Published in 2024, בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר I alle ættledd: haggadá for pesaḥ etter sefardisk minhág is Olve Utne’s multilingual Hebrew-Norwegian-Spanish haggadah for the Pesaḥ night seder according to the liturgical custom of Western Sefaradi communities.

This prayer for the captives was prepared for the Masorti Movement in Israel by the Knesset haRabanim b’Yisrael and disseminated in Hebrew, English, French, and Spanish. These were published online for the Masorti Solidarity Shabbat (27-28 October 2023).

The ritual of Tashlikh in Hebrew with English and Spanish translations.

This prayer for peace in Ukraine was co-written by the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Rabbinic Assembly in Israel, and read by Rabbi Ori Friedland (Hebrew) and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (English) in an international prayer service organized by Masorti Olami in solidarity with Ukraine and the Jewish communities therein.

In 2019, Richard Collis released an album providing recordings of the prayers for the Shabbat Morning Services, from Nishmat til the end of Musaf, We Sing We Stay Together: Shabbat Morning Service Prayers. Accompanying liner notes included the romanized Hebrew text for each recorded prayer track, with an original translation in English below each sung phrase. Describing it he wrote, “The 64 track music CD album set We Sing We Stay Together of the Shabbat Morning Service Prayers, and a companion Sing-Along Prayer Book of the same name (to make it beyond easy to learn) is designed to help everyone access the beauty of their Judaic heritage, no prior knowledge required. These prayers belong to all of us.” In 2022, Collis released a follow-up edition with translations in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Russian. This is Richard Collis’s sing-a-long prayerbook for Shabbat morning in Spanish.

A prayer for a teacher to say or adapt as needed at the beginning of their school year.

A “mi sheberakh” blessing for children and the parents of children returning to school at the beginning of the new school year.

An ecumenical prayer by Pope Francis from his encyclical, Laudato Si (praise be to you) from May 24th, 2015. Here’s my draft of a Hebrew translation of Pope Francis’ prayer for our earth. It turns out no one had translated it yet. The translation includes sparks from the High Holiday liturgy. I thought we should have it available for Rosh Hashanah, even though I’m sure the translation could use more work and more feedback.

A prayer offered at the Broadview Detention Center for an interfaith vigil in support of the detainees and for change in US immigration policy.

First published in 2006, סִידּוּר לִימּוּד Siddúr Limmúd, vol. 1: Friday night is a traditional-egalitarian, multilingual Hebrew-English-Spanish Friday night “Learning Siddur” with transliterations, translations, instructions and explanations by the Norwegian-Jewish scholar, Olve Utne, ז״ל‎ (1965–2024). This edition contains Olve’s last edits, made a month before his passing.

מַחֲזוֹר לְראֹשׁ השנה Majzor leRosh Hashanah (1976) is the first edition of a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish nusaḥ Sefaradi Rosh haShanah prayerbook compiled and translated by Rabbi Meir Matsliaḥ Melamed (1920-1989). Rabbi Melamed had in 1971 been installed at the pulpit of the Cuban Sephardic Hebrew Congregation, after having served previously in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where his 1966 Hebrew-Portuguese siddur Tefilat Masliaḥ was first published. For both prayerbooks, as no Hebrew type with vocalization and cantillation marks was available to Rabbi Melamed, liturgy was reproduced from images of older siddurim. Rabbi Melamed’s translation appears to the sides of these images and his commentary underneath.

This is the first edition of סִדּוּר תְּפִלַּת מַצְלִיחַ Sidur Tefillat Masliah (Libro de Oraciones) (1974), a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish nusaḥ Sefaradi prayerbook compiled and translated by Rabbi Meir Matsliaḥ Melamed (1920-1989). As no Hebrew type with vocalization and cantillation marks was available to printers in Brazil, where Rabbi Matsliaḥ first began compiling prayerbooks, he developed a process of reproducing the liturgy from images of older siddurim and, occasionally, typewritten text. Rabbi Melamed’s translation appears to the sides of these images and his commentary underneath. This Spanish edition was preceded by a bilingual Hebrew-Portuguese edition published in Brazil in 1966.

הַגָּדָה שֶׁל פֶּסַח Hagada de Pesaj (1973) is the first edition of a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish nusaḥ Sefaradi Passover haggadah compiled and translated by Rabbi Meir Matsliaḥ Melamed (1920-1989). Rabbi Melamed had in 1971 been installed at the pulpit of the Cuban Sephardic Hebrew Congregation, after having served previously in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where his 1966 Hebrew-Portuguese siddur Tefilat Masliaḥ was first published. For that prayerbook, as with this haggadah, no Hebrew type with vocalization and cantillation marks was available to Rabbi Melamed, so liturgy was reproduced from images of older authoritative works. Rabbi Melamed’s translation appears to the sides of these images and his commentary underneath.

מחזור ליום כיפור Majzor para Iom Kipur (1969) is a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish prayerbook for Rosh haShanah compiled and translated by Rabbi Mordechai Edery (1928-2010) and published by the World Council of [Conservative/Masorti] Synagogues under the supervision of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer (1930-1993). The Hebrew sourcetext is based primarily on the S&P siddurim compiled and translated by Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool. Other prayerbooks prepared with the Conservative movement represented mainly the Ashkenazi liturgical tradition. This maḥzor and its companion volume for Rosh haShanah are the only prayerbooks prepared for Sefaradi congregations by Conservative movement institutions (that we know of).

מַחֲזוֹר לְיוֹם כִּפּוּר Majzor leYom Kipur (Mexico: 1972) is the second edition of a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish nusaḥ Sefaradi Yom Kippur prayerbook compiled and translated by Rabbi Meir Matsliaḥ Melamed (1920-1989), first published in 1968. (This “second edition” appears to be more of a “second printing” than an update or revision of the first edition.) As no Hebrew type with vocalization and cantillation marks was available to Rabbi Melamed at the time, liturgy was reproduced from images of older siddurim. Rabbi Melamed’s translation appears to the sides of these images and his commentary underneath.

מחזור לראש השנה Majzor para Rosh haShanah (1968) is a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish prayerbook for Rosh haShanah compiled and translated by Rabbi Marcos Edery z”l, and published by the World Council of [Conservative/Masorti] Synagogues under the supervision of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer (1930-1993). Earlier prayerbooks represented the Ashkenazi liturgical tradition. Together with its companion volume for Yom Kippur, they are the only prayerbooks prepared for Sepharadi congreations in the Conservative movement. The Hebrew sourcetext is based primarily on the S&P siddurim compiled and translated by Rabbi Dr. Savid de Sola Pool. Besides the liturgy (in the Sefaradi nusaḥ), the prayerbook is prefaced by Seliḥot and includes essays concerning prayer by 20th century scholars in Spanish translation.

מחזור לראש השנה ויום כיפור Majzor para Rosh haShanah y Yom Kipur (1967) is a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish prayerbook for the Yamim Noraïm compiled and translated by Rabbi Marcos Edery z”l, and published by the World Council of [Conservative/Masorti] Synagogues under the supervision of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer (1930-1993). Rabbi Reubén Nisembom (1938-2023), then a student at the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, proofread the maḥzor. Besides the liturgy (in the Ashkenazi nusaḥ), the prayerbook is prefaced by Seliḥot and includes essays concerning prayer by 20th century scholars in Spanish translation, such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Buber.

סדור לחול לשבת וליום טוב Ritual de Oraciones para Todo el Año (1965) is a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish prayerbook for the entire year compiled and translated by Rabbi Marcos Edery z”l, and published by the World Council of [Conservative] Synagogues. Besides the liturgy of the siddur, this prayerbook includes essays concerning prayer by 20th century scholars in Spanish translation, such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Israel Abrahams.

תפלת ערבית לשבת ולשלש רגלים Ritual de Oraciones para Servicios Vespertinos Sabaticos y Festividades (1963) is a bilingual Hebrew-Spanish prayerbook for Shabbat and Festival evenings compiled and translated by Marcos Edery and published by the World Council of Synagogues for Latin America.

The sephardic folk-song “Kuando el rey Nimrod” in Ladino with English translation.

A common practice among Sephardim both eastern and western is to read the aftará for the morning of the fast of Aḇ with a verse-by-verse midrashic translation. Western Sephardim use an Early Modern Spanish text, while Eastern Sephardim use a Judezmo (or Judeo-Spanish proper) text. Attached is a transcript of a Western Sephardic verse-by-verse targum of the aftará for the Shabbat before 9 Aḇ, based on the text found in Isaac Leeser’s Siddur Siftei Tsadiqim, volume 6: Seder haTefilot laTaaniyot (1838), pp. 174-184. Each verse is included in Hebrew, as well as the original Spanish text, and a slightly modernized Spanish text underneath to clarify archaic forms or words that have fallen out of use. Also included are from-scratch English translations.

Part two of Ḥakham Ishak Nieto’s two volume set of prayerbooks: Orden de las Oraciones Cotidianas Ros Hodes Hanuca y Purim (London, 1771), the basis of all subsequent S&P translations (e.g., those of Aaron and David de Sola).

An exhortation given by Ḥakham Ishak Nieto published before his translation of the Sliḥot, in Spanish with English translation by Isaac Pinto (1766).

Part one of Ḥakham Ishak Nieto’s two volume set of prayerbooks: Orden de las Oraciones de Ros Ashanah y Kipur (London, 1740), the basis of all subsequent S&P translations (e.g., those of Isaac Pinto and of Aaron and David de Sola).

A paraliturgical birkat hamazon in Ladino.

In the 18th century, the common practice among Western Sephardim was to read some or all of the aftarót recited in the three weeks before the fast of Aḇ with a verse-by-verse “Ladino” (in this case meaning standard Early Modern Spanish, not Judezmo) translation. According to Joseph Jesurun Pinto (ḥazzan of Shearith Israel in New York from 1759 to 1766), it was customary in Amsterdam for only the final of the three aftarót, the aftará of Shabbat Ḥazon, to be recited with this Spanish targum, while in London it was customary for all three to be recited. This practice fell out of common usage in the past few centuries, although the Western Sephardic community of Bayonne preserved it up until the Shoah. But to this day a unique cantillation system is used in most Western Sephardic communities for the three aftarót before the fast. Attached is a transcript of a Spanish verse-by-verse targum of the aftará for the Shabbat before 9 Aḇ, based on one found in a publication from Amsterdam in 1766. Each verse is included in Hebrew, as well as the original Spanish text, and a slightly modernized Spanish text underneath to clarify archaic forms or words that have fallen out of use.

Bendigamos is a hymn sung after meals according to the custom of Spanish and Portuguese Jews. It has also been traditionally sung by the Jews of Turkish descent. It is similar in meaning to the Birkat Hamazon that is said by all Jews. Bendigamos is said in addition to Birkat Hamazon, either immediately before or immediately after it. The text is in modern Spanish, not Ladino. The prayer was translated by David de Sola Pool. Below is the actual text as well as the translation by de Sola Pool. The melody is one of the best known and loved Spanish and Portuguese melodies, used also for the Song of the Sea (in the Shabbat morning service) and sometimes in “Hallel” (on the first day of the Hebrew month and on festivals).

A very old Western Sephardic table-song, mentioned as early as the 18th century in Livorno and possibly even older, this ballad retelling the story of Purim is sung to the tune of “Akh Zeh Hayom Kiviti.” It is related to the briefer Haketia-language song “Haman mamzer el malo.” Also included are literal and singable English translations.

An early printing of the 42 divine name letter acrostic piyyut, Ana b’Khoaḥ.

A Ladino translation of Brikh Shmei d’Marei Alma.

Ḥakham Ishak Nieto’s translation of Adon Olam was first printed on page 197 of Orden de las Oraciones de Ros-ashanah y Kipur (1740), his maḥzor in Spanish translation for Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. The Hebrew text of the piyyut set side-by-side with the translation was transcribed from Rabbi David de Sola Pool’s Tefilot l’Rosh haShanah (1937).

The short form of the piyyut for motsei shabbat, with English translation.

There are various traditions as to the numbering of the commandments, as well as the enumeration of verses of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandment. In this transcription of the Ladino text we are following the numeration of verses according to the Constantinople Codex of 1547 C.E., as edited by the great scholar Professor Moshe Lazar (z”l) of the University of Southern California in 1988. This newly typeset text is an original transcription by Reb Shmuel Gonzales, of the Boyle Heights Chavurah – of the grassroots Jewish community of East Los Angeles, California; transcriber and editor of Sephardic texts for the Open Siddur Project; in celebration of Shavuot of 5783, and published in May of 2023.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the common practice among Western Sephardim was to read some or all of the aftarót recited in the three weeks before the fast of Aḇ with a verse-by-verse “Ladino” (in this case meaning standard Early Modern Spanish, not Judezmo) translation. According to Joseph Jesurun Pinto (ḥazzan of Shearith Israel in New York from 1759 to 1766), it was customary in Amsterdam for only the final of the three aftarót, the aftará of Shabbat Ḥazon, to be recited with this Spanish targum, while in London it was customary for all three to be recited. This practice fell out of common usage in the past few centuries, although the Western Sephardic community of Bayonne preserved it up until the Shoah. But to this day a unique cantillation system is used in most Western Sephardic communities for the three aftarót before the fast.

Autor ninguno se halla, que declare el tiempo en que David compuso este Psalmo; ni la causa de haverlo introduzido por primero: mas amiver, es, que conociendo David que la razon de haver Dios rebotado de su gracia a Saul, y haverlo elegido ael en su lugar, havia sido por transgredir su mandado en la guerra de Ha-malek, por las persuasiones, y confejos de los inicos de su pueblo; como el mismo confessó al Propheta Semuel: por esso, quiso David dar’principio àfu Libro, con un loor que sirviesse de dotrina, y de advertimiento dela felicidad que alcançan los fieles siervos de Dios, que andan con toda integridad en fus carreras de virtud, y las adversdades, y castigo que estáparalos infieles, y los inicos aparejado, por los justos juyzios de Dios, del modo que sucedió a Saul, que fue desposseido de su Reyno, el, y sus hijos, y todos sus defendientes parasiempre, por los consejos de que el, se dexó persuadir, donde Dios le declaró su castigo.

Este Psalmo, es el segundo en numero, por haverlo David en el principio de su Reyno, quando por oir las naciones circunvezinas, que lo havian ungido por Rey sobre Israël, vinieron todos juntos al desafio contra el, en compañia de los Philisteos sus capitales enemigos, y por esso comiença el Psalmo: Paraque se juntan las gentesy, etc. De suerte que assi como el Psalmo precedente, fue el primero por la donacion del Reyno, que Dios le hizo, assi este segundo fue adjunto a el, por la possession del Reyno que entonces tomava, suyetando con la divina assistencia las naciones, pues le embiava de los Cielos, su favor por medio de los Angeles sus ministros, como consta de Semuel Segundo, 5:24.