🆕 אֵל נִשָּׂא | El Nisa — a yotser piyyuṭ for Shabbat Bereshit (both Minhag Ashkenaz and Polin), by Shlomo ben Yehudah ha-Bavli

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10th century C.E., 47th century A.M., Acrostic signature, Alphabetic Acrostic, German translation, Minhag Ashkenaz, Minhag Polin, נשמת כל חי Nishmat kol ḥai, פיוטים piyyuṭim, פרשת בראשית parashat Bereshit, יוצר אור yotser ohr, יוצרות yotsrot

This is the yotser piyyuṭ for Shabbat Bereshit (both Minhag Ashkenaz and Polin), by Shlomo ben Yehudah ha-Bavli (a/k/a Solomon “the Lesser”), with Seligman Baer’s German translation, and a new phonetic acrostic translation in English. The full yotsrot cycle — both for the Ashkenaz and Polin minhagim — for Shabbat Bereshit, the first Shabbat of the year. While the yotser and zulat piyyuṭim, shared between the two, are both by Shlomo haBavli, different customs abound for the ofan piyyuṭ.

Note: 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 (German)	Translation (English)
אֵל נִשָּׂא אֲרַנֵּן בְּהִתְעַלְּסָה אֹֽמֶץ עָשָׂה אַגִּיד בִּכְנֵסָה׃	Den erhabenen Gott besing’ ich mit Lust, was Er Großes getan, will in Volksversammlung ich erzählen.	At the high Deity I will cheer in passion; power They did, I will tell in the community.
בְּסוֹד בָּרָה בְּיֹֽשֶׁר אֶתְחַבְּרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא בָּאֵר וּלְדַבְּרָה׃	Der reinen Gemeinde will ich mich zugesellen, um über die Schöpfungsgeschichte ausfürhlich zu reden.	By counsel of the pure, may I be be joined with the upright. “In the beginning of creation” (Genesis 1:1) explaining and telling.
שִֽׁׄיתוּ לֵׄב לַעֲבֹד מֶֽׄלֶךְ הַׄכָּבוֹד׃ קָדוֹשׁ׃	Jedoch vor Allem nehmet zu Herzen, dem König der Ehre zu dienen, dem Allheiligen.	Set your heart to serve the Sovereign of Glory! Holy!
גְּדָל פֶּֽלֶל גְּבוּרוֹתָיו נְמַלֵּל גִּֽיהַּ וָלֵיל גׇּדְלוֹ נְסַלֵּל׃	Groß ist Gott im Urtheil; von seinen Thaten laßt uns Tag und Nacht erzählen, seine Größe laßt uns preisen.	Great in mediation; we will recount Their mighty deeds, daytime and night we will roll out Their greatness.
דְּרוֹשׁ כְּיָצַר דֵּי מַעֲצַר דַּל יִנְצַר דֵּעָה מֵהִתְקַצָּר׃	Doch in der Schöpfung zu forschen, müssen wir behutsam sein; der Arme muß den Mund verschließen, da es ihm an Einsicht gebricht.	Delving into the forming, one must be well careful; the lowly one should watch it, lacking in knowledge.
הָאֵל בְּחׇשְׁבוֹ הָעוֹלָם לְיַשְּׁבוֹ הִתְיָעֵץ בְּמַחֲשָׁבוֹ הַמְשַׂחֶֽקֶת בְּמוֹשָׁבוֹ׃	Als des Allmächtigen Gedanke die Welt in’s Dasein rief, da zog er die Weisheit zu Rathe, die vor ihm spielte in seiner Residenz.	Ere the Deity’s thinking settled the universe, They consulted the wisdom^[1] The Torah, said to predate the world. Find Proverbs 8:22 playing in his dwelling.
וּבָהּ נִשְׁוָה וְדַעְתָּהּ הִשְׁוָה וְהִסְכִּימָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה וְלִבְרֹאת הֵשִׁיבָה׃	Und sie war derselben Meinung, stimmte mit seinem Entwurf überein und hielt es für gut, daß die Welt geschaffen werde.	With it They shared the opinion, agreeing in thought and responding to create.
זָמֲמוֹ הִרְהַר זֵרוּז מִהַר זִמֵּן מִזֹּֽהַר זְבוּלֵי טֹֽהַר׃	Den gedachten Entwurf vollführte schnell der Schöpfer; er bereitete aus dem Lichte die reinglänzenden Himmel,	Zooming quickly to work Their scheme They crafted, They summoned from the luminance the pure heavens.
חֶֽלֶד הֶאֱרִיק חִוָּר הִזְרִיק חֵץ הִמְרִיק חֶֽלֶף מַעֲרִיק׃	gründete den Erdball, streute Lichtstrahlen umher, und schärfte auch der Hölle Pfeile für die Bösewichter.	Hewing the Earth, They scattered the rays, sharpening arrows against the villainous.
טִלּוּל הִקְרִישׁ טִיעָתוֹ הִשְׁרִישׁ טְמוּנִים לְהַגְרִישׁ טְרוֹד וּלְהַפְרִישׁ׃	Er stellte fest die Himmelswölbung, spannte wie ein Zelt sie aus; die noch zurückgebliebenen Wasser schied er ab und trieb sie in ihre Grenzen.	Tentlike, They solidified the dew-source,^[2] The heavens enrooting its color, forcing out the hidden depths^[3] The waters below the earth, in the Biblical cosmology to expel and confine.
יָצַר פוֹצְחִים יִחוּדוֹ מְנַצְּחִים יִמֵּן קִדּוּחִים יַסֵּר נִדָּחִים׃	Er bildete Wesen, die seine Einheit ewiglich loben; bestimmte auch der Hölle Gluth, Abtrünnige zu züchtigen.	Invokers eternal of Their unity^[4] The angels They formed; They instituted the infernos that will chastise defectors.
כִּנֵּס בַּאֲגֻדּוֹ כַּבִּירֵי מְדוֹדוֹ כַּהֲזִידָם נֶגְדּוֹ כְּבָשָׁם בְּפַחְדּוֹ׃	Er ließ die mächtig gemessenen Fluthen an einen Ort sich sammeln, und die sich dessen nicht fügen wollten, bewältigte er durch seine Macht.	Collecting in Their association Their mighty of measure,^[5] The floods. Find Isaiah 40:12 as those arrogant against Them They crushed in Their awe.
לְרָאשֵׁי הַנֶּֽשִׁי לַח הִדְשִׁיא לְהַרְבּוֹת וּלְהַפְשִׁיא לְמַזְרִֽיעַ וּלְמַדְשִׁיא׃	Den Erhebungen des Erdballs spendete er Feuchtigkeit für das Wachsthum, viel Samen zu bringen viel Sprossen zu treiben.	Laying moisture upon the peaks of the forgetful-place,^[6] The earth. Find Psalm 88:13 They irrigated to grow and to spread forth, to bear seed and to sprout grass.
מַעֲשִׂים זִמְּנָם מֵאֹֽמֶר יִמְּנָם מְאוֹרוֹת הֲמוֹנָם מֵרוּחוֹ מִנָּם׃	Die Werke, die der Herr bereitet, hat sein bloßes Wort hervorgebracht; die Lichtermenge — sein Hauch erzeugte sie.	Mighty acts They prepared, instituting them by a word; the luminaries in their multitude They counted from Their breath.
נֶעֱלָץ צוֹעֵד נֶאֱמָן עֵד נוֹטְרִים מוֹעֵד נִתְקָפִים מֵהִמָּעֵד׃	Die freudig ihre Bahn durchschreitende Sonne und der Mond, als zuverlässiger Zeuge (die Festtage zu bestimmen), sie halten unwandelbar ihren Kreislauf ein.	Nimble-stepper^[7] The sun. Find Psalm 19:6 and faithful witness^[8] The moon. Find Psalm 89:38 keep seasons, strongly untripping.
סִלֵּק מֵחֲבוּאִים שָׂחִים וְדֹאִים סִמֵּן לְנִבְרָאִים סוּר מִטְּמֵאִים׃	Er hieß aus den umschlossenen Wassern die Kriechenden und die Fliegenden sich erheben und bezeichnete sie zugleich, auf daß der Unreinen wir uns enthalten.	Skitterers and soarers They raised from the hiding-spots, as a sign to all creatures: “avoid the impure!”
עָרֹךְ בָּחַר עֵינָיו כְּשַׁחַר עָתִיד לִסְחַר עֲמוּסֵי מִשְׁחָר׃	Jenes Unthier (Livjathan), dessen Augen wie die Morgenröthe glänzen, wählte er, um es einstens seinen Holdgepflegten aufzutischen und sie damit zulaben.	Ordained was that beast^[9] The Leviathan, fated to be eaten by the apportioned up and consumed in the eschaton at the Feast of the Righteous. with eyes like the dawn,^[10] Find Job 41:10 which will eventually be merchandise^[11] Find Job 40:30 for those borne of the morning.
פּוֹעֵל בְּחׇכְמָה פִּקֵּד אֲדָמָה פְּלֹט בְּיִחוּמָהּ פְּרָאִים וּבְהֵמָה׃	Er, der mit Allweisheit wirkt, befahl der Erde, wilde und zahme Thiere zu erzeugen.	Performing wisdom, They ordered the land to emit from its estrus wild-beasts^[12] Literally: onagers, the quintessential untamed animal. and tame ones.
צֶאֱלִים יְסֻכּֽוּהוּ צָפָה לְעׇרְכֵֽהוּ צָדוֹ לְנַכְּסֵֽהוּ צְנוּעִים לְכוֹסֵֽהוּ׃	Das im Dickicht der Bäume sich schat tende Untier (den Behemoth) hat er ausersehen, um es einstens zu zurichten den Bescheidenen zum Mahle.	Chosen was that hiding lotus-embowered one,^[13] The Behemoth. Find Job 40:22 hunting it to slaughter it, to preserve it for the modest ones.^[14] As with the Leviathan, find note above.
קָדוֹשׁ מֵאַרְצוֹ קִצַּע קְרוּצוֹ קוֹמְמִיּוּת הִפְרִיצוֹ קִשְּׁטוֹ מִמַּעֲרָצוֹ׃	Der Heilige formte aus Erde sein Gebilde, den Menschen, wies ihm die aufrechte Stellung an, schmückte ihn aus mit seiner Macht.	Quintessence of Theirs^[15] Humanity the Holy One molded from Their earth, breaking them in uprightly, adorning them with Their power.
רַק כְּשִׁחַת רוּחוֹ נִפְחַת רֶֽשַׁת שַֽׁחַת רֶֽדֶת לְתָֽחַת׃	Daß derselbe auf Abwege gerieth, dies nur verringerte dessen Werth und brachte ihn dahin, in die Gruft zu fahren und der Verwesung anheim zu fallen.	Reduced was their spirit only for straying; the net of the pit dragging them down below.
שִׁלֵּם פׇּעֳלוֹ שָׁבַת בִּזְבוּלוֹ שְׁבִיעִי עִלּוֹ שְׁמֹר מֵחַלְּלוֹ׃	Als nun der Herr sein Werk vollendet hatte, da ruhte er in seinen Him meln, und er erhob den siebenten Tag, daß auch wir ihn halten und nicht entweihen sollen.	Sure that the work was done, They rested in Their splendor, exalting the seventh day — keep it, lest it be profaned!
תִּנּוּי שֶֽׁפֶר תְּמוּר שִׁפֵּר תֵּת כֹּֽפֶר תָּאַב עֹֽפֶר׃	Laßt uns in lieblichen Tönen singen ihm, der den heilbringenden Sabbath uns gab; Er, der Allgütige gab ihn uns zur Sühne unsrer Sünden.	Thus let us sweetly repeat song for the One who Improved, the Fawn^[16] God, according to the midrashic reading of Song of Songs 2:9 who desired giving atonement.
שְׁמָרוֹ לְהַנְחִילוֹ לְעַם נְחִילוֹ מָן בְּהַשְׁחִילוֹ הִשְׁמִיעוֹ הִתְחִילוֹ׃	Er setzte den Sabbath ein, um seinem eigenthümlichen Volke ihn zu vererben, und als er den Kindern Israel das Manna zukommen ließ, da begann er die Sabbathgesetze hören zu lassen:	Safeguarding it offered as legacy of Their inherited people; when manna They obtruded, They began noting it.^[17] The halakhot of the sabbath are first explained in the portion of the manna, Exodus 16:5.
הִתְעַנַּג לְהִתְנָאוֹת קְלוֹט יְצִיאוֹת טוֹעֵן מַשָּׂאוֹת נֽוֹחַ מִלִּלְאוֹת׃	„Ergötze dich und schmücke dich an ihm, enthalte dich der Gänge in die Weite, trage keine Lasten, ruhe aus und ermüde dich nicht!“	That you enjoy yourself, letting yourself be adorned by it, stopping from going out saddling with burdens, ease restfully rather than tire!
שִֽׁׄיתוּ לֵׄב לַעֲבֹד מֶֽׄלֶךְ הַׄכָּבוֹד׃ קָדוֹשׁ׃	Jedoch vor Allem nehmet zu Herzen, dem König der Ehre zu dienen, dem Allheiligen.	Set your heart to serve the Sovereign of Glory! Holy!

Source(s)

Yotser l’Shabbat Bereshit (trans. Seligman Baer, Die Piyutim 1862), p. 10

Yotser l’Shabbat Bereshit (trans. Seligman Baer, Die Piyutim 1862), p. 11

Yotser l’Shabbat Bereshit (trans. Seligman Baer, Die Piyutim 1862), p. 12

Yotser l’Shabbat Bereshit (trans. Seligman Baer, Die Piyutim 1862), p. 13

Notes

Notes
1	The Torah, said to predate the world. Find Proverbs 8:22
2	The heavens
3	The waters below the earth, in the Biblical cosmology
4	The angels
5	The floods. Find Isaiah 40:12
6	The earth. Find Psalm 88:13
7	The sun. Find Psalm 19:6
8	The moon. Find Psalm 89:38
9	The Leviathan, fated to be eaten by the apportioned up and consumed in the eschaton at the Feast of the Righteous.
10	Find Job 41:10
11	Find Job 40:30
12	Literally: onagers, the quintessential untamed animal.
13	The Behemoth. Find Job 40:22
14	As with the Leviathan, find note above.
15	Humanity
16	God, according to the midrashic reading of Song of Songs 2:9
17	The halakhot of the sabbath are first explained in the portion of the manna, Exodus 16:5.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Isaac Seligman Baer

Seligman (Isaac) Baer was a masoretic scholar, and an editor of the Hebrew Bible and of Jewish liturgy. He was born in Mosbach, the northern district of Biebrich, Sept. 18, 1825 and died at Biebrich-on-the-Rhine, March, 1897. He belonged to the school of Wolf Heidenheim, and had in his possession some of Heidenheim's original manuscripts and personal copies of his published works with handwritten marginal notes. Baer's monumental edition of the Jewish prayerbook according to the Ashkenazic rite, Seder Avodat Yisrael (Rödelheim, 1868), accompanied by a critical commentary, became the authoritative model for numerous editions published subsequently in the 20th century. His editions of the Jewish liturgy also include Kinnot for the fast of the ninth of Av. He never occupied an academic position, but was content with the office of Hebrew teacher to the Jewish community of Biebrich. In recognition of his services to the Commission for the History of the Jews in Germany, the honorary degree of doctor of philosophy was conferred upon him by the University of Leipzig.

Shlomoh ben Yehudah ha-Bavli

Shlomoh ben Yehudah ha-Bavli (שלמה הקטן, "Solomon the Lesser"; fl. 10th c.), possibly from Rome, was a paytan. He was the first to add to his signature words, and sometimes sentences, of an invocative nature, such as "Hazak," or "Yigdal be-Torah." He was also the teacher of Meshullam ben Qalonymus, and together with Simeon the Great of Mayence and Qalonymus (Meshullam's father), he was declared to have been of the generation which preceded Rabbeinu Gershon. In spite of the title "ha-Bavli" ("the Babylonian") given him by RaSHI and others, he was not a native of any Muslim country. S.Y. Rapoport held that the medieval rabbis included Rome under the designation "Babylon"; this being so, Shlomo may have been a native of Rome -- this according to Rabbi Michael Sachs in his translation of the Maḥzor (vii. 89), albeit without any further justification.

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The first chapter of B’reshit, or Genesis, written on an egg, in the Jerusalem museum. (credit: Sputnikcccp~commonswiki, license: CC BY)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)