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โคท You are here:   ๐Ÿ––๏ธŽ Prayers & Praxes   โ€”โŸถ   ๐ŸŒž๏ธŽ Prayers for the Sun, Weekdays, Shabbat, and Season   โ€”โŸถ   Earth's Seasons   โ€”โŸถ   the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (21 December)   โ€”โŸถ   ๐Ÿ“„ ืžึดื“ึฐืจึธืฉืึดื™ื ืขึทืœ ืึธื“ึธื ื”ึธืจึดืืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผืชึฐืงื•ึผืคึทืช ื”ึถื—ึนืจึถืฃ | Midrashim on the Origin of the Winter Solstice and Kalends Festivals by Primaeval Adam

๐Ÿ“„ ืžึดื“ึฐืจึธืฉืึดื™ื ืขึทืœ ืึธื“ึธื ื”ึธืจึดืืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผืชึฐืงื•ึผืคึทืช ื”ึถื—ึนืจึถืฃ | Midrashim on the Origin of the Winter Solstice and Kalends Festivals by Primaeval Adam

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Source (Hebrew & Aramaic)Translation (English)
ืชืœืžื•ื“ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ืžืกื›ืช ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ืคืจืง ื ื”ืดื โ€“ ื“ืฃ ืœื˜ ื˜ื•ืจ ื’
ืจื‘ ืืžืจ ืงืœื ื“ืก ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืชืงื™ื ื•.โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื—ืžื ืœื™ืœื™ื™ื ืืจื™ืš
ืืžืจ ืื™ ืœื™ ืฉืžื ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื•
ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื•ืคืš ืจืืฉ ื•ืืชื” ืชืฉื•ืคื ื• ืขืงื‘
ืฉืžื ื™ื‘ื•ื ืœื ืฉื›ื™ื ื™
ื•ืื•ืžืจ ืืš ื—ื•ืฉืš ื™ืฉื•ืคื™ื ื™.โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื—ืžื ืื™ืžืžื ืืจืš ืืžืจ ืงืœื ื“ืก ืงืœื•ืŸ ื“ื™ืื•.โ€
Talmud Yerushalmi Avoda Zara 1:5a / 39c (Steinmetz trans.)
Rav said: [The festival] แธฒalends was established by Adam haRishon.
When he saw that the night was lengthening,
he said: Woe to me lest the one about whom it is written
โ€œHe shall wound (yeshufkha) your head and you shall wound his heelโ€ (Genesis 3:15)
will come to bite me.[1] i.e., the naแธฅash (serpent).   
โ€œAnd I said: Surely (in) darkness (he) shall envelop me (yeshufeini).โ€ (Psalm 139:11)
When he saw that the day was lengthening, he said โ€œแธฒalendes!โ€โ€”kalon deo (or calo diem).[2] Greek: kalon (ฮบฮฑฮปฮฟฮฝ) = highest beauty (aesthetically beautiful and morally noble and good); deo (ฮดฮญฯ‰)= god. An expression of praise, meaning either, kalon deo (God is good). Alternate reading, calo diem (proclaim the day).   
ืชืœืžื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืœื™ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ื— ืืณ
ืžืชื ื™ืณ ื•ืืœื• ืื™ื“ื™ื”ืŸ ืฉืœ ืขื•ื‘ื“ื™ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื:
ืงืœื ื“ื ื•ืกื˜ืจื ื•ืจื. . . .โ€
ื’ืžืณ ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื—ื ืŸ ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื:
ืงืœื ื“ื โ€“ ื—ืณ ื™ืžื™ื ืื—ืจ ืชืงื•ืคื”,
ืกื˜ืจื ื•ืจื โ€“ ื—ืณ ื™ืžื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืชืงื•ืคื”.โ€
ื•ืกื™ืžื ืš: ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ืงื“ื ืฆืจืชื ื™ ื•ื’ื•ืณ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜ืƒื”).โ€
Talmud Bavli Avoda Zara 8a (Soncino Talmud, A. Cohen trans.)
MISHNA. These are the festivities of the star worshippers:
แธฒalenda, Saturnaliaโ€ฆ.
GEMARA. Said R. แธคanan b. Raba:
แธฒalenda is kept on the eight days following the solstice.[3] The Provenรงal Calendas or Calenos, the Polish Kolenda, the Russian Kolyรกda, the Czech Koleda, the Lithuanian Kalledos, the Welsh Calenig (for Christmas-box), and the Gaelic Calluinn (for New Yearโ€™s Eve), are all derived from the Latin แธฒalendae (โ€œthe calledโ€), the same word from which โ€˜calendarโ€™ is derived. The แธฒalends or the first day of January, a time celebrated with many festive customs. แธฒalends was also a general term for the first day of each Roman month, signifying the start of the new moon cycle, or แธฒalenda. แธฒalends may be related to the Lenaia, an ancient Greek holiday celebrated during the Attic calendar month of Gamelion (first Winter month between December and January). (โ€“Aharon Varady)  
Saturnalia on the eight days preceding the solstice.[4] Counting eight days from the beginning of the Saturnalia to the end of the Brumalia. Saturnalia was celebrated December 17-23rd in the Roman calendar at the the end of the Brumalia, a month long celebration ending on December 24th. (โ€“Aharon Varady)  
As a mnemonic take the verse, โ€œYou have hemmed me in behind and beforeโ€ (Psalm 139:5).
ืชืดืจ:
ืœืคื™ ืฉืจืื” ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื™ื•ื ืฉืžืชืžืขื˜ ื•ื”ื•ืœืš
ืืžืจ: ืื•ื™ ืœื™ ืฉืžื ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉืกืจื—ืชื™
ืขื•ืœื ื—ืฉื•ืš ื‘ืขื“ื™ ื•ื—ื•ื–ืจ ืœืชื•ื”ื• ื•ื‘ื•ื”ื•
ื•ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ืงื ืกื” ืขืœื™ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื.โ€
ืขืžื“ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื—ืณ ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ืชืขื ื™ืช [ื•ื‘ืชืคืœื”].โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืจืื” ืชืงื•ืคืช ื˜ื‘ืช ื•ืจืื” ื™ื•ื ืฉืžืืจื™ืš ื•ื”ื•ืœืš
ืืžืจ: ืžื ื”ื’ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื ื”ื•ื.โ€
ื”ืœืš ื•ืขืฉื” ืฉืžื•ื ื” ื™ืžื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื.โ€
ืœืฉื ื” ื”ืื—ืจืช ืขืฉืืŸ ืœืืœื• ื•ืœืืœื• ื™ืžื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื.โ€
โ€ื”ื•ื ืงื‘ืขื ืœืฉื ืฉืžื™ื,
ื•ื”ื ืงื‘ืขื•ื ืœืฉื ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื.โ€
Our Rabbis taught:
When Adam HaRishon (primordial Adam) saw the day getting gradually shorter,
he said, โ€˜Woe is me, perhaps because I have sinned,
the world around me is being darkened and returning to its state of chaos and confusion;
this then is the kind of death to which I have been sentenced from Heaven!โ€™
So he began keeping an eight daysโ€™ fast.
But as he observed the winter solstice and noted the day getting increasingly longer,
he said, โ€˜This is the worldโ€™s courseโ€™,
and he set forth to keep an eight daysโ€™ festivity.
In the following year he appointed both as festivals.
Now, he fixed them for the sake of Heaven,
but the [unenlightened] appointed them for the sake of star worship.
ื‘ืฉืœืžื ืœืžืดื“ ื‘ืชืฉืจื™ ื ื‘ืจื ื”ืขื•ืœืโ€”
ื™ื•ืžื™ ื–ื•ื˜ื™ ื—ื–ื, ื™ื•ืžื™ ืืจื™ื›ื™ ืื›ืชื™ ืœื ื—ื–ื;โ€
ืืœื ืœืžืดื“ ื‘ื ื™ืกืŸ ื ื‘ืจื ื”ืขื•ืœืโ€”
ื”ื ื—ื–ื ืœื™ื” ื™ื•ืžื™ ื–ื•ื˜ื™ ื•ื™ื•ืžื™ ืืจื™ื›ื™!โ€
[ื“ื”ื•ื™] ื–ื•ื˜ื™ ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™ ืœื ื—ื–ื.โ€
This is quite right according to the one who holds that the world was created in [the month of] Tishrei,
so that he saw the short days before seeing the longer days;
but according to the one holding that the world was created in [the month of] Nissan,
Adam must have seen the long days as well as the short ones! โ€”
Still, he had not yet seen the very short days.
ืชืดืจ:
ื™ื•ื ืฉื ื‘ืจื ื‘ื• ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืฉืงืขื” ืขืœื™ื• ื—ืžื”
ืืžืจ: ืื•ื™ ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉืกืจื—ืชื™ ืขื•ืœื ื—ืฉื•ืš ื‘ืขื“ื™
ื•ื™ื—ื–ื•ืจ ืขื•ืœื ืœืชื•ื”ื• ื•ื‘ื•ื”ื•
ื•ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ืงื ืกื” ืขืœื™ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื.โ€
ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ืฉื‘ [ื‘ืชืขื ื™ืช] ื•ื‘ื•ื›ื” ื›ืœ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื—ื•ื” ื‘ื•ื›ื” ื›ื ื’ื“ื•.โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืขืœื” ืขืžื•ื“ ื”ืฉื—ืจ
ืืžืจ: ืžื ื”ื’ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื ื”ื•ื.โ€
ืขืžื“ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืฉื•ืจ ืฉืงืจื ื™ื• ืงื•ื“ืžื™ืŸ ืœืคืจืกื•ืชื™ื•
ืฉื ืืžืจ: ื•ืชื™ื˜ื‘ ืœื”ืณ ืžืฉื•ืจ ืคืจ ืžืงืจื™ืŸ ืžืคืจื™ืก (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืกื˜ืƒืœื‘).โ€
Our Rabbis taught:
When Adam, on the day of his creation, saw the setting of the sun
he said, โ€˜Alas, it is because I have sinned that the world around me is becoming dark;
the universe will now become again void and without form โ€”
this then is the death to which I have been sentenced from Heaven!โ€™
So he sat up all night fasting and weeping and แธคava was weeping opposite him.
When however dawn broke,
he said, โ€˜This is the usual course of the world!โ€™
He then arose and offered up a bullock whose horns were developed before its hoofs,
as it is said [by the Psalmist], โ€œAnd it [my thanksgiving] shall be more pleasing to YHVH than a bullock that has horns and hoofsโ€ (Psalms 69:32).
ื•ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ:
ืฉื•ืจ ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืงืจืŸ ืื—ืช ื”ื™ืชื” [ืœื•] ื‘ืžืฆื—ื•
ืฉื ืืžืจ: ื•ืชื™ื˜ื‘ ืœื”ืณ ืžืฉื•ืจ ืคืจ ืžืงืจื™ืŸ ืžืคืจื™ืก.โ€
ืžืงืจื™ืŸ ืชืจืชื™ ืžืฉืžืข!โ€
ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื ื—ืžืŸ ื‘ืจ ื™ืฆื—ืง: ืžืงืจืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘.โ€
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel:
The bullock which Adam offered had only one horn in its forehead,
as the verse says, โ€œAnd it [my thanksgiving] shall be more pleasing to YHVH than a bullock that has horns and hoofsโ€ (Psalms 69:32).
But does not โ€˜hornedโ€™ imply two horns? โ€”
Said R. Naแธฅman b. Isaac: โ€˜Hornedโ€™ is here spelled [defectively].
ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜
Psalms 139 (based on the JPS 1917, adapted by A. Varady)
ื ืœึทึญืžึฐื ึทืฆึตึผื—ึท ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดึฃื“
ืžึดื–ึฐืžึ‘ื•ึนืจ
1 For the Leader.
A psalm of David.
ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธึฅื” ื—ึฒึืงึทืจึฐืชึทึผึ—ื ึดื™ ื•ึทืชึตึผื“ึธึฝืขืƒ
ื‘ ืึทืชึธึผึฃื” ื™ึธึญื“ึทืขึฐืชึธึผ ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืชึดึผึฃื™ ื•ึฐืงื•ึผืžึดึ‘ื™
ื‘ึทึผึฅื ึฐืชึธึผื” ืœึฐึืจึตืขึดึ—ื™ ืžึตืจึธื—ึฝื•ึนืงืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื’ ืึธืจึฐื—ึดึฃื™ ื•ึฐืจึดื‘ึฐืขึดึฃื™ ื–ึตืจึดึ‘ื™ืชึธ
ื•ึฐึฝื›ึธืœึพื“ึฐึผืจึธื›ึทึฅื™ ื”ึดืกึฐื›ึทึผึฝื ึฐืชึธึผื”ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ ื“ ื›ึดึผึคื™ ืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืžึดึญืœึธึผื” ื‘ึดึผืœึฐืฉืื•ึนื ึดึ‘ื™
ื”ึตึฅืŸ ื™ึฐึื”ื•ึธึ—ื” ื™ึธื“ึทึฅืขึฐืชึธึผ ื›ึปืœึธึผึฝื”ึผืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื” ืึธื—ึฃื•ึนืจ ื•ึธืงึถึฃื“ึถื ืฆึทืจึฐืชึธึผึ‘ื ึดื™
ื•ึทืชึธึผึ–ืฉึถืืช ืขึธืœึทึฃื™ ื›ึทึผืคึถึผึฝื›ึธื”ืƒ
ื• ืคืœืื™ื” ืคึฐึผืœึดึฃื™ืึธึฝื” ื“ึทึฃืขึทืช ืžึดืžึถึผึ‘ื ึดึผื™
ื ึดึืฉึฐื‚ื’ึฐึผื‘ึธึ—ื” ืœึนืึพืึฅื•ึผื›ึทึฝืœ ืœึธึฝื”ึผืƒ
YHVH, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You know my sitting and my rising,
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You measure my going about and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, YHVH, you know it altogether.
5 You have hemmed me in behind and before,
And laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
Too high, I cannot reach it.
โ€Žโ€ื– ืึธึญื ึธึฅื” ืึตืœึตึฃืšึฐ ืžึตืจื•ึผื—ึถึ‘ืšึธ
ื•ึฐึืึธึ—ื ึธื” ืžึดืคึธึผื ึถึฅื™ืšึธ ืึถื‘ึฐืจึธึฝื—ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื— ืึดืึพืึถืกึทึผึฃืง ืฉึธืึญืžึทื™ึดื ืฉึธืึฃื ืึธึ‘ืชึธึผื”
ื•ึฐืึทืฆึดึผึ–ื™ืขึธื” ืฉึฐึผืืึฃื•ึนืœ ื”ึดื ึถึผึฝืšึธึผืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื˜ ืึถืฉึธึผื‚ึฅื ื›ึทื ึฐืคึตื™ึพืฉึธืึ‘ื—ึทืจ
ืึถึืฉึฐืื›ึฐึผื ึธึ—ื” ื‘ึฐึผืึทื—ึฒืจึดึฅื™ืช ื™ึธึฝืืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื™ ื’ึทึผืึพืฉึธืึญื ื™ึธื“ึฐืšึธึฃ ืชึทื ึฐื—ึตึ‘ื ึดื™
ื•ึฐึฝืชึนืื—ึฒื–ึตึฅื ึดื™ ื™ึฐืžึดื™ื ึถึฝืšึธืƒ
7 Where shall I go from your spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there;
If I make my bed in the nether-world, behold, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there would your hand lead me,
And your right hand would hold me.
โ€Žโ€ื™ื ื•ึธึญืึนืžึทืจ ืึทืšึฐึพื—ึนึฃืฉึถืืšึฐ ื™ึฐืฉืื•ึผืคึตึ‘ื ึดื™
ื•ึฐึืœึทึ—ื™ึฐืœึธื” ืึฃื•ึนืจ ื‘ึทึผืขึฒื“ึตึฝื ึดื™ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื™ื‘ ื’ึทึผืึพื—ึนืฉึถืืšึฐึฎ ืœึนึฝืึพื™ึทื—ึฐืฉึดืึชื™ืšึฐ ืžึดึซืžึถึผึฅืšึธ
ื•ึฐึญืœึทื™ึฐืœึธื” ื›ึทึผื™ึผึฃื•ึนื ื™ึธืึดึ‘ื™ืจ
ื›ึทึผึื—ึฒืฉึตืื™ื›ึธึ—ื” ื›ึธึผืื•ึนืจึธึฝื”ืƒ
11 And if I say: `Surely the darkness shall envelop me,
And the light about me shall be nightโ€™;
12 Even the darkness is not too dark for you,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness is even as the light.
โ€Žโ€ื™ื’ ื›ึดึผึฝื™ึพืึทึญืชึธึผื” ืงึธื ึดึฃื™ืชึธ ื›ึดืœึฐื™ึนืชึธึ‘ื™
ืชึฐึผึืกึปื›ึตึผึ—ื ึดื™ ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึถึฃื˜ึถืŸ ืึดืžึดึผึฝื™ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื™ื“ ืึฝื•ึนื“ึฐืšึธึ— ืขึทึคืœ
ื›ึดึผึฅื™ ื ื•ึนืจึธืึ—ื•ึนืช ื ึดึซืคึฐืœึตึฅื™ืชึดื™
ื ึดืคึฐืœึธืึดึฅื™ื ืžึทืขึฒืฉึถื‚ึ‘ื™ืšึธ
ื•ึฐึื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืึ—ื™ ื™ึนื“ึทึฅืขึทืช ืžึฐืึนึฝื“ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื˜ื• ืœึนืึพื ึดื›ึฐื—ึทึฅื“ ืขึธืฆึฐืžึดึ—ื™ ืžึดึซืžึถึผึฅืšึธึผ
ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืขึปืฉึตึผื‚ึฅื™ืชึดื™ ื‘ึทืกึตึผึ‘ืชึถืจ
ืจึปึืงึทึผึ—ืžึฐืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึฐึผึฝืชึทื—ึฐืชึดึผื™ึผึฅื•ึนืช ืึธึฝืจึถืฅืƒ
โ€ื˜ื– ื’ึธึผืœึฐืžึดึคื™ื€ ืจึธึ˜ืึคื•ึผ ืขึตื™ื ึถึ—ื™ืšึธ
ื•ึฐืขึทึฝืœึพืกึดืคึฐืจึฐืšึธึฎ ื›ึปึผืœึธึผึชื
ื™ึดื›ึธึผึซืชึตึฅื‘ื•ึผ ื™ึธืžึดึฅื™ื ื™ึปืฆึธึผึ‘ืจื•ึผ
ื•ืœื ื•ึฐืœึ–ื•ึน ืึถื—ึธึฃื“ ื‘ึธึผื”ึถึฝืืƒ
13 For you have made my reins;
You have knit me together in my motherโ€™s womb.
14 I will give thanks to you,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are your works;
And that my soul knows right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes did see my unformed substance,
And in your book they were all writtenโ€“
Even the days that were fashioned,
When as yet there was none of them.
โ€Žโ€ื™ื– ื•ึฐืœึดึ—ื™ ืžึทื”ึพื™ึธึผืงึฐืจึฃื•ึผ ืจึตืขึถึฃื™ืšึธ ืึตึ‘ืœ
ืžึถึฅื” ืขึธึืฆึฐืžื•ึผ ืจึธืืฉึตืื™ื”ึถึฝืืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื™ื— ืึถึญืกึฐืคึฐึผืจึตื ืžึตื—ึฃื•ึนืœ ื™ึดืจึฐื‘ึผึ‘ื•ึผืŸ
ื”ึฑึืงึดื™ืฆึนึ—ืชึดื™ ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื“ึดึฅื™ ืขึดืžึธึผึฝืšึฐืƒ
17 How weighty also are your thoughts unto me,
El! How great is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand;
Were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with you.
โ€Žโ€ื™ื˜ ืึดืึพืชึดึผืงึฐื˜ึนึ–ืœ ืึฑืœึฅื•ึนื”ึทึผื€ ืจึธืฉึธืึ‘ืข
ื•ึฐืึทื ึฐืฉึตืึฅื™ ื“ึธึืžึดึ—ื™ื ืกึฃื•ึผืจื•ึผ ืžึถึฝื ึดึผื™ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื› ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ื™ึนึญืืžึฐืจึปืšึธ ืœึดืžึฐื–ึดืžึธึผึ‘ื”
ื ึธืฉึปื‚ึ–ื ืœึทืฉึธึผืึฃื•ึฐื ืขึธืจึถึฝื™ืšึธืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื›ื ื”ึฒืœึฝื•ึนืึพืžึฐืฉึทื‚ื ึฐืึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธึฅื”ื€ ืึถืฉึฐื‚ื ึธึ‘ื
ื•ึผึื‘ึดืชึฐืงื•ึนืžึฐืžึถึ—ื™ืšึธ ืึถืชึฐืงื•ึนื˜ึธึฝื˜ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื›ื‘ ืชึทึผื›ึฐืœึดึฃื™ืช ืฉึดื‚ื ึฐืึธึฃื” ืฉึฐื‚ื ึตืืชึดึ‘ื™ื
ืœึฐึืื•ึนื™ึฐื‘ึดึ—ื™ื ื”ึธึฃื™ื•ึผ ืœึดึฝื™ืƒ
19 If you would but slay the wicked, Eloโ€™ah โ€”
Depart from me therefore, you men of blood;
20 Who utter your name with wicked thought,
They take it for falsehood, even your enemiesโ€“
21 Do not I hate them, YHVH, that hate you?
And do not I strive with those that rise up against you?
22 I hate them with utmost hatred;
I count them mine enemies.
โ€Žโ€ื›ื’ ื—ึธืงึฐืจึตึฃื ึดื™ ืึตึญืœ ื•ึฐื“ึทึฃืข ืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ึดึ‘ื™
ื‘ึฐึผึื—ึธื ึตึ—ื ึดื™ ื•ึฐื“ึทึฃืข ืฉึทื‚ืจึฐืขึทืคึธึผึฝื™ืƒ
โ€Žโ€ื›ื“ ื•ึผืจึฐืึตึ—ื” ืึดืึพื“ึถึผึฝืจึถืšึฐึพืขึนึฅืฆึถื‘ ื‘ึดึผึ‘ื™
ื•ึผึื ึฐื—ึตึ—ื ึดื™ ื‘ึฐึผื“ึถึฃืจึถืšึฐ ืขื•ึนืœึธึฝืืƒ
23 Search me, El, and know my heart,
Try me, and know my thoughts;
24 And see if there be any way in me that is grievous,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” (ืชื™ืื•ื“ื•ืจ-ืืœื‘ืง) ืคืจืฉื” ื™ื
ื•ื™ื‘ืจืš ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ
. . . ืจืณ ืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืื•ืžืจ
ื‘ื™ืจื›ื• ื‘ื ืจโ€”
ื•ื‘ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืขืฉื”:
ืคืขื ืื—ืช ื”ื“ืœืงืชื™ ืืช ื”ื ืจ ื‘ืœื™ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ื•ื‘ืืชื™ ื‘ืžื•ืฆืื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ื•ืžืฆืืชื™ื• ื“ื•ืœืง ื•ืœื ื—ืกืจ ื›ืœื•ื.โ€
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 11:2 (Theodor Albek edition, H. Freedman, trans.)
โ€œAnd Elohim blessed the 7th Day and hallowed itโ€ (Genesis 2:3).
R. Liezer said:
He blessed it in the platter of a lamp,
and this happened in my case.
I once lit a lamp for the Sabbath night,
and when I came at the termination of the Sabbath
I found it still burning and not at all diminished.
ื‘ืจื›ื• ื‘ืื•ืจ ืคื ื™ื• ืฉืœืื“ื:โ€
ืœื ื“ื•ืžื” ืื•ืจ ืคื ื™ื• ืฉืœืื“ื ื›ืœ ื™ืžื•ืช ื”ืฉื‘ืช ื›ืฉื‘ืช.โ€
He blessed it with the light of a manโ€™s face:
the light of a manโ€™s face during the week is not the same as it is on the Sabbath.
ื‘ืจื›ื• ื‘ืžืื•ืจื•ืช:โ€
ืจืณ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”
ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื ืชืงืœืงืœื• ื”ืžืื•ืจื•ืช ืžืขืจื‘ ืฉื‘ืช
ืœื ืœืงื• ืขื“ ืžื•ืฆืื™ ืฉื‘ืช.โ€
He blessed it in respect of the luminaries.
R. Shimon b. Yehudah said:
Though the luminaries were spoilt on the eve of the Sabbath,
yet they were not smitten until the termination of the Sabbath.
ืืชื™ื™ื” ื›ืจื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื•ืœื ืืชื™ื™ื” ื›ืจืณ ืืกื™ ื“ืืžืจ
ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœื ืœืŸ ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• โ€“
ืžื” ื˜ืขื ืื“ื ื‘ื™ืงืจ ื‘ืœ ื™ืœื™ืŸ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืžื˜ืƒื™ื’).
This agrees with the Rabbis but not with R. Assi, who maintained:
Adamโ€™s glory did not abide the night with him.
What is the proof? โ€œBut Adam passes not the night in gloryโ€ (Psalms 49:13).
ืจื‘ื ื™ืŸ ืืžืณ
ืœืŸ ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื•
ืžื•ืฆืื™ ืฉื‘ืช ื ื˜ืœ ื–ื™ื•ื• ืžืžื ื•
ื•ื˜ืจื“ื• ืžื’ืŸ ืขื“ืŸ
ื”ื”ืดื“ ืžืฉื ื” ืคื ื™ื• ื•ืชืฉืœื—ื”ื• (ืื™ื•ื‘ ื™ื“ืƒื›).โ€
The Rabbis maintain:
His glory abode with him,
but at the termination of the Sabbath God deprived him of his splendour
and expelled him from the Garden of Eden,
as it is written, โ€œYou change his countenance, and send him awayโ€ (Job 14:20).
[ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืฉืงืขื” ื—ืžื” ื‘ืœื™ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ื‘ื™ืงืฉ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœื’ื ื•ื– ืืช ื”ืื•ืจื”
ื•ื—ืœืง ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืœืฉื‘ืช โ€“
ื”ื”ืดื“ ื•ื™ื‘ืจืš ืืœื”ื™ื ืื ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ ื•ื’ื•ืณ
ื‘ืžื” ื‘ื™ืจื›ื• ื‘ืื•ืจื”].โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืฉืงืขื” ื—ืžื” ื‘ืœื™ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ื”ืžืชื™ื ื” ื”ืื•ืจื” ืžืฉืžืฉืช
ื”ืชื—ื™ืœื• ื”ื›ืœ ืžืงืœืกื™ืŸ โ€“
ื”ืดื” ืชื—ืช ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืฉืจื™ื”ื• (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื–ืƒื’)
ืžืคื ื™ ืžื” ื•ืื•ืจื• ืขืœ ื›ื ืคื•ืช ื”ืืจืฅ (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื–ืƒื’).โ€
As soon as the sun set on the night of the Sabbath,
the blessed Holy One, wished to hide the light,
but He showed honor to the Sabbath;
hence it is written, โ€œAnd God Blessed the seventh dayโ€ (Genesis 2:3).
With what did He bless it? With light.
When the sun set on the night of the Sabbath,
the light continued to function,
whereupon all began praising,
as it is written, โ€œUnder the whole heaven they sing praises to Himโ€ (Job 37:3);
wherefore? Because โ€œHis light [reaches] unto the ends of the earthโ€ (ibid).
ืจืณ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืฉื ื‘ืจ ื ื–ื™ืจื”
ืœืดื• ืฉืขื•ืช ืฉื™ืžืฉื” ืื•ืชื” ื”ืื•ืจื”:
ื™ืดื‘ ืฉืœืขืจื‘ ืฉื‘ืช
ื•ื™ืดื‘ ืฉืœืœื™ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ื•ื™ืดื‘ ืฉืœืฉื‘ืช.โ€
ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืฉืงืขื” ื”ื—ืžื” ื‘ืžื•ืฆืื™ ืฉื‘ืช ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ื”ื—ืฉืš ืžืžืฉืžืฉ ื•ื‘ื.โ€
R. Levi said in the name of Bar Nezirah:
That light functioned thirty-six hours,
twelve on the eve of Shabbat [i.e. Friday],
twelve during the night of Shabbat,
and twelve during [the day of] Shabbat.
When the sun sank at the termination of Shabbat, darkness began to set in.
ื ืชื™ื™ืจื ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ
ืืš ื—ืฉืš ื™ืฉื•ืคื ื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜ืƒื™ื)
ืืชืžื”ื ืชืืžืจ ืื•ืชื• [ืฉื›ืชืณ ื‘ื•] ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื•ืคืš ืจืืฉ ื•ื’ื•ืณ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื’ืƒื˜ื•)
ื‘ื ืœื”ื–ื“ื•ื•ื’ ืœื™ ืืชืžื”ื.โ€
Adam was terrified, [thinking,]
โ€œSurely indeed the darkness shall bruise [e.v. โ€˜envelopโ€™] meโ€ (Psalms 139:11):
shall he of whom it was written, โ€œHe shall bruise thy headโ€ (Genesis 3:5),
now come to attack me![5] the snake.  
ืžื” ืขืฉื” ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื”
ื–ื™ืžืŸ ืœื• ืฉื ื™ ืจืขืคื™ื ื•ื”ืงื™ืฉืŸ ื–ื” ืœื–ื”
ื•ื™ืฆืืช ื”ืื•ืจ ื•ื‘ื™ืจืš ืขืœื™ื” โ€“
ื”ืดื” ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืื•ืจ ื‘ืขื“ื ื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜ืƒื™ื)
ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืื•ืจ ื‘ืขื“ื ื™
What did the blessed Holy One do for him?
He made him find two flints which he struck against each other;
light came forth and he uttered a blessing over it;
hence it is written, โ€œBut the night was light about meโ€ โ€”baโ€™adeni (Psalms 139:11),
i.e. the night was light in my Eden (beโ€™edni).
ื›ื“ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื“ืืžืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ
ืžืคื ื™ ืžื” ืžื‘ืจื›ื™ื ืขืœ ื”ื ืจ ื‘ืžื•ืฆืื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื ืชื—ืœืช ื‘ืจื™ื™ืชื•.โ€
This agrees with Shmuel, for Shmuel said:
Why do we recite a blessing over a lamp [fire] at the termination of the Sabbath?
Because it was then created for the first time.
ืจื‘ ื”ื•ื ื ื‘ืฉื ืจื‘ ืจืณ ืื‘ื”ื• ื‘ืฉื ืจืณ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ
ืืฃ ืžื•ืฆืื™ ื™ื•ื ื”ื›ื™ืคื•ืจื™ื ืžื‘ืจื›ื™ืŸ ืขืœื™ื•
ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืฉื‘ืช ื”ืื•ืจ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื.โ€
R. Huna in Rabโ€™s name, and R. Abbahu in R. Yoแธฅananโ€™s name said:
At the termination of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), too, we recite a blessing over it,
because the fire rested the whole day.
ืชืœืžื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช ื›ื ื‘ืณ
ืชื ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ:
ืžืฆื•ืช ื—ื ื•ื›ื” ื ืจ ืื™ืฉ ื•ื‘ื™ืชื•.โ€
ื•ื”ืžื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ โ€“ ื ืจ ืœื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“.โ€
Talmud Bavli Shabbat 21b (Soncino Talmud, H. Freedman trans.)
Our Rabbis taught:
The precept of แธคanukkah [demands] one light for a man and his household;
the zealous [kindle] a light for each member [of the household];
ื•ื”ืžื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืžื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ โ€“โ€
ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืื™ ืื•ืžืจื™ื:
ื™ื•ื ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืžื“ืœื™ืง ืฉืžื ื”, ืžื›ืืŸ ื•ืื™ืœืš ืคื•ื—ืช ื•ื”ื•ืœืš;โ€
ื•ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืœืœ ืื•ืžืจื™ื:
ื™ื•ื ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืžื“ืœื™ืง ืื—ืช, ืžื›ืืŸ ื•ืื™ืœืš ืžื•ืกื™ืฃ ื•ื”ื•ืœืš. . . .โ€
and the extremely zealous โ€”
Bet Shammai maintains:
On the first day eight lights are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced;
but Bet Hillel says:
On the first day one is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased. . . .
ืžืื™ ื—ื ื•ื›ื”?
ื“ืชื ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ: ื‘ื›ืดื” ื‘ื›ืกืœื™ื• ื™ื•ืžื™ ื“ื—ื ื•ื›ื” ืชืžื ื™ื ืื™ื ื•ืŸ,
ื“ืœื ืœืžืกืคื“ ื‘ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ื“ืœื ืœื”ืชืขื ื•ืช ื‘ื”ื•ืŸ.โ€
ืฉื›ืฉื ื›ื ืกื• ื™ื•ื•ื ื™ื ืœื”ื™ื›ืœ ื˜ืžืื• ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืžื ื™ื ืฉื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœ,โ€
ื•ื›ืฉื’ื‘ืจื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื—ืฉืžื•ื ืื™ ื•ื ืฆื—ื•ื,
ื‘ื“ืงื• ื•ืœื ืžืฆืื• ืืœื ืคืš ืื—ื“ ืฉืœ ืฉืžืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื•ื ื— ื‘ื—ื•ืชืžื• ืฉืœ ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ,โ€
ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื• ืืœื ืœื”ื“ืœื™ืง ื™ื•ื ืื—ื“.โ€
ื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื• ื ืก ื•ื”ื“ืœื™ืงื• ืžืžื ื• ืฉืžื•ื ื” ื™ืžื™ื.โ€
ืœืฉื ื” ืื—ืจืช ืงื‘ืขื•ื ื•ืขืฉืื•ื ื™ืžื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื‘ื”ืœืœ ื•ื”ื•ื“ืื”.โ€
What is [the reason of] แธคanukkah?
For our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev [commence] the days of แธคanukkah,
which are eight on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden.
For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein,
and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them,
they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest,
but which contained sufficient for one dayโ€™s lighting only;
yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days.
The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel and thanksgiving.

Notes

Notes
1i.e., the naแธฅash (serpent).
2Greek: kalon (ฮบฮฑฮปฮฟฮฝ) = highest beauty (aesthetically beautiful and morally noble and good); deo (ฮดฮญฯ‰)= god. An expression of praise, meaning either, kalon deo (God is good). Alternate reading, calo diem (proclaim the day).
3The Provenรงal Calendas or Calenos, the Polish Kolenda, the Russian Kolyรกda, the Czech Koleda, the Lithuanian Kalledos, the Welsh Calenig (for Christmas-box), and the Gaelic Calluinn (for New Yearโ€™s Eve), are all derived from the Latin แธฒalendae (โ€œthe calledโ€), the same word from which โ€˜calendarโ€™ is derived. The แธฒalends or the first day of January, a time celebrated with many festive customs. แธฒalends was also a general term for the first day of each Roman month, signifying the start of the new moon cycle, or แธฒalenda. แธฒalends may be related to the Lenaia, an ancient Greek holiday celebrated during the Attic calendar month of Gamelion (first Winter month between December and January). (โ€“Aharon Varady)
4Counting eight days from the beginning of the Saturnalia to the end of the Brumalia. Saturnalia was celebrated December 17-23rd in the Roman calendar at the the end of the Brumalia, a month long celebration ending on December 24th. (โ€“Aharon Varady)
5the snake.

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