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It is somewhat well known that in the Italian rite, there are alternative texts for the first and third blessings of the evening Shemaˁ liturgy on Shabbat, texts which were rejected by Ashkenazi practice out of fear the community could become confused and recite them on weekdays. But these Shabbat-specific blessings, derived from the old Eretz Yisrael rite and preserved in the siddur of Rav Saˁadia Gaon, are not alone! All the blessings of the Shabbat evening Shemaˁ service — as well as all the blessings of the Saturday night Motzaei Shabbat Shemaˁ service! — have unique poetic forms in RaSaG’s siddur.
This is part one of a two-part series posting these liturgical texts found in the siddur of — and approved of by — the gaon. For this part, the blessings for Friday night, locations where Italian rite’s modern versions of the first and third blessings differ from the version of RaSaG are marked.
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) |
|---|---|
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה מַעֲשָׂיו בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ עֹֽנֶג שַׁבָּת קׇדְשׁוֹ[1] In the Italian rite, the words עֹֽנֶג שַׁבָּת קׇדְשׁוֹ are replaced with שַׁבָּת קֹֽדֶשׁ. מֵעֶֽרֶב עַד־עֶֽרֶב הִתְקִין[2] In the Italian rite, the word הִתְקִין is replaced with וּנְתָנוֹ. מְנוּחָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּרְצוֹנוֹ[3] In the Italian rite, the word כִּרְצוֹנוֹ is replaced by בִּקְדוּשָׁתוֹ, after which the blessing is concluded with בּוֹרֵא יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה up to אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם as per a regular maˁariv service. גּוֹלֵל אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ וְחֹֽשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אוֹר׃ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים׃ |
Blessed are You, Cause our God, Sovereign of the universe, who finished Their work on the seventh day and called it pleasure of Their holy Shabbat.[4] In the Italian rite, the words “pleasure of Their holy Shabbat” are replaced with “Shabbat of holiness.” From evening to evening They prepared[5] In the Italian rite, the word “They prepared” is replaced with “and They gave,” thus mandating that “from evening to evening” is attached to the prior sentence. rest for Their people Israel as They will;[6] In the Italian rite, the word “as They will” is replaced by “in Their holiness,” after which the blessing is concluded as per a regular maˁariv service. They roll light from darkness and darkness from light. Blessed are You, Cause, who evens evening. |
לְמַֽעַן אַהֲבַת עֲמֻסִים נָטַֽעְתָּ עֵץ חַיִּים שַׁבָּת קִדַּֽשְׁתָּ מִיָּמִים וְאוֹתָהּ הִנְחַֽלְתָּ לַתְּמִימִים וְאַהֲבָתְךָ לֹא־תָסוּר מִמֶּֽנּוּ כִּי הִיא עֲטֶֽרֶת רֹאשֵֽׁנוּ נֶֽצַח נְצָחִים בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אוֹהֵב אֶת־עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמֵן׃ |
For the sake of the love of the borne ones, You planted a tree of life; Shabbat You sanctified over all days and bequeathed it to the pure. And Your love will not depart from us, for it is the crown of our heads forever and ever. Blessed are You, Cause, who loves Their people Israel, amen. |
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל… (דברים ה:ד-ט) |
Hear, Israel!… (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) |
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ… (דברים יא:יג-כא) |
And it will be… (Deuteronomy 11:13–21) |
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר… (במדבר טו:לז-מא) |
And the Cause said… (Numbers 15:37–41) |
אֱמֶת אֱׄמוּנָתְךָ[7] In the Italian rite, the word אֱמוּנָתְךָ is replaced with וֶאֱמוּנָה בַּׄשְּׁבִיעִי קִיַּֽמְתָּ גָּׄזַֽרְתָּ דִּׄבַּֽרְתָּ הִׄקְשַֽׁבְנוּ וְׄשָׁמַֽעְנוּ זָׄכוֹר חִׄמַּֽדְתָּ טְׄהוֹרִים יִׄירָשׁוּהָ כְּׄתוּבָה הִיא לְׄרֹאשׁ אַרְבָּעָה מִׄשְּׁעַת נְׄתִינָתָהּ[8] In the Italian rite, the words מִשְּׁעַת נְתִינָתָהּ are replaced with מֵעֵת נִתְּנָה. שָׂׄמַח־בָּהּ לֵב יְשֻׁרוּן עֵׄדָה פָּׄדִֽיתָ צְׄדָקָה קָׄנִֽיתָ רׄוֹמַֽמְתָּ שַׁׄבָּת תָּׄמִיד בֵּינְךָ לְבֵינֵֽינוּ[9] In the Italian rite, the words אוֹת הִיא לְעוֹלָם are inserted here. כִּי בְּשֵֽׁשֶׁת יָמִים עוֹלָמְךָ תִּכַּֽנְתָּ[10] In the Italian rite, the word תִּכַּֽנְתָּ is replaced with תִּקַּֽנְתָּ וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי נַֽחְתָּ לְמַֽעַן שֶׁתַּנִּֽיחַ לְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבוֹת וּבָנִים כְּעָֽלוּ מִן־הַיָּם בְּגִילָה בְּרִנָּה[11] In the Italian rite, אָבוֹת וּבָנִים כְּעָֽלוּ מִן־הַיָּם בְּגִילָה בְּרִנָּה is replaced withוְלִכְבוֹד שִׁמְךָ שִׁבְּחוּ וְזִמֵּרוּ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה. וְאָמְרוּ כֻלָּם׃ מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃ (שמות טו:יא) |
True, Your faith[12] In the Italian rite, the word “Your faith” is replaced with “and faithful” on the seventh day You established, You decreed, You spoke, we listenened and we heard: “Remember.” You desired the pure to inherit it, written at the top of the fourth.[13] i.e. the fourth commandment. From the hour of its giving,[14] In the Italian rite, the words “from the hour of its giving” are replaced with “from the time it was given” Jeshurun’s heart rejoiced in it. You freed the congregation, You acquired righteousness, You exalted Shabbat always, between You and us,[15] In the Italian rite, the words “it is an eternal sign “are inserted here. for in six days You designed[16] In the Italian rite, the word “designed” is replaced with “affixed.” Your world, and on the seventh You rested, so that it would be rest for Your people Israel. Parents and children, as they ascended from the sea, in cheer and rejoicing,[17] In the Italian rite, “Parents and children, as they ascended from the sea, in cheer and rejoicing” is replaced with “And to honor Your name they rejoiced and sung, blessed be! Moses and the children of Israel to You responded in song, in great joy.” and they all said: Who is like You among deities, Cause? Who is like You, noble in holiness, awesome in praises, wonder-working? (Exodus 15:11) |
שׁוֹמְרֵי שְׁבִיעִי רָאוּ גְּבוּרָתְךָ[18] In the Italian rite, גְּבוּרָתְךָ is replaced with גְּבוּרוֹתֶיךָ עַל־הַיָּם יַֽחַד כֻּלָּם הוֹדוּ וְהִמְלִֽיכוּ וְאָמְרוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (שמות טו:יח) בִּגְלַל אָבוֹת הוֹשַׁעְתָּ בָּנִים וְתָבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לִבְנֵי בְּנֵיהֶם׃[19] This entire last line, in the Italian rite, is replaced with תָּחִישׁ יְשׁוּעָה לְשׁוֹמְרֵי עֲנֻגָּה תִּפְדֶּה לְצֹאנְךָ וְאַל־יִהְיוּ עוֹד לְבִזָּה כַּכָּתוּב וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י לְצֹאנִ֔י וְלֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ינָה ע֖וֹד לָבַ֑ז בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
The guardians of the seventh saw Your might[20] In the Italian rite, this word is plural, “mighty acts” at the sea; together they all thanked and acclaimed sovereignty and said: The Cause will reign to eternity and aye! (Exodus 15:18) For the sake of the parents You saved the children, and will bring redemption to their children’s children.[21] This entire last line, in the Italian rite, is replaced with “Speed redemption to the keepers of pleasantness, save Your flock and let it not be ashamed, as it is written: ‘And I will save My flock and it will no more be ashamed'” (Ezekiel 34:22). Blessed are You, Cause, who redeemed Israel. |
הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְהַעֲמִידֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם וּפְרֹס עָלֵֽינוּ סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְיָשַׁ֥ב עַמִּ֖י בִּנְוֵ֣ה שָׁל֑וֹם וּֽבְמִשְׁכְּנוֹת֙ מִבְטַחִ֔ים וּבִמְנוּחֹ֖ת שַׁאֲנַנּֽוֹת׃ (ישעיה לב:יח) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַפּוֹרֵשׂ סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם עַל־עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ |
Let us lie down, Cause our God, in peace, and rise up to life and to peace, and spread over us the lean-to of peace, as the Word says: And My people will dwell in a peaceful abode, in safe dwellings, in undisturbed resting-places. (Isaiah 32:18) Blessed are You, Cause, who spreads the lean-to of peace over Their people Israel. |
וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃ בֵּינִ֗י וּבֵין֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל א֥וֹת הִ֖וא לְעֹלָ֑ם כִּי־שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ (שמות לא:טז-יז) |
And the children of Israel will keep the Shabbat, to do the Shabbat for their generations, an eternal covenant. Between Me and the children of Israel it is an eternal sign, for in six days the Cause made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day rested and took a breather. (Exodus 31:16–17) |
יִרְאוּ עֵינֵֽינוּ וְיִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ וְתָגֵל נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בֶּאֱמוֹר לְצִיּוֹן מָלַךְ אֱלֺהָֽיִךְ כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּךָ הִיא וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עַד תִּמְלוֹךְ בְּכָבוֹד׃ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמּוֹלֵךְ בִּכְבוֹדוֹ תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד אָמֵן׃ |
Let our eyes see and our hearts rejoice and our souls cheer in Your salvation, our Sovereign, as it is said to Ẓion, “Your God has reigned!” For sovereignty is Yours, and to eternity and on You will reign in honor. Blessed are You, Cause, who reigns in Their honor always to eternity and aye, amen. |
This digital transcription was derived from the text published in Siddur R. Saadja Gaon, edited by I. Davidson, S. Assaf, and B.I. Joel (1963), pp. 110-111.
Source(s)
Maariv l’Shabbat – Siddur R. Saadja Gaon (1963), p. 110 Maariv l’Shabbat – Siddur R. Saadja Gaon (1963), p. 111
Notes
| 1 | In the Italian rite, the words עֹֽנֶג שַׁבָּת קׇדְשׁוֹ are replaced with שַׁבָּת קֹֽדֶשׁ. |
|---|---|
| 2 | In the Italian rite, the word הִתְקִין is replaced with וּנְתָנוֹ. |
| 3 | In the Italian rite, the word כִּרְצוֹנוֹ is replaced by בִּקְדוּשָׁתוֹ, after which the blessing is concluded with בּוֹרֵא יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה up to אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם as per a regular maˁariv service. |
| 4 | In the Italian rite, the words “pleasure of Their holy Shabbat” are replaced with “Shabbat of holiness.” |
| 5 | In the Italian rite, the word “They prepared” is replaced with “and They gave,” thus mandating that “from evening to evening” is attached to the prior sentence. |
| 6 | In the Italian rite, the word “as They will” is replaced by “in Their holiness,” after which the blessing is concluded as per a regular maˁariv service. |
| 7 | In the Italian rite, the word אֱמוּנָתְךָ is replaced with וֶאֱמוּנָה |
| 8 | In the Italian rite, the words מִשְּׁעַת נְתִינָתָהּ are replaced with מֵעֵת נִתְּנָה. |
| 9 | In the Italian rite, the words אוֹת הִיא לְעוֹלָם are inserted here. |
| 10 | In the Italian rite, the word תִּכַּֽנְתָּ is replaced with תִּקַּֽנְתָּ |
| 11 | In the Italian rite, אָבוֹת וּבָנִים כְּעָֽלוּ מִן־הַיָּם בְּגִילָה בְּרִנָּה is replaced withוְלִכְבוֹד שִׁמְךָ שִׁבְּחוּ וְזִמֵּרוּ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה. |
| 12 | In the Italian rite, the word “Your faith” is replaced with “and faithful” |
| 13 | i.e. the fourth commandment. |
| 14 | In the Italian rite, the words “from the hour of its giving” are replaced with “from the time it was given” |
| 15 | In the Italian rite, the words “it is an eternal sign “are inserted here. |
| 16 | In the Italian rite, the word “designed” is replaced with “affixed.” |
| 17 | In the Italian rite, “Parents and children, as they ascended from the sea, in cheer and rejoicing” is replaced with “And to honor Your name they rejoiced and sung, blessed be! Moses and the children of Israel to You responded in song, in great joy.” |
| 18 | In the Italian rite, גְּבוּרָתְךָ is replaced with גְּבוּרוֹתֶיךָ |
| 19 | This entire last line, in the Italian rite, is replaced with תָּחִישׁ יְשׁוּעָה לְשׁוֹמְרֵי עֲנֻגָּה תִּפְדֶּה לְצֹאנְךָ וְאַל־יִהְיוּ עוֹד לְבִזָּה כַּכָּתוּב וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י לְצֹאנִ֔י וְלֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ינָה ע֖וֹד לָבַ֑ז |
| 20 | In the Italian rite, this word is plural, “mighty acts” |
| 21 | This entire last line, in the Italian rite, is replaced with “Speed redemption to the keepers of pleasantness, save Your flock and let it not be ashamed, as it is written: ‘And I will save My flock and it will no more be ashamed'” (Ezekiel 34:22). |
“שמע לערבית ליל שבת על פי הרס״ג | Special Shemaˁ Blessings for Maariv Leil Shabbat according to Saadiah ben Yosef Gaon” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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The Open Siddur Project is a volunteer-driven, non-profit, non-commercial, non-denominational, non-prescriptive, gratis & libre Open Access archive of contemplative praxes, liturgical readings, and Jewish prayer literature (historic and contemporary, familiar and obscure) composed in every era, region, and language Jews have ever prayed. Our goal is to provide a platform for sharing open-source resources, tools, and content for individuals and communities crafting their own prayerbook (siddur). Through this we hope to empower personal autonomy, preserve customs, and foster creativity in religious culture.
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
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