Shebuoth, a poem by Miriam del Banco (1932)

Contributor(s): Miriam del Banco and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Shared on: 2 June 2022 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

Categories: Shavuot

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., Decalogue, English poetry, English vernacular prayer, Prayers as poems

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Shebuoth
	From dim, dark ages of the past Since centuries their course have run, The few acknowledged but our God: One God, and only one.
	Religion’s silver sandaled feet, With time, have roamed o’er all the earth To other forms she’s given rise, To other creeds she’s given birth.
	The different rites the different gods Have scattered been o’er land and sea; But one race clung to Him alone, Before no other bent the knee.
	And when the Lord had breathed to man A spirit like unto his own He rested, and the day, unchanged, Is holy to the Jews alone.
	They are His people, and He speaks Unto its youth: “While thou art here, If thou this beauteous earth dost love, Honor thy father and mother, dear.”
	They shall in God’s own chosen time, To him return, through good and ill He guides them here with patient hand; He counseleth; “Thou shalt not kill.”
	He counseleth: “Be true, be pure, Be virtuous in all thy ways; Be honest, upright, undefiled, Spotlessly pure through all thy days.
	So tender in His mercies He, So careful of our woe and weal, Our slightest action ne’er escapes His watchful eye “Thou shalt not steal.”
	Then, why should we, the chosen ones, Not live in love and peaceful care; Why should we ’gainst each other plot? Or ’gainst our friends false witness bear?
	Why should we struggle with our fate? Why wish for riches or for fame? If we our neighbor covet not. Tis to our great God all the same.
	All the religions and beliefs The Jews have their foundation given; For near six thousand years ago The law, to them, was sent from heaven.

The poem “Shebuoth” by Miriam del Banco (1858-1931) was included in her posthumously published anthology, Poetry and Prose (1932), p. 37-38. The poem was likely published during her lifetime, but we do not know where or when. If you know, please leave a comment, or contact us. –Aharon Varady

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. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike . 4.0 . International .

“Shebuoth, a poem by Miriam del Banco (1932)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.

Miriam del Banco

Miriam del Banco (27 June 1858 - 6 November 1931) was a writer, poet, translator, and educator. She was the daughter of Rabbi Max Del Banco (1825-1864), a reform rabbi with a congregation in Evansville, Indiana at the time of his death. Johanna (née Meyer), Miriam's mother, moved to St. Louis and there Miriam began her education in its public schools, displaying remarkable poetic talent. Later she was sent to her uncle at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she attended the State Normal School. After graduating with honors, she rejoined her mother, who in the mean time had moved to Chicago. There, in 1885, Ms. Del Banco began teaching in the public schools, and from 1889 onward, as the assistant principal at the Von Humboldt School. Later on she served as the principal of the McClellan and Motley schools in Chicago. In 1921, at the age of 63, she earned a PhD from DePaul University. She was a frequent contributor to both the Jewish and general press, having written a large number of poems, both Jewish and secular, and often under the pseudonym, "the Pansy" (after her favorite flower).

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

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Shebuoth (Miriam del Banco 1932) – cropped

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "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