מִיַּד עוֹבֵד אֱלִיל מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יהו֔ה׃ |
Our souls were saved from the stressful foe, and it is upon us to thank and laud and praise, for They saved us from the godlet-worshipper. Who is like You among the deities, o CAUSE? (Exodus 15:11) |
Notes
| 1 | חזן, אפרים ורחל חיטין־משיח. מי כמוך – פיוטים על נס והצלה מקומיים בקהילות צפון אפריקה. מוסד ביאליק. בער שבע, תשע״ג. |
|---|---|
| 2 | ’Ali ibn Mehmed, of the Karamanli line, who ruled Tripolitania 1754 to 1793. |
| 3 | also known as Ali Burghul or Trablusu Ali Pasha. Raised as a slave in Algeria, he rose to the position of the head of the navy. There is some debate over whether or not his interference in Tripoli was done with Ottoman support or not — but this text clearly treats him as the villain of the story. |
| 4 | AM, 1793 CE |
| 5 | Turkish |
| 6 | A general euphemism for Christians. In this case, referring to Spanish mercenaries. |
| 7 | 30 July 1793 Gregorian |
| 8 | Isaiah 19:4 (one word missing) |
| 9 | A gold coin used in the Ottoman Empire. |
| 10 | Psalms 83:19 (order altered) |
| 11 | Ephraim Hazan suggests that one of these two martyrs described here was the son of the author. |
| 12 | Lamentations 3:31 (order altered). Technically, this verse spells out אֲדֹנָי in place of the tetragrammaton, and would normally be translated as “the Master,” but this translation seeks to preserve the consistent conclusion of each stanza with God’s name, and in any case the terms sound the same to the reader. |
| 13 | Isaiah 48:22 (with added vav) |
| 14 | Jeremiah 36:5 (with added vav) |
| 15 | Exodus 32:14 (first word reconjugated) |
| 16 | Hammuda ibn Ali, bey of Tunis from 1782 to 1814 |
| 17 | An untranslatable gematria pun, citing Psalms 78:54. The gematria of קָנְתָה (“had acquired”) is 555, referring to the year 5555 AM or 1795 CE. |
| 18 | 17 January 1795 Gregorian |
| 19 | Disturbingly enough, this passage seems to be referring to the liberators of the town! Sexual assault as a weapon of war was, of course, par for the course at the time, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing for the modern reader. |
| 20 | Ephraim Hazan believes this to be another reference to Hammuda ibn Ali, but to me it seems more likely to refer to Ḥamet Karamanli, the elder son of ‘Ali ibn Mehmed and the previously appointed successor to the throne. Unlike Ḥammuda, who helped plan the retaking of the city, Ḥamet was there. |
| 21 | Yusuf Karamanli, the younger son of ‘Ali ibn Mehmed. After this reclaiming of power, Yusuf would exile his brother and take the throne for himself, reigning until 1832 and bearing the distinction of being the first ever ruler to have his country blockaded by the US Navy. |
| 22 | Find note above on Lamentations 3:31 (“Technically, this verse spells out…”) |
| 23 | The Jews of the town, who didn’t know if this new force of soldiers was coming to help or hurt them. Perhaps they had heard rumors of the sexual assault described several verses prior. |
| 24 | The houses of the Jews |
| 25 | 20 January 1795 Gregorian |
| 26 | The death of Ali Burghul was reported to have occurred in February 1804. |
| 27 | Deuteronomy 11:7 (one word missing) |
“אַזְכִּיר מַעֲשֵׂה ה׳ | Azkir Ma’aseh Hashem — a Purim Sheni piyyut of Tripoli for the Shabbat preceding the 29 of Tevet, by Avraham Khalfon” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)
Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
Avraham Khalfon
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Quartiere ebraico “Hara”, nella Medina (città vecchia) di Tripoli (circa 1930)(This image is set to automatically show as the "featured image" in category lists and in shared links on social media.)
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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17
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