אֶקְחָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן | Ekḥah Barishon — a silluq piyyuṭ for the first day of Sukkot by Elazar haKalir

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) and Elazar ben Qallir

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9 October 2025 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

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45th century A.M., 7th century C.E., פיוטים piyyuṭim, קדושה Qedushah

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.”

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
וּבְכֵן לַךְ תַּעֲלֶה קְדֻשָּׁה, כִּי אַתָּה קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמוֹשִׁיעַ׃	And so… to You let holiness rise, for You are the Sacred One and Savior of Israel.
אֶקְחָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן, לְאַחֲרוֹן וְרִאשׁוֹן. פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, לְבַקֹּדֶשׁ נֶאְדָּר. כַּפּוֹת תָּמָר, לַצַּדִּיק כַּתָּמָר. עַנְפֵי הֲדַסִּים, לְצָג בֵּין הַהֲדַסִּים. טַרְפֵי עֲרָבוֹת, לְרוֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת׃	Let me take on the first [day], For the Last and First^[1] find Isaiah 44:6 The fruit of the citrus tree, for the Awesome in holiness^[2] find Ex. 15:11 Fronds of palm, for the Righteous like a palm^[3] Ps. 92:13 Boughs of myrtle, for the Stander among the myrtles^[4] Zech. 1:8 Leaves of willows, for the Rider on clouds^[5] Ps. 68:5
בָּֽמוֹ לְהַלֵּל, בְּזֶֽמֶר וְהַלֵּל, בַּיּוֹם וְלֹא בַּלֵּיל, וְאֵין לְפָנָיו לֵיל. בְּלוּלָב אֶחָד, וְאֶתְרוֹג אֶחָד, לַיהֹוָה אֶחָד, וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. בָּעֲרָבוֹת שְׁתַּֽיִם, כַּאֲמָהוֹת שְׁתַּֽיִם, וְהַמְּעוֹפְפוֹת שְׁתַּֽיִם. בְּעָבוֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה, כְּאָבוֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה, וּכְמַקְדִּישֵׁי שְׁלֹשָׁה. בַּאֲגֻדּוֹת אַרְבַּע, כִּגְבָעוֹת אַרְבַּע, וּכְחַיּוֹת אַרְבַּע, וּכְנָפַיִם אַרְבַּע. בִּשְׂמָחוֹת שֹׂבַע, כִּימֵי שֶׁבַע. בַּחֲגִיגַת שְׁמוֹנֶה, כְּמִילַת שְׁמוֹנֶה׃	With them to praise, with hymn and praise, during the day and not night, to the One before whom is no night.^[6] find Psalm 139:12 With one lulav, and one etrog, to the CAUSE who is One and Whose name is ONE.^[7] Zechariah 14:9 With two willows, like the two handmaids [Bilhah and Zilpah], and the two flying-wings.^[8] Isaiah 6:2 With three myrtles, like the three patriarchs, and the threefold sanctification.^[9] Isaiah 6:3 Bound with four, like the four hills,^[10] the matriarchs, find Vayikra Rabbah 36:6 and the four living-creatures, and the four wings.^[11] Ezekiel 1:5-6 With fullness of joy, per seven days. With celebration on eight [days], like the circumcision on eight [days].
בְּהָדָר לְהַזְכִּיר הִדּוּר זִקְנָה, בְּכַפּוֹת לְהַזְכִּיר לְמֵחִים נִקְנָה, בְּעָבוֹת לְהַזְכִּיר תַּם חַיֵּי־עַד קָנָה, בָּעֲרָבָה לְהַזְכִּיר אָח לְעֶֽבֶד הֻקְנָה. בְּהָדָר לַחֲשֹׁב בְּלוּיַת עֶדְנָה, בְּכַפּוֹת לַחֲשֹׁב מְשׁוּלַת שׁוֹשַׁנָּה, בְּעָבוֹת לַחֲשֹׁב יְחוּמַת דִּינָה, בָּעֲרָבָה לַחֲשֹׁב בְּאָחוֹת מְקַנְּאָה. בְּהָדָר לְהַמְשִׁיל מַפְלִיא עֲגֻלָּה, בְּכַפּוֹת לְהַמְשִׁיל אַגַּן סְגֻלָּה, בְּעָבוֹת לְהַמְשִׁיל שׁוּרַת דְּגוּלָה, בָּעֲרָבָה לְהַמְשִׁיל מְחוֹקְקֵי מְגִלָּה. בְּהָדָר לְכַפֵּר סַרְעַפֵּי לֵב, בְּכַפּוֹת לְכַפֵּר שִׁזְרָה מוּל־לֵב, בְּעָבוֹת לְכַפֵּר סִקּוּר עַֽיִן וָלֵב, בָּעֲרָבָה לְכַפֵּר נִבּוּל פֶּה עִם־לֵב. בְּהָדָר לְכַנּוֹת שְׁלֵמִים תְּמִימִים, בְּכַפּוֹת לְכַנּוֹת בַּעֲלֵי מַעֲשִׂים נְעִימִים, בְּעָבוֹת לְכַנּוֹת יְשָׁרִים בְּמִצְוֺת חֲתוּמִים, בָּעֲרָבָה לְכַנּוֹת בְּשִׁמְצָה כְּתוּמִים׃	With citrus to recall [Abraham] beautiful in old age, With fronds to recall [Isaac] given over like a fatted calf, With myrtles to recall [Jacob] the pure one who acquired eternal life, With willows to recall [Joseph] the brother sold as a slave. With citrus to consider [Sarah] who had pleasure after menopause, With fronds to consider [Rebecca] compared to a rose, With myrtles to consider [Leah] who concieved Dinah, With willows to consider [Rachel] who was acquired with her sister. With citrus to parallel [the Sanhedrin] circle-sitting wonder-doers, With fronds to parallel [the students] treasured in the round, With myrtles to parallel [the disciples] bannered rows, With willows to parallel [the scribes] the codifiers of scrolls. With citrus to atone for the ponderances of the heart, With fronds to atone for the spinal cord opposite the heart, With myrtles to atone for the prying eye and heart, With willows to atone for vulgar speech with the heart. With citrus to indicate those fully pure, With fronds to indicate those who did pleasant deeds, With myrtles to indicate those upright in sealed commandments, With willows to indicate those stained and derided.
וּכְמוֹ בְּעֵץ־הָדָר רֵֽיחַ וְטַֽעַם, כֵּן בְּעַם־זוּ בַּעֲלֵי מִצְוֺת וַדֵּֽעַ נֹֽעַם. וּכְמוֹ בְּכַף־תֹּֽמֶר טַֽעַם וְלֹא־רֵֽיחַ, כֵּן בְּעַם־זוּ בַּעֲלֵי מִצְוֺת וְלֹא־דָּת רֵֽיחַ. וּכְמוֹ בְּעָבוֹת רֵֽיחַ וְטַֽעַם מַר, כֵּן בֵּינֵֽימוֹ הוֹגֵי־דָּת וְחִכָּם מַר. וּכְמוֹ עֲרָבָה בְּלִי טַֽעַם וְרֵֽיחַ, כֵּן בֵּינֵֽימוֹ עִקְּשִׁים אֲטוּמִים מִלְּהָרִֽיחַ. וּכְמוֹ עֵץ־פְּרִי עֲלֵי־סְרָק מְחוֹפְפִים, כֵּן יְשָׁרִים עֲלֵי־רְשָׁעִים מְחוֹפְפִים. וּכְמוֹ הֵם אֲגוּדִים אֵֽלֶּה בְּאֵֽלֶּה, כֵּן תְּלוּיִים אֵֽלֶּה בְּאֵֽלֶּה, לִמְשֹׁךְ אֵֽלֶּה אֶת־אֵֽלֶּה, וּלְכַפֵּר אֵֽלֶּה עַל־אֵֽלֶּה, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵֽלֶּה כָּאֵֽלֶּה, לְהַנְעִים זְמִירוֹת אֵֽלֶּה, לְמִי בָרָא אֵלֶּה׃	And just as the citrus tree has smell and taste, So too among this people are commandment-doers who have sweet knowledge. And just as the palm frond has taste and no smell, So too among this people are commandment-doers without the scent of the law. And just as myrtles have a smell and a bitter taste So too among them are those who study the law with bitter palates. And just as willows are without taste or smell, So too among them are the crooked, closed off from the scent. And just as fruit-bearing plants surround the non-bearing, So too the righteous cover the wicked. And just as they are bound to each other, so too they depend on each other, to pull each other, and to atone for each other, to make them like the other, to sweeten these hymns, to the One who made all.
לְמַלֵּל לְהַלֵּל לְכַלֵּל לְחוֹלֵל, לְאַשֵּׁר לְיַשֵּׁר לְהַכְשֵׁר לְהַתְשֵׁר, לְבָרֵר לְשׁוֹרֵר, לְאַדֵּר לְהַדֵּר, לְגַבֵּר לְדַבֵּר, לְהַאֲמֵר לְזַמֵּר, לְחַנֵּן לְרַנֵּן לְשַׁנֵּן לְהַרְנֵן, לְקַלֵּס לְעַלֵּס, לְנַצֵּֽחַ לְפַצֵּֽחַ, לְהַעֲלִיץ וּלְהַעֲרִיץ, לְהַרְגִּישׁ לְהַקְדִּישׁ׃	To speak, to praise, to crown, to pipe, To render happy, upright, fit, giving, To clarify, to compose, to ennoble, to resplend, to heroify, to speak, to venerate, to hymn, to plea, to cheer, to repeat, to raise a shout, to panegyrize, to elate, to orchestrate, to open, to rejoice and to admire, to emote and to sanctify.
כְּשִׁיר עִירִין, כְּשִׁירַת קַדִּישִׁין. כְּזֶֽמֶר חַשְׁמָלָה, כְּזִמְרַת הֲמֻלָּה. כִּפְאֵר אֵלִים, כְּתִפְאֶֽרֶת אֶרְאֶלִּים. כַּהֲדַר זִקִּים, כְּהַדְרַת בְּרָקִים. כְּנֹֽעַם גְּלִילִים, כִּנְעִימַת גַּלְגַּלִּים. כְּנִגּוּן רוֹבִים, כִּנְגִינַת כְּרוּבִים. כְּרֶֽנֶן אוֹפַנִּים, כְּרִנְנַת מְרֻבְּעֵי פָנִים. כְּחִדּוּשׁ בְּרָקִים, כְּמִתְחַדְּשִׁים לַבְּקָרִים. כְּקִדּוּשׁ עָפִים, כִּקְדֻשַּׁת עוֹפְפִים. כְּרֶֽגֶשׁ מְעוֹפְפִים, כְּרִגְשַׁת מְתוֹפְפִים. כְּשִׁנּוּן צְפוּפִים, כְּהֶֽגֶה מְצַפְצְפִים. כְּרַֽעַשׁ סִפִּים, כְּמַעֲמַד שְׂרָפִים׃	Like the song of the Watchers, Like the singing of the Sacred. Like the hymns of the Ambery, Like the hymning of the Tumult. Like the acclaim of the Divines, Like the acclamation of the Altars. Like the splendor of the Comets, Like the resplendence of the Lightning. Like the pleasure of the Round, Like the pleasantness of the Rollers. Like the melody of the Youths, Like the melodiousness of the Mounts. Like the cheer of the Wheels, Like the cheering of the Four-Faced. Like the renewing of the Lighting, like the renewal of the Morning-Formed. Like the sanctification of the Wings, Like the sanctity of the Winging. Like the sense of the Winged, Like the sensing of the Drumming. Like the repetition of the Enmassed, Like the meditations of the Whispering. Like the din of the Thresholds, like the standing of the Cobra-Angels.
כְּמַחֲנוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים, לַקָּדוֹשׁ מַקְדִּישִׁים, וּקְדֻשָּׁה מְשַׁלְּשִׁים.	Like the camps of the sacred, to the Sacred One sanctifying, and sanctity triplicating…

Notes

Notes
1	find Isaiah 44:6
2	find Ex. 15:11
3	Ps. 92:13
4	Zech. 1:8
5	Ps. 68:5
6	find Psalm 139:12
7	Zechariah 14:9
8	Isaiah 6:2
9	Isaiah 6:3
10	the matriarchs, find Vayikra Rabbah 36:6
11	Ezekiel 1:5-6

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

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.

Elazar ben Qallir

Elazar ben Qallir, also known as Eleazar Kalir, Killir, Qalir or El'azar HaKalir (c. 570 – c. 640) was a Hebrew poet whose classical liturgical verses, known as piyut, have continued to be sung through the centuries during significant religious services, including those on Tisha b'Av and on the sabbath after a wedding. He was one of Judaism's earliest and most prolific of the paytanim, Hebrew liturgical poets. He wrote piyutim for all the main Jewish festivals, for special Sabbaths, for weekdays of festive character, and for the fasts. Many of his hymns have found their way into festive prayers of the Ashkenazi Jews' nusaḥ. (via wikipedia).

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)

אֶקְחָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן | Ekḥah Barishon — a silluq piyyuṭ for the first day of Sukkot by Elazar haKalir

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