![the Open Siddur Project [logo]](https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Open-Siddur-Project-Logo-2016.svg){kind=logo}
While Gevurot Geshem is recited on Shmini Atseret, Baqashat Geshem as an addition to the birkat ha-shanim is recited later — from the seventh of Marḥeshvan in Israel, from sixty days after the Julian-calendar autumn equinox in the diaspora. This passage is added starting in the evening, but since there is no repetition at night there is no special custom for announcing its insertion. I think that’s a shame, so I wrote a series of ma’aravot (piyyuṭim to be inserted into the ma’ariv service) to be recited on the day where we begin to request rain.
The Day of Requesting Rain (Yom Baqashat Geshem) is the day on which the longer form of the birkat ha-shanim begins to be said: in Israel, the seventh of Marḥeshvan; in the Diaspora, sixty days after the Julian-calendar autum equinox. Currently, this means it’s usually the night of December 4, but in the year before a leap year it’s the night of December 5. But from 2031 on it will be on the night of December 6 in the year before a leap year and the night of December 5 elsewhere. (All of this is postponed a day when the date falls on Shabbat, since the ninth blessing is not said on Shabbat.)
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.” “God” is used to translate the divine name Elohim. 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) |
|---|---|
חזן — בָּרְכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ׃ |
Leader: Bless the blessing-worthy Cause! |
קהל — בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃ |
Community: Blessed be the blessing-worthy Cause forever and aye! |
חזן — בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃ |
Leader: Blessed be the blessing-worthy Cause forever and aye! |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרוֹ מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים בְּחׇכְמָה פּוֹתֵֽחַ שְׁעָרִים וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת־הַזְּמַנִּים וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת־הַכּוֹכָבִים בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּרָקִֽיעַ כִּרְצוֹנוֹ בּוֹרֵא יוֹם וָלָֽיְלָה גּוֹלֵל אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ וְחֹֽשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אוֹר וּמַעֲבִיר יוֹם וּמֵבִיא לָֽיְלָה וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָֽיְלָה יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵֽינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause our God, Sovereign of eternity, who with Their word evens the evening, in wisdom opens gates, and in understanding alters the eras and changes the times and arranges the stars in their courses in the firmament by Their will. Creating day and night, rolling light from dark and dark from light, and making day pass and bringing night, and distinguishing between day and night, the Cause of Multitudes is Their name! May the living and enduring Deity reign over us forever and ever. |
אוֹם מַגְבִּירִים מִיּוֹם עֲצַרְתָּם בַּקָּשָׁה יוֹסִיפוּ לַתְּשִׁיעִית בְּבִרְכוֹתָם גֶּֽשֶׁם עַל־הַשָּׂדוֹת מַשְׁקֶה תְּבוּאָתָם דָּגָן יִתֵּן בְּתֵת גְּשָׁמֵֽינוּ בְּעִתָּם׃ |
A nation that empowers since the day of their assembly,[1] In the additional service of Shmini ˁAtseret, the eighth day of assembly, the phrase מָשִׁיב הַרֽוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּֽשֶׁם is added to the gvurot (“powers”) blessing. This is referred to as gvurot gshamim (the powers of rains) as opposed to the baqashat gshamim (the requesting of rains) for which this text was written. beseeching they will add to the ninth[2] The ninth blessing of the shmone ˁesreh is the birkat ha-shanim blessing to which the baqashat gshamim is added. of their blessings: Grant rain on the fields, watering their produce! Duly the grain gives, as our rains are given in their time. |
כַּכָּתוּב׃ וְנָתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֽוֹ׃ (ויקרא כו:ד) |
As it is written: And I will give your rains in their time, and the earth will give its produce, and the tree of the field will give its fruit. (Leviticus 26:4) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ הַנֹּתֵ֣ן מָ֭טָר עַל־פְּנֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְשֹׁ֥לֵֽחַ מַ֝֗יִם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י חוּצֽוֹת׃ (איוב ה:י) |
And it is said: Giving rain upon the the earth, and sending water upon the outdoors. (Job 5:10) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ שַׁאֲל֨וּ מֵיְהֹוָ֤ה מָטָר֙ בְּעֵ֣ת מַלְק֔וֹשׁ יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹשֶׂ֣ה חֲזִיזִ֑ים וּמְטַר־גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ יִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם לְאִ֖ישׁ עֵ֥שֶׂב בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (זכריה יא:א) |
And it is said: Ask the Cause for rain at the time of late rain; the Cause makes storm, and will give rainshowers to them, to each person, grass in the field. (Zechariah 10:1) |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause, who evens the evening. |
אַהֲבַת עוֹלָם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ אָהַֽבְתָּ תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֺת חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אוֹתָֽנוּ לִמַּֽדְתָּ עַל־כֵּן יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בְּשׇׁכְבֵֽנוּ וּבְקוּמֵֽנוּ נָשִֽׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּֽיךָ וְנִשְׂמַח בְּדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּבְמִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד כִּי הֵם חַיֵּֽינוּ וְאֹֽרֶךְ יָמֵֽינוּ וּבָהֶם נֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָֽיְלָה וְאַהֲבָתְךָ אַל־תָּסִיר מִמֶּֽנּוּ לְעוֹלָמִים׃ |
Eternal love for the house of Israel Your people You have loved; Torah and commandments, laws and rulings You have taught us. Thus, Cause our God, when we lie down and get up, we will consider Your laws, and rejoice in the words of Your Torah and in Your commandments forever and ever, for they our our lives and our days’ length, and on them we will ponder daily and nightly. And may You never ever remove Your love from us! |
הוֹגֵי חוּט מְשֻׁלָּשׁ עַד־רֶֽגַע קִצֵּֽינוּ וּבְנֵי־חֲבִיבְךָ אוֹמְרִים זֶֽהוּ חֶפְצֵֽנוּ זֶֽרֶם הַזֵּל־נָא לְהַפְרִֽיחַ צִצֵּֽינוּ חׇנֵּֽנוּ בְּתִתְּךָ מְטַר־אַרְצֵֽנוּ |
Each ponderer of the threefold thread[3] In this case, referring to the Shemaˁ, which is three paragraphs long and recited on the deathbed. The phrase “threefold thread” is from Ecclesiastes 4:12. unto our last moment, we, the children of Your cherished one,[4] Abraham say: this we desire! Zephyr precipitation upon us to make our buds bloom! Have grace on us as You give our land’s rain! |
כַּכָּתוּב׃ וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִירֹֽשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ (דברים יא:יד) |
As it is written: And I will give your land’s rain in its time, early and late rain, and you will gather your grain and your wine and your oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ כִּ֭י יְגָרַ֣ע נִטְפֵי־מָ֑יִם יָזֹ֖קּוּ מָטָ֣ר לְאֵדֽוֹ׃ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִזְּל֥וּ שְׁחָקִ֑ים יִ֝רְעֲפ֗וּ עֲלֵ֤י ׀ אָדָ֬ם רָֽב׃ (איוב לו:כז-כח) |
And it is said: For They draw up the water-droplets, refined into rain from Their mist. The welkin drips, precipitating over much humanity. (Job 36:27-28) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ וּבְנֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן גִּ֤ילוּ וְשִׂמְחוּ֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה לִצְדָקָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶד לָכֶ֗ם גֶּ֛שֶׁם מוֹרֶ֥ה וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ (יואל ב:כג) |
And it is said: And Ẓion’s children, cheer and rejoice in the Cause your God, who has given you the righteous early-rain, and brought down for you the rain, early and late, as of old. (Joel 2:23) |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause, who loves Their people Israel. |
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃ (דברים ו:ד) |
Hear, Israel! The Cause is our God, the Cause is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4) |
בלחש — בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃ |
silently: Blessed be Their glorious majestic name forever and aye! |
וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכׇל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃ וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשׇׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזֻז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ (דברים ו:ה-ט) |
And you will love the Cause your God with all your mind[5] Lit. “heart.” This applies every time the word “mind” appears in this translation. In biblical physiology, the heart is said to be the seat of consciousness, while emotions are found in the kidneys. and with all your breath and with all your being. And these words which I command you today will be on your mind. And you will drill them into your children and speak them when you sit at home and when you go out on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you will tie them as a sign on your hand, and they will be phylacteries between your eyes. And you will write them on your house’s doorposts and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) |
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וּלְעׇבְד֔וֹ בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִירֹֽשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ וְנָתַתִּ֛י עֵ֥שֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ֖ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃ הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם פֶּ֥ן יִפְתֶּ֖ה לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְסַרְתֶּ֗ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃ וְחָרָ֨ה אַף־יְהֹוָ֜ה בָּכֶ֗ם וְעָצַ֤ר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֑הּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם מְהֵרָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֣י אֵ֔לֶּה עַל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וְעַֽל־נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֤ם לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ וְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשׇׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ לְמַ֨עַן יִרְבּ֤וּ יְמֵיכֶם֙ וִימֵ֣י בְנֵיכֶ֔ם עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם כִּימֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (דברים יא:יג-כא) |
And it will be, when you listen, yes listen, to My commandments, that I command you today, of loving the Cause your God and serving Them with all your minds and all your breaths, and I will give your land’s rain in its time, early and late rain, and you will gather your grain and your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your field for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Watch yourselves lest your minds be seduced, and you turn and serve other gods and bow down to them. For the Cause’s wrath will burn upon you, and They will restrain the heavens and there will be no rain, and the ground will not give its produce, and you will be speedily lost from the good land that the Cause is giving you. And you will set these My words on your minds and on your breaths, and you will tie them as a sign on your hands, and they will be phylacteries between your eyes. And you will teach your children them, to speak them when you sit at home and when you go out on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you will write them on your house’s doorposts and on your gates. Thus your days and your children’s days will be lengthened on the ground that the Cause the God of your ancestors swore to give to them, as long as the heaven’s days on the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:13-21) |
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ לָהֶ֥ם צִיצִ֛ת עַל־כַּנְפֵ֥י בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם לְדֹרֹתָ֑ם וְנָ֥תְנ֛וּ עַל־צִיצִ֥ת הַכָּנָ֖ף פְּתִ֥יל תְּכֵֽלֶת׃ וְהָיָ֣ה לָכֶם֮ לְצִיצִת֒ וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם אֹת֗וֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תָת֜וּרוּ אַחֲרֵ֤י לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכְּר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָ֑י וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם קְדֹשִׁ֖ים לֵאלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃ אֲנִ֞י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (במדבר טו:לז-מא) |
And the Cause spoke to Moses, quote: “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them to make themselves fringes on the corners of their clothes for all ages, and put on the corner-fringes a strand of blue. And it will be for you fringes, and you will see it and remember all the commandments of the Cause and do them, and not stray after your minds and your eyes, for you would whore after them. Thus you will remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Cause your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt so as to be a God for you; I am the Cause your God. (Numbers 15:37–41) |
חזן — יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם אֱמֶת |
Leader: The Cause your God is true! |
וֶאֱמוּנָה כׇּל־זֹאת וְקַיָּם עָלֵֽינוּ כִּי הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וְאֵין זוּלָתוֹ וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ הַפּוֹדֵֽנוּ מִיַּד מְלָכִים מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הַגּוֹאֲלֵֽנוּ מִכַּף כׇּל־הֶעָרִיצִים הָאֵל הַנִּפְרָע־לָֽנוּ מִצָּרֵֽינוּ וְהַמְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְכׇל־אוֹיְבֵי נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ הָעֹשֶׂ֣ה גְ֭דֹלוֹת עַד־אֵ֣ין חֵ֑קֶר וְ֝נִפְלָא֗וֹת עַד־אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃ (איוב ט:י) הַשָּׂ֣ם נַ֭פְשֵׁנוּ בַּחַיִּ֑ים וְלֹֽא־נָתַ֖ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֵֽנוּ׃ (תהלים סו:ט) הַמַּדְרִיכֵֽנוּ עַל בָּמוֹת אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ וַיָּֽרֶם קַרְנֵֽנוּ עַל כׇּל־שׂוֹנְאֵֽינוּ הָעֽוֹשֶׂה־לָּֽנוּ נִסִּים וּנְקָמָה בְּפַרְעֹה אוֹתוֹת ומוֹפְתִים בְּאַדְמַת בְּנֵי חָם הַמַּכֶּה בְעֶבְרָתוֹ כׇּל־בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרָֽיִם וַיּוֹצֵא אֶת־עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָם לְחֵרוּת עוֹלָם הַמַּעֲבִיר בָּנָיו בֵּין גִּזְרֵי יַם סוּף אֶת־רוֹדְפֵיהֶם וְאֶת־שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם בִּתְהוֹמוֹת טִבַּע וְרָאוּ בָנָיו גְּבוּרָתוֹ שִׁבְּחוּ וְהוֹדוּ לִשְׁמוֹ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְּרָצוֹן קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה… |
…and faithful is all this, and enduring upon us, that They are the Cause our God incomparable, and we are Israel Their people. Our Freer from the hand of kings, our Sovereign who redeems us from the palm of all despots; the Deity who pays us back from our foes and gives just deserts to all our souls’ enemies, who does great acts immeasureable and wonders innumerable, (Job 9:10) who sets our souls in life, not letting our feet slip, (Psalms 66:9) who leads us on the high places of our enemies and raised our horn over all our foes, who did miracles and vengeance on Pharaoh, signs and portents in the land of the Ḥamites, striking in Their wrath all Egypt’s firstborn, and feed Their people Israel from there to eternal liberty, passing Their children through the parts of the Reed Sea, their pursuers and foes drowning in the depths. And Their children saw Their greatness, lauded and thanked Their name. And Their sovereignty as desired they accepted upon themselves. Moses and the children of Israel to you responded in song… |
טִפּוֹת מַֽיִם נְבַקְּשֵׁם יִׄזְּלוּ וְאַל־נֵאָשֵׁם בְּיוֹם בַּקָּשַׁת גֶּֽשֶׁם |
Trickles of water we ask for, if they can pour and we are not held guilty on the day of asking for rain. |
יָדְךָ יִזְרֵה הַזּוֹרֶה צַׄדְּקֵֽנוּ וְאַף אַל־תֶּחֱרֶה בְּיוֹם בַּקָּשַׁת יוֹרֶה |
Your hand sprinkles them, Sprinkler, say we are righteous and do not rage, on the day of asking for early-rain. |
כָּעֵת שֶׁהַמֶּֽזֶג קָרִיר חַׄדְּשֵֽׁנוּ בְּנֹֽעַם הַצַּפְרִיר בְּיוֹם בַּקָּשַׁת הַסַּגְרִיר |
Cooling is the weather; and renew us with the zephyr’s sweetness, on the day of asking for drizzle. |
לְבַקֵּשׁ מֵאֵל אֲשֶׁר לָֽנוּ נָטַר קְׄרַע רֹֽעַ גְּזַר־דִּין וּשְׁטַר בְּיוֹם בַּקָּשַׁת מָטָר |
Let us ask the Deity who has guarded us: annihilate the evil written decree on the day of asking for rainfall. |
מִמַּֽיִם רַבִּים טְהוֹרִים הַׄרְׄוֵה לָעָם הַנִּשְׁאָרִים בְּיוֹם בַּקָּשַׁת שְׂעִירִים |
May You with many pure waters cause quenching for the remnants’ people on the day of asking for showers. |
נָא בִּתְפִלַּת הָעֲרָבִים אֱׄלֹׄהֵי עַם הָאֲהוּבִים תְּקַבֵּל בַּקָּשָׁתֵֽנוּ לָרְבִיבִים |
Now, at the evening prayer, the praised God of the beloved people, accept our asking for precipitation. |
הַׄכֹּֽׄחַ בְּיָדְךָ לָזוּז מַֽיִם הִׄנֵּׄה נְבַקְשָׁה מִמְּךָ מַֽיִם חַזְּקֵֽנוּ כְּחִזְקַֽתָּ אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל־יַד הַמַָּֽיִם׃ |
In Your hand is the power to move water even now we will as You for water; strengthen us as You strengthened our ancestors by the water. |
בְּגִילָה בְּרִנָּה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְאָמְרוּ כֻּלָּם… מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃ (שמות טו:יא) שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה שִׁבְּחוּ גְאוּלִים לְשִׁמְךָ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם… |
In celebration, in cheer, in great joy, and they all said: Who is like You among deities, Cause? Who is like You, noble in holiness, awesome in praise, wonder-working? (Exodus 15:11) A new song the redeemed ones lauded to Your name by the seashore… |
שָׂשׂוּ בִּרְאוֹתָם כּוֹחֲךָ גּוֹזֵר מַֽיִם עָלְזוּ בַּחֲזוֹתָם עׇצְמָתְךָ עַל־הַמַּֽיִם פְּלָאִים עוֹשֶׂה בָּאָֽרֶץ וּבַיָּם וּבַשָּׁמַֽיִם צוּר רֹֽנּוּ הַמּוֹשִֽׁיעַ מֵאֵשׁ וּמִמָּֽיִם׃ |
So they rejoiced when seeing Your power split the water. On seeing Your might they exulted by the water. Producing wonders on the land, sea, and sky, Cheer for the Rock, saving from fire and from water! |
זֶה צוּר יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ פָּֽצוּ פֶּה וְאָמְרוּ… יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (שמות טו:יח) |
”This is our saving Rock!” Opening their mouths, they said, The Cause will reign forever and aye! (Exodus 15:18) |
קָרָא הָעָם אֵלָיו וְעָנָה בְּעֵת צָרָתוֹ קוֹרְאִים אֲנַֽחְנוּ אֵלָיו צוֹפֵי גְּאֻלָּתוֹ רוֹעִי הוּא לְהַרְבִּיצֵֽנִי עַל־מֵי מְנוּחָתוֹ רָוִינוּ מִמְּטַר־אֶֽרֶץ בְּעִתּוֹ׃ |
Quoth the people to Them; They answered in its troubled time. Quoth we, who await Their redemption, to Them. Restful waters laying me down, my Shepherd are They; Refreshed are we from the land’s rain in its time. |
כַּכָּתוּב׃ 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) |
As it is written: The Cause will open for you Their good treasury, the heavens, to give your land’s rain in its time, and to bless all your handiwork, and you will lend to many nations but not take loans. (Deuteronomy 28:12) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ (תהלים כג:ב) |
And it is said: In grassy meadows laying me down, by restful waters leading me. (Psalms 23:2) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ וְנָתַן֩ מְטַ֨ר זַרְעֲךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־הָאֲדָמָ֗ה וְלֶ֙חֶם֙ תְּבוּאַ֣ת הָאֲדָמָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה דָשֵׁ֖ן וְשָׁמֵ֑ן יִרְעֶ֥ה מִקְנֶ֛יךָ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כַּ֥ר נִרְחָֽב׃ (ישעיה ל:כג) |
And it is said: And They will grant rain to your seed that you sow the land, and bread, the produce of the land, and it will be fat and rich; your flocks will herd on that day in broad pasture. (Isaiah 30:23) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ כִּֽי־פָדָ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וּגְאָל֕וֹ מִיַּ֖ד חָזָ֥ק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (ירמיה לא:י) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מֶֽלֶךְ צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגֹאֲלוֹ׃ |
And it is said: For the Cause saved Jacob and redeemed him fom a hand stronger than he. (Jeremiah 31:10) Blessed are You, Cause, sovereign, rock, and redeemer of Israel. |
הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְהַעֲמִידֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵֽינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶֽךָ וְתַקְּנֵֽנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵֽינוּ אוֹיֵב דֶּֽבֶר וְחֶֽרֶב וְרָעָב וְיָגוֹן וְהָסֵר שָׂטָן מִלְּפָנֵֽינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵֽינוּ וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנוּ כִּי אֵל שׁוֹמְרֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּילֵֽנוּ אָֽתָּה כִּי אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָֽתָּה וּשְׁמוֹר צֵאתֵֽנוּ וּבוֹאֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם׃ |
Let us lie down, Cause our God, to peace, and stand us up, our Sovereign, to life, and spread over us Your peace-shelter, and affix us with good sense from You, and save us for Your name’s sake, and shield us and turn away from us enemy, plague and sword and hunger and sorrow, and turn the adversary away from before and behind us, and in the shade of Your wings shelter us, for our guardian and saving Deity are You, for a sovereign merciful and compassionate Deity are You. And guard our comings and our goings to life and to peace from now and until eternity. |
שׁוֹמְרֵֽנוּ וּמָגִנֵּֽנוּ הַיּוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם שׁוֹמֵֽעַ בַּקָּשׁוֹת אַל־תִּמְנַע מַֽיִם תֵּן שֶׁנִּשְׁכְּבָה וְנָקֽוּמָה בִּסְפִיקַת מַֽיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה הָאָֽרֶץ מִמְּטַר הַשָּׁמַֽיִם׃ |
Shielding guardian who dwells in heaven, Showing attention to petitions, do not withhold water, That we may lie down and rise up with enough water — The land will drink from the rain of heaven. |
כַּכָּתוּב׃ וְהָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ אֶ֥רֶץ הָרִ֖ים וּבְקָעֹ֑ת לִמְטַ֥ר הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּֽיִם׃ (דברים יא:יא) |
As it is written: And the land that you are crossing into to inherit is a land of mountains and hills, drinking water from the rain of heaven. (Deuteronomy 11:11) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ מַשְׁקֶ֣ה הָ֭רִים מֵעֲלִיּוֹתָ֑יו מִפְּרִ֥י מַ֝עֲשֶׂ֗יךָ תִּשְׂבַּ֥ע הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (תהלים קד:יג) |
And it is said: Watering the mountains from Their heights — from Your work’s fruit the earth is sated. (Psalms 104:13) |
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ בְּהֵעָצֵ֥ר שָׁמַ֛יִם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה מָטָ֖ר כִּ֣י יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָ֑ךְ וְהִֽתְפַּלְל֞וּ אֶל־הַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ וְהוֹד֣וּ אֶת־שְׁמֶ֔ךָ וּמֵחַטָּאתָ֥ם יְשׁוּב֖וּן כִּ֥י תַעֲנֵֽם׃ וְאַתָּ֣ה ׀ תִּשְׁמַ֣ע הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וְסָ֨לַחְתָּ֜ לְחַטַּ֤את עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ וְעַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י תוֹרֵ֛ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֥רֶךְ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵֽלְכוּ־בָ֑הּ וְנָתַתָּ֤ה מָטָר֙ עַֽל־אַרְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּה לְעַמְּךָ֖ לְנַחֲלָֽה׃ (מלכים א׳ ח:לד-לה) |
And it is said: If the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, for they would sin against You, but they pray to this place and acknowledge Your name and repent from their sins, You should answer them. And You should listen from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, for You will teach them the proper way in which they will walk, and You will give rain on Your land that You gave to Your people as an inheritance. (I Kings 8:34-35) |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה שׁוֹמֵר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַד׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause, who guards Their people Israel alone. |
Notes
| 1 | In the additional service of Shmini ˁAtseret, the eighth day of assembly, the phrase מָשִׁיב הַרֽוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּֽשֶׁם is added to the gvurot (“powers”) blessing. This is referred to as gvurot gshamim (the powers of rains) as opposed to the baqashat gshamim (the requesting of rains) for which this text was written. |
|---|---|
| 2 | The ninth blessing of the shmone ˁesreh is the birkat ha-shanim blessing to which the baqashat gshamim is added. |
| 3 | In this case, referring to the Shemaˁ, which is three paragraphs long and recited on the deathbed. The phrase “threefold thread” is from Ecclesiastes 4:12. |
| 4 | Abraham |
| 5 | Lit. “heart.” This applies every time the word “mind” appears in this translation. In biblical physiology, the heart is said to be the seat of consciousness, while emotions are found in the kidneys. |
“מערבות ליום בקשת גשמים | Ma’aravot l-Yom Baqashat Geshem — evening piyyuṭim for the Day of Requesting Rain by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license.
Leave a Reply