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A shiv’ata is a sevenfold blessing inserted into the Musaf service on Shabbat. This shiv’ata was written for use at a bar mitsvah. Each stanza begins with an example of thirteen as used in our tradition, followed by an alphabetical acrostic. This piyyuṭ is for a bar mitsvah, where a boy turns thirteen. A companion piyyuṭ for a bat mitsvah, when a girl turns twelve, can be found here.
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.) All divine referents (pronouns, epithets, names) are rendered in unicase.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרִיתוֹת אָב הָמוֹן קִבֵּל עַל־בָּנִים בְּרִית מִילָה גִּיל תּוֹרָה וּשְׂשׂוֹן חֲתָנִים בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ גּוֹנֵן שׁוֹמְרֵי אֱמוּנִים דּוֹר שָׁמוּר יִגְדַּל תַּֽחַת מָגִנִּים׃ בא״י מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם׃ אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר… |
Thirteen covenants[1] Mishnah Nedarim 3:11. In Genesis 17. the word “covenant” appears thirteen times. the father of multitudes[2] Abraham accepted upon his children: circumcision, the cheer of Torah, and the joy of marriage. On this one’s bar mitsvah, shield, o Guardian of Faith, the guarded generation; let it grow under shields. Blessed are You, Cause, Shield of Abraham. You are mighty… |
שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת הָרַחֲמִים הוֹרֵֽיתָ לְמָשׁוּי מִמַּֽיִם וְנִשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ שֶׁטַּל חֶֽסֶד תּוֹרִיד מִשָּׁמַֽיִם בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ זְכֹר זָכָר זֶה כִּמְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַֽיִם חַזְּקֵֽהוּ בְּטַלְלֵי אוֹר הַשָּׁמַֽיִם׃ בא״י מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים׃ אשכנז נַעֲרִיצְךָ/ ספרד כֶּֽתֶר… |
Thirteen attributes of compassion[3] Exodus 34:6-7 You taught to the one[4] Moses drawn from water, and You swore that gracious dew You would precipitate from heaven. On this one’s bar mitsvah, remember this male like Menasseh and Ephraim.[5] According to Genesis 48:20, the people Israel should be blessed by being compared to these two sons of Joseph. strengthen him with dew of heavenly light! Blessed are You, Cause, who revives the dead. Ashkenaz: Let’s exult in You… Sefarad: A crown… |
שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר עִקָּרִים טְבוּעִים בְּדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יִגְדַּל אֱלֹהִים חַי וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח הַגּוֹאֵל בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ לְמַלֵּא עֲשָׂרָה בַּאֲרִיאֵל לְהוֹסִיף לִשְׁלֹֽשֶׁת קְדֻשּׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ בא״י הָאֵל (שבת שובה – הַמֶּֽלֶךְ) הַקָּדוֹשׁ׃ תִּכַּֽנְתָּ… |
Thirteen theses[6] First listed in Rambam’s commentary on Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1, but brought into the post-service recitations as a “credo” of rabbinic Judaism, and rewritten in to the piyyuṭ Yigdal recited, in many communities, at the end of every Friday night service. are engraved in the law of Israel. Magnified and praised be the living God,[7] The opening line from Yigdal the Redeemer! On this one’s bar mitsvah, confirm him to fulfil ten[8] Once reaching bar mitsvah age, a child can be counted in a minyan. in Ariel,[9] A poetic term for Jerusalem, found in Isaiah 29:1 To add to the three holinesses[10] ”Three holinesses” refers to the threefold repetition of “holy” in Isaiah 6:3. And ten plus three is, of course, thirteen. of Israel! Blessed are You, Cause, the holy God (on Shabbat Shuva: Sovereign) You established… |
שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת מִלֵּל גְּדוֹל הַתַּנָּאִים נִדְרֶֽשֶׁת הַתּוֹרָה בָּהֵן גַּם כִּתְבֵי מִקְרָאִים בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ סוֹמֵךְ עָלֶֽיךָ הוּא וְכׇל־בָּאִים עַם שׁוֹמְרֵי שַׁבָּת וְעׇנְגָּהּ קוֹרְאִים׃ בא״י מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת׃ רְצֵה… |
Thirteen principles[11] First listed in the opening of the Sifra, the thirteen hermeneutical principles of Rabbi Ishmael are recited every morning in traditional liturgies. spoke the greatest of the Tannaim,[12] Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha’s system of halakhic exegesis became the norm by which all halakha was derived, and he was also an expert in aggadah. His school of students, Bei Rabbi Yishmael, brought down many important teachings. Only Rabbi Akiva reached his level of importance in his generation. by which the Torah is interpreted, as well as written scriptures. On this one’s bar mitsvah, he relies on You — along with all comers, the people keeping the sabbath and calling it a delight.[13] See the Yism’ḥu text, recited as part of the sabbath service — in Ashkenaz practice exclusively as part of Musaf, and in Sephardi practice as part of every service. Blessed are You, Cause, who sanctifies the sabbath. Desire… |
שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר שְׁעָרִים פִּתְחֵי הָעֲזָרָה צַדִּיקִים הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ שָׁם בִּגְבוּרָה בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ קִבֵּל עוֹל וְאוֹר הַתּוֹרָה רְצֵה בְּתִפְלָתֵֽנוּ נַעֲבׇדְךָ בְּיִרְאָה׃ בא״י הַמַּחֲזִיר שְׁכִינָתוֹ לְצִיּוֹן׃ מוֹדִים… |
Thirteen gates,[14] Of the Temple courtyard, listed in M. Shekalim 6:3 openings of the Courtyard; the righteous bowed prostrate there in might. On this one’s bar mitsvah, he has taken up the yoke and light of the Torah. Desire our prayers, and we will worship You in awe![15] A line from the old Erets Yisrael conclusion of this prayer. Blessed are You, Cause, who returns Their presence to Ẓíōn. We thank… |
שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר שׁוֹפָרוֹת שֻׁלְחָנוֹת וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיוֹת כָּנֶגְדָם שֶׁכֵּן נִמְסְרָה לָנוּ מָסוֹרָתֵֽנוּ עַל־יָדָם בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ תּוֹלֶה בְּךָ כׇּל־אָדָם תּוֹדוֹת נוֹדֶה וּלְךָ נִסְגֹּד צוּרָם וִיסוֹדָם׃ בא״י הַטּוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹת׃ שִׂים… |
Thirteen shofars, tables, and prostrations corresponding,[16] See Mishnah Shekalim 6:1 as such our tradition was passed on to us by their hand. On this one’s bar mitsvah, every human relies on You. Thanks we thank, and to You we bow, their Rock and Foundation! Blessed are You, Cause, whose name is good, to You it is pleasing to praise. Grant… |
שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר שָׁנִים יְׄלִידֵי צִׄיּוֹן מַגִּיעִים לַבַּגְרוּת חֲׄכָמִים קְׄבָעֽוּהוּ עַל־לוּחוֹת חָרוּת בְּיוֹם בַּר מִצְוָתוֹ מְׄנָת אֵׄל כְּאַבְרָהָם וְרוּת יְׄקַבֵּל רֵׄעֲךָ הַזֶּה שָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה וְחֵרוּת׃ בא״י הַמְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹם׃ |
Thirteen years Ẓíōn’s children arrive to adulthood. The righteous established it, engraved on tablets. On this one’s bar mitsvah, the divine portion of Abraham and Ruth[17] Both of whom accepted the Torah by their own choice, rather than having been obligated into it since birth. this friend of Yours will accept, peace, satistfaction, and freedom! Blessed are You, Cause, who blesses Their people Israel in peace. |
Notes
| 1 | Mishnah Nedarim 3:11. In Genesis 17. the word “covenant” appears thirteen times. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Abraham |
| 3 | Exodus 34:6-7 |
| 4 | Moses |
| 5 | According to Genesis 48:20, the people Israel should be blessed by being compared to these two sons of Joseph. |
| 6 | First listed in Rambam’s commentary on Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1, but brought into the post-service recitations as a “credo” of rabbinic Judaism, and rewritten in to the piyyuṭ Yigdal recited, in many communities, at the end of every Friday night service. |
| 7 | The opening line from Yigdal |
| 8 | Once reaching bar mitsvah age, a child can be counted in a minyan. |
| 9 | A poetic term for Jerusalem, found in Isaiah 29:1 |
| 10 | ”Three holinesses” refers to the threefold repetition of “holy” in Isaiah 6:3. And ten plus three is, of course, thirteen. |
| 11 | First listed in the opening of the Sifra, the thirteen hermeneutical principles of Rabbi Ishmael are recited every morning in traditional liturgies. |
| 12 | Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha’s system of halakhic exegesis became the norm by which all halakha was derived, and he was also an expert in aggadah. His school of students, Bei Rabbi Yishmael, brought down many important teachings. Only Rabbi Akiva reached his level of importance in his generation. |
| 13 | See the Yism’ḥu text, recited as part of the sabbath service — in Ashkenaz practice exclusively as part of Musaf, and in Sephardi practice as part of every service. |
| 14 | Of the Temple courtyard, listed in M. Shekalim 6:3 |
| 15 | A line from the old Erets Yisrael conclusion of this prayer. |
| 16 | See Mishnah Shekalim 6:1 |
| 17 | Both of whom accepted the Torah by their own choice, rather than having been obligated into it since birth. |
“שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרִיתוֹת | Shlōsh Esréh Britōt — a shiv’ata cycle for Musaf on the Shabbat of a bar mitsvah, by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license.
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