![the Open Siddur Project [logo]](https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Open-Siddur-Project-Logo-2016.svg){kind=logo}
An original set of weekday yotsrot, in the style of those found in the Cairo Geniza (and compiled at Weekday Yotzrot, thanks to the work of Dr. Avi Shmidman), for Yom ha-Atsma’ut.
The weekday yotsrot of the Cairo Geniza have a structure quite different from normative Ashkenazi festival yotsrot, and much closer to that of Ashkenazi maaravot. There are no yotser or ofan piyyutim — each blessing has a stanza of an extended, unified poem before its ḥatimah, and the only stanzas inserted into the guf ha-berakha are in the final blessing, surrounding the Mi Khamokha. They’re also generally much shorter and more user-friendly than the complex and intricate mysticism of Ashkenazi festival yotsrot.
This cycle is written in an alphabetical acrostic, followed by the author tag “Yitzḥaq Harel son of Avraham the Kohen and Ya’el, be strong and courageous, amen.” Each stanza begins with a different word from Isaiah 47:4, and ends with a citation of a different relevant verse.
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.)
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
בָּרוּךְ… בִּמְהֵרָה לְאוֹרוֹ׃ |
Blessed… speedily its light. |
רִאשׁ֥וֹן אַתָּה הַמַּבְדִּיל הַבְדָּלָה בָּחַֽרְתָּ בְּעַם־זוּ לַתּוֹרָה הַנַּעֲלָה בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת גִּדַּֽלְתָּ מֶמְשָׁלָה דַּֽצְנוּ לִבְנוֹת עִיר עַל־תִּלָּהּ׃ כַּכָּתוּב׃ כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה הִנְנִי־שָׁב֙ שְׁבוּת֙ אׇהֳלֵ֣י יַֽעֲק֔וֹב וּמִשְׁכְּנֹתָ֖יו אֲרַחֵ֑ם וְנִבְנְתָ֥ה עִיר֙ עַל־תִּלָּ֔הּ וְאַרְמ֖וֹן עַל־מִשְׁפָּט֥וֹ יֵשֵֽׁב׃ (ירמיה ל:יח) |
First are You, who divides division. You chose this people for the exalted Teaching. On Independence Day, You increased reign. We rejoiced to build the city on its tell. As it is written: Thus says the Cause: behold I return the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellings, and the city will be built on its tell, the palace shall sit on justice. (Jeremiah 30:18) |
לְצִיּ֖וֹן הָשֵׁב הִתְפַּלַּֽלְנוּ שָׁמַֽעְתָּ וַהֲשִׁיבֽוֹתָ וְשַֽׁבְנוּ וְהֶרְאֵֽינוּ כִּי־לֹא לָֽנוּ הֲמִיתֽוֹתָ בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת זַֽזְנוּ בָּאֳנִיּוֹת הֲשִׁיטֽוֹתָ חֲלוֹמֵֽנוּ בַּת־אַלְפַּֽיִם הֲקִימֽוֹתָ׃ וְנֶאֱמַר׃ שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃ (תהלים קכו:א) |
“To Zion return us!” we prayed; You heard and returned us. And we returned and showed that You had not let us die. On Independence Day, we moved; in ships You floated us. Our two-thousand-year-old dreams You fulfilled. And it is said: A song of ascents. When the Cause returns the sojourn of Zion, we would be as dreamers. (Psalms 126:1) |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה יוֹצֵר הַמּאוֹרוֹת׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause, maker of the luminaries. |
אַהֲבָה רַבָּה… וּלְיַחֶדְךָ בְּאַהֲבָה׃ |
Great love… and to unify You in love. |
הִנֵּ֣ה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה הָאָֽרֶץ הַזֹּאת יָשָׁר וְטוֹב עָלֵֽינוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת זֹאת בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת כָּרַֽתְנוּ אִתְּךָ בְּרִית זֹאת לְמַֽעַן נֹאחַז בָּאֲחֻזּוֹת׃ כַּכָּתוּב׃ וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ הַיָּשָׁ֥ר וְהַטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ וּבָ֗אתָ וְיָֽרַשְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (דברים ו:יח) |
Behold, good and wide is this land. It is upon us to do right and good. On Independence Day, we cut this covenant with You that we may hold to our holdings. As it is written: And you will do right and good in the eyes of the Cause, that it be good for you, and you come and inherit the good land that the Cause swore to your ancestors. (Deuteronomy 6:18) |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause, who chooses Their people Israel in love. |
שְׁמַע… משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה׃ |
Hear!… Moshe and the children of Israel to You answered a song. |
הִנָּ֑ם מְקוֹמוֹת רַבִּים גָּלוּיוֹתֵֽינוּ נִפְזַֽרְנוּ וְנִפְרַֽדְנוּ מֵאֶֽרֶץ תְּפִלּוֹתֵֽינוּ בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת סְלֹל־נָא אֶת־מְסִלּוֹתֵֽינוּ עֲרָבָה וּמִדְבָּר יְמֻלְּאוּ בַּעֲלִיּוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ כַּכָּתוּב׃ ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (ישעיה מ:ג) |
Behold they are many places, our exile. We were scattered and dispersed from our prayers’ land. On Independence Day, roll out, please, our highways. The steppe and desert will be filled with our ascents. As it is written: A voice calls out: “In the desert clear a path for the Cause; straighten in the steppe a highway for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3) |
וְלִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם פִּיּוֹתֵינוּ זָכְרוּ בְּגָלוּת צַדְּקֵֽנוּ כִּי בְּךָ יֵשׁ־לַכֹּל תְּלוּת בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת קְרַע נָהָר לְשִׁבְעָה לְהִתְנַחֲלוּת רְאוּת יַם־סוּף הַרְאֵֽנוּ וּנְקַבְּלָה הִנָּצְלוּת וְנֶאֱמַר׃ וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים יְהֹוָ֗ה אֵ֚ת לְשׁ֣וֹן יָם־מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהֵנִ֥יף יָד֛וֹ עַל־הַנָּהָ֖ר בַּעְיָ֣ם רוּח֑וֹ וְהִכָּ֙הוּ֙ לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה נְחָלִ֔ים וְהִדְרִ֖יךְ בַּנְּעָלִֽים׃ (ישעיה טו:יא) |
And to Jerusalem our mouths remembered in exile. Justify us, for upon You all have dependence. On Independence Day, tear the river into seven for inheriting! The sight of the Red Sea show us, so we may receive rescue. And it is said: And the Cause will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea, and wave Their hand over the River with Their mighty wind and strike it into seven streams, to be trodden in sandals. (Isaiah 11:15) |
בְּגִילָה וְרִנָּה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְאָמְרוּ כֻּלָּם׃ מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃ (שמות טו:יא) שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה שִׁבְּחוּ גְּאוּלִים לְשִׁמְךָ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם׃ |
In merriment and cheer, in great joy, and they all said: Who is like You among deities, Cause? Who is like You, noble in holiness, awesome in praise, wonder-working? (Exodus 15:11) A new song the redeemed ones praised to Your name at the seashore. |
מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר שִׁלְטוֹן אַדִּירֵֽנוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ תְּבֻשַּׂר עַצְמָאוּת בְּחֶבְלֵי לְאֻמֵּֽנוּ בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת יִׄצְׄהֲלוּ נִגְּשֵׁי עַמֵּֽנוּ חֹׄקׄ וְלֹא־יַעֲבֹר בְּכׇל־יָמֵֽינוּ כַּכָּתוּב׃ וְהָיָ֨ה אַדִּיר֜וֹ מִמֶּ֗נּוּ וּמֹֽשְׁלוֹ֙ מִקִּרְבּ֣וֹ יֵצֵ֔א וְהִקְרַבְתִּ֖יו וְנִגַּ֣שׁ אֵלָ֑י כִּי֩ מִ֨י הוּא־זֶ֜ה עָרַ֧ב אֶת־לִבּ֛וֹ לָגֶ֥שֶׁת אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ירמיה ל:כא) |
A herald of governance, our noble from among us. Independence will be heralded in the bounds of our nation. On Independence Day, the approachers of our people will rejoice; a law to be unviolated in all our days! As it is written: And his noble will be from among him, his ruler will from his midst come out; and I will bring him close and he will approach Me, for who would deign approach Me? — declares the Cause. (Jeremiah 30:21) |
זֶה צוּר יִשְׁעֵנוּ פָּצוּ פֶּה וְאָמְרוּ׃ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (ישעיה מא:כז) |
This is our salvation’s Rock! Mouth agape, they said: The Cause will reign forever and aye! (Isaiah 41:27) |
צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל קוּמָה בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפְדֵה כִנְאֻמֶֽךָ יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
Rock of Israel, rise in help of Israel; and redeem — per Your declaration — Judah and Israel. |
אֶתֵּֽן הָׄרַֽׄעַשׁ אֶׄלׄ־בְּׄנֵׄי אַׄבְׄרָׄהָׄםׄ הַׄכַּׄלּוֹת הַׄנְּׄעִימוֹת וִׄיׄדִידַי עַׄלׄ־גׇּבְהָם בְּיוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת חָׄזְׄרוּ קְׄהָלֵֽנוּ לְאֶֽרֶץ כׇּמְהָם וְׄאָֽׄנוּ מַׄצְׄהִירֵי אֱׄמׄוּנַת נׇׄגְהָם׃ כַּכָּתוּב׃ כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה עוֹד֮ יִשָּׁמַ֣ע בַּמָּקוֹם־הַזֶּה֒ אֲשֶׁר֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים חָרֵ֣ב ה֔וּא מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֖ם וּמֵאֵ֣ין בְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְחֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם הַֽנְשַׁמּ֗וֹת מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֛ם וּמֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵׁ֖ב וּמֵאֵ֥ין בְּהֵמָֽה׃ ק֣וֹל שָׂשׂ֞וֹן וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֗ה ק֣וֹל חָתָן֮ וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּה֒ ק֣וֹל אֹמְרִ֡ים הוֹדוּ֩ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת כִּי־ט֤וֹב יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֔וֹ מְבִאִ֥ים תּוֹדָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֧יב אֶת־שְׁבוּת־הָאָ֛רֶץ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ירמיה לג:י-יא) וְנֶאֱמַר׃ גֹּאֲלֵ֕נוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמ֑וֹ קְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ישעיה מז:ד) |
I’ll raise[1] Exodus 15:18 a racket to Avraham’s children; the sweet brides and my friends on their heights. On Independence Day, our communities returned to the land of their yearning, and we are the proclaimers of their glowing faith. As it is said: Thus said the Cause: in this place of which you say “it is a ruin, sans man and sans beast,” in the cities of Judah and courtyards of Jerusalem, “wastes, sans man and sans inhabitant and sans beast,” yet again will be heard the voice of gladness and the voice of joy, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice saying “Thank the Cause of Forces, for the Cause is good, for eternal is Their kindness,” bringing thanks to the house of the Cause, I will return the captivity of the land as of the first — said the Cause. (Jeremiah 33:10–11) And it is said: Our Redeemer, the Cause of Forces is Their name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 47:4) |
בִּגְלַל אָבוֹת תּוֹשִׁיעַ בָּנִים וְתָבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם׃ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
Because of the ancestors, You will save the children, and bring redemption to their children’s children. Blessed are You, Cause, who redeemed Israel. |
Notes
| 1 | Exodus 15:18 |
|---|
“רִאשׁוֹן אַתָּה | Rishon Atah — yotsrot for Yom ha-Atsma’ut in a Cairo Geniza weekday yotsrot style by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
Stable Link:
https://opensiddur.org/?p=61676
Associated Image:
The central Day to Praise event at “HaZvi Israel” synagogue in Jerusalem, Israel, 23 April 2015. (credit: Christophe Lennard, license: CC BY-SA)
(This image is set to automatically show as the "featured image" in shared links on social media.)
Terms of Use:
Be a mentsch (a conscientious, considerate person) and adhere to the following guidelines:
- Properly attribute the work to Isaac Gantwerk Mayer.
- Clearly indicate the date you accessed the work and in what ways, if any, you modified it. (If you have adapted the work, let us know so that the contributor might consider endorsing your revision.)
- Provide the stable link to this resource: <https://opensiddur.org/?p=61676>.
- Indicate that the original work was shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license. (To redistribute or remix this work in any format, modified or unmodified, you must refer to the terms of the license under which the work is shared.)
Additional Notes:
- The views expressed in this work represent the views of their creator(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Open Siddur Project's developers, its diverse community of volunteer contributors, or its institutional partners.
- We strongly advise against printing sacred texts and art containing divine names as these copies must be regarded with reverence, complicating their casual treatment and disposal.
- If you must dispose of a printed sacred text (one containing Divine Names), please locate the closest genizah (often established by a synagogue) and contact its custodians for further instructions. We also recommend using Morah Yehudis Fishman's Prayer for Adding a Work to the Genizah.
Support this work:
The Open Siddur Project is a volunteer-driven, non-profit, non-commercial, non-denominational, non-prescriptive, gratis & libre Open Access archive of contemplative praxes, liturgical readings, and Jewish prayer literature (historic and contemporary, familiar and obscure) composed in every era, region, and language Jews have ever prayed. Our goal is to provide a platform for sharing open-source resources, tools, and content for individuals and communities crafting their own prayerbook (siddur). Through this we hope to empower personal autonomy, preserve customs, and foster creativity in religious culture.
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
Leave a Reply