In older Sephardic practice, there are cycles of reshuyot (permission-poems) recited on the three sabbaths of rebuke. These reshuyot, inserted before important prayers, date back to medieval Andalusian poets. They are largely mournful in tone, and accordingly the Ḥida opposed their recitation as unbefitting the joy of sabbaths, but due to their antiquity and cherishedness some communities (for instance those of Morocco) preserved them, reciting them all prior to Maariv on the ninth of Av instead. In any case, they are very clearly designed for the Shabbatot to which they are assigned, and to serve as reshuyot for the prayers to which they are assigned.
This reshut is the fourth of six reshuyot for the first sabbath of rebuke, Shabbat Divrei, the first Sabbath of Rebuke after 17 Tammuz. It is recited before the Ḳaddish prior to Barkhu and the blessings before the Shema of the Shaḥarit service.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
לִפְדּוֹת עַם דַּל בַּגָּלוּת מוֹנַי עַתָּ֕ה יִגְדַּל־ נָ֖א כֹּ֣חַ אֲדֹנָ֑י׃ (במדבר יד:יז) |
To redeem the poor people in my tyrannic exiles — now exalt, pray, my Master’s power. (Numbers 14:17) |
יוֹנָה תַּמָּה בְּיַד זָר עַד מָה וְעוֹבֵד חַמָּה יָדוֹ רָמָה גַּפְנִי לְשַׁמָּה שָׁם בֶּן־אַמָּה ע֤וּרָה ׀ לָ֖מָּה תִישַׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י׃ (תהלים מד:כד) |
For how long is the pure dove[1] The people Israel in the stranger’s hand? And the sun-cultist’s[2] Referring to idolatrous gentile powers as a whole hand is raised. My vine for a waste, there the handmaid’s son.[3] Possibly referring to Ishmael son of Hagar, and Islam — the faith with control over the Temple Mount — by extension Rise! Why do you sleep, my Master? (Psalms 44:24) |
כּוֹבֵשׁ וּמַכְבִּיד עוֹל עַל עֲמֵלִים הַחֲרֵם וְהַשְׁמֵד עוֹבְדֵי אֱלִילִים נְדוּדִים בְּבֵיתְךָ שְׁתוּלִים וְיֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה׃ (תהלים לה:כז) |
Conquer and burden those toilers[4] Those who toil for folly, as opposed to Israel who toils in words of Torah with a yoke; wipe out and destroy the worshippers of false-gods. Those shaking will be sprouts in Your house and always say “exalt the Cause!” (Psalms 35:27) |
Notes






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