🆕 סֵדֶר אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא | Seder Ushpizata — an original Aramaic-language invocation of the matriarchs into the sukkah in the style of the traditional Seder Ushpizin by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

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27 September 2026 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

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Biblical Women, Divine Presence, אמהות Imahot, in the merit of our ancestors, North America, שכינה Shekhinah, תשרי זמן Tishrei Zman, אושפיזתא Ushpizata, אושפיזין ushpizin

An original Aramaic-language seder ushpizata, as a parallel to the patriarchal ushpizin, to invite matriarchal figures from history. While other “ushpizot” or “ushpizata” texts have been written before, most of them are not in Aramaic, and I think that is a shame. So this one is. Also included is a poster I designed last year, to be hung up in a sukkah alongside the more traditional ushpizin poster.

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 (Aramaic)	Translation (English)
עוּלוּ אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא קַדִּישָׁתָא עוּלוּ אִמָּהָתָא עִילְיָתָא קַדִּישָׁתָא לְמִיתַב בְּצִילָּא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה בְּצִלָּא דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא׃	Enter, illustrious holy guests! Enter, illustrious holy mothers, to sit in the shade of the supernal faith, the shade of the blessed Holy One!
תֵּיעוּל שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃	Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth should enter.
תִּיבוּ תִּיבוּ אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא תִּיבוּ תִּיבוּ אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא קַדִּישָׁתָא תִּיבוּ תִּיבוּ אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא׃	Sit, sit, illustrious guests! Sit, sit, holy guests! Sit, sit, faithful guests!
מַאן חָמֵי חֶדְוָה דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא וּדְנָשִׁין זַכְיָין דְּעַבְדִּין לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא׃ (זוהר פרשת שלח ר׳)	Who has seen the joy of the righteous, of the women meriting to serve before the blessed Holy One? (Zohar, Sh’lach 200)
אֲזַמֵּן לִסְעוּדָתִי אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִלְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃	I invite to my feast illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth.
ביום א׳ (יום טוב של סוכות) בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ שָׂרָה דְּכִירְתָּא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה פָּקַ֥ד אֶת־שָׂרָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמָ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֛ה לְשָׂרָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃ (בראשית כא:א)	On day 1 (the festival day of Sukkot) I beg of you, SARAH THE REMEMBERED, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth. And the Cause accounted for Sarah as They had said, and the Cause did for Sarah as They had spoken. (Genesis 21:1)
ביום ב׳ (יום טוב שני בגלות) בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ רִבְקָה רְחִימְתָּא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ וַיְבָרְכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו׃ (בראשית כד:ס)	On day 2 (the second festival day in the diaspora) I beg of you, REBECCA THE MERCIFUL, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth. And they blessed Rebecca and said to her, “Our sister, you will become thousands of myriads, and your seed will inherit the gates of its haters!” (Genesis 24:60)
ביום ג׳ בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ לֵאָה יָלֵידְתָּא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֵאָ֔ה בְּאׇשְׁרִ֕י כִּ֥י אִשְּׁר֖וּנִי בָּנ֑וֹת וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אָשֵֽׁר׃ (בראשית ל:ג)	On day 3 I beg of you, LEAH THE FERTILE, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth. And Leah said, “By my contentment! For the girls will call me content.” And she called his name Asher [Content]. (Genesis 30:3)
ביום ד׳ בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ רָחֵל מִתְנַחֲמְתָּא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה וְלֵאָה מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מִנְעִ֤י קוֹלֵךְ֙ מִבֶּ֔כִי וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ מִדִּמְעָ֑ה כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ (ירמיה לא:טו)	On day 4 I beg of you, RACHEL THE COMFORTED, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth. Thus said the Cause: refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your labor — declared the Cause — and they will return from the land of the enemy. (Jeremiah 31:15)
ביום ה׳ בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ מִרְיָם נְבִיאֲתָא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ וַתִּקַּח֩ מִרְיָ֨ם הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֲח֧וֹת אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַתֹּ֖ף בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַתֵּצֶ֤אןָ כׇֽל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃ (שמות טו:כ)	On day 5 I beg of you, MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Deborah, and Ruth. And Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aharon, took the drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with drums and dance. (Exodus 15:20)
ביום ו׳ בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ דְּבוֹרָה דַּיָּנְתָּא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם וְרוּת׃ עוּרִ֤י עוּרִי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה ע֥וּרִי ע֖וּרִי דַּבְּרִי־שִׁ֑יר ק֥וּם בָּרָ֛ק וּֽשְׁבֵ֥ה שֶׁבְיְךָ֖ בֶּן־אֲבִינֹֽעַם׃ (שופטים ה:יב)	On day 6 I beg of you, DEBORAH THE JUDGE, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Deborah, and Ruth. Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, say a song! Rise, Barak, and capture your captives, son of Avinoam! (Judges 5:12)
ביום ז׳ (הושענא רבא) בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ רוּת גִּיּוֹרְתָא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם וּדְבוֹרָה׃ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (רות א:טז)	On day 7 (Hosha’na Rabba) I beg of you, RUTH THE CONVERT, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, and Deborah. And Ruth said, “Do not implore me to leave from after you, for wherever you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people my people, and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16)
ביום שמיני עצרת שבגלות בְּמָטוּ מִנִּיךְ אֶסְתֵּר מַלְכְּתָא אֻשְׁפִּיזְתָּא עִלִיתָא דְּיֵתְבוּ עִמִּי וְעִמִּיךְ כׇּל־אוּשְׁפִּיזָתָא עִילְיָתָא׃ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה לֵאָה וְרָחֵל מִרְיָם דְּבוֹרָה וְרוּת׃ וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַתִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֞ד בַּחֲצַ֤ר בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית נֹ֖כַח בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְ֠הַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֞ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֤א מַלְכוּתוֹ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת נֹ֖כַח פֶּ֥תַח הַבָּֽיִת׃ (אסתר ה:א)	On Shmini Atseret in the diaspora I beg of you, ESTHER THE QUEEN, illustrious guest, that with me and with you sit all the illustrious guests: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Ruth. And on the third day Esther dressed royally and stood in the inner courtyard of the royal house, by the house of the king, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in his royal house by the entrance to the house. (Esther 5:1)

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Ushpizata (Isaac Gantwerk Mayer 2025)

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

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 transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic texts, 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.

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