![the Open Siddur Project [logo]](https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Open-Siddur-Project-Logo-2016.svg){kind=logo}
Some Jewish communities, especially those in the region of the Four Lands, have a custom of fasting on the 20th of Sivan. This day has a full seliḥot service, commemorating a series of horrors that occurred on that day, most prominently the Chmielnicki (Khmielnetsky) massacres of 1648-49. But this poem was written for another horrific occurrence on 20 Sivan, the blood libel of Blois in 1171. This was the first time the accusation of ritual murder was ever made against the Jews of France, but it wasn’t the last. This seliḥah poem, written by Hillel ben Jacob of Bonn, starts with the dramatic accusation that God has abandoned the people Israel, continuing by listing those who died in myriad horrid ways, and ending with several citations from the apocalyptic final chapter of the book of Joel.
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.”
TOGGLE COLUMNS (on/off):ADJUST COLUMN POSITIONS: select the column header cell and drag it where you want. show me!COPY INDIVIDUAL COLUMN(S): use CopyTables, a browser extension.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
אֱמוּנֵי שְׁלוּמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל גִּזְרָתָם כְּשֹֽׁהַם נְטַשְׁתָּם זְנַחְתָּם וְהָיִֽיתָ כְּגִבּוֹר נִדְהָם בְּתִתְּךָ בְּיַד רָשָׁע הַמְּזֹהָם נְדִ֘יבֵ֤י עַמִּ֨ים ׀ נֶאֱסָ֗פוּ עַם֮ אֱלֹהֵ֢י אַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם (תהלים מז:י) |
The wholly faithful of Israel, whose polishing was like onyx — You abandoned them, You left them, You were like a man in shock, When You gave them over to the hand of the wicked and polluted one.[1] Esau, representing Edom, representing Christianity. The peoples’ nobles are gathered together, the people of Avraham’s God! (Psalms 47:10) |
בְּעֶשְׂרִים בְּסִיוָן גּוֹמֵר פֵּרוֹת וּמַפְרִֽיחַ בְּתַתְּקְלָ״א לִפְרָט נִתְּנוּ בְיָדוֹ לְהַכְרִֽיחַ כְּאֶחָד נִתְרַצּוּ לְהַעֲלוֹת לְאִשִּׁים לְהַרִֽיחַ הַֽדּוּדָאִ֣ים נָֽתְנוּ־רֵ֗יחַ (שיר השירים ז:יד) |
On the twentieth of Sivan, the ripe fruits and sprouts, In 4931 A.M.[2] 1171 CE they were given over to him to force, Agreeing as one to be offered to sweet-smelling fire-offerings, The mandrakes give off their scent. (Song of Songs 7:14) |
גָּמַר לְכַלּוֹת נַפְשָׁם בְּלִי פִּדְיוֹם בַּעֲצַת הָרָשָׁע הַמְּנֻוָּל לְהַרְחִיק הַתְּיוֹם נְתָנָם בְּמִגְדָּל לְהַכְרִיחָם אָיֹם אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ (איכה ג:ג) |
They finished, their souls ended unrescued, By the plotting of the despicable wicked twin-banisher,[3] Esau, representing Edom, representing Christianity He put them in a tower to force them horribly. Only on me he again and again returns his hand all day! (Lamentations 3:3) |
דָּבָר זֶה כְּשׇׁמְעָם נִתְרַצּוּ יַֽחַד כִּבְסִין נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה וְנִשְׁמָֽע (שמות כד:ז) לְהָשִׁיב כְּאֶחָד כֻּלָּם בְּנֵי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִטָּה הַמֻּשְׁלֶֽמֶת מִלְּהִכָּחֵד שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃ (דברים ד:ו) |
This matter, when they heard, they agreed together Those who were washed with “We will do and hear”[4] i.e. at Sinai. (Exodus 24:7) to return as one, All the children of one man Of perfect bed,[5] Referring to the patriarch Jacob, who is said to have had been stringent in conjugal purity from being excised: Hear Israel, the CAUSE is our God, the CAUSE is one! (Deuteronomy 4:6) |
הֵם כְּעָנוּ עָלָיו נַשְׁלִיךְ יַהַב וְלֹא נָשִׂים כִּסְלֵֽינוּ בֵּאלֹהֵי זָהָב לַעֲרֹךְ מַעֲרָכָה צִוָּה קְדוֹשִׁים לְהַבְהֵב וַיְהִי֩ בַעֲל֨וֹת הַלַּ֜הַב (שופטים יג:כ) |
When they answered “We will place our burdens on God, And never set our cover with a deity of gold!” They organized a campaign, commanding the holy ones be set aflame. And it was, as the fires rose up… (Judges 13:20) |
וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְהוֹצִיא אוֹתָם לְבֵית הַשְּׂרֵפָה יַחְדָּו שָׂמְחוּ כְּהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה לְחֻפָּה עָלֵֽינוּ לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ שִׁבְּחוּ בְּנֶֽפֶשׁ כְּסוּפָה הִנָּ֨ךְ יָפָ֤ה רַעְיָתִי֙ הִנָּ֣ךְ יָפָ֔ה (שיר השירים ד:א) |
And they said to take them to the burning-place, Together they rejoiced like a bride entering her chamber. “It is upon us to laud!”[6] A citation of the prayer “Aleinu,” which was said to be recited by the martyrs of Blois as they were murdered. they lauded with stormy spirit. How beautiful are you, my friend, how beautiful are you! (Song of Songs 4:1) |
זִוְּגוּ יַֽחַד פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה בַּעֲנִיבָתָם יְחִיאֵל וִיקוּתִיאֵל בִּכְהֻנָּה וּבְשֵׁרוּתָם בְּאַהַב נִמְתְּחוּ עַל־הָעַמּוּד לִכְפּוֹתָם הַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם (שמואל ב׳ א:כג) |
The young priests paired up together with their ties Yəḥiel,[7] R. Yəḥiel ben R. David the Kohen, a martyr of Blois and Yəqutiel[8] R. Yəquitel ben R. Yehuda the Kohen, a martyr of Blois. The two were taken and tied to a single stake to be burned in front of the others, so as to make the others convert. in priesthood and their service. In love, they were stretched out on the pillar by their palms. They were sweet in life and in death! (2 Samuel 1:23) |
חֻתְּמוּ בְּחוֹתַם קֹֽדֶשׁ בַּחוּרִים וִישִׁישִׁים וְעָלוּ לְמִנְיָן וְהֵם אֶחָד וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יְהוּדָה וְיִצְחָק מֹשֶׁה חֲסִידִים מְאֻשָּׁשִׁים וִיהוּדָ֗ה עֹ֥ד רָד֙ עִם־אֵ֔ל וְעִם־קְדוֹשִׁ֖ים (הושע יב:א) |
Sealed with a holy seal, the young and elderly, And went up for a quorum, and there were thirty-one of them, Yəhuda and Yiṣḥaq, Moshe,[9] Other martyrs of Blois. faithful and firmstanding. And Yəhuda yet stood firm with God and the holy. (Hosea 12:1) |
טְבוּעִים בְּחוֹתָמָם אַרְבָּעָה בְּלִי כַחַד בָּרוּךְ וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָחִיו נִגְוְעוּ כְּאַחַד מְנַחֵם וִיהוּדָה אַחִים בְּאֵימָה וָפַחַד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃ (תהלים קלג:א) | |
יַחַד הַנָּשִׁים לְבֵית הַמּוֹקֵד בְּחֵילֵךְ אִשָּׁה רְעוּתָהּ מְזָרֶֽזֶת לְמַהֵר וְלֵילֵךְ שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה מֵהֶם נִמְנוּ בְּפֶֽלֶךְ בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (תהלים מה:טז) |
Together the women went to the central hub in your ramparts, Each woman hurrying each other to speedily go, Seventeen of them were counted in the area. In joy and gladness those women come to the royal Palace. (Psalms 45:16) |
כְּהַגִּֽיעַ הָאֵשׁ לַאֲסִירֵי יְדֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים נִתְּקוּ הַמּוֹסֵרוֹת מֵעַל־יְדֵי הַבָּנִים צָרְחוּ צְרָפַֽתְנוּ הָאֵשׁ וְיָצָֽאנוּ כֵנִים יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים (תהלים ב:ב) |
As the fire arrived to the imprisoned hands of the priests They removed the bonds from the children’s hands They screamed, “The fire is refining us, and we leave it pure!” Kings of the earth and regents take their stand. (Psalms 2:2) |
לֹא שַׁךְ חֲרוֹן הַצּוֹרֵר מֵעֲלֵֽיהֶם צִוָּה עֲבָדָיו לְהַחֲזִירָם לְבֵית מוֹקְדֵֽיהֶם הַכֵּה וּפָצוֹעַ הִכּוּם בְּאָלוֹת וּבְמַקְלוֹתֵֽיהֶם תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ (איכה ג:סד) |
Unsated was the oppressor’s rage against them. He commanded his servants to return them to their central point. “Beat and strike and attack them with clubs and sticks!” Give them their just deserts, CAUSE, per the work of their hands! (Lamentations 3:64) |
מַלְאֲכֵי מַֽעְלָה יִבְכָּיוּן עַל־דַּאֲבוֹנָי כִּי רַבּוּ מַכְאוֹבַי וְגָדְלוּ יְגוֹנָי שְׁלֽשֶׁת הַגִּבּוֹרִים אֲשֶׁר נָפְלוּ לְפָנָי וַיַּצִּקֻ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יהושע ז:כג) |
The angels on high cried over my pains. For increased are my pains and greatened are my sorrows. Thirty men who fell before me And displayed them before the CAUSE! (Joshua 7:23) |
נוֹרָא וְאַדִּיר צוֹפֶה בְּעֶלְבּוֹן יְרֵאָיו לְבָרֵר לְקׇרְבְּנוֹתָיו מְשַׁבְּחָיו בַּנָּאָיו בְּאֵֽלֶּה הַחֲסִידִים אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרְאוּ מְקֹרָאָיו הֵכִ֧ין יְהֹוָ֛ה זֶ֖בַח הִקְדִּ֥ישׁ קְרֻאָֽיו׃ (צפניה א:ז) |
The Awesome and Powerful notes the insult to the God-fearers To clarify to God’s sacrifices who sweetly praise, With these faithful ones who were called from their calling, The CAUSE made a sacrifice and sactified those who called. (Zephania 1:7) |
סֶֽמֶךְ וְתֹֽקֶף אוֹת וּפֶֽלֶא לְגַדְּלָה שְׂרֵפַת נְשָׁמָה וְגוּף לֹא־כָלָה עַֽיִן רָאֲתָה וְאֹֽזֶן שָׁמְעָה וּמִלְּלָה נֵּ֭ס לְהִתְנוֹסֵ֑ס מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י קֹ֣שֶׁט סֶֽלָה׃ (תהלים ס:ו) |
A basis and stronghold, a sign and great wonder — The soul is burnt, but the body is incorruptible![12] According to legend, the martyrs of Blois died in the fire but their bodies were not harmed whatsoever. The eye saw and the ear heard and did tell: A miracle for those put to flight for Your verity! (Psalms 60:6) |
עָמְדוּ בְנִסְיוֹנָם וְקִבְּלוּ דִין בַּעֲלִיזוֹת וְלֹא נָסֹג אָחוֹר לֵב וְעֵינַֽיִם נְלוֹזוֹת רְאוּיִם לִקְבּֽוֹעַ תְּפִלּוֹת עֲזִיזוֹת וַנָּצ֛וּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה.. עַל־זֹ֑את (עזרא ח:כג עם שנוי לשון) |
They stood in their experience and accepted judgement in cheer, And corrupt eyes and heart were not moved back They were seen to establish strong prayers And we will fast and petition… on this account. (Cf. Ezra 8:23) |
פְּדוּת וְכַפָּרָה יְחוֹקְקוּ לִישֻׁרוּן בַּסֵּֽפֶר תַּעֲמוֹד זְכוּתָם לְעֻמָּם כַּֽעַס לְהָפֵר עַ֧ל הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וְעַל־כׇּל־עַ֥ם הַקָּהָ֖ל יְכַפֵּֽר׃ (ויקרא טז:לג) |
Deliverance and expiation legislated in a book for Yeshurun. May their merit stand by them to turn back rage. For the priests and all the people of the community let it expiate. (Leviticus 16:33) |
צַדִּיק יִצְרַח אָפְסוּ חֲסִידֵי הַזֶּֽבַח חֲנַנְיָה וַחֲבֵרָיו מָסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם לָאֶֽבַח רַבִּי עֲקִֽיבָא וַחֲבֵירָיו בַּעֲלֵי הַטֶּֽבַח כֹּרְתֵ֖י בְרִיתִ֣י עֲלֵי־זָֽבַח׃ (תהלים נ:ה) |
The righteous will scream: “The faithful sacrifices are brought in! Ḥananiah and his comrades[13] See Daniel, chapter 3. The willingness of Ḥananiah, Mishael and Azariah (also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego) to die rather than worship an idol is often held up as an exemplar of martyrdom, even though they miraculously survived the fire. gave their lives for slaughter! Rabbi ‘Aqiva and his comrades,[14] Referring to the martyrs of Rome, famously recorded in the poem Eleh Ezk’rah. the great martyrs, Cut My covenant over sacrifice!” (Psalms 50:5) |
קָדוֹשׁ זָכֹר יִזְכֹּר זֹאת הָעֲקֵדָה עִם עֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק אוֹתָהּ לְהֵעָנְדָה רְצוּיָה וַעֲשׂוּיָה כַּדָּת וְכִתְעוּדָה זֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הָעֹלָ֑ה הִ֣וא הָעֹלָ֡ה עַל֩ מוֹקְדָ֨ה (ויקרא ו:ב) |
May the Holy One remember, remember that binding, With the binding of Yiṣḥaq,[15] See Genesis, chapter 22. The binding of Isaac is also often used as an exemplar of martyrdom in medieval texts. where he was tied up. It was desired and done per the law and rule: This is whole-offering recipe, which is the whole-offering of the center.[16] The first letter of the word is smaller in Torah scrolls, and this is illustrated here. (Leviticus 6:2) |
רָאֹה תִרְאֶה בְּעֳנִי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְקַנֵּא לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל לְחׇרְבוֹת אֲרִיאֵל וּלְדַם חֲסִידֶֽךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ הוֹאֵל נְקֹ֗ם נִקְמַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (במדבר לא:ב) |
See, see the suffering of Israel! And have zeal for Your great name over the ruins of Ariel! For the spilled blood of the faithful, acede: Avenge the vengeance of the children of Israel! (Numbers 31:2) |
שְׁפִיכַת דַּם חֲסִידֶֽיךָ לְעֵינֵֽינוּ תוֹדִֽיעַ וְעַד־מָתַי תִּהְיֶה כְּגִבּוֹר לֹא־יוּכַל לְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ אוֹיְבַי רִיב תָּרִיב וּדְמֵיהֶם תַּשְׁפִּֽיעַ אֵל־נְקָמ֥וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה אֵ֖ל נְקָמ֣וֹת הוֹפִֽיעַ׃ (תהלים צד:א) |
The spilled blood of Your faithful make known before us. And how long will You be like a warrior who cannot save? Dispute the disputations of my enemies, and let their blood flow! God of vengance, CAUSE, God of vengeance, appear! (Psalms 94:1) |
תָּבֹא תְפִלָּתִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ לְמַֽעְלָה לְמָֽעְלָה אֶנְקַת אָסִיר וּדְמֵי חֲסִידֶֽיךָ לְהִתְקַבְּלָה בַּהֲבִיאֲךָ עַל־הָאוֹיֵב נֶחֱרָצָה וְכָלָה תַּבַּ֣עְנָה שְׂפָתַ֣י תְּהִלָּ֑ה (תהלים קיט:קעא) |
Let my prayer come before you, higher and higher, May the groans of the prisoner and the blood of the faithful be recieved! When You come upon the enemy, determine to end them! And my lips shall pour forth praise. (Psalms 119:171) |
הַקֹּל֙ ק֣וֹל יַעֲקֹ֔ב (בראשית כז:כב) בִּצְוָחָה וּבִנְהִימָה מִדַּם שֶׁשָּׁפְכוּ יְדֵי עֵשָׁו לְהִנָּקְמָה שְׂרֵפַת בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה וְתוֹרְתְךָ הַמְרוֹמָמָה תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהֹוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה (תהלים יט:ח) |
The voice is the voice of Yaaqov,[17] Again, this section refers to Judaism as Jacob and Christianity as Esau, thorough a series of references to Genesis 27 (Genesis 27:22) in wailing and moaning From the blood that the hands of Esav spilt to take vengeance The burning of the Chosen House and Your exalted Torah The Torah of the CAUSE, which is pure. (Psalms 19:8) |
יִתְאַשְּׁרוּ עַל־מְחִיצָתָן הֲרוּגֵי בְלוּיֵשׁ לֹא נִסְתַּפְּקוּ לוֹמַר יְהֹוָה בְּקִרְבֵּֽינוּ הַיֵשׁ (שמות יז:ז עם שנוי לשון) נִתְחַזְקוּ בְּמָעוּזָם כְּמוֹ אַרְיֵה וָלַיִשׁ לְהַנְחִ֖יל אֹהֲבַ֥י ׀ יֵ֑שׁ (משלי ח:כא) |
Let the murdered of Blois rejoice on their side![18] i.e. the afterlife. Let us not doubt, saying “Is the CAUSE in our midst?” (Cf. Exodus 17:7) Let us be stronger in their stronghold, like a lion, king of beasts! Granting substance to those who love Me. (Proverbs 8:21) |
לָנֶֽצַח יָרִיב רִיבָם לְמַֽעַן שְׁמוֹ יִוָדַע בַּגּוֹיִם לְעֵינֵֽינוּ תְּשׁוּעַת נוֹאֲמוֹ מֵרֹ֖אשׁ פַּרְע֥וֹת אוֹיֵֽב (דברים לב:מב) מְהֵרָה בְּהִנָּקְמוֹ הַרְנִ֤ינוּ גוֹיִם֙ עַמּ֔וֹ (דברים לב:מג) |
Eternally God will dispute their disputations for the Name’s sake. Let God’s spoken salvation be known among the nations before our eyes. In speedy vengeance (Deuteronomy 32:42) upon the long-haired enemy chiefs! O nations, acclaim Gods’s people! (Deuteronomy 32:43) |
לְעֵֽמֶק הוֹרִידוּם בְּלֹא־קֶֽבֶר לְהִשָּׁפֵט רְאֵה וְהַבִּֽיטָה אֱלֹהֵי הַמִּשְׁפָּט קַיֶּם־נָא בְּאוֹיְבַי הֶחָזוֹן וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט וְה֣וֹרַדְתִּ֔ים אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט (יואל ד:ב) |
To the valley bring them down, unburied to judge them! See and gaze, God of Judgement! Please fulfull upon my enemies the vision and judgement: And I will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat! (Joel 4:2) |
בִּינָה הֲגִיגִי אֱלֹהֵי תְהִלָּתִי וְתוֹחַלְתִּי שִׂימָה בְנֹאדְךָ וּלְפָנֶֽיךָ דִּמְעַת לֶחֱיָתִי קַיֶּם־נָא מְהֵרָה חֶזְיוֹן נְבוּאָתִי וְנִקֵּ֖יתִי דָּמָ֣ם לֹֽא־נִקֵּ֑יתִי (יואל ד:כא) |
Consider my utterance, God of my Praise in whom I hope, Place in Your flask and before you the tears of my cheek. Please fulfull speedily the vision of my prophecy: And I will consider innocent their blood that I have not considered innocent. (Joel 4:21) |
יַעַן עָֽבְרוּ חֹק וְחָלְפוּ תְעוּדָה מִקְדָּשַׁי וְצִיּוֹן חָרְשׁוּ רֵיקָם לְהַעֲמִידָה נִקְמַת הַדָּם וְנִקְמַת הֶחָמָס תַּצְמִידָה מֵֽחֲמַס֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה (יואל ד:יט) |
Because they transgressed law and overturned custom, My Temples and Ṣion were destroyed for nothing to stand. Bind vengeance for the blood and vengeance for the violence, From the violence of the children of Yəhuda! (Joel 4:19) |
קַבֶּל־נָא צְקוֹנִי אֵל עֶלְיוֹן חִישׁ מִפְלָט וְהַצֵּל עַמְּךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן תָּשִׁיב עִירְךָ וְנָוְךָ כְּמִקֶּֽדֶם בְּצִבְיוֹן וַיהֹוָ֖ה שֹׁכֵ֥ן בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃ (יואל ד:כא) |
Receive, please, my poured prayers, Highest God! Quick, save, and protect your needy people! Return Your city and abode as of old, in will! And the CAUSE dwells in Ṣion! |
חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ אָמֵן יֵאָמֵן בֶּאֱמוּנָה דְּבָרוֹ הַטּוֹב יְמַהֵר וְיָחִישׁ לַהֲקִימֶֽנָּה הֲמוֹן עִיר לְמַלֹּאוֹת וְאַרְמוֹן לְכוֹנְנָה וּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה יְשֻׁב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיּוֹן֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה (ישעיהו לה:י) |
Be strong and courageous, amen! — they will emphasize[19] Lit: they will amen-ify. in trust. God’s good Word will speedily and quickly be fulfilled. The multitudes will fill the city and the palace will be established. And the saved of the CAUSE will dwell and come to Ṣion in cheer. (Isaiah 35:10) |
Transcriptions of this seliḥah were made on Hebrew Wikisource in 2009. Sefaria also has a digital edition derived from text imported from Torat Emet Freeware. For a printed source, Abe Katz directed us to the Siddur Otsar haTefilot (undated, printed in Israel). If you have a better reference or higher quality page images for this seliḥah, please contact us.
Recordings
Source(s)
Notes
| 1 | Esau, representing Edom, representing Christianity. |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1171 CE |
| 3 | Esau, representing Edom, representing Christianity |
| 4 | i.e. at Sinai. |
| 5 | Referring to the patriarch Jacob, who is said to have had been stringent in conjugal purity |
| 6 | A citation of the prayer “Aleinu,” which was said to be recited by the martyrs of Blois as they were murdered. |
| 7 | R. Yəḥiel ben R. David the Kohen, a martyr of Blois |
| 8 | R. Yəquitel ben R. Yehuda the Kohen, a martyr of Blois. The two were taken and tied to a single stake to be burned in front of the others, so as to make the others convert. |
| 9 | Other martyrs of Blois. |
| 10 | Other martyrs of Blois. |
| 11 | Other martyrs of Blois. |
| 12 | According to legend, the martyrs of Blois died in the fire but their bodies were not harmed whatsoever. |
| 13 | See Daniel, chapter 3. The willingness of Ḥananiah, Mishael and Azariah (also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego) to die rather than worship an idol is often held up as an exemplar of martyrdom, even though they miraculously survived the fire. |
| 14 | Referring to the martyrs of Rome, famously recorded in the poem Eleh Ezk’rah. |
| 15 | See Genesis, chapter 22. The binding of Isaac is also often used as an exemplar of martyrdom in medieval texts. |
| 16 | The first letter of the word is smaller in Torah scrolls, and this is illustrated here. |
| 17 | Again, this section refers to Judaism as Jacob and Christianity as Esau, thorough a series of references to Genesis 27 |
| 18 | i.e. the afterlife. |
| 19 | Lit: they will amen-ify. |
“אֱמוּנֵי שְׁלוּמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | Emunei Shlumei Yisrael — a seliḥah witnessing the Blois incident of 1171 by Hillel ben Yaaqov of Bonn” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
Stable Link:
https://opensiddur.org/?p=37281
Associated Image:
Vue panoramique de Blois (Loir-et-Cher, France), avec notamment le pont Jacques-Gabriel sur la Loire, la cathédrale Saint-Louis, et tout à droite le clocher de la basilique Notre-Dame de la Trinité (credit: Diliff, license: CC BY-SA)
(This image is set to automatically show as the "featured image" in category pages and in shared links on social media.)
Terms of Use:
Be a mentsch (a conscientious, considerate person) and adhere to the following guidelines:
- Properly attribute the work to Hillel ben Yaaqov of Bonn and Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation).
- Clearly indicate the date you accessed the work and in what ways, if any, you modified it. (If you have adapted the work, let us know so that the contributor might consider endorsing your revision.)
- Provide the stable link to this resource: <https://opensiddur.org/?p=37281>.
- Indicate that the original work was shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license. (To redistribute or remix this work in any format, modified or unmodified, you must refer to the terms of the license under which the work is shared.)
Additional Notes:
- The views expressed in this work represent the views of their creator(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Open Siddur Project's developers, its diverse community of volunteer contributors, or its institutional partners.
- We strongly advise against printing sacred texts and art containing divine names as these copies must be regarded with reverence, complicating their casual treatment and disposal.
- If you must dispose of a printed sacred text (one containing Divine Names), please locate the closest genizah (often established by a synagogue) and contact its custodians for further instructions. We also recommend using Morah Yehudis Fishman's Prayer for Adding a Work to the Genizah.
Support this work:
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
Comments, Corrections, and Queries