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One of the most revolutionary alterations made by the early Reform movement in Germany was their replacement of Kol Nidre with a German hymn, sung to the same melody: O Tag des Herrn. But when the early Reformers came to the United States, they adopted a new language, English. In 1866, the American Reform Jewish community was largely bilingual in German and English, and Isaac Mayer (No Relation) Wise’s 1866 service for the Day of Atonement took account for that, including a singable English translation of the singable German replacement for Kol Nidre. I have also included a musical score which uses I. M. Wise’s English text in Louis Lewandowsky’s original setting of O Tag des Herrn.
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| Source (German) | Adaptation (English) |
|---|---|
O Tag des Herrn! Du nahst Und das Herz erbebt, Und Schauer fassen die Seele, Sie gedenket ihrer Missethat, Sie gedenket, daß ihr Richter naht, Und zittert. Sie bangt, sie zagt; sie weint und klagt Und vergeht in Thränen. |
Ⅰ. Cantor: O Day of God, Thou’rt nigh, and my heart is awed, and terror seizeth my spirit It remembers its iniquity, it remembers that its Judge is nigh, and trembles with fear and grief without relief — tears of woe are flowing. |
Chor: Fasse Muth, o belastet Herz! Schau du nur trostvoll himmelwärts! Gütig ist der Herr, Gern gibt er Gehör, Naht sich auszusöhnen. |
Choir: Cheer thee up, thou heart oppressed, Heavenward turn with comfort blessed. Merciful is He, forgives iniquity, comes in peace to meet us. |
Chor: Herr Gott, sieh’, Sieh’ meines Herzens Wehen, Und neig dein Ohr! Herr vermmm, Vernimm mein heißes Flehen, Oeffn’ uns das Thor! Nimm weg die Missethat, Oeffn’ uns das Thor der Gnad’, Und zieh’ uns empor. |
Choir: Lord, Behold! My heart’s profound contrition, oh, lend Thine ear! Lord, accept! Accept my fervent prayer, as I stand here! Do Thou our guilt remove, And thro’ the gate of love, bring to Thee us near. |
Horch! die stimme des Herrn! Er ruft Mit des Abends Wehen Brüder hört, wie mild die Stimme tönt! Menschen, ruft sie, Kinder, o versöhut, Versöhnt euch! O folgt dem Ruf! o gebt Gehör! Trocknet alle Thränen. |
Ⅱ. Cantor: Hark, the voice of the Lord! He calls thro’ the zephyr’s whisper — devotion reigneth and stillness Brethren hark, how sweet the voice and mild: “Mortals, children. Oh, be reconciled, Forgive ye. Oh, heed that call, obey that voice, dry all tears of anguish.” |
Chor: Brüder kommt, o kommt heran, Schließet, schließet euch uns liebend an! Herz soll morgen rein, Rein vom Hasse sein; Eilt euh auszusöhnen |
Choir: Brethren, come, approach God’s shrine! Come and join us in love benign. From your hearts efface, ev’ry hatred base, haste, be conciliated. |
Chor: Horch, wer weint? Es weinen gekränkte Freunde Schließt neu das Band! Horch, wer klagt? Es klagen verfolgte Feinde Haß sei verbannt O liebt, wie Gott euch liebt Vergebt, wie er vergibt! Reicht euch treu die Hand. |
Choir: Hark! Who weeps? Thy friend by thee distressed, the bond renew. Hark! Who wails? Thy foe, by thee oppressed, all wrath eschew. Oh, grant, as God above, forgiveness, mercy, love! Show ye friendship true. |
Nun, Tag des Herrn! So nah’! Und fülle die Herzen, Und fulle mit Wonne die Seelen. Von dem Abend bis zum Abend hin Heiliget vor Gott den Erdensinn Und betet. |
Ⅲ. Cantor: Now, Day of God, draw nigh, and fill thou our spirits, and fill thou our hearts with rejoicing. While from eve to eve to God ye pray, banish ev’ry worldly thought away Implore Him, on high to God, to God on high, soar ye up, ye mortals! |
Chor: Stimmet an Gebet, Gesang! Folget, folget dem Himmelsdrang! Schwinget euch empor! In der Engel Chor Stimmen uns’re Lieder. |
Choir: Prayer now begin and song! Come, O come, after heaven long, up to God aspire, with the angel’s choir now our praises mingle. |
Chor: Tag des Herrn! O sei ein treuer Bote! Führ’ uns zurück! Tag des Herrn! Komm’ mit dem Abendrothe, Hell strahl’ dein Blick! Bis wieder Abend naht, Führst du auf lichtem Pfad Uns zu Heil und Glück. |
Choir: Day of God! Thy faithful guidance lending, back do us show! Day of God! On ev’nings wings descending, Thine eye let glow! When we shall reappear, on paths of lustre clear, Bliss dost thou bestow! |
“O Tag des Herrn!” is a paraliturgical Kol Nidrei by Leopold Stein. Here it is translated from German to English by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise from his Yom Kippur mahzor (minhag America) תפלות בני ישורון ליום הכפורים The Divine Service for American Israelites for the Day of Atonement (1866), pp. 30-33.
Source(s)
Musical Notation
Click to access o_day_of_god_musical_score.pdf
Click to access o_tag_des_herrn_musical_score.pdf
“O Day of God, Leopold Stein’s paraliturgical Kol Nidrei “O Tag des Herrn” (1840) adapted in English by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (1866)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)
Isaac Mayer Wise
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