Yotser for Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ḥanukkah from nusaḥ Candia (Crete), translated by Yitzchak Dickman

Yitzchak Dickman (translation) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:20:13 +0000

This is a גוף יוצר (guf yotser) piyut from Nusaḥ Candia (Crete) for Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ḥanukkah. The author of the piyut is unknown. It is presented here on the basis of the edition published by Dr. Gabriel Wasserman in his work Liturgical poems of Ḥanukka from Europe (2016), where it appears in Volume 2, as piyut number 23. While the translation below heavily utilizes Dr. Wasserman’s commentary on the piyut, the translation itself is original to me.

I found this piyut when looking through Dr. Wasserman’s aforementioned work, and it struck me as very beautiful and particularly relevant to current events.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חֹשֶׁךְ עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל	Blessed are you, Hashem our God, cosmic majesty, who forms light and creates darkness, who makes peace and creates all.^[1] Translation added by editor. –ANV
אוֹר עוֹלָם בְּאוֹצַר חַיִּים אוֹרוֹת מֵאֹפֶל אָמַר וַיֶּהִי	The Light of the world, the Source of life, He spoke and out of darkness there came light.^[2] Translation added by editor. –ANV
꙳ ꙳ ꙳	꙳ ꙳ ꙳
אֲנוֹבֵב וְשִׂיחִי אֶשְׁפְּכָה בְּעַד עֲנֻגָּה וְרַכָּה בְּשַׁבָּת וְרֹאשׁ חֹֽדֶשׁ וַחֲנֻכָּה	I will speak and pour out my speech, In support of the gentle and fragile one^[3] Israel On Shabbat, and Rosh Ḥodesh, and Ḥanukkah
בְּמוֹעֵצוֹת וּבַשָּׁלִישִׁים וּבִשְׂמָחוֹת מְשֻׁלָּשִׁים הִנְחִיל לַקְּדוֹשִׁים	With the triple wisdom^[4] Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim; from Mishlei 22:20 And with the three celebrations^[5] Shabbat, Rosh Ḥodesh, Ḥanukkah That He gave to the holy ones^[6] Israel
גִּיל יוֹם מְנוּחָה וְיָרֵֽחַ וְשִׂמְחָה לְגוֹחִי הַלֵּל אַפְצִֽיחָה	With the happiness of the day of rest^[7] Shabbat And with the moon^[8] Rosh Ḥodesh and celebration^[9] Ḥanukkah I will exclaim praise for He who took me out^[10] of Egypt, or of the womb
פזמון: אֲמַלֵּל בְּדָת מְשִׁיבַת לְנוֹצְרִי כְּבָבַת מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: I will speak from the renewing law^[11] the Torah To He who guards me like the pupil^[12] of his eye A psalm and song for the Shabbat day^[13] Psalms 92:1 O Holy One!
דֻּבׇּֽקוּ כְּאַחַת שְׁלָשְׁתָּם חֲנֻכָּה וָחֹֽדֶשׁ וְנַֽחַת שׁוֹמְרֵיהֶם יֻחְשָֽׁכוּ מִשַּֽׁחַת	They are attached like one The three of them; Ḥanukkah, the [new] month,^[14] Rosh Ḥodesh and [the day of] pleasure^[15] Shabbat Those who observe them will be protected from the Pit^[16] of Gehinnom
הַמְּשַׁמְּרִים יוֹם עֲנֻגָּה יֻצׇּֽלוּ מִדְּאָגָה וּבְכָל שַׁבָּת לְהִתְעַנְּגָה	Those who observe the gentle day^[17] of Shabbat Will be saved from worry And will relax on every Shabbat
וּמְחַשְּׁבֵי חֶשְׁבּוֹן כׇּל חֹֽדֶשׁ פְּדוּתָם פִּתְאוֹם תְּחַדֵּשׁ כְּתִקּוּן מִקְדַּשׁ קֹֽדֶשׁ	And those who calculate the months^[18] Israel Their redemption will be suddenly renewed As the Holy Temple was founded
פזמון: וְאַתָּה אֲשֶׁר בִּצְדָקָה נִקְדָּשׁ יְשׁוּעָה לְעַמְּךָ תְחֻדׇּשׁ מִזְמוֹר שִֽׁירוּ לַיְיָ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: And You, who is sanctified with justice Renew salvation for Your nation A psalm; sing a new song to Hashem^[19] Psalms 98:1 O Holy One!
זְכוֹר עַם בְּךְ חוֹסִים וְהַצִּילֵם מִיַּד שׁוֹסִים בַּעֲשׂוֹתְךָ בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה נִסִּים	Remember the nation who depend on you And rescue them from the hands of despoilers When you do miracles, in these days
חֽוּסָה יְיָ עַל עַם הֲמוֹנַי וְהַפִּֽילָה אֵשׁ עַל מְעַנַּי כְּעַל יַד חַשְׁמוֹנַי	Have pity, O Hashem, on the multitudes of my nation Bring down fire on my tormentors As was done at the hand of the Hasmoneans^[20] In Dr. Wasserman’s commentary, he suggests that this phrase is actually representing Ḥashmonai as an individual. This is an idea appears in a number of medieval European Jewish sources, where Ḥashmonai is presented as a leader of the revolt alongside Mattathias. In my translation, I have prioritized the resonance of the text to a modern audience over precise accuracy to the presumed intent of the author, and so have translated it as referring to the Hasmoneans collectively.
טוּב דְּבָרְךָ תָקִים וְאַל נָשׁוּב רֵקִים בְּפַלְּלֵֽנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ נוֹאֲקִים	Uphold the goodness of Your ways And do not leave us to return empty When we pray before you, calling out
פזמון: וְנֶחָמוֹת אוֹתָֽנוּ תַזְבִּיד וּלְךָ מְלוּכָה נַזְבִּיד מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּֽיִת לְדָוִד קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: And grant us consolations And we will build You a royal palace A psalm of David, a song for the dedication of the House^[21] Psalms 31:1 O Holy One!
יָהּ עוֹשֶׂה נִפְלָאוֹת נְהַדֶּרְךָ בְּמוֹרָאוֹת עַל פְּעָלְךָ עִמָּֽנוּ נִפְלָאוֹת	God who performs wonders We will praise You in awe For the wonders you perform for us
כּוֹתְבֵי עֲרוּכוֹת וּשְׁמוּרוֹת מְשַׁבְּחִים לְךְ שִׁירוֹת עַל עֲשׂוֹתְךָ גְּבוּרוֹת	The writers of the ordered and secured^[22] the Torah; from II Samuel 23:5 Praise you with songs For the great deeds You did
לוֹמְדֵי שַׁעֲשׁוּעוֹת מִתְחַנְּנִים בְּשַׁוְעוֹת וּמַזְכִּירִים אֶת הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת	The ones who study delights^[23] the Torah They call out in prayer And remember the salvations
פזמון: אֲמַלֵּל בְּדָת מְשִׁיבַת לְנוֹצְרִי כְּבָבַת מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: I will speak from the renewing law^[24] the Torah To He who guards me like the pupil^[25] of his eye A psalm and song for the Shabbat day^[26] Psalms 92:1 O Holy One!
מְשַׁנְּנֵי חׇכְמוֹת עֵינֵיהֶם בִּימִין רוֹמֵמוֹת וּמְתַנִּים עֲשׂוֹת מִלְחָמוֹת	Those who learn wisdom^[27] Israel Their eyes are on [Your] exalted Right Hand They declare that they will go to war^[28] and be victorious
נֶגְדְּךָ עֵינֵֽינוּ סְכוֹת צַעֲקָתֵֽנוּ כִּי כָל טוּב עָשִֽׂיתָ עִמָּֽנוּ	Our eyes are to You To hear our cries For you have done with us only good
סַגֵּף כׇּל שׂוֹנְאֵֽינוּ וְהַכְחֵד כׇּל מְעַנֵּֽנוּ וַעֲשֵׂה לָֽנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ	Afflict all those who hate us And destroy all those who torment us And do for us like You did for our ancestors
פזמון: וְאַתָּה אֲשֶׁר בִּצְדָקָה נִקְדָּשׁ יְשׁוּעָה לְעַמְּךָ תְחֻדׇּשׁ מִזְמוֹר שִֽׁירוּ לַיְיָ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: And You, who is sanctified with justice Renew salvation for Your nation A psalm; sing a new song to Hashem^[29] Psalms 98:1 O Holy One!
עֱנוּתֵֽנוּ אַל תִּבְזֶה מִמָּרוֹם אוֹתָֽנוּ תֶחֶזֶה כְּבַֽטְתָּ בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה	Do not reject our suffering Observe us from above As you said [you would do] at this time
פּוֹדֶה תָּחִישׁ יְשׁוּעָה וּבְךָ נִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָה בְּאַבֶּדְךָ מַלְכוּת יָוָן הָרְשָׁעָה	O Redeemer, bring salvation And we will delight in you Like when you destroyed the wicked kingdom of Greece
צְפֶה צִדְקוֹתֵֽינוּ וּסְכוֹת נַאֲקוֹתֵֽינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָתֵֽנוּ	View our righteousness And hear our pained exclamations And save us in our time of trouble
פזמון: וְנֶחָמוֹת אוֹתָֽנוּ תַזְבִּיד וּלְךָ מְלוּכָה נַזְבִּיד מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּֽיִת לְדָוִד קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: And grant us consolations And we will build You a royal palace A psalm of David, a song for the dedication of the House^[30] Psalms 31:1 O Holy One!
קָדוֹשׁ רַֽבְתָּ רִיבָם וְשָׁכַֽנְתָּ בְקִרְבָּם וְנִחַֽמְתָּ אֶת לִבָּם	O Holy One, you fought their fights And You dwelt in their midst^[31] in the rededicated Temple And You comforted their hearts
רִחַֽמְתָּ הֲמוֹנָם הַמְיַחֲדִים בְּעִנְיָנָם וְדַֽנְתָּ אֶת דִּינָם	You had mercy on their multitudes Who exclaimed Your oneness And You judged their cause
שָׁמַֽעְתָּ שַׁוְעָתָם חָמַֽלְתָּ עַל עֲדָתָם וְנָקַֽמְתָּ אֶת נִקְמָתָם	You heard their cries You had pity on their congregation And You avenged their vengeance
פזמון: תּוֹפִֽיעַ לְשַׁמֵּֽחַ עַמְּךָ וּלְכוֹנֵן בֵּית אוּלָמְּךָ וּנְפָאֶרְךָ וּנְרוֹמֶמְךָ קָדוֹשׁ	refrain: Appear, to make Your nation rejoice And to establish the House of Your Hall^[32] the Temple And we will praise you and exalt you O Holy One!
꙳ ꙳ ꙳	꙳ ꙳ ꙳
הַכֹּל יוֹדוּךָ וְהַכֹּל יְשַׁבְּחוּךָ וְהַכֹּל יֹאמְרוּ אֵין קָדוֹשׁ כַּיְְיָ…	All thank you, all praise you, all declare: There is none holy like Hashem…^[33] Translation added by editor. –ANV

This yotser for Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ḥanukkah is found in two manuscripts: MS. Canonici Or. 49A/2, fol. 10r (Oxford Bodleian 1083): a Maḥzor according to the Romaniote rite (Ḥanukah-Tishah be-Av) (ff. 7r-182v). The text is also found in a manuscript at the Montefiore Library (London, England) Ms. 220 (F 5190) (on page 9).

Source(s)

Bodleian-Library-MS-Canonici-Or-49A_27-28 (fol. 10r)

Bodleian-Library-MS-Canonici-Or-49A_27-28 (fol. 10v)

Notes

Notes
1	Translation added by editor. –ANV
2	Translation added by editor. –ANV
3	Israel
4	Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim; from Mishlei 22:20
5	Shabbat, Rosh Ḥodesh, Ḥanukkah
6	Israel
7	Shabbat
8	Rosh Ḥodesh
9	Ḥanukkah
10	of Egypt, or of the womb
11	the Torah
12	of his eye
13	Psalms 92:1
14	Rosh Ḥodesh
15	Shabbat
16	of Gehinnom
17	of Shabbat
18	Israel
19	Psalms 98:1
20	In Dr. Wasserman’s commentary, he suggests that this phrase is actually representing Ḥashmonai as an individual. This is an idea appears in a number of medieval European Jewish sources, where Ḥashmonai is presented as a leader of the revolt alongside Mattathias. In my translation, I have prioritized the resonance of the text to a modern audience over precise accuracy to the presumed intent of the author, and so have translated it as referring to the Hasmoneans collectively.
21	Psalms 31:1
22	the Torah; from II Samuel 23:5
23	the Torah
24	the Torah
25	of his eye
26	Psalms 92:1
27	Israel
28	and be victorious
29	Psalms 98:1
30	Psalms 31:1
31	in the rededicated Temple
32	the Temple
33	Translation added by editor. –ANV

Yitzchak Dickman (translation) • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

Yotser for Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ḥanukkah from nusaḥ Candia (Crete), translated by Yitzchak Dickman

Source(s)