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This seliḥah was written by Rabbi Moshe ben Yeshayah Menaḥem Bachrach, also known as Moshe Mendels, an important sage in the Four Lands area in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is a pizmon (meaning it is intended to be sung aloud communally), specifically designated for a fast day declared on account of a period of plague. The poem lists a series of sins which might, hypothetically, perhaps, be the cause of the plague, but repeatedly reminds God that we’ve suffered enough. These days the practice of declaring local fasts in response to plague is rare to nonexistent, but the poem deserves to be preserved nevertheless. The translation is original.
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.”
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| Source (Hebrew) | Source (English) |
|---|---|
פזמון בניגון חננו יי חננו לעצור ולבטל המגפה והמות הבא בעירינו. ושם המחבר הרב הגאון מוהר״ר משה ר׳ מענדלש ז״ל מקראקא שהיה אב״ד ור״מ בק״ק פראג חתום שמו ואח״כ מיוסד ע״פ א״ב |
This pizmon, to the tune of “Ḥonenu, Adonai, Ḥonenu,” is to stop and nullify the plague and death that comes into our cities. And the name of the author is Ha-Rav Ha-Gaon Morenu ha-Rav Rabbi Mosheh Mendelsh of blessed memory, from Krakow, who was the chief justice and head of the yeshivah of Prague. He signed his name and also used an acrostic. |
מוֹשֵׁל בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים אַתָּה יָדַֽעְתָּ אֵת כׇּל־הַתְּלָאָה שַׁלִּיט בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים הַשּׁוֹלֵֽחַ צֳרִי וּמָזוֹר וּרְפוּאָה הַסּוֹלֵֽחַ לַעֲוֺנִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֺן וָפֶֽשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
Ruler above, You know all the toil. Regnant below, who sends balm and bandage and healing. Forgiver of iniquities, who bears evil and crime and sin. To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם אָשַֽׁמְנוּ בַּעֲוֺן נְדָרִים לַחֲטִיא אֶת־בְּשָׂרֵֽנוּ בָּכֹה תִּבְכֶּה נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ בְּמִסְתָּרִים פְּנֵי צוּרֵֽנוּ וְיוֹצְרֵֽנוּ גַּלֵּה נַרְתֵּק מַרְפֵּה בְשָׂרֵֽנוּ שַׁוְעֵֽנוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ וְתִרְפָּאֶנּוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have brought guilt in iniquitous vows, rendering our flesh sinful, Our soul weeps, weeps in secret facing our Rock and Creator. Uncover the vial, bring healing to our flesh, we cry to You and You heal us. To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם דַּלְתֵי הַתּוֹרָה סָגַֽרְנוּ לְחַבֵּל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵֽינוּ הִנֵּה בְּקִרְבֵּֽנוּ רֽוּחַ שִׂבַּֽרְנוּ פְּנֵי אֲדֹנָי אֲדוֹנֵֽינוּ וְיִשְׁלַח מַרְפֵּה לְכׇל־בְּשָׂרֵֽנוּ שִׁבְרֵֽנוּ רְפָא אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we closed the gates of Torah, wreaking havoc on the work of our hands, Hey, within us our soul is broken, facing the Master our Master. And send healing to all our flesh, heal our breaches, our God! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם זִלְזַֽלְנוּ מִצְוַת מְזוּזָה לְהַרְבּוֹת יְמֵי זַרְעֵֽנוּ חֲרָדָה בִּעַֽתְנוּ וּרְעָדָה אָחֲזָה פְּנֵי אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ טַפֵּֽנוּ יַצִּיל בְּאַהֲבָה עַזָּה שְׁמַע קוֹלֵֽנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have slighted the doorpost-commandment to increase our seed’s years, trembling has terrified us and shaking has grabbed us before the God of our rescue, Save our infants in great love, hear our voices and rescue us! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם יְכֹֽלֶת עֲוֺן צִיצִית לְמַעֵט יְמֵי בָנֵֽינוּ כַּף סָפַֽקְנוּ עָוֺן נִרְצִית פְּנֵי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לָשׁוֹן מַרְפֵּה עֲמֹד בְּפִרְצוֹת שְׁמַע קוֹלִי רִנּוּנֵֽנוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If our iniquity against the fringes could shorten the lives of our children, Clap your hands that our iniqity be forgiven before our God are our pleas. Speak healing, stand in the breach, hear my voice of acclamation. To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם מָעַֽלְנוּ בְּשִׂנְאַת חִנָּם לְהָמִית בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת נְהִי וּבְכִי עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם פְּנֵי מַאֲזִין תְּחִנּוֹת סְלַח לְחַטָּאת עִמָּךְ וַעֲוֺנוֹת שְׁלַח רְפוּאָה מִמְּעוֹנוֹת׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have misused baseless hatred, bringing death to sons and daughters, Wail and weep to their Helper and Shield, before the Listener to Pleas. Forgive Your people’s sins and iniquities, send healing from on high! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם עָוִֽינוּ בִּשְׁבוּעוֹת שֶֽׁקֶר לְמַעֵט בְּנֵי אָדָם פָּנִים כָּבַֽשְׁנוּ לְאֵין חֵֽקֶר פְּנֵי יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם צֳרִי וּמָזוֹר לְצֹאנְךָ תְּבַקֵּר שְׁאֵרִיתָם מִשְּׁאוֹל תִּפְדֵם׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have iniquitously sworn falsely, decreasing humanity, Our faces have fallen to the Endless One, before the creator of humanity. With balm and bandage visit Your flock; save their remnant from the underworld. To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם קִלְקוּל שְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא לִבְנֵי אָדָם מִעֲטָה רְעָדָה אֲחָזַֽתְנוּ לְדַרְכֵּֽנוּ מְתַעֵב פְּנֵי אוֹר עוֹטֶה שֶֽׁמֶשׁ לֹא יַכֶּֽנּוּ וְשָׁרָב שְׁמַע יי וְהַבִּֽיטָה׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If slighting swearing in vain has diminished humanity, Trembling has grabbed us, our paths swerve before the Light-Wreathed One. May neither sun nor hamsin strike us; hear, CAUSE, and look! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם תִּעַֽבְנוּ בְּחִלּוּל שַׁבָּת לְמַעֵט יְמֵי שְׁנוֹתֵֽינוּ מַסֹּֽנוּ כִּקְדֹֽחַ אֵשׁ וְלַבָּת פְּנֵי שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּחִנָּתֵֽנוּ שׇׁמְרֵֽנוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עַֽיִן וּבָבַת שְׁלַח רְפוּאָה לְמַכּוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have abominated in desecrating the Sabbath, to decrease the days of our years, we are like brushwood kindled by fire and flame, before the Hearer of our Pleas. Guard us like the dot, the pupil of the eye, send healing to our stricken! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם הֶעֱוִֽינוּ בְּחִלּוּל הַשֵּׁם לְמַעֵט פְּרִי בִטְנֵֽנוּ בֹּֽשְׁנוּ וְשַֽׂמְנוּ נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ אָשָׁם פְּנֵי מַאֲזִין חִנּוּנֵֽינוּ נָא תָּיו חַיִּים בְּרֶֽשֶׁם שֶֽׁמֶן שָׂשׂוֹן מֵחֲבֵרֵֽינוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have done iniquity in desecrating the Name, descreasing our womb’s fruit, We are ashamed and our souls are in guilt before the Listener to Petitions. Please, note a mark of life, delightful oil over our friends! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם מָעַֽלְנוּ בְּפֶה מְנֻבַּל לְמַעֵט אֶת־צֶאֱצָאֵֽינוּ הִנֵּה נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ מִתְהַפֵּךְ בְּתַחְבּוּל פְּנֵי אָבִֽינוּ רוֹעֵֽנוּ רַחֵם פְּרִי בֶּֽטֶן מִלְּחַבֵּל שֶֽׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה רְפָאֵֽנוּ׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have misused a boorish mouth, decreasing our descendants, Hey, our souls are overturned in injury, before our Parent and Shepherd. Have mercy on the fruits of the womb, do not destroy; heal us, Sun of Justice! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם רָשַֽׁעְנוּ בְּמִינֵי בְרָכוֹת לָמוּת מְמוֹתֵי תַּחֲלוּאִים יָגוֹן בְּלִבֵּֽנוּ וְהַרְבּוֹת בִּכְיוֹת פְּנֵי רוֹפֵא חֳלָאִים שַׁלַּח רְצוּצִים חׇפְשִׁים בִּשְׂמָחוֹת שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה תַּשְׁמִיעֵם׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have done evil in various blessings, bringing death to the deathly ill, Sorrow and much weeping is in our hearts before the Healer of the Sick. Let the oppressed go free in joy, hear them in happiness and joy! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם עָוִֽינוּ בִּתְפִלּוֹת צִבּוּר לֹא מָצָֽאנוּ חַיִּים יָגַֽעְנוּ בְּקׇרְאֵֽנוּ בְּפֶה וּבְדִבּוּר פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים הוּא יַחֲבֹשׁ פֶּֽצַע וַחֲבַרְבּוּר שׁוּב מֵחֲרוֹן אַפַּֽיִם׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If we have iniquitously prayed in public, finding no life in us, We are exhausted as we call in word and speech before the Living God. God will bind wound and splotch, return from burning rage! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם מֵעַצְלוּת אֲבֵלוּת אָדָם הָגוּן לְהָמִית כְּעָרוּד מֵמִית נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ עַד־אָֽנָה בְּיָגוֹן פְּנֵי מְחַיֶּה וּמֵמִית חוֹסִים בּוֹ הוּא מָגֵן שְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וֶאֱמֶת׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If from laziness or mourning a person is fit to kill like a murderous onager, How long will our souls be in sorrow, before the Bringer of life and death? God will shield those who trust the divine. Send Your light and truth! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם מֵחֲמַת כְּבוֹד תַּלְמִידִים לֻכַּֽדְנוּ בִּמְצוּדָה רָעָה זָלְגוּ עֵינֵֽינוּ וּבְשָׂרֵֽנוּ חֲרוּדִים פְּנֵי מִתְרַצֶּה בְּדִמְעָה לָתֵת רִפְאוּת לְזֶֽרַע יְהוּדִים שׁוּבֵֽנוּ לְחַיֵּי שָׁעָה׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If on account of the pride of students we have been taken in wicked ambush, our eyes flow, our flesh trembles, before the One Appeased by Tears. To give healing to the seed of the Jews, turn again to the time being! To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
אִם חַטַּאת עֲוֺן הָעֵֽגֶל לִפְקוֹד בֵּינֵֽינוּ בְּיוֹם פְּקוּדָה זֹאת נֶחָמָתִי רַחֲמָיו לְגַלְגֵּל פָּנָיו נְקַדְּמָה בְּתוֹדָה קֶֽצֶף שַׁכַּךְ מֵעַם סֶֽגֶל שַׁוְעַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה׃ לַיי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽנוּ׃ |
If the sinful iniquity of the Calf to be accounted against us on the day of account, this is my comfort: God’s mercy will overcome; we will greet God’s face in thanks. Rage will subside from the treasured people, Israel and Judah’s cries. To the CAUSE our God we have sinned; please, Deity, heal us please! |
[אחר כך:] אל מלך וכו׳ ויעבור וכו׳ זכור רחמיך וכו׳ עד ואל חטאתו׃ אל נא תשת וכו׳ עד רפא נא לה׃ |
[After which is recited the passages from the Selichot liturgy which begin with] El Melekh, Va-ya’vor, and Z’khor Raḥamekha up to v-el ḥatato, followed by Numbers 12:11-13. |
This seliḥah, “Moshel ba-Elyonim Atah Yadata,” was written by Rabbi Mosheh ben Yeshayah Menaḥem Bachrach during an epidemic. It is included in the Seliḥot of Posen, Krakow, Prague, Worms, and Alsace. The text here was transcribed from the Siddur Kol Bo, vol. 3 (1923), p. 33.
Source(s)
Siddur u-Mahzor Kol Bo, vol. 3 (1923), p. 33
“פזמון בשעת המגפה ח״ו | Pizmon for a time of plague (God forbid!), by Rabbi Moses Mendels (ca. early 17th c.)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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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
![Jewish gathering at Tomb of Zacharieh, Kebron [i.e., Kidron] Valley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jewish_gathering_at_Tomb_of_Zacharieh,_Kebron.jpg){kind=link}
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