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Barekh

This is an archive of prayers, songs, and other individual works relevant to the eleventh course of the seder for Pesaḥ (Passover): Barekh, containing the Birkat haMazon, the pouring of the cup for the psychopomp of Moshiaḥ, and the ritual opening of the door on Passover accompanied by the statement, “Sh’fokh Ḥamatkha.”

Click here to contribute a work or a transcription and translation of a historical work that you have prepared for Barekh in the Seder Pesaḥ.

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ברכת המזון לפסח | A poetic Birkat haMazon for Pesaḥ, from the Cairo Geniza (CUL T-S H11.88 1v)

This is a poetic Birkat haMazon for Pesaḥ, from the Cairo Geniza (CUL T-S H11.88 1v). Much thanks to the work of Dr. Avi Shmidman, whose 2009 doctoral thesis is the foundational work for poetic Birkat haMazon studies. He marks it as Piyyut 64, and his Hebrew-language commentary begins on page 394 of his work. I’ve included two translations of the poetic portions — one literal and one preserving the acrostic and rhyme scheme. . . .

Categories:

Barekh

Tags:

acrostic, Alphabetic Acrostic, ברכת המזון birkat hamazon, Cairo Geniza, פיוטים piyyuṭim, rhyming translation

Contributor(s):

Unknown and Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

שְׁפוֹךְ אֲהָבָתֵךְ | Shfokh Ahavatekh (Pour Out Your Love), by Rabbi Ḥayyim Bloch (1948)

A paraliturgical adaptation of the prayer/curse, “Shfokh Ḥamatekha,” this prayer, likely written during, or just after the Holocaust, recognizes those nations and righteous gentiles who fought and risked their lives to aid and rescue European Jewry. . . .

Categories:

🌐 Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27th), Kristallnacht (9-10 November, 16 Marḥeshvan), 🇮🇱 Yom haShoah (27 Nisan), Barekh, 🇺🇸 Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., paraliturgical shfokh hamatekha, post-Holocaust liturgical adaptations, righteous gentiles, שפוך חמתך shfokh ḥamatekha, the Holocaust, World War Ⅱ

Contributor(s):

Mosheh Ḥayyim ben Avraham Abba Bloch and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Two Cups: Elijah and Miriam, a kavvanah and a prayer by Trisha Arlin

We lift Miriam’s cup, Dancing prophet celebrating the world that is now. And we tell God we are grateful For the water from the earth that was Miriam’s gift, Welcome necessity, On God’s behalf. Miriam announces joy! And teaches us to save ourselves. Miriam, the bringer of mercy, There’s no prayer for her in the haggadah— So make one up! . . .

Categories:

Barekh

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., אליהו הנביא Eliyahu haNavi, Jewish Feminist Prayers, Miriam, Passover, Passover seder, Prayers as poems, Psychopomp

Contributor(s):

Trisha Arlin

הקול קטן של אליהו הנביא | A reflection on despair and suicide awareness to be read upon opening the door for Elijah at the Passover seder

Although God often speaks to humanity in the rumble of earthquakes, the roaring of wind and the thunder of storms, God spoke to Elijah, instead, in a still small voice. And, it was the nurturing power of the still small voice that slowly gave Elijah the courage and strength to be able to peek out of his deep abyss. On this night when we welcome Elijah to join our celebration, we acknowledge those who are so pained that they cannot fully celebrate, for joy eludes them. Although we may witness their physical wound with our eyes, we must also find ways to become attuned to their spiritual hurt and their emotional despair. The blood from the wound in their heart may not be visible and the cry in the depth of their throat may not be audible unless we train ourselves to attend to them. But, they are there. Our challenge is see and hear the pain of those whose depression affects their lives. Our response does not have to be bold in order to make a difference. A still small voice can transform a frown into a smile. A caring whisper that says, “I care” can raise a stooped head. A tender embrace can provide salve to a soul racked with pain. . . .

Categories:

Barekh

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., community support, אליהו הנביא Eliyahu haNavi, haggadah supplements, Needing Vocalization, North America, Psychopomp, still small voice, suicide, suicide awareness, suicide prevention

Contributor(s):

Elijah's Journey and Oren Steinitz

כּוֹס לְמִרְיָם | Items for the Second Seder Plate: Miriam’s Cup of Water

Rabbi Yosi son of Rabbi Yehuda says: “Three good sustainers arose for Israel. These are they: Moses and Aaron and Miriam. And three good gifts were given because of them, and these are they: well, and cloud, and manna. The well was given in merit of Miriam… Miriam died and the well ceased, as it is written (Numbers 20:1-2) “And Miriam died there,” and it says right afterwards “and there was no water for the community.” . . .

Categories:

Symbolic Foods, Barekh

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., haggadah supplements, In the merit of Miriam, סגולות segulot, סימנים simanim, water, water is life, water protectors

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

קְלִפּוֹת לֶפֶת | Items for the Second Seder Plate: Turnip peels, after the Holocaust remembrance of Pearl Benisch

Pearl Benisch… remembers Passover in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany in the spring of 1945, just days before her liberation. . . .

Categories:

Symbolic Foods, Barekh

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., haggadah supplements, סגולות segulot, שפוך חמתך shfokh ḥamatekha, סימנים simanim, symbolic foods, the Holocaust, השואה the Shoah

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

A prayer for a country poised between demise and rebirth, by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein (Applied Jewish Spirituality 2023)

Written on 6 Nisan 5783, 27 March 2023 (after nightfall), in response to the Israeli people’s spontaneous demonstrations against the government’s attempts to amass virtually unchecked power. . . .

Categories:

Congregation & Community, Barekh, 🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel)

Tags:

2023 Israeli judicial reform protests, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., עם ישראל Am Yisrael, democracy, democratic process, English vernacular prayer, מדינת ישראל Medinat Yisrael, Religious Zionism, זכירות zekhirot

Contributor(s):

Daniel Raphael Silverstein and Applied Jewish Spirituality

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/index.php?cat=4769

Associated Image:

New life springing up in the Jerusalem hills (credit: Daniel Raphael Silverstein, CC BY-SA 2023)

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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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