The Geshem prayer for Shemini Atzeret in the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba has some things in common with other Geshem texts, but its most unique facets are twofold. First and most obviously, the extensive catena of verses from Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim that falls between the introductory announcement and the piyyutim themselves. And second, several Aramaic passages relatively rare in other texts, which seem to reflect an archaic form predating the adoption of Arabic as the spoken language of the Aleppo Jews. (These Aramaic passages are marked in green in the transcription.) As standard in Eastern practice, especially in the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba (which shows a surprisingly modern reticence to interrupt the ‘amidah), this prayer is placed after the Torah service and before musaf begins.
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Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
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מַשִׁיב הָרֽוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּֽשֶׁם׃ |
Who turns the wind and brings down the rain. |
מַדְכַּר עָבְדְכוֹן קׇדָמֵכוֹן דְּעָבַר זְמַן מוֹרִיד הַטַּל וּבָא זְמַן מוֹרִיד הַגֶּֽשֶׁם׃ לְחַיִּים וְלֹא לְמָֽוֶת׃ לְשָׁלוֹם וְלֹא לְמִלְחָמָה׃ לְשׂוֹבַע וְלֹא לְרָעָב׃ לִבְרָכָה וְלֹא לִקְלָלָה׃ לִרְפוּאָה וְלֹא לְחוֹלִי׃ לִפְדוּת וְלֹא לְעַבְדוּת׃ לִרְפוּאָה וּתְרוּפָה וְלֹא לְחוֹלִי וּמַגֵּפָה׃ לְרַחֲמִים וְלֹא לִזְעָמִים׃ לְרָצוֹן וְלֹא לְחָרוֹן׃ |
Your servant mentions before you that: the time of “Brings down the dew” has passed and the time of “Brings down the rain” has come. To life and not to death. To peace and not to war. To plenty and not to hunger. To blessing and not to curse. To healing and not to sickness. To freedom and not to slavery. To healing and cure and not to sickness and plague. To compassion and not to wrath. To will and not to rage. |
בִּזְכוּת אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן (תהלים צא:א) הוֹרִיד גִּשְׁמֵֽנוּ בְּעִתָּם׃ |
By merit of the one who said “Sitting in the shelter of the Highest” (Psalm 91:1) our rain was brought down in its time. |
כְּדִכְתִיב — יַעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּשְׂעִירִ֣ם עֲלֵי־דֶ֔שֶׁא וְכִרְבִיבִ֖ים עֲלֵי־עֵֽשֶׂב׃ כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶקְרָ֑א הָב֥וּ גֹ֖דֶל לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (דברים לב:ב-ג) אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם׃ וְנָתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֽוֹ׃ (ויקרא כו:ג-ד) וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם יָשָׁ֖ן נוֹשָׁ֑ן וְיָשָׁ֕ן מִפְּנֵ֥י חָדָ֖שׁ תּוֹצִֽיאוּ׃ וְנָתַתִּ֥י מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תִגְעַ֥ל נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (ויקרא כו:י-יא) וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִירֹֽשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ (דברים יא:יד) |
As written — Let drip like rain my teaching, let flow like dew my saying, like raindrips on the grass, like showers on the foliage. For the name of the CAUSE I will call, grant greatness to our God. (Deuteronomy 32:2-3) If in My laws you go, and My commandments you keep, and do them, then I will give your rain in its time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. (Leviticus 26:3-4) And you will eat old crop preserved, and the old crop will meet the new. And I will give My Tent among you, and My very Self will not leave you. (Leviticus 26:10-11) And I will give your land’s rain in its time, early and late, and you will gather your grain and your wine and your oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14) |
וְנָתַן֩ מְטַ֨ר זַרְעֲךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־הָאֲדָמָ֗ה וְלֶ֙חֶם֙ תְּבוּאַ֣ת הָאֲדָמָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה דָשֵׁ֖ן וְשָׁמֵ֑ן יִרְעֶ֥ה מִקְנֶ֛יךָ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כַּ֥ר נִרְחָֽב׃ (ישעיהו ל:כג) שַׁאֲל֨וּ מֵיְהֹוָ֤ה מָטָר֙ בְּעֵ֣ת מַלְק֔וֹשׁ יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹשֶׂ֣ה חֲזִיזִ֑ים וּמְטַר־גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ יִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם לְאִ֖ישׁ עֵ֥שֶׂב בַּשָּׂדֶֽה (זכריה י:א) כִּֽי־זֶ֣רַע הַשָּׁל֗וֹם הַגֶּ֜פֶן תִּתֵּ֤ן פִּרְיָהּ֙ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ תִּתֵּ֣ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְהַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ טַלָּ֑ם וְהִנְחַלְתִּ֗י אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֛ית הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֶת־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ (זכריה ח:יב) וּבְנֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן גִּ֤ילוּ וְשִׂמְחוּ֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה לִצְדָקָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶד לָכֶ֗ם גֶּ֛שֶׁם מוֹרֶ֥ה וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ וּמָלְא֥וּ הַגֳּרָנ֖וֹת בָּ֑ר וְהֵשִׁ֥יקוּ הַיְקָבִ֖ים תִּיר֥וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָֽר׃ (יואל ב:כג-כד) וְגָעַרְתִּ֤י לָכֶם֙ בָּֽאֹכֵ֔ל וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִ֥ת לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־פְּרִ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְלֹא־תְשַׁכֵּ֨ל לָכֶ֤ם הַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ (מלאכי ג:יא) הַרְעִ֤יפוּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִמַּ֔עַל וּשְׁחָקִ֖ים יִזְּלוּ־צֶ֑דֶק תִּפְתַּח־אֶ֣רֶץ וְיִפְרוּ־יֶ֗שַׁע וּצְדָקָ֤ה תַצְמִ֙יחַ֙ יַ֔חַד אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּרָאתִֽיו׃ (ישעיהו מה:ח) |
And rain will be given for your seed with which you sow the land, and bread, the earth’s produce, will be rich and fat; your flock on that day will grace in wide pastures. (Isaiah 30:23) Ask rain of the CAUSE at late season, the CAUSE make cumuli, and will provide rain showers for them for each person grass in the fields. (Zechariah 10:1) For the seed — at peace, the vine will give its fruit, and the earth will give its produce, and the skies will give their dew; and I will bestow on the remnant of this people all of these. (Zechariah 8:12) And children of Zion, cheer and rejoice in the CAUSE your God, Who has given you early-rain in justice, and brought down for you rain — early and late — of old. And the threshing-floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with wine and oil. (Joel 2:23-24) And I will banish the parasite from you, that it will not destroy the fruit of the land, and your vine in the field will no longer drop prematurely — says the CAUSE of Multitudes. (Malachi 3:11) Pour down, skies, from above, and heavens, flow with justice! Let earth open and fruit with salvation, and righteousness flower together; I the CAUSE created it. (Isaiah 45:8) |
מַעֲלֶ֣ה נְשִׂאִים֮ מִקְצֵ֢ה הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ בְּרָקִ֣ים לַמָּטָ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה מֽוֹצֵא־ר֗֝וּחַ מֵאֽוֹצְרוֹתָֽיו׃ (תהלים קלה:ז) הַנֹּתֵ֣ן מָ֭טָר עַל־פְּנֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְשֹׁ֥לֵֽחַ מַ֗֝יִם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י חוּצֽוֹת׃ (איוב ה:י) הַֽמְﬞכַסֶּ֬ה שָׁמַ֨יִם ׀ בְּעָבִ֗ים הַמֵּכִ֣ין לָאָ֣רֶץ מָטָ֑ר הַמַּצְמִ֖יחַ הָרִ֣ים חָצִֽיר׃ (תהלים קמז:ח) יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָר֣וֹ וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּח֗וֹ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃ (תהלים קמז:יח) שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ [שבותנו] כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃ (תהלים קכו:ד) כִּ֤י לַשֶּׁ֨לֶג ׀ יֹאמַ֗ר הֱוֵ֫א־אָ֥רֶץ וְגֶ֥שֶׁם מָטָ֑ר וְ֝גֶ֗שֶׁם מִטְר֥וֹת עֻזּֽוֹ׃ (איוב לז:ו) |
Raising mist from the edge of the earth, God made lightning for the rain, and brings wind from the vaults. (Psalm 135:7) Giving rain upon the face of the earth, and sending water to the face of the courtyards. (Job 5:10) Covering heaven with clouds, setting rain for the earth, making mountains flower with grass. (Psalm 147:8) At God’s word it melts them; God’s breath turns, it flows water. (Psalms 147:18) Return, CAUSE, our exile, like desert wadis. (Psalms 126:4) For to the snow God says, “To earth!” and rain showers, God’s mighty rain showers. (Job 37:6) |
וְנָתַתִּ֥י אוֹתָ֛ם וּסְבִיב֥וֹת גִּבְעָתִ֖י בְּרָכָ֑ה וְהוֹרַדְתִּ֤י הַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ בְּעִתּ֔וֹ גִּשְׁמֵ֥י בְרָכָ֖ה יִֽהְיֽוּ׃ (יחזקאל לד:כו) יִפְתַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־אוֹצָר֨וֹ הַטּ֜וֹב אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם לָתֵ֤ת מְטַֽר־אַרְצְךָ֙ בְּעִתּ֔וֹ וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהִלְוִ֙יתָ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א תִלְוֶֽה׃ (דברים כח:יב) |
And I will give them and those around My hill blessing, and I will bring down rain in its time, rains of blessing they will be. (Ezekiel 34:26) The CAUSE will open a good storehouse for You, to give your land rain in its time, and to bless all the works of your hands, and you will lend to many nations but never borrow. (Deuteronomy 28:12) |
אֲנָא יהוה חַדֵּשׁ לָֽנוּ מְלוּכָה וְהַצִּילֵֽנוּ מִיּוֹם מְהוּמָ֨ה וּמְבוּסָ֜ה וּמְבוּכָ֗ה (ישעיהו כב:ה) וְשִׂימֵֽנוּ בְּקֶֽרֶב הַגּוֹיִם בְּרָכָה וּמַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד תִּהְיֶה מְשׁוּכָה כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם ׀ צִוָּ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה׃ (תהלים קלג:ג) |
Please, CAUSE! Renew our sovereignty And save us from a day of panic, oppression, and perplexity (Isaiah 22:5) And set us as a blessing among every nationality And may the reign of David’s house be in continuity For the CAUSE commanded blessing for that locality. (Psalm 133:3) |
אֲנָא יהוה חֲרוֹנְךָ מִמֶּֽנּוּ הָסֵר וּבַחֲמָתְךָ אוֹתָֽנוּ אַל־תְּיַסֵּר וּמִמָּרוֹם לָֽנוּ תְּבַשֵּׂר מַה־נָּאו֨וּ עַל־הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֣י מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר׃ (ישעיהו נב:ז) |
Please, CAUSE! Turn Your anger away from us, And to Your rage do not abandon us And from on high grant tidings to us On the mountains, the food of the messenger, how glorious! (Isaiah 52:7) |
אֲנָא יהוה רוֹכֵב עֲרָבוֹת הַרְאֵֽנוּ בְּחַסְדְּךָ חֲסָדִים וְטוֹבוֹת וְיִהְיוּ תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ עֲרֵבוֹת בִּזְכוּת שְׁלֹשָׁה הָאָבוֹת׃ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מֵאַף וְחָרוֹן בִּזְכוּת מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן׃ וְיִהְיֶה עַמְּךָ נוֹשָׁע בִּזְכוּת אֵלִיָּֽהוּ וֶאֱלִישָׁע׃ וְתָבִיא לְצִיּוֹן גּוֹאֵל בִּזְכוּת עֵלִי וּשְׁמוּאֵל׃ וְיָבֽוֹאוּ אִישׁ עַל־מְקוֹמוֹ בִּזְכוּת דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה׃ |
Please, CAUSE! On clouds You ride! Show us, in Your kindness, mercy and pride And let our petitions be pleasant, not a bother, by merit of the three forefathers. And rescue us from rage and anger flarin’, by merit of Moses and Aaron. And let Your people be saved — release her, by merit of Elijah and Elisha. And bring to Zion a redeemer as well, by merit of Eli and Samuel. And let each go to where their lot has fallen in, by merit of David and Solomon. |
יְהִי רָצוֹן וְרַחֲמִים מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא שָׁנָה זוֹ שְׁנַת שָׁלוֹם שְׁנַת בְּרָכָה וְתַעֲלֶה לְמַכָּתֵֽנוּ אֲרֻכָּה וּתְרַחֵם אֹם לִגְאֻלָּתְךָ מְצַפָּה וּמְחַכָּה וְלָתֵ֧ת עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם בְּרָכָֽה׃ (שמות לב:כט) |
May it be willed compassionately before You, CAUSE our God and God of our ancestors, that this year be a year of peace, a year of blessing, and bring up to all our diseases healing, and have mercy on a nation which for Your redemption is waiting and hoping, And bring upon you all today blessing. (Exodus 32:29) |
יְהִי רָצוֹן וְרַחֲמִים מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא שָׁנָה זוֹ שָׁנָה גְּשׁוּמָה וְתַצִּילֵֽנוּ מִמְּחִתָּה וּמִמְּהוּמָה וְתִהְיֶה לָֽנוּ לַמָּעוֹז וְלַמַּחֲסֶה וּלְחוֹמָה וְ֠אַתָּ֠ה תִּשְׁמַ֨ע הַשָּׁמַֽיְמָה׃[1] כמו מלכים א׳ ח:לט בשינוי |
May it be willed compassionately before You, CAUSE our God and God of our ancestors, that this year be a rainy year, and rescue us from confusion and fear, and be our fortress and stronghold and weir, and you, listen heavenwards from here.[2] I Kings 8:39, altered |
אֲנָא יהוה תִּהְיֶה שָׁנָה זוֹ שְׁנַת שֹׂבַע שְׁנַת רָצוֹן שְׁנַת גְּאֻלָּה וּתְשִׂימֶנּוּ לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה וְתַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ קוֹל קוֹרֵא בְּמִילָה סֹ֣לּוּ סֹ֤לּוּ הַֽמְﬞסִלָּה֙ (ישעיהו סב:י) שֶׁאַתָּה הוּא יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ רַב לְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם׃ |
Please, CAUSE! Let this year be a year of plenty, of will, of redemption all the way, and set us with for a reputation and praise that we pray, and let us hear the voice call out and say: Roll out, roll out the highway! (Isaiah 62:10) For You are the CAUSE our God, great to save, who turns the wind and brings down the rain. |
יְהִי רָצוֹן וְרַחֲמִים מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת הַבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ וְעַל־כׇּל־עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנַת אוֹרָה׃ שְׁנַת בְּרָכָה׃ שְׁנַת גְּאֻלָּה׃ שָׁנָה דְּשׁוּנָה׃ שָׁנָה הֲדוּרָה׃ שְׁנַת וַֽעַד׃ שְׁנַת זְכוּת׃ שְׁנַת חַיִּים׃ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה׃ שָׁנָה מְבֹרֶֽכֶת׃ שָׁנָה שֶׁלֹּא תַּפִּיל אִשָּׁה אֶת־פְּרִי בִּטְנָהּ׃ שָׁנָה שֶׁיַּמְתִּיקוּ תְּמָרִים אֶת־תְּנוּבָתָם׃ שָׁנָה שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרְכוּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלּוּ לְאֵלּוּ וְלֹא לְעַם אַחֵר בְּתִתְּךָ בְּרָכָה בְּכׇל־מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם׃ |
May it be willed compassionately before You, CAUSE our God and God of our ancestors, that this coming year be for us and for all Your people the house of Israel a year of light. a year of blessing. a year of redemption. a year of warmth. a year of glory. a year of community. a year of merit. a year of life. a year good. a year blessed. a year where no woman will suffer a miscarriage of their fetus. a year where date-palms will sweeten their fruit. a year where your people the house of Israel will not need one another, nor another nation, as You give blessing to all their handiwork. |
אֲנָא יהוה לְקוֹל שַׁוְעֵֽנוּ הַקְשֵׁב וּפָנֵֽינוּ רֵיקָם אַל־תָּשֵׁב וְשִׂיחֵֽנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ כְּקׇרְבָּן יֵחָשֵׁב כִּי אַתָּ֥ה קָד֑וֹשׁ י֝וֹשֵׁ֗ב׃[3] ישעיהו סב:י |
Please, Cause! Hearken to the sound of our pleas, and do not turn our faces ill at ease, and let our words like a sacrifice appease, for You are holy, enthroned on these.[4] Psalm 22:4, altered. |
מַאן דִּשְׁמַע וְקִבֵּל צְלוֹתֵהּ דְּאֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַנָּבִיא בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל הוּא יִשְׁמַע וִיקַבֵּל צְלוֹתְכוֹן וּבָעוּתְכוֹן עִם־צְלוֹתְהוֹן וּבָעוּתְהוֹן דְּכׇל־עַמּוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן׃ |
May the One who heard and accepted the prayer of Elijah the prophet at Mt. Carmel hear and accept your prayers and petitions with the prayers and petitions of all the people Israel’s house, and say amen. |
“תְּפִלַּת גֶּשֶׁם | Tefilat Geshem, according to the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba (1560)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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