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This zulat piyyut, by R. Shmuel bar Yehuda (fl. 12th c.), is a keening cry in response to the traumatic First Crusade Rhineland massacres, known as the Gzerot TaTN”O in Hebrew, specifically focusing on the 3 Sivan massacre and martyrdoms in Mainz. The massacres of the Gzerot TaTN”O were so traumatic to Ashkenazi Jewry that to this day, the Av haRaḥamim prayer for martyrs, usually elided on Shabbat Mevorkhim, is not elided on Shabbat Mevorkhim Iyar or Sivan. As a zulat, it is recited at the end of the “Emet v-Emuna” paragraph. Generally the second half of the paragraph is altered slightly when a zulat is inserted. In this case, the alteration, according to the old Nusaḥ Polin, is included.
This is the fifth piyyut of a complete set of yotsrot (piyyutim inserted into the reading of the Shema) in the old Ashkenazi rite, for the Shabbat before Shavuot, including alphabetical gender-neutral translations.
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 pronouns They/Their/Them 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.) All divine referents (pronouns, epithets, names) are rendered in unicase.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
עַל־הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְעַל־הָאַחֲרוֹנִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד חֹק וְלֹא־יַעֲבֹר אֱמֶת שָׁאַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד אַתָּה הוּא מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אָֽתָּה לְמַֽעַן שִׁמְךָ מַהֵר לְגׇאֳלֵנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר גָּאַֽלְתָּ אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֱמֶת מֵעוֹלָם שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עָלֵֽינוּ נִקְרָא בְּאַהֲבָה אֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶֽךָ׃ |
On the former and on the latter, forever and aye, a law not to be transgressed. True that You are the Cause our God and God of our ancestors, forever and aye. You are our Sovereign, the Sovereign of our ancestors are You. For the sake of Your name quickly redeem us as You redeemed our ancestors. True that since eternity is Your great name called over us in love; there is no god but You. |
אֱלֹהַי אֶקְרָאֲךָ בְּמַחֲשֵׁב שִׁיר מַעֲנִי לְהַקְשֵׁב וְאַתָּ֥ה קָד֑וֹשׁ י֝וֹשֵׁ֗ב׃ (תהלים כב:ד) בְּעׇזְּךָ תְּפֹאַר בַּהֲמוֹנָי מִכְלַל יֹֽפִי בְּהֶגְיוֹנָי מִקְוֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה׃ (ירמיה יז:יג) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ! |
Ah, my God, I call on You in thought, to hear a song of my answer; and You are holy, enthoned! (Psalms 22:4) By Your strength, be glorified in my multitudes, perfect beauty in my meditations Hope of Israel is the Cause! (Jeremiah 17:13) Do not silence Yourself! |
גָּעֽוּנִי יְמֵי עֶבְרָה וְצָר בְּזָדוֹן נִתְגָּרָה כִּ֣י דִבֶּר־סָ֠רָ֠ה׃ (דברים יג:ו) דָּאוּ מֵאֶֽרֶץ רְחוֹקָה אֲגַפֵּי תֵימָן לְהַחֲזִיקָה י֧וֹם צָרָ֣ה וּמְצוּקָ֗ה׃ (צפניה א:טו) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Galsome days assailed me, and the foe arrogantly taunted, for he spoke apostasy. (Deuteronomy 13:6) Drifting in from a distant land, grabbing onto the southern wings, a day of stress and trouble! (Zephaniah 1:15) Do not silence Yourself! |
הֲמוֹן חֵיל שֵׂעִיר לַהֲקָתָם בְּכָלָה לְהַסְעִיר ק֤וֹל שָׁאוֹן֙ מֵעִ֔יר׃ (ישעיה סו:ו) וֻעֲדוּ לְקֶֽרֶן אֲפֵלָה בִּכְבוֹד נֵכָר לְהִתְהַלְלָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה׃ (בראשית טו:יב) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Edom’s military hordes, their bands stirring up destruction, tumult’s sound from the city. (Isaiah 66:6) While they organized to darkness’s horn, to boast of the foreigner’s glory, behold terror, great darkness! (Genesis 15:12) Do not silence Yourself! |
זָֽעוּ וְנִתְפַּלְּצוּ אַבִּירִים רָשָׁע כֶּאֱסֹף עֲדָרִים עָבַ֔ר בֵּ֖ין הַגְּזָרִ֥ים׃ (בראשית טו:יז) חִבֵּל יַלְדֵי שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים יִשְׁרֵי לֵב מַדָּעִים עַ֖ל מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת הָרֹעִֽים׃ (שיר השירים א:ח) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Zealous ones fled in terror, as the wicked gathered up the flocks passing between the pieces. (Genesis 15:17) Hurting the dandled babies, the upright-hearted knowledgeable, upon the shepherds’ shelters. (Song of Songs 1:8) Do not silence Yourself! |
טִבְחָה כַּצֹּאן נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ הַמְסֻלָּאִים בַּפָּז נִסְחָֽבוּ הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם אָהֵֽבוּ ׃ (נראה זכריה ח:יט) יִחֲדוּ שִׁמְךָ לְקַדֵּשׁ וְנַפְשָׁם הִשְׁלִֽימוּ לְהָדֵשׁ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ׃ (חגי א:א) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
To the slaughter, we were thought of as lambs; those as valued as gold were stolen. Truth and peace they loved.[1] Find Zechariah 8:19 Your Name they sanctified as one, and they accepted their souls’ threshing, on the first day of the month. (Haggai 1:1) Do not silence Yourself! |
כׇּל־אַלּוּפֵי תוֹרָה דּוֹרְשֵׁי מִצְוָה בָּרָה יִרְאַ֤ת יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮׃ (תהלים יט:י) לְיוֹם מִצְוַת הַגְבָּלָה הֻזְבְּחוּ בְּנֵי הַקְּהִלָּה מְנוֹרַת֩ זָהָ֨ב כֻּלָּ֜הּ׃ (זכריה ד:ב) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Knights of Torah all, seekers of refined commandments; awe of the Cause is pure. (Psalms 19:10) Leading to bordering’s command-day,[2] The third day before Shavuot, 3 Sivan, on which the boundary around Mt. Sinai was set. On 3 Sivan (27 May 1096) Count Emicho and his cohort of crusaders massacred the Jews of Mainz. (Speyer was attacked on 8 Iyyar, Worms on Rosh Ḥodesh Sivan, and Cologne on Shavuot itself.) the community’s children were sacrificed, a lampstand all of gold. (Zechariah 4:2) Do not silence Yourself! |
מְשַׂחֶֽקֶת קְרוּעָה וּשְׂרוּפָה רְמוּסָה וּבְדָם הוּצְפָה אִמְרַ֣ת אֱל֣וֹהַּ צְרוּפָ֑ה׃ (משלי ל:ה) נוֹצְרֶֽיהָ הֻקְדְשׁוּ לְהִתְחַיֵּב זוֹלְלוּ חוֹלְלוּ לְדַיֵּב כִּ֥י גָבַ֖ר אוֹיֵֽב׃ (איכה א:טז) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Making light of being torn and buried, trampled and flooded in blood — the Sole God’s word is refined! (Proverbs 30:5) Now made martyred were its guardians; they devoured and caused upset, for the enemy was victorious! (Lamentations 1:16) Do not silence Yourself! |
סָמוּךְ לְחַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת קְרָאוּנִי רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּפְרֹֽעַ פְּרָעוֹת׃ (נראה שופטים ה:ב) עֵינֶֽיךָ פְּקַח אָיוֹם בִּיטָה לְהָחִישׁ פִּדְיוֹם כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כׇל־הַיּ֑וֹם׃ (תהלים מד:כג) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Soon before the Shavuot festival, many misfortunes called upon me, as breaches breached in Israel![3] Find Judges 5:2 Open Your eyes, Awesome One, gaze down, hurry redemption, for we are killed for You all day! (Psalms 44:23) Do not silence Yourself! |
פִּרְחֵי לְוִיִּם וְכֹהֲנִים תַּמּוּ בְּהַסְתֵּר פָּנִים חֲדָשִׁ֖ים גַּם־יְשָׁנִ֑ים׃ (שיר השירים ז:יד) צִיּוּן שַׁעֲרֵי תְעוּדָה רְעוּצִים בִּישִׁיבַת בְּדוּדָה וַאֲנִ֥י שְׁכוּלָ֖ה וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה׃ (ישעיה מט:כא) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Priests and Levites’ striplings finished off; with Your Face hidden, both new and old. (Song of Songs 7:14) Zion,the gates of testimony, crushed in the lonely dwelling,[4] In Jerusalem (see Lam. 1:1), the crusaders rounded all of the Jews up into the synagogue and burned them alive. and I am bereaved and barren! (Isaiah 49:21) Do not silence Yourself! |
קָרֵב קֵץ הַפְּלָאוֹת הַצֵּל עִמְּךָ מִתְּלָאוֹת גֹּאֲלֵ֕נוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת׃ (ישעיה מז:ד) רַחֲפָם בְּאֶבְרָתְךָ לְהַנְחוֹת אַמְּצֵם לְהַשִּׂיג רְוָחוֹת אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת׃ (תהלים טז:יא) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Quicken the final miracles, save Your people from troubles, our Redeemer, Cause of Multitudes! (Isaiah 47:4) Rest Your guiding wings over them, strengthen them to obtain relief, the path of life, fullness of joy. (Psalms 16:11) Do not silence Yourself! |
שְׁאוֹן קָמִים הָדֵק מַהֵר בְּנֵה עִיר הַצֶּדֶק לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק׃ (מלכים ב׳ יב:יג) תְּמַלֵּא שִׁמְךָ בְּעֶֽרֶץ נֹֽעַם כִּסְאֲךָ לְהַתְרֵץ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן עַל־כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ (תהלים פג:יט) |
Shorten the opposing tumult, speedily build the righteous city, to strengthen the breach. (II Kings 12:13) Then fill Your name with admiration, to make level Your sweet throne, highest over all the earth! (Psalms 83:19) Do not silence Yourself! |
שְׁׄנַת חֲמִשִּׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה מַׄחְצִי וּׄמַכָּתִי אֲׄנוּשָׁה יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְׄעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃ (תהלים מ:יד) חַׄנּוּן זְׄקֹׄף מִטּוּי קַרְנֵֽנוּ כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָֽנוּ שַׂמְּחֵֽנוּ הָאֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ וְעֶזְרָתֵֽנוּ׃ אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ |
Six and fifty the year,[5] The term “Gzerot TaTN”O” means “the decrees of the year ‘856,” i.e. 4856, the Hebrew-calendar equivalent of 1096, the year that the crusades began. my wound is untreatably egregious; Cause, lend me Your help, quickly! (Psalms 40:14) Straighten, One who is Gracious, our fallen horn, let us rejoice per our suffering’s days, the Deity of our salvation and help![6] Find Psalms 68:20 as well as the blessing of the Hoda’ah Do not silence Yourself! |
Notes
| 1 | Find Zechariah 8:19 |
|---|---|
| 2 | The third day before Shavuot, 3 Sivan, on which the boundary around Mt. Sinai was set. On 3 Sivan (27 May 1096) Count Emicho and his cohort of crusaders massacred the Jews of Mainz. (Speyer was attacked on 8 Iyyar, Worms on Rosh Ḥodesh Sivan, and Cologne on Shavuot itself.) |
| 3 | Find Judges 5:2 |
| 4 | In Jerusalem (see Lam. 1:1), the crusaders rounded all of the Jews up into the synagogue and burned them alive. |
| 5 | The term “Gzerot TaTN”O” means “the decrees of the year ‘856,” i.e. 4856, the Hebrew-calendar equivalent of 1096, the year that the crusades began. |
| 6 | Find Psalms 68:20 as well as the blessing of the Hoda’ah |
“זולת לשבת לפני שבעות | Zulat piyyut for the Shabbat before Shavuot, on Gzerot TaTN”O (the massacres of the First Crusade) by Shmuel bar Yehudah he-Ḥasid” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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