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The 26th of April was held as a solemn fast and Humiliation day, in Great Britain [in support of the Crimean War]. All the Banks, Public Offices and places of business were closed, and under an entire, suspension of secular labor, the Churches opened their portals to the supplicating people. The London papers give abstracts of the proceedings at a large number of the places of worship in the metropolis and elsewhere. We select from the London Times a summary of the doings of our co-religionists, and we append thereto a remarkable notice of the occurrence from the London Leader.
[From the London Times April 25th.] “The Jewish Form of Prayer.” — The Chief Rabbi (Dr. Adler) has commanded that the following order of service shall be used in all the Synagogues of the United Congregations of the British empire on Wednesday next (the day of Humiliation). The original is in Hebrew. The annexed is a correct translation:
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| Source (Hebrew, reconstructed) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
The afternoon service having been read, the Reader begins; | |
אָתָֽאנוּ לְחַלּוֹת פָּנֶֽיךָ כִּי חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְּמוּ פָנֶֽיךָ נָא אַל תְּשִׁיבֵֽנוּ נָא אַל תְּשִׁיבֵֽנוּ רֵיקָם מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ סְלַח לָֽנוּ, וּשְׁלַח לָֽנוּ יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים מִמְּעוֹנֶֽךָ׃ |
We approach Thee with supplication, for mercy and truth precede Thy presence; O put us not to shame, nor dismiss us empty from Thy presence, we beseech Thee! But grant us pardon, and send us salvation and mercy from Thy celestial residence. |
אָתָֽאנוּ לְבַקֵּשׁ מִמְּךָ כַּפָּרָה אָיֹם וְנוֹרָא מִשְׂגָּב לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה תְּחַיֵּֽינוּ תְּחׇנֵּֽנוּ וּבְשִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא סְלַח לָֽנוּ וּשְׁלַח לָֽנוּ יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים מִמְּעוֹנֶֽךָ׃ |
We come to implore forgiveness from Thee, O Thou most awful and tremendous Being! O Thou who art our refuge in time of trouble, grant us life and be gracious unto us, that we may invoke Thy name; O pardon us, and send us forgiveness and mercy from Thy celestial residence. |
Here follows the 27th Psalm, beginning, “The Lord is my light.” After the Psalm, A PRAYER —Opening of the Ark :— | |
Almighty God! Abundant in mercy and great, in power, it is Thou who guidest by Thy strength the heavenly host. The numberless stars in obedience to Thy command pass not beyond their assigned course. But man hast Thou created in Thine own image, granting him freedom of will so that there is no restraint to hinder bias from choosing good or evil, life or death. How deep are Thy thoughts! The ignorant know not that Thou makest even the folly of man an instrument to produce ultimate good. | |
Thou hast chosen this land and its inhabitants. Thy Providential care hath always watched over it, so that it occupies a high position and has become the admiration of the world. It is in this land, wherein mercy and truth meet, righteous and kindness kiss each other, which enlightens the darkness of the earth, and teaches understanding to the wrong doers. | |
We humbly approach Thee, O Lord! this day when our souls are overwhelmed. Thou knowest that our most gracious sovereign, with great reluctance, has taken up arms in order to uphold the rights and independence of nations, which form the foundation of peace, to maintain justice and tranquility in the dominions of her ally, which had been endangered through unprovoked aggression. | |
Judge of all the earth! we bow down before Thy holy abode, and most humbly beseech Thee to turn the hearts of the aggressors, that they may forsake their designs. Renew a right spirit within them, dispose their hearts to justice, that they may know that the world was not created for destruction, but for the friendly intercourse of nations, so that the earth might be filled with the knowledge to exalt and magnify Thy glorious name. | |
However, if Thou hast not so decided, if in Thy fathomless wisdom it is decreed that the earth’s iniquities shall not be forgiven without bloodshed, encourage and strengthen the armies of our Queen, on the day of battle, by Thy might and Thy strength grant them victory when they fight on behalf of truth and righteousness; though hosts encamp against them, let them not fear; may they scorn danger and prosper in all their ways and in all their doings. | |
Thou who rulest the raging seas be with the leaders and mariners of our fleets; inspire them with a spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and courage, of meekness and compassion; be unto them a rock of strength, a refuge from the fury of the assailants, that they may maintain their ancient fame and uphold their old glory. May they speedily return to their native shores with success and triumph, may then the sword return to its scabbard and a permanent peace be established, and all mankind joyfully shout together: Let the Lord be magnified! | |
Trust of Israel and their Redeemer! We cast ourselves on Thy great mercy; grant us a heart to perceive Thy way in the sanctuary, that we may know the benefits that we deserve even from the calamities which befall our brethren by returning unto Thee in humility and sincerity, and purifying our hearts from all our sins and iniquities. Grant that the remnant of Israel may henceforth rely on Thee alone in truth and uprightness, that the scattered flock may repose in the shadow of peace, and never more be harrassed. | |
Open our eyes, that we may comprehend the good which the days of peril and perplexity bring forth in Thy beloved land and in Thy holy mountain; grant it may no more be injured or destroyed, that many nations may flock thereto, saying: Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord, for from Zion shall come forth the law, and the word of God from Jerusalem, (Isaiah 2:3) Amen! | |
This prayer in support of the Crimean War was offered by Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire on the National Day of Humiliation and Prayer, 26 April 1854, and published in The Asmonian (19 May 1854), on page 6.
Source(s)
British Jews National Day of Humiliation and Prayer (The Asmonian, 19 May 1854), p. 6
“Prayer for a Day of Prayer and Humiliation on Account of the Crimean War, by the the Synagogues of the United Congregations of the British Empire (26 April 1854)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
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Detail from the Panoramic painting, The Siege of Sevastopol 1854-1855 (Franz Roubaud 1904)
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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
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