This is a transcript and translation of the Maariv service for Shabbat evening in the Old Persian rite, as recorded in MS Adler 23 ENA (https://hebrewbooks.org/20923) in the JTS Library. The Old Persian rite shows some fascinating unique linguistic features. The first thing that immediately strikes one is its tendency towards poetic extensions and doublings, even in texts (such as the Avot blessing) where most other rites are almost completely uniform. It also shows some nonstandard vocalizations that appear to be influenced by the Babylonian system of vocalization. In modern Persian communities the standard rite is a variation of the Sephardic rite used throught the Mizraḥi world, but this older rite with its unique facets deserves to be preserved as well. This is part 1 of a planned series of transcripts and translations from MS Adler 23 ENA. . . .
An early 17th century song for Yom T’ruah (Rosh haShanah) by Karaite Ḥakham, Zeraḥ ben Nathan of Troki. . . .
An early 17th century song for Yom T’ruah (Rosh haShanah) by Karaite Ḥakham, Zeraḥ ben Nathan of Troki. . . .
A piyyut of divine-closeness by Yisrael Najara. . . .
“Odeh La-Él” sings to the waking soul, calling on it to return to the service of the Divine. . . .
Behold, a full text of the Megillah of Fustat, telling a story of a great miracle that happened in 1524 CE (5284 AM). . . .
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Ribon Kol Ha-Olamim is a teḥinah (supplication) for entering the Shabbat that can be found in many siddurim following after the custom of the school of Rabbi Yitsḥak Luria. In his Ha-Siddur Ha-Shalem, Paltiel (Philip) Birnbaum includes it, commenting as follows: “Ribon kol Ha’Olamim is attributed to Rabbi Joseph of Rashkow, Posen, who lived towards the end of the eighteenth century. The adjectives in the first paragraph are in alphabetic order.” This can’t be correct however as a copy of Ribon Kol Ha-Olamim can be seen in the siddur Tikunei Shabbat from 1614 (see below for source images). Google Books attributes Tikunei Shabbat to Rabbi Yitsḥak Luria (1534-1572), which is the attribution we have followed, although as a posthumously published work we wonder whether it might be more properly attributed to “the School of Rabbi Isaac Luria.” Please comment below if you know of another attribution. The English translation is that of Paltiel (Philip) Birnbaum, with some minor changes that I have made to divine names and appelations.– Aharon Varady . . .

Contributor(s): Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Mosheh ben Yehudah ibn Makhir
Shared on כ״ה בטבת ה׳תש״פ (2020-01-21) — under the following terms: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license
Categories: Birkhot haShaḥar
Tags: Sunrise, Wakefulness, Gratitude, Alive, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., 16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, מודה אני Modeh Ani
Modeh Ani, in Hebrew with English translation by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. . . .

Contributor(s): Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Unknown Author(s)
Shared on י׳ בשבט ה׳תש״פ (2020-02-04) — under the following terms: Fair Use Right (17 U.S. Code §107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use)
Categories: Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
Tags: תחינות tkhines, first person, תחינות teḥinot, 17th century C.E., 54th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers, Yiddish vernacular prayer, childbirth, Problematic prayers, pregnancy, וידוים viduyim, Needing Source Images, Needing Attribution
A prayer of a pregnant woman anticipating childbirth. . . .

Contributor(s): Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Unknown Author(s)
Shared on י׳ בשבט ה׳תש״פ (2020-02-04) — under the following terms: Fair Use Right (17 U.S. Code §107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use)
Categories: Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
Tags: תחינות tkhines, first person, תחינות teḥinot, 17th century C.E., 54th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers, Yiddish vernacular prayer, childbirth, pregnancy, Needing Source Images, Needing Attribution
A prayer for a pregnant woman anticipating her childbirth. . . .
Master of the worlds and Lord of Lords, Father of Compassion and Forgiveness, we give thanks before you [haShem] Elohainu, Elohai of our ancestors, by bowing and kneeling for having brought us near to your Torah and to your sacred work, and for granting us a portion in the hidden insights of your holy Torah. . . .
A different version of the poem Lekhah Dodi according to the book Seder haYom by R. Moshe ibn Makhir of righteous blessed memory, vocalized and translated into English by Isaac Mayer. . . .
The custom of reciting this intention is attributed to Rav Yitzḥak Luria, circa 16th century, on Leviticus 19:18, recorded in Minhagei ha-Arizal–Petura d’Abba, p.3b by R’ Ḥayyim Vital. . . .
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z”l, included his translation of Rabbi Yitsḥak Luria’s prayer “Hareni Moḥel” (I hereby forgive) in his Siddur Tehillat Hashem Yidaber Pi (2009). To the best of my ability, I have set his translation side-by-side with a transcription of the vocalized text of the prayer. The prayer by the ARI z”l was first published in Ḥayim Vital’s Pri Ets Ḥayyim, Shaar Kriyat Shema al Hamitah, Pereq 2 (פרי עץ חיים, שער קריאת שמע שעל המיטה, פרק ב), and based on the statement of Reish Lakish in the Bavli Pesachim 66b and the practice of Mar Zutra attested in the Bavli Megillah 28a . . .
An interpretive translation in English of the shabbes hymn Yom Zeh l’Yisrael. . . .
A (kosher-for-Passover) prayer for redemption from exile. . . .
A popular piyyut for Simḥat Torah (4th hakkafah) originally composed as a piyyut for Shavuot and often referred to by its incipit, “Mipi El.” . . .
An early printing of the 42 divine name letter acrostic piyyut, Ana b’Khoaḥ. . . .

Contributor(s): Aharon N. Varady (translation) and Aharon Berekhiah ben Mosheh of Modena
Shared on ט״ז באדר א׳ ה׳תשע״ט (2019-02-20) — under the following terms: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license
Categories: Dying, Dying, Death, and Mourning
Tags: פיוטים piyyutim, ascent, 17th century C.E., 54th century A.M., 42 letter divine name, between life and death, hospice, caring for the dying, thanatology
A 42 Letter Divine Name acrostic piyyut to comfort someone in the process of dying. . . .
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