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| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
אָנוּ לְיָהּ וּלְיָהּ עֵינֵנוּ |
We (turn) towards Yah and towards Yah we look. |
בָּרוּךְ ה״ אֲשֶׁר טוֹב גִמָלָנוּ, בְּרַחֲמָיו וּבְרוֹב חֲסָדָיו הִגְדִיל לָנוּ, וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו בָּרָא שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ תֵּבֵל וְיוֹשִיַהָ. וְהוּא הַמֵאִיר לָאָרֶץ וְלַדָרִים עָלֶיהָ הוּא בָּרָא כָּל הַנִבְרָאִים, וְהוֹצִיא יֶשׁ מֶאַיִן כָּל הַנִמְצָאִים, מֶלֶךְ עוֹלָמִים לוֹ הַמְּלוּכָה וּמַמְּלִיךְ מְלָכִים, הוּא אֲשֶׁר נָטַע שָׁלוֹם בְּלֵב מְלָכִים וְשָׂרִים וּלְהָשִׁיב חֶרֶב אֵל נְדָנָהּ, אָמַר ה״ שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָרוֹב נוֹדֶה לַה״ בְּמַקְהֵלוֹת עַל חֲסָדָיו אֲשֶׁר הֵיטַב עִמָנוּ, צָעַקְנוּ אֶל ה״ בַּצַר לָנוּ וּמִמְּצוּקוֹתֵנוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ, וְאֶת הָעָם הַרָפֶּה יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הִצְלִיחַ בְּטוּבוֹ מִלְחַמְתֵּינוּ, וּמִידֵי זָרִים וְנָכְרִים לָנוּ הָשַׁכְתָּ נַחֲלָתֵינוּ, וְהֶחֱזַרְתָּנוּ מָשׂוֹשׂ לִבֵּנוּ׃ |
Blessed be Hashem who has dealt kindly with us, in His mercy and great kindness He has dealt magnanimously with us. By the breath of His mouth He has created heaven and earth, the Earth and those who dwell thereon. He gives light to the land and its inhabitants. He has created all created things, and every existing thing He has produced, what exists created from the non-existent. King eternal, to Him is Kingship, and He causes monarchs to reign. He it is who implanted peace in the heart of kings and princes so that they may return the sword to its sheath. Hashem has said peace to those afar and to those near. We will praise Hashem in congregation for His kindnesses which He has benevolently bestowed upon us. We cried unto Hashem from our straits and from our troubles He brought us forth. And for us, a weak people, inhabiting the land, He in His goodness prospered our warfare. You have restored us our inheritance from the hands of aliens and strangers and given us back the joy of our heart. |
וְעַתָּה בָּאנוּ מֶלֶךְ רָם עַל רָמִים, לִשְׁפּוֹךְ נַפְשֵׁנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, שְׁמַע אֶל תְּפִלַת בִּנְךָ בְּכוֹרֶךָ, עַם סְגֻלָתֶךָ, הַפּוֹטְחִים עַל שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדוֹתֶךָ, שֶׁאֵינָם חוֹזְרִים רֵיקָם מִלְפָנֶיךּ, אֶמוּנִים בְּנִי מַאֲמִינִים בִּשְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה עִיקָרֵי דָתֶיךָ׃ |
And now, King, exalted beyond all height, we have come to pour out our soul before you. Hear the prayer of your first-born son, your chosen people, who trust in your thirteen attributes of mercy, that they return not empty from before you, faithful sons of faithful believers in the thirteen principles of your Law. |
כְּשֵׁם שֶׁחָלַקְתָּ מִכְבוֹדֶךָ לְדָוִד בֶּן יִשָי, וְלִמְנוֹ שְׁלֹמֹה נָתַתָּ חָכְמָה מִכָּל אָדָם, כֵּן תְּחַלֵק כָּבוֹד שֵׂכֶל בִּינָה וּמַדַע לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת הַעָם לַאֲדוֹנֵינוּ שָׂרְי שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מְדִינוֹת הָאֵלוּ, וּבְתוֹכָם שַׂר הַעָכָא גוורנר קלינטן עִם יוֹעֲצֵיהֶם וְשָׂרֵיהֶם הַפַרְתֵּמִים הַפָחוֹת וְהַסְגָנִיט אִישׁ עַל מַחֲנֵהוּ וְאִישׁ עַל דִגְלוֹ אֲשׁר שַׂמְתָּ הַמִשְׂרָה עָל שִׁכְמוֹ, יִתְנַשֵׂא וְיָרוּם הוֹדוֹ, וְיִהְיֶה כַּזַיִת רַעֲנָן, וְיִפְרָה כּשׁוֹשַׁנַת הָעֲמָקִים, וּכְחַבַצֶלֶת הַשָׁרוֹן, וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מַיִם אֲשֶׁר פִרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל וְכָל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר בְּחַסְרָם הַגְדוֹלִים מֵטִיבִים עִמָנוּ וּבְצִילָם אֲנַחְנוּ יוֹשְׁבִים שְׁלֵוִים וּשְקֵטִים, כֵּן תְּשַׁלֵם לָחֶם כִּגְמוּלָם, וְתֵּן לָהֶם מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לְבָבָם, וְיֵיטִבוּ עִמָנוּ עַד אַחֲרִיתָם, וּתְנַנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד בְּעֵינֵיהֶם, וּכְחוֹתָם עַל לִבָּם יְשִׂימוּנוּ, וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֺאמַר אָמֵן׃ |
As you gave of your kavod to David ben Yishai and to Shlomo his son [whom] you gave wisdom greater than that of all men, so may you grant intelligence, wisdom, and knowledge to our lords, the rulers of these thirteen states, to judge the people, yea also to the commanding general, Governor [George] Clinton, together with their counselors, advisers, (officers and deputies) each ruling in his sphere, each man by his standard, each upon whose shoulder you have set dominion. May he be upheld and his honor be high. May he be as the fresh olive tree, and blossom as the lily of the valley, as the rose of Sharon, and may he be as the tree planted by springs of water, whose fruit comes forth in its due season and its leaf withers not. And in whatsoever he does may he prosper. And as in their great kindness they will deal well with us, and we shall dwell in quietness and peace in their shadow, so may you reward them according to their desert. Give to them the desires of their heart, so that they may deal well with us unceasingly. Cause us to find favor and grace in their eyes that they may set us a seal upon their heart. O that this may be your will and let us say Amen. |
כֵּשֵׁם שֶׁנָתַתָּ כֹּחַ לְשַׁמְשׁוֹן בֶּן מָנוֹחַ וְשָמַע כְּפִיר בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ, כֵּן תְּגַבֵּר וּתְחַזֵק מָגֵן יְשוּעָה לַאֲדוֹנֵינוּ רֹאשׁ וְשַׂר הַצָבָא דשארדש וואשנגטן מְשׁוּחַ מִלְחַמָה בַּיַם בַּיַבַּשָׁה וּבַמְדִינָה עִם כָּל חַיָילוֹתָיו בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָנָשָׁיו וּבְּעַת מִצוֹא יַדְבֵּר עַמִים תַּחַת רַגְלָיו, עַד יִפְנוּ אֵלָיו עוֹרֶף וְלֺא פָּנִים, יִפְּלוּ וְלֹא יוֹסִיפוּ קוּם, וְהוּא יִרְדוֹף אוֹיְבָיו וְיַשִׂיגֵם וְלֹא יָשׁוּב עַד כַּלוֹתָם. אָנָא ה״ הוֹשִׁיעָה נָה, אָנָא ה״ הַצְלִיחָה נָא, אַךְ טוֹב וּמַה נָעִים אִם תֶּחֱזַק שָׁלוֹם בְּלֵב מֵלָכִים וְשָׂרִים כַּאֲשֶׁר נָטָעְתָּ, וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת וְלֹא יִשָׂא גוֹי אֶל גוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֺא יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְכָמָה, וִיְקַיֵים בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד, שָׁלוֹם רָב לְאוֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ וְאֵין לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל, יְהִי שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילֵך שַׁלְוָה בּאַרְמְנוֹתַיִךְ, וְתֵן בְּלִבָּם רַחֲמָנוֹת לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹבוֹת עִמָנוּ וְעִם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּזְכוּת אַהֲבַת הַקַדְמוֹנִים כְּדִכְתִיב וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקֹב וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר, וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֺאמַר אָמֵן׃ |
As you did give strength to Shimshon ben Manoaḥ that he rent a young lion in his might, so may you strengthen and support the saving shield of our lord and commanding general George Washington, the appointed chief of the war on sea and on land and throughout the country hath all his forces infantry and cavalry. In your own time you will subdue the people beneath his feet until they turn their back to him and not their face; may they fall and rise up no more, and may he pursue his enemies, and overtaking them, not return until they are destroyed. O Hashem save us now! Hashem prosper us now! O how goodly, how beautiful might it be would you confirm the peace that you have planted on the hearts of kings and rulers that they should beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning forks, that nation should not lift up sword against nation nor should they any more learn war; that you would establish over us the word that is written: “And I will set peace in the land and you shall dwell with none to make you afraid.”[1] Leviticus 26:6 “Great is the peace to those who love your teaching, for them is no stumbling block.”[2] Psalms 119:165 “May peace be in your rampart, prosperity in your palaces.”[3] Psalms 122:7 Set mercy in their heart that they may deal kindly with us and with all Israel through the merit of the love of the Avot, as it is written: “And I shall remember my covenant with Ya’aqov, also my covenant with Yitsḥak, yea also my covenant with Avraham and the land shall I remember.”[4] Leviticus 26:42 O that this may be your will and let us say Amen. |
כֵּשֵׁם שֶׁנָתַתָּ שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מְדִינוֹת אמעריקא הָאֵלוּ לְחֵירוּת עוֹלָם, כֵּן תּוֹצִיאֵנוּ שֵׁנִית מֵעַבְדוּת לְחֵירוּת, וְתִּתְקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָדוֹל לְחֵירוּתֵינוּ, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶאֱמַר וְהָיָה בַּיוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בּשׁוֹפָר גָדוֹל וּבָאוּ הָאוֹבְדִים בְּאֶרֶץ אַשׁוּר וְהַנִדָחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְהִשְׁתַחֲווּ לַה״ בְּהַר הַקֹדֶשׁ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְיִתְנַעֲרוּ מֵעָפָר לְשַׁבֵּחַ לָאֵל, לְיוֹם נָקָם מַהֵר פִּדְיוֹנֵינוּ כִּי אַתָּה הַגוֹאֵל, וְאָז נָשִׁיר שִׁיר חָדָשׁ לַה״ אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְשָׁם נַעֲבְדֵהוּ בְּיִרְאָה כִּימֵי עוֹלָם וּכְשָׁנִים קַדְמוֹנִיוֹת, וְיַרְאֵינוּ נִפְלָאוֹת כִּימֵי קֶדֶם, וְיָשׁוּב הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁכִינָתוֹ לִצִיוֹן וְסֵדֶר הָעֲבוֹדָה לִירוּשָׁלָיִם, וְנִזכֶּה לַחֲזוֹת בְּנוֹעַם ה״ וּלְבַקֵר בְּהֵכָלוֹ, וְיִשְׁלַח לָנוּ כֹּהֵן צֶדֶק וְהוּא יוֹלִיכֵנוּ קוֹמְמִיוֹת לְאַרְצֵנוּ, וִיהִי נוֹעַם ה״ עָלֵינוּ, וּבָא לְצִיוֹן גוֹאֵל בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֺאמַר אָמֵן׃ |
As you have granted to these thirteen states of America everlasting freedom, so may you bring us forth once again from bondage into freedom, and may you sound the great shofar for our freedom as it is said: “And it shall be on that day, the great shofar shall be blown and the wanderers in the land of Assyria and the dispersed in the land of Egypt shall come and bow down to Hashem on the holy mount in Jerusalem.”[5] Isaiah 27:13 May they be awakened from the dust to praise El: Hasten our deliverance at the day of retribution for you are our Redeemer. Then shall we sing a new song to Hashem Elohei Yisrael, and there we shall serve Him with reverence as in the days of old. May He show us wonders as in days of old, and may the blessed Holy one restore the Shekhina to Tsiyon and the order of service to Yerushalayim. And may we be granted to gaze on the beauty of Hashem and to behold His sanctuary. May He send us the Priest of Righteousness who will lead us upright to our land. May the beauty of Hashem be upon us, and may the Redeemer come speedily to Tsiyon in our days. O that this may be your will and let us say Amen. |
The prayer was composed by Rabbi Hendla-Iehochanan Van OEttingen and [read by] Jacob Cohen acting in place of the Ḥazan of the Congeregation Shearith Israel in 1784. Found in the Jacques Judah Lyons papers; P-15; 1; 64. An English translation was published by the American Jewish Historical Society, in The Lyons Papers, “Items Relating to New York Congregation: Prayer in Hebrew,” 1913. p. 34-37. The English translation is adapted with minor changes from that made available in that publication. Many thanks to Fred MacDowell for introducing me to this historic prayer in an article at his terrific blog, On the Main Line.
I have transcribed this prayer myself and any imperfections are my own. Shgiyot mi yavin u’nistarot nakeni — please correct me if you see a mistake in my transcription.
Concerning this prayer, Dr. Jonathan Sarna has written:[6] Moral Problems In American Life: New Perspectives On Cultural History, ed. Lewis Perry, Karen Halttunen. “CHAPTER NINE Jewish Prayers for the U.S. Government: A Study in the Liturgy of Politics and the Politics of Liturgy,” Cornell University Press, 1998. Also see, Hendla Jochanan van Oettingen, ‘Philadelphia Jews Appeal for Civil Rights — 1783’ and ‘”Sound the great horn for our freedom”: A Shearith Israel Prayer — 1784’ in Jonathan D. Sarna, Benny Kraut and Samuel Joseph (eds.), Jews and the Founding of the Republic (New York: Markus Wiener, 1985) pp. 95. 127.
Prayers recited on special occasions and thus not part of the fixed liturgy offered America’s foremost Jewish congregation far greater latitude for originality in prayer. At such services, particularly when the prayers were delivered in English and written with the knowledge that non-Jews would hear them, leaders of Shearith Israel often dispensed with the traditional prayer for the government and substituted revealing new compositions appropriate to the concerns of the day. A prayer composed in 1784 (in this case in Hebrew) by the otherwise unknown Rabbi (Cantor?) Hendla Jochanan van Oettingen, for example, thanked God who “in His goodness prospered our warfare.” Mentioning by name both Governor
De WittClinton and General George Washington, the rabbi prayed for peace and offered a restorationist Jewish twist on the popular idea of America as “redeemer nation”: “As Thou hast granted to these thirteen states of America everlasting freedom,” he declared, “so mayst Thou bring us forth once again from bondage into freedom and mayst Thou sound the great horn for our freedom.”
Source
George Washington tefilla Shamshon 1784 1_jjlc_box_1-box_3_folder_167_000373 b George Washington tefilla Shamshon 1784 1_jjlc_box_1-box_3_folder_167_000373
Notes
| 1 | Leviticus 26:6 |
|---|---|
| 2 | Psalms 119:165 |
| 3 | Psalms 122:7 |
| 4 | Leviticus 26:42 |
| 5 | Isaiah 27:13 |
| 6 | Moral Problems In American Life: New Perspectives On Cultural History, ed. Lewis Perry, Karen Halttunen. “CHAPTER NINE Jewish Prayers for the U.S. Government: A Study in the Liturgy of Politics and the Politics of Liturgy,” Cornell University Press, 1998. Also see, Hendla Jochanan van Oettingen, ‘Philadelphia Jews Appeal for Civil Rights — 1783’ and ‘”Sound the great horn for our freedom”: A Shearith Israel Prayer — 1784’ in Jonathan D. Sarna, Benny Kraut and Samuel Joseph (eds.), Jews and the Founding of the Republic (New York: Markus Wiener, 1985) pp. 95. 127. |
“תפילה לשלום המלכות | Prayer for the Welfare of George Washington, George Clinton, and the Thirteen States of America by Hendla Jochanan van Oettingen (1784)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Lyons Collection Committee (translation)
Hendla Jochanan van Oettingen
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“The 13 states of the United States of North America” (1784) by F. L. Güssefeld (1744–1807)(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
Correction: DeWitt Clinton was 15 in 1784 and was never a soldier. The prayer must have been for his uncle, George Clinton.
Thank you! We followed Dr. Jonathan Sarna’s identification (see quote above) but you are correct, and we have corrected the translation.
[…] reasons of not-exhausting-myself and picking-my-battles. The nice part was that someone had found a transcription of mine of an 18th century prayer and was using it for their historical roleplaying. The gross part was that some other roleplayers […]