אָשִׁירָה לְצוּר נוֹרָא | Ashira l-Tsur Nora — a piyyuṭ for Ḥanukkah by Rabbi Salomon Berdugo of Meknes

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) and Salomon Berdugo

Shared on:

18 December 2025 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

Categories:

Tags:

19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., acrostic, Acrostic signature, Maghrebi Jewry, Meknes, Morocco, פיוטים piyyuṭim, זמירות zemirot

This is a Ḥanukkah piyyut by R. Salomon Berdugo (1854–1906), illustrious payṭan and the chief rabbi of Meknes, Morocco. According to the Kehillot Sharot organization’s notes, found here, “This piyyut speaks of the miracles that occured for the Hasmoneans, both in war against the Greeks and in purification of the Temple. It is customarily sung in Maqam Hijaz.”

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
אָשִׁירָה לְצוּר נוֹרָא קָדוֹשׁ עוֹשֶׂה פְּלָאִים בְּכֹֽחַ וּבִגְבוּרָה הָרַס מִבְצְרֵי גֵּאִים קוֹנַי֘ שׂוֹטְנַי֘ מוֹנַי֘ הִכּ֣וּנִי פְצָע֑וּנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	I should sing to the awesome Rock, holy, doing wonders, who in strength and might destroyed the fortresses of the arrogant, my acquirers, my enemies, and my enumerators, who struck me and wounded me.^[1] Song of Songs 5:7 I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
נִסִּים גְּדוֹלִים עָשָׂה צוּר מַצְמִֽיחַ יְשׁוּעָה נָתַן צָרָיו לִמְשִׁסָה מַלְכוּת יָוָן הָרְשָׁעָה אָמְרוּ֘ עָרוּ֘ גָּזְרוּ֘ דָּת לְהַעֲבִירֵֽנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	Awesome miracles the Rock who sprouts salvation did! They gave Their troublers over to the plunder, the evil kingdom of Greece. They said, “Raze it!,” decreeing a law to make me pass away. I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
יָעֲצוּ עַל־עַמֵּֽנוּ בְּמִרְמָה וְתַחְבּוּלָה לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתֵֽנוּ שַׁבָּת רֹאשׁ חֹֽדֶשׁ מִילָה צוּרִי֘ נֵרִי֘ אוֹרִי֘ לָאוֹרָה הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	My people they plotted against, in scheme and strategem, to overturn our covenant — Sabbaths, new moons, and circumcision. My Rock, my Lamp, my Light, You brought me out to light. I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
שִׁלֵּם גְּמוּלָם לָהֵם עַל־יַד בְּנֵי חַשְׁמוֹנַאי נָפְלוּ עַל־חֲלָלֵיהֶם בְּיַד עֲדַת כֹּהֲנַי שָׂחוּ֮ אָרְחוּ֘ בָּרְחוּ֘ מְ֭רֵעִים הִקִּיפ֑וּנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	Sheer payback was rendered to them by the hand of the Hasmoneans. They fell upon their slain by the hand of my priests’ community. They walked,^[2] In most texts this word is dotted with a shin as the more common word שָׁחוּ “they stooped.” But in traditional Moroccan Hebrew pronunciation (not including Tetouan), shin and sin are both pronounced as /s/, and the other two words in this verset both refer to walking. they went, they fled, the evil ones closed in. (Psalms 22:17) I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
לֹא־נִמְצָא שֶֽׁמֶן זַֽיִת כִּי נִטְמְאָה הָעֲזָרָה וְזֹ֖את תּוֹרַ֥ת הַבָּֽיִת לְהַדְלִיק בּוֹ מְנוֹרָה בָּאוּ֘ רָאוּ֘ מָצְאוּ֘ פַּךְ שֶֽׁמֶן בְּדוּכָנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	Lacking olive oil, for the courtyard was defiled, though this was the law of the House^[3] Find Ezekiel 43:12. to kindle the menorah within it. They came, they saw, they found a vial of oil in my platform. I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
מָצְאוּ בּוֹ שִׁיעוּר לַֽיְלָה לְנֵרוֹת מַעֲרָכָה גָּזַר נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה לִשְׁרוֹת בּוֹ הַבְּרָכָה חָזְקוּ֘ סָפְקוּ֘ דָּלְקוּ֘ עַד־בֹּא יוֹם הַשְׁמִינִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	One night’s worth they found in it, for the arrangement of lamps.^[4] Find Exodus 39:37. In some texts, written as the more common word מַעֲרֶֽכֶת, which loses the rhyme and is not found in the verse. The Awesome Deed-doer decreed that blessing soak into it. They strengthened, were supplied, and glowed until the eighth day came. I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
הֵם קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּֽלוּ וְזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם אֶת־הַיָּמִים הַלָּֽלוּ קָבְעוּ֘ זָעוּ֘ כָּרְעוּ֘ לָאֵל בְּצָרוֹת עֲזָרָֽנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	Mandating upon themselves these lamps, and for their seed after them these days, they established, moved, bowed down to the Deity who helps me in trouble. I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
חֶֽסֶד אֵל כׇּל־הַיָּמִים לְדוֹר וָדוֹר הִגִּֽידוּ הַפּוֹדֶה מִיַּד קָמִים זֶ֭רַע אַבְרָהָ֣ם עַבְדּ֑וֹ גִּילוּ֘ סֹלוּ֘ חַלוּ֘ פְּנֵי אֵל צוּר מָגִנִּי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	On all days, in each generation, tell the kindness of the Deity who frees the seed of Abraham Their servant^[5] Psalms 105:6. In traditional Moroccan Hebrew pronunciation (not including Tetouan), the vowels וֹ and וּ are both pronounced as /u/, and thus this stanza rhymes. from the hand of those rising against it. Cheer, spread out, implore the face of the Deity, my rock and shield! I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
זַמְּרוּ צוּר צְבָאוֹת גָ֘בַ֤ר עָלֵ֨ינוּ ׀ חַסְדּ֗וֹ נִסִּים וְגַם נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ שִׁירָה֘ זִמְרָה֘ אוֹמְרָה֘ לָאֵל בְּפִי וּלְשׁוֹנִי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	BEat out a hymn to the Rock of Multitudes, whose kindness is great upon us!^[6] Psalms 117:2 Miracles as well as great wonders are Theirs alone. Song, hymn, let me say to the Deity in my mouth and my tongue: I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)
קוּמָה נָא וּגְאָלֵֽנוּ גְּאֻלָּה הָעֲתִידָה וְקַבֵּץ פְּזוּרֵֽינוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה שָׂא נֵס֘ שַׁנֵּס֘ כַּנֵּס֘ לְבֵיתְךָ עֵֽדֶר צֹאנִי אָז בְּשִׁירָה לַיהוָה וְ֝רוֹמַ֗ם תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי׃ (תהלים ל:א)	STRONGly rise, please, and redeem us, for the future redemption, and gather our exiles, Israel and Judah. Set a banner, gird, gather to Your house my flock of sheep! Then in song to the Cause, and exaltation under my tongue,^[7] Psalms 66:17 I will exalt You, Cause, for You lifted me up. (Psalms 30:1)

This is a piyyut by Salomon Berdugo digitally transcribed by Kehillot Sharot and published to their website. The English translation is by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer. (Thank you!)

Recording(s)

Notes

Notes
1	Song of Songs 5:7
2	In most texts this word is dotted with a shin as the more common word שָׁחוּ “they stooped.” But in traditional Moroccan Hebrew pronunciation (not including Tetouan), shin and sin are both pronounced as /s/, and the other two words in this verset both refer to walking.
3	Find Ezekiel 43:12.
4	Find Exodus 39:37. In some texts, written as the more common word מַעֲרֶֽכֶת, which loses the rhyme and is not found in the verse.
5	Psalms 105:6. In traditional Moroccan Hebrew pronunciation (not including Tetouan), the vowels וֹ and וּ are both pronounced as /u/, and thus this stanza rhymes.
6	Psalms 117:2
7	Psalms 66:17

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Salomon Berdugo

Rabbi Salomon Berdugo (1854–1906) was a halakhic authority, poet and Chief Rabbi in Meknes, Morocco. He was the son of Rabbi Daniel Berdugo. In 1897 he was appointed rabbi of the community. He was the author of Die Hashev, Em le-Mesorot, responsa, a collection of laws and Torah novellae, Musar Kaskel, Shirei Shelomo (1950), and many other books of Jewish poetry and zmirot.

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=64990

Associated Image:

Oil lamp with the Jewish menorah symbol Bronze, Roman, 4th-5th century CE. Found in the ruins of the city of Volubilis in Morocco, 11.4 cm. (credit: Sambasoccer27, license: CC BY-SA). In the collection of the Museum of History and Civilizations (Rabat).

(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 (translation) and Salomon Berdugo.
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=64990>.
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׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)