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A very old Western Sephardic table-song, mentioned as early as the 18th century in Livorno and possibly even older, this ballad retelling the story of Purim is sung to the tune of “Akh Zeh Hayom Kiviti.” It is related to the briefer Haketia-language song “Haman mamzer el malo,” already found here. Also included are literal and singable English translations.
Note that this text is much closer to normative Spanish than Ladino as spoken in the Balkans. It could perhaps be considered a variant of Ḥaketia, the language of Tetouan, but this poem is old enough that there isn’t much of a practical difference.
| Source (Spanish) | Translation (English, literal) | Translation (English, singable) |
|---|---|---|
Con gran placer, señores, os vengo a[1] Levy: yo os quiero — “I wish to” contar lo que ha sucedido,[2] Levy: sucedió — the preterite form “what happened” rather than the perfective “what has happened” en el mes de[3] Levy: en Rosh Jódesh — “on the new moon.” This is clearly not the original since Purim did not happen on the new moon but rather the full moon. Adar: milagros sagrados, que nos hizo el Alabado,[4] Here following Levy. On Cohen’s website, el Altísimo — “the highest,” which is found in the next line and doesn’t fit the rhyme scheme as well. el Altísimo Padre, gran Dios de Israel. |
With great pleasure, gentleman, I’ve come to sing what has happened in the month of Adar: sacred miracles that the Praised One did for us, the Highest Parent, great God of Israel. |
My friends, let me inform you; of this I’m pleased to sing: for in this month Adar there was a most miraculous thing! It’s glorious, it’s for us to praise our God in chorus, The Parent in the highest, great God of Israel! |
Bastard Haman, the evil, plotted to annihilate beloved Israel in the month of Adar. He plotted it, he sealed it, but God did not confirm it, for a loving Parent is the great God of Israel. |
That evil bastard Haman, this time he went too far! He tried to wipe out Israel in this, the month of Adar! He dreamed it, he schemed it, but God had disesteemed it, For loving is our Parent, the God of Israel! | |
Cuando Ester, la reina, lo vino a saber,[9] Levy: vino que tan saber — “came to know that” por Mordejay encomienda, que lo fueran[10] Levy: vayan — “would have to” a traer, lloróse, ansióse con él aconsejóse: que pidiera piedades al Dios de Israel.[11] In Levy these entire two lines are replaced with the second couplet found in verse 6, beginning Cautivos, vendidos. |
When Esther the queen came to know it, she ordered that they should bring Mordechai. She wept, she wished, with him she was advised that she should beg for mercy from the God of Israel. |
When Esther heard about it, she called for Mordechai, To him she sent the order and from him came his reply: “Your sighing and crying calls out to God undying. We all should beg for mercy from the God of Israel!” |
Ordenaron tres ayunos, que habían[12] Levy: debían “ought to” de hacer, grandes, chicos y medianos, y también la reina Esther.[13] An original emendation, based on Levy’s y la reina Ester también, to restore the rhyme scheme. In Cohen’s website, todo el pueblo de Israel — “all the people Israel.” Llamaron, clamaron,[14] Levy: ayunaron se ansiaron — “they fasted, they wished” y a Dios se encomendaron, al único padre piadoso,[15] Levy: pidiendo piedades al — “begging mercy of” gran Dios de Israel. |
They ordered three fasts that they had to do, big, little, and medium, and Queen Esther too. They spoke, cried out, and entrusted themselves to God, to the only merciful Parent, the great God of Israel. |
So all the Jews for three days would fast, as they agreed — the old and young and teenaged, with Esther, wouldn’t feed. They spoke in, invoking the One to be awoken, entrusting themselves to their Parent, the God of Israel! |
Ester, la tan[16] Levy: la grande tan — “the great one, so” lucida, vistióse de enreinar,[17] Here following Levy. On Cohen’s website, reina — “as a queen.” fue a[18] Levy: por — “so as” ver si el rey tuviera, de Israel piedad; hermosa, graciosa, y como[19] Levy: mas que — “even more than” el sol brillosa. La dice el rey: ¿Qué quieres, señora de Israel? |
Esther, so radiant, dressed herself in her royal garb. She went to see if the king would have mercy on Israel. Beautiful, gracious, and like the sun in brilliance. The king said to her, “What do you want, lady of Israel?” |
So radiant was Esther, clad in royal attire, so that when he addressed her, the king would grant her desire! So gracious, vivacious, and just a little flirtatious. The king was head-over-heels for the rose of Israel. |
Ajasverós potente, os vengo a demandar piedades de[20] Levy: para — “for” mi gente, non las[21] Levy: lo — “it” meaning the request, rather than the mercy. In the original, the word “mercy” is plural, so Cohen’s las refers to the mercy. podéis negar; cautivos, vendidos, de Hamán perseguidos, porque siempre mal quiso al pueblo de Israel. |
Mighty Aḥashverosh, this I have come to demand: mercy on my people, you cannot deny it! Captives, sold, by Haman persecuted, For he has always wished evil on the people Israel! |
“Oh great Ahasuerus, but this I’ve come to demand: my people begs you, spare us, for danger is at hand! It stressed us, depressed us, that Haman has oppressed us, He’s always seeking harm upon the people Israel! |
El rey, con ira y saña, de allí[22] Levy: sí — “thus” (an archaic form) se levantó, diciendo que se engaña, quien tal cosa pensó; entonces, a voces, tiraron[23] Levy: echaron — “they tossed” con mil coces a Hamán del palacio, enemigo de Israel.[24] In Levy, verse 9, beginning (here) Pidió del rey piedades (and in Levy Buscó del rey piedades) is inserted here. |
The king, in wrath and fury, rose up from there, saying that whoever thought as such was mistaken; then, shouting, with a thousand blows they threw out of the palace, Haman, enemy of Israel. |
The king in wrath and fury rose up and so proclaimed: “Whoever sought to worry my queen will be ashamed!” He shouted and pouted, and Haman’s plan was routed, And he was thrown out of the palace, the foe of Israel. |
Mandó a hacer[25] Levy: Hizo dentro de — “made inside of” en su casa, el mamzer de Hamán, una horca espaciosa para Mordejay Neemán; la hizo, con riso, probó la horca que hizo,[26] Levy: con risa, con mucho regocijo — “with laughter, with much rejoicing” Hamán y sus diez hijos,[27] Levy: ahorcose Hamán y sus hijos — “Haman and his sons were hanged” enemigos de Israel. |
That bastard Haman ordered made in his house a spacious gallows for faithful Mordechai. He made it chuckling; the gallows he made were tested by Haman and his ten sons, enemies of Israel. |
That bastard had instructed, that fifty cubits high, The gallows be constructed for hanging Mordechai. It was comically demonic, so isn’t it ironic, That it was used on him and his sons, the foes of Israel! |
Pidió del[28] In Levy, this verse appears before verse 8, and begins Buscó del — “He looked to” rey piedades, no las pudo obtener, porque él quiso hacer mal[29] Levy: pensó hacer males — “thought to do evils” a Mordejay y Ester; cuitado, desdichado, cayóse desmayado, por verse ya vencido del pueblo de Israel. |
He begged the king for mercy, but could not obtain it. For he sought to do evil to Mordechai and Esther. The unhappy wretch fell down dismayed, for he had already been defeated by the people Israel. |
He begged the king for mercy, he begged to no avail, For it’s a controversy when the queen you would assail! Abuser, accuser, he knew that he was a loser. He’d already been outmaneuvered by the people Israel! |
Gran temor y miedo tenían las umot De Israel, el pueblo tenían gran pavor Entonces pendones pusieron por los balcones Y alegremos estemos todo el pueblo de Israel.[30] This verse only appearing in Levy. |
Great terror and fear the nations had. Of Israel, the people had great dread. Then they hanged banners from the balconies, and happy was all the people Israel. |
The nations all surrounding were gripped with fear and dread. It seemed to them astounding – Haman himself was dead! We’d hang there the banners from the balconies of the manors And happiness and joy on all the people Israel! |
Celebremos estos días del alegre Purim,[31] Levy: Esta fiesta llamamos la fiesta de Purim — “This festival we call the festival of Purim” porque en ellos tuvimos muchísimos nisim;[32] Levy: en ella se hicieron grandísimos nisim “upon it incredibly great miracles were done” comamos, bebamos, también nos emborrachamos, y ¡alegres estemos todo el pueblo de Israel![33] In Levy, the last two lines here are replaced with the last two lines of verse 1, beginning with milagros sagrados. |
Let us celebrate these days of Purim joy, for upon them we had so many miracles; let’s eat, drink, and get drunk together, and be happy, all the people Israel! |
So let us join together to celebrate Purim, A day we’ll keep forever for on it we were redeemed. So long to the bastard, let’s eat and drink and get plastered, Be happy and be joyous, all the people Israel! |
This is a transcription of the Sefaradi table song for Purim, “Con Gran Placer, Señores,” largely as found in the Jewish Table Singing website of Jonathan Cohen, with variant forms from James Levy’s recording. Literal and singable English translations by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer.
Recordings
My Friends, Let Me Inform You (Isaac Gantwerk Mayer, 2026)
Notes
| 1 | Levy: yo os quiero — “I wish to” |
|---|---|
| 2 | Levy: sucedió — the preterite form “what happened” rather than the perfective “what has happened” |
| 3 | Levy: en Rosh Jódesh — “on the new moon.” This is clearly not the original since Purim did not happen on the new moon but rather the full moon. |
| 4 | Here following Levy. On Cohen’s website, el Altísimo — “the highest,” which is found in the next line and doesn’t fit the rhyme scheme as well. |
| 5 | Levy: humano — “humane.” |
| 6 | Levy: humano — “humane.” |
| 7 | Again Levy: en Rosh Jódesh. |
| 8 | Levy: afirmóli — “affirm it” |
| 9 | Levy: vino que tan saber — “came to know that” |
| 10 | Levy: vayan — “would have to” |
| 11 | In Levy these entire two lines are replaced with the second couplet found in verse 6, beginning Cautivos, vendidos. |
| 12 | Levy: debían “ought to” |
| 13 | An original emendation, based on Levy’s y la reina Ester también, to restore the rhyme scheme. In Cohen’s website, todo el pueblo de Israel — “all the people Israel.” |
| 14 | Levy: ayunaron se ansiaron — “they fasted, they wished” |
| 15 | Levy: pidiendo piedades al — “begging mercy of” |
| 16 | Levy: la grande tan — “the great one, so” |
| 17 | Here following Levy. On Cohen’s website, reina — “as a queen.” |
| 18 | Levy: por — “so as” |
| 19 | Levy: mas que — “even more than” |
| 20 | Levy: para — “for” |
| 21 | Levy: lo — “it” meaning the request, rather than the mercy. In the original, the word “mercy” is plural, so Cohen’s las refers to the mercy. |
| 22 | Levy: sí — “thus” (an archaic form) |
| 23 | Levy: echaron — “they tossed” |
| 24 | In Levy, verse 9, beginning (here) Pidió del rey piedades (and in Levy Buscó del rey piedades) is inserted here. |
| 25 | Levy: Hizo dentro de — “made inside of” |
| 26 | Levy: con risa, con mucho regocijo — “with laughter, with much rejoicing” |
| 27 | Levy: ahorcose Hamán y sus hijos — “Haman and his sons were hanged” |
| 28 | In Levy, this verse appears before verse 8, and begins Buscó del — “He looked to” |
| 29 | Levy: pensó hacer males — “thought to do evils” |
| 30 | This verse only appearing in Levy. |
| 31 | Levy: Esta fiesta llamamos la fiesta de Purim — “This festival we call the festival of Purim” |
| 32 | Levy: en ella se hicieron grandísimos nisim “upon it incredibly great miracles were done” |
| 33 | In Levy, the last two lines here are replaced with the last two lines of verse 1, beginning with milagros sagrados. |
“Con Gran Placer, Señores — a Western Sefaradi table-song for Purim” 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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