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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. These six reshuyot are meant to be recited on the second sabbath of rebuke, Shabbat Shim’u. Many of their authors are, to the translator’s knowledge, otherwise unknown — any further information about them would be greatly appreciated! This is the reshut offered before the Barkhu at the outset of Shaḥarit on Shabbat Shim’u, composed by an unknown paytan. 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) |
|---|
יוֹם כְּמוֹ נֵד עָמְדוּ דְּמָעַי בְּפָנַי
עַל קְדוֹשִׁים זֶ֜רַע בְּרוּכֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ (ישעיה סה:כג) |
On a day where, moundlike, my tears stood on my face,
for the holy ones — the seed blessed of the Cause. (Isaiah 65:23) |
כׇּל־כְּבוֹדָם גָּלָה וְשָׁח עֹז פְּאֵרָם
כִּי בְחֵמָה נִצָּ֥ב לְרִיבָם יְהֹוָ֑ה |
All their glory exiled, their mighty splendor bent,
for in rage stood to contend with them the Cause. |
הַנְּבִיאִים עָטוּ כְלִמּוֹת וְחָפוּ
רֹאשׁ וְחָז֖וֹן לֹא־מָצְא֥וּ מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃ |
The prophets wrapped themselves in shame, and covered
heir heads, and vision did not come from the Cause. |
הֵם בְּשִׁבְיָם מַחֲזִיקִים יְדֵיהֶם
בֶּאֱמוּנָה רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֑ה׃ (תהלים קג:ח) |
In their captivity, they strengthen their hands
in faith — compassionate and gracious is the Cause! (Psalms 103:8) |
מַעֲרִיצִים גַּם־קוֹרְאִים אִישׁ לְאָחִיו
הַלְלוּ־אֵל וּ֝בָרְכ֗וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (תהלים קלד:ב) |
Venerating, thus calling one to another:
“Praise the Deity, and bless the Cause!” (Psalms 134:2) |
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 translates and authors his own original works.) 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. 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. Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us. Read a comment / Leave a comment (moderated) Works of related interest: |
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