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Combining the candy and costumes of Halloween, the plays and parades of Mardi Gras, the mischief and masquerades of April Fools’ Day, and more booze than you can wobble your fist at, Purim is surely one-of-a-kind. Or is it? In fact, there is an ancient custom around the Jewish world to establish and celebrate “Second Purims” in honor of community redemptions or family celebrations. These would often incorporate feasting, celebration, and even the reading of a new Megillah specifically written in honor of the specific miracle! We’ve already posted several of these fascinating texts, but here’s another, this one from the Jews of Morocco.
Presenting the full, somewhat short text of the Megillah of Sebastiano, telling the story of a great miracle that occurred to the Jewish community of Morocco on 1 Elul 5338, or August 4 1578 CE. On that day, King Sebastian of Portugal attempted to conquer Alcácer Quibir in North Africa — and inevitably to force the inquisition on the Jews of Morocco. But he was turned back at the last moment, protecting Moroccan independence for several more centuries. This scroll is traditionally recited in Jewish communities in the Maghreb to celebrate the repulsion of the Portuguese.
Though you can find abbreviations and summarized versions online, this is (to the editor’s knowledge) the most accurate and complete translation so far.
This is traditionally read in a similar method to a regular megillah, so it would generally be after the complete Ḳaddish in the evening, or the Torah service and/or Amidah in the morning. It’s meant to mostly sound like Esther. For the sadder or darker passages, feel free to use Eikha trōp – or even create your own detours! It’s Purim – no need to be serious about it!
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 pronoun They 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.
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| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
א נַעֲשָׂ֖ה נֵ֣ס גָּד֑וֹל עִ֚ם כׇּל־הַ֣יְּהוּדִ֔ים[1] כתיב היאודים הַיּוֹשְׁבִ֖ים בְּאַרְצ֥וֹת הַמַּעֲרָֽב׃ ב וְתֹ֨קֶף הַנֵּ֜ס הָיָ֗ה שֶׁמֶּ֤לֶךְ פּוֹרְטוּגָאל֙ סֶבַּאצְטִיָ֣ין שְׁמ֔וֹ יִמַּ֥ח שְׁמ֖וֹ וְזִכְרוֹנ֑וֹ[2] כתיב יש״ו בָּא֙ בְּזָד֔וֹן וַיָּ֤עַץ תַּחְבּוּלוֹת֙ כְּשִׂכִּ֣ים בְּצִדּ֔וֹ וְעָלָ֧ה בְּדַעְתּ֛וֹ לִכְבֹּ֖שׁ אַרְצ֥וֹת הַמַּעֲרָֽב׃ ג וְאָסַ֣ף ׀ חֵ֣יל גָּד֗וֹל וְעַ֤ם כָּבֵד֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם וְסוּסִ֥ים וּפָרָשִׁ֖ים מְאַזְּרֵ֣י זִקּ֑וֹת כֻּלָּ֨ם אֲחֻזֵ֤י חֶ֙רֶב֙ לְטוּשָׁ֔ה מְלֻמְּדֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה תּֽוֹפְשֵׂי־קֶ֥שֶׁת וּרְמָחִ֖ים עִם־כׇּל־כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה׃ ד וְיַעֲבֹר֩ עִם־כׇּל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֨ה הַה֜וּא אׇרְח֣וֹת יַמִּ֗ים תּוֹךְ־סְפִינ֤וֹת וּבוּרְנִיוֹת֙ גְּדוֹל֔וֹת וְצִ֖ים מִיַּ֣ד כִּתִּ֑ים וַיָּבֹא֙ עַד־עִ֣יר טַ֔אנְגָׄה יָגֵ֥ן עָלֶ֖יהָ אֱלֹהִֽים׃[3] כתיב יע״א ה בְּצֵאת֣וֹ לַיַּבָּשָׁ֗ה לְעִ֣יר טַ֮אנְגָה֮ הַנִּזְכֶּ֣רֶת שָׁם֒ עָרַ֤ךְ עַל־מַחֲנֵ֙הוּ֙ עִם־שָׂרִ֣ים וְנִכְבָּדִ֔ים הַבָּאִ֥ים אִתּ֖וֹ מֵאֲרָצ֣וֹת רְחוֹק֑וֹת עַ֣ם רַ֔ב מְכַסִּ֖ים אֶת־עֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ו וַיִּסַּ֣ע מִשָּׁ֗ם עִ֚ם כׇּל־מַ֣חֲנֵ֔הוּ לָבֹ֗א לִכְבֹּ֛שׁ כׇּל־הַמְּדִינָ֥ה הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֖ה לְפָנָ֑יו אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ לְקְצָ֔אר בִּדְגָלִ֣ים פְּרוּשִׂ֔ים וְס֤וּס דֹּ֙הֵר֙ וּמֶרְכָּבָ֣ה מְרַקֵּ֔דָה בְּק֥וֹל שִׁ֖יר וְרִנָּֽה׃ ז וַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֗וֹם י֣וֹם שֵׁנִי֮ לְרֹאשׁ־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֱלוּל֒ עָרַ֤ךְ מִלְחַמְתּוֹ֙ עִ֣ם כׇּל־צִבְאוֹתָ֔יו לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִם־מֶ֣לֶךְ הַמַּעֲרָ֑ב אֲשֶׁר־בָּא֙ לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם עִמּ֔וֹ לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־אַרְצ֖וֹ מִיָּדֽוֹ׃ |
1 A great miracle was done with all the Jews dwelling in the lands of the Maghreb. 2 And mighty this miracle was, that the king of Portugal, Sebastian named — may his name and memory be erased! — came in arrogance and plotted schemes like a thorn in his side,[4] Find Yehuda haLevi’s Mi Khamokha piyyut, second acrostic, fourth verse and rose in his plan to conquer the lands of the Maghreb. 3 And he gathered a great force, people as many as the sand of the sea, and horses and riders, girt on firebrands,[5] Find Isaiah 50:11 all trained in the sharp sword, studied in war, holding bows and cannons with all the weapons of war. 4 And he passed, with all that camp, a few days’ path, among ships and great vessels and boats from the Mediterranean isles,[6] Find Numbers 24:24 and he came to the city of Tangiers — may God guard it! 5 When he came out to dry land, to the aforementioned city of Tangiers, he arranged his camp with officers and nobles coming with him from the distant lands, a great people covering the eye of the earth. 6 And he traveled from there with all his camp, to come to conquer all the first land before him, which was to the ksar[7] a Moroccan fortress with flags spread out, galloping steed and bounding chariot,[8] Find Nahum 3:2 in the sound of song and cheer. 7 And it was today, the second day of the new moon of Elul, that he arranged his war with all his forces, to make war on the king of the Maghreb, who had come to make war with him to save his land from his hand. |
ח וְהָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡יא הָיְתָ֣ה עֵ֣ת צָרָ֣ה לְיַעֲקֹב֩ יַ֨עַן שֶׁהָרָשָׁ֜ע בְּזָד֣וֹן לִבּ֗וֹ נָדַר֮ בְּבֵית־אֱלֹהָ֣יו שֶׁל־עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֒בֶן֒ שֶׁאִם־יִכְבֹּשׁ֙ עָרֵ֣י הַמַּעֲרָ֔ב שֶׁיַּעֲבֹ֗ר לְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּשֵׁ֤ם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְכֻנֶּ֔ה בְּמֵ֖י בָּאוּטִ֑יזְמוֹ כׇּל־מִ֨י שֶׁלֹּ֤א יִרְצֶה֙ לַעֲבֹ֔ר יֵהָרֵ֖ג בֵֶּחָֽרֶב׃ ט וְזֶ֣ה ׀ הֻגַּ֣ד לָ֗נוּ עַל־יְדֵ֨י שְׁנֵ֤י אֲנָשִׁים֙ יְהוּדִ֣ים[9] כתיב יאודים אֲנוּסִ֔ים שֶׁבָּ֖אוּ עִם־חַיְּלוֹתָ֑יו וְאָ֣מְרוּ לָ֔נוּ בַּקְּשׁוּ֙ מֵאֱ֣לֹהֵיכֶ֔ם אוּלַ֥י יַחֲנֵ֖ן עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ י וּבִקַּ֙שְׁנוּ֙ עַל־עַצְמֵ֔נוּ מֵאֵ֥ת הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ בָּר֣וּךְ ה֑וּא וְזָכַ֣ר אוֹתָ֔נוּ כְּמ֨וֹ שֶׁאָמַ֥ר לָ֛נוּ עַל־יַ֥ד הַנָּבִ֖יא עָלָ֥יו הַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃ יא וְאַף־גַּם־זֹ֠את בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֞ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֗ם לֹֽא־מְאַסְתִּ֤ים וְלֹֽא־גְעַלְתִּים֙ לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם לְהָפֵ֥ר בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ יב וְנֶאֱמַ֕ר וְזָכַרְתִּ֥י לָהֶ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית רִאשֹׁנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹצֵֽאתִי־אֹתָם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם לְעֵינֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֗ם לִהְי֥וֹת לָהֶ֛ם לֵאלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ |
8 And that time was a time of trouble for Jacob, because the wicked one in his arrogant heart had vowed in the house of his god of wood and stone that if he conquered the cities of the Maghreb then all who were known by the name Israel would pass through the waters of baptism, all who would not pass would be killed by the sword. 9 And this was told to us by the hand of two men, Jews, forced converts, who came with his troops, and said to us — “Beseech your God who perhaps will grace us!” 10 And we besought for ourselves from the blessed Holy One, Who remembered us as was said to us by the hand of the Prophet of blessed memory — 11 “And even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them nor repel them to finish them off, to renege on My covenant with them, for I the Cause am their God” (Leviticus 26:44). 12 And it is said — “And I will remember for them the original covenant that I brought them out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations to be their God; I am the Cause” (Leviticus 26:45). |
יג וּבְשָׁעָ֣ה אַחַת֩ בּ֨וֹ בַּיּ֜וֹם נִבְהֲל֣וּ נֶחְפָּ֗זוּ רְעָדָה֙ אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֔ם סָ֥פוּ תַ֖מּוּ מִן־בַּלָּה֑וֹת וְהָרָשָׁ֤ע שָׁם֙ נָפַ֣ל שָׁד֔וּד עִ֖ם כׇּל־רָאשֵׁ֥י חַיְּלוֹתָֽיו׃ יד וְכׇל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֨ה הַה֜וּא הָיָה֮ לְחֶרְדַּ֣ת אֱלֹהִים֒ כִּי־אֲפִ֙לּוּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרָ֔חוּ לֹא־נִמְלַ֥ט מֵהֶ֖ם עַד־אֶחָ֑ד כִּי־כֻלָּ֤ם נֶעֶזְבוּ֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַבֶּרְבֶּרִ֔ים תְּהִלּ֖וֹת לָאֵ֥ל יִתְבָּרַֽךְ׃ |
13 And at the first hour then on this day, they[10] the forces of Sebastian were terrified, panicked, trembling took hold of them,[11] Find Psalms 48:6-7 finished off completely by terrors;[12] Find Psalms 73:19 and the wicked one there fell, destroyed,[13] Find Judges 5:27 with all the heads of his forces. 14 And all that camp was terrified from God, for not even one of those who fled was saved from them, for all were lost by the hand of the Berbers — praise the Blessed God! |
טו וְעַ֗ל כִּ֛י זֶ֥ה הַיּ֖וֹם עָשָׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה נָגִ֖ילָה וְנִ֥שְׂמְחָה בֽוֹ׃ טז קִיְּמ֣וּ ׀ וְקִבְּל֣וּ הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים[14] כתיב היאודים הָרַבָּנִ֣ים וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י מַעֲשֶׂ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֣וּ בַּיָּמִ֡ים עֲ֠לֵיהֶ֠ם וְעַל־זַרְעָ֨ם אַחֲרֵיהֶ֜ם וְעַ֣ל ׀ כׇּל־הַנִּלְוִ֣ים אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְהַזְכִּ֤יר יוֹם־זֶה֙ בְּכׇל־שָׁנָ֣ה וְשָׁנָ֔ה וְלָתֵ֤ת צְדָקָה֙ לָעֲנִיִּ֔ים וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֹת֖וֹ יוֹם־מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלִסְגֹּ֥ר הַחֲנוּי֖וֹת וּלְהִבָּטֵ֥ל מִמְּלָאכָֽה׃ יז בָּר֨וּךְ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֹשֵׂ֥ה נִפְלָא֖וֹת לְבַ֑דּוֹ וּבָר֨וּךְ שֵׁ֤ם כְּבוֹדוֹ֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם וְיִמָּלֵ֧א כְבוֹד֛וֹ אֶת־כֹּ֥ל הָאָ֖רֶץ אָמֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵ֖ן׃ יח בָּר֛וּךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה לְעוֹלָ֖ם אָמֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃ |
15 And thus, this is the day the Cause has made; let us rejoice and be happy on it![15] Find Psalms 118:24 16 The Jews, the rabbis and men of action who were in those days, established and accepted on themselves and on their seed after them and on all who would join to them[16] Find Esther 9:27 to recall this day each and every year and give charity to the poor and make it a day of feasting and joy and close the stores and refrain from labor. 17 Bless the Cause God, God of Israel, who does wonders alone; and bless Their Glory forever, and may Their Glory fill all the earth, amen and amen.[17] Psalms 72:18-19 18 Bless the Cause forever, amen and amen![18] Psalms 89:53 |
Recordings
Notes
| 1 | כתיב היאודים |
|---|---|
| 2 | כתיב יש״ו |
| 3 | כתיב יע״א |
| 4 | Find Yehuda haLevi’s Mi Khamokha piyyut, second acrostic, fourth verse |
| 5 | Find Isaiah 50:11 |
| 6 | Find Numbers 24:24 |
| 7 | a Moroccan fortress |
| 8 | Find Nahum 3:2 |
| 9 | כתיב יאודים |
| 10 | the forces of Sebastian |
| 11 | Find Psalms 48:6-7 |
| 12 | Find Psalms 73:19 |
| 13 | Find Judges 5:27 |
| 14 | כתיב היאודים |
| 15 | Find Psalms 118:24 |
| 16 | Find Esther 9:27 |
| 17 | Psalms 72:18-19 |
| 18 | Psalms 89:53 |
“💬 מְגִלַּת סֶבַּאצְטִיָין | Megillat Sebastiano — a Purim Sheni scroll for the first of Elul commemorating the deliverance of Maghrebi Jewry from King Sebastian of Portugal in 1578” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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Megilat Sebastiano (Kedem Auction House)
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