tagged: Rhineland Massacres • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

אָב הָרַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן מְרוֹמִים | Av haRaḥamim Shokhein Meromim, a prayer for the martyred during the First Crusade & Rhineland massacres

Unknown — Wed, 27 May 2020 20:17:07 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
	In many congregations, this prayer is said on the Shabbat preceding Shavuot and Tishah b’Av.
אָב הָרַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן מְרוֹמִים בְּרַחֲמָיו הָעֲצוּמִים הוּא יִפְקֹד בְּרַחֲמִים הַחֲסִידִים וְהַיְשָׁרִים וְהַתְּמִימִים קְהִלּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם׃	Parent of mercy Dwelling on highly In myriad mercy Will take account of, in mercy, The pious and the upright and the pure The holy congregations Who gave their lives sanctifying the Name.
הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א נִפְרָ֑דוּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים קַ֔לּוּ מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ׃ (שמואל ב׳ א:כג) לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנָם וְחֵפֶץ צוּרָם׃	They were loved and adored in their lives; And in their deaths they were not divided. Swifter than eagles, Stronger than lions,^[1] II Samuel 1:23. To do the will of their Maker and the wish of their Fortress.
יִזְכְּרֵם אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה עִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקֵי עוֹלָם׃ וְיִנְקֹם לְעֵינֵינוּ נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדָיו הַשָּׁפוּךְ׃	May our God remember them for good with all the remnant of the world’s righteous. And avenge for our eyes the innocent blood of God’s servants spilled.
כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים — הַרְנִ֤ינוּ גוֹיִם֙ עַמּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י דַם־עֲבָדָ֖יו יִקּ֑וֹם וְנָקָם֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לְצָרָ֔יו וְכִפֶּ֥ר אַדְמָת֖וֹ עַמּֽוֹ׃ (דברים לב:מג)	As is written in the Teaching of Moses the man of God — O nations, acclaim God’s people! For the blood of God’s people God will avenge; Turn vengeance upon God’s adversaries, And cleanse the land [for] God’s people.^[2] Deuteronomy 32:43.
וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר — וְנִקֵּ֖יתִי דָּמָ֣ם לֹֽא־נִקֵּ֑יתִי וַיהֹוָ֖ה שֹׁכֵ֥ן בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃ (יואל ד:כא)	And by the hands of Your servants the prophets it is written, saying — And I will treat their blood as innocent, that which I have not treated innocent before; and Adonai dwells in Ẓion.^[3] Joel 4:21.
וּבְכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ נֶאֱמַר — לָ֤מָּה ׀ יֹאמְר֣וּ הַגּוֹיִם֮ אַיֵּ֢ה אֱֽלֹהֵ֫יהֶ֥ם יִוָּדַ֣ע בַּגֹּיִ֣ים לְעֵינֵ֑ינוּ נִ֝קְמַ֗ת דַּֽם־עֲבָדֶ֥יךָ הַשָּׁפֽוּךְ׃ (תהלים עט:י)	And in the holy writings it is said — Why do the nations say, “Where is their God? Let the nations know before our eyes That You will avenge the spilled blood of Your servants.^[4] Psalms 79:10.
וְאוֹמֵר — כִּֽי־דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת [עניים] עֲנָוִֽים׃ (תהלים ט:יג)	And it says — For the One who pays back bloodshed remembers them; Does not forget the cry of the afflicted.^[5] Psalms 9:13.
וְאוֹמֵר — יָדִ֣ין בַּ֭גּוֹיִם מָלֵ֣א גְוִיּ֑וֹת מָ֥חַץ רֹ֗֝אשׁ עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ רַבָּֽה׃ מִ֭נַּחַל בַּדֶּ֣רֶךְ יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֗֝ן יָרִ֥ים רֹֽאשׁ׃ (תהלים קי:ז)	And it says — Judging upon the nations filling up corpses, Smiting heads of the whole earth; From the stream on the way drinking, Thus holding head up high.^[6] Psalms 110:6-7.

Source(s)

Notes

Notes
1	II Samuel 1:23.
2	Deuteronomy 32:43.
3	Joel 4:21.
4	Psalms 79:10.
5	Psalms 9:13.
6	Psalms 110:6-7.

זולת לשבת לפני שבעות | Zulat piyyuṭ for the Shabbat before Shavuot, on Gzerot TaTN”O (the massacres of the First Crusade) by Shmuel bar Yehudah he-Ḥasid

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) — Thu, 29 May 2025 18:30:16 +0000

This zulat piyyut, by R. Shmuel bar Yehuda (fl. 12th c.), is a keening cry in response to the traumatic First Crusade Rhineland massacres, known as the Gzerot TaTN”O in Hebrew, specifically focusing on the 3 Sivan massacre and martyrdoms in Mainz. The massacres of the Gzerot TaTN”O were so traumatic to Ashkenazi Jewry that to this day, the Av haRaḥamim prayer for martyrs, usually elided on Shabbat Mevorkhim, is not elided on Shabbat Mevorkhim Iyar or Sivan. As a zulat, it is recited at the end of the “Emet v-Emuna” paragraph. Generally the second half of the paragraph is altered slightly when a zulat is inserted. In this case, the alteration, according to the old Nusaḥ Polin, is included.

This is the fifth piyyut of a complete set of yotsrot (piyyutim inserted into the reading of the Shema) in the old Ashkenazi rite, for the Shabbat before Shavuot, including alphabetical gender-neutral translations.

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 pronouns They/Their/Them 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.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
עַל־הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְעַל־הָאַחֲרוֹנִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד חֹק וְלֹא־יַעֲבֹר אֱמֶת שָׁאַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד אַתָּה הוּא מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אָֽתָּה לְמַֽעַן שִׁמְךָ מַהֵר לְגׇאֳלֵנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר גָּאַֽלְתָּ אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֱמֶת מֵעוֹלָם שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עָלֵֽינוּ נִקְרָא בְּאַהֲבָה אֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶֽךָ׃	On the former and on the latter, forever and aye, a law not to be transgressed. True that You are the Cause our God and God of our ancestors, forever and aye. You are our Sovereign, the Sovereign of our ancestors are You. For the sake of Your name quickly redeem us as You redeemed our ancestors. True that since eternity is Your great name called over us in love; there is no god but You.
אֱלֹהַי אֶקְרָאֲךָ בְּמַחֲשֵׁב שִׁיר מַעֲנִי לְהַקְשֵׁב וְאַתָּ֥ה קָד֑וֹשׁ י֝וֹשֵׁ֗ב׃ (תהלים כב:ד) בְּעׇזְּךָ תְּפֹאַר בַּהֲמוֹנָי מִכְלַל יֹֽפִי בְּהֶגְיוֹנָי מִקְוֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה׃ (ירמיה יז:יג) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ!	Ah, my God, I call on You in thought, to hear a song of my answer; and You are holy, enthoned! (Psalms 22:4) By Your strength, be glorified in my multitudes, perfect beauty in my meditations Hope of Israel is the Cause! (Jeremiah 17:13) Do not silence Yourself!
גָּעֽוּנִי יְמֵי עֶבְרָה וְצָר בְּזָדוֹן נִתְגָּרָה כִּ֣י דִבֶּר־סָ֠רָ֠ה׃ (דברים יג:ו) דָּאוּ מֵאֶֽרֶץ רְחוֹקָה אֲגַפֵּי תֵימָן לְהַחֲזִיקָה י֧וֹם צָרָ֣ה וּמְצוּקָ֗ה׃ (צפניה א:טו) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Galsome days assailed me, and the foe arrogantly taunted, for he spoke apostasy. (Deuteronomy 13:6) Drifting in from a distant land, grabbing onto the southern wings, a day of stress and trouble! (Zephaniah 1:15) Do not silence Yourself!
הֲמוֹן חֵיל שֵׂעִיר לַהֲקָתָם בְּכָלָה לְהַסְעִיר ק֤וֹל שָׁאוֹן֙ מֵעִ֔יר׃ (ישעיה סו:ו) וֻעֲדוּ לְקֶֽרֶן אֲפֵלָה בִּכְבוֹד נֵכָר לְהִתְהַלְלָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה׃ (בראשית טו:יב) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Edom’s military hordes, their bands stirring up destruction, tumult’s sound from the city. (Isaiah 66:6) While they organized to darkness’s horn, to boast of the foreigner’s glory, behold terror, great darkness! (Genesis 15:12) Do not silence Yourself!
זָֽעוּ וְנִתְפַּלְּצוּ אַבִּירִים רָשָׁע כֶּאֱסֹף עֲדָרִים עָבַ֔ר בֵּ֖ין הַגְּזָרִ֥ים׃ (בראשית טו:יז) חִבֵּל יַלְדֵי שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים יִשְׁרֵי לֵב מַדָּעִים עַ֖ל מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת הָרֹעִֽים׃ (שיר השירים א:ח) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Zealous ones fled in terror, as the wicked gathered up the flocks passing between the pieces. (Genesis 15:17) Hurting the dandled babies, the upright-hearted knowledgeable, upon the shepherds’ shelters. (Song of Songs 1:8) Do not silence Yourself!
טִבְחָה כַּצֹּאן נֶחְשָֽׁבוּ הַמְסֻלָּאִים בַּפָּז נִסְחָֽבוּ הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם אָהֵֽבוּ ׃ (נראה זכריה ח:יט) יִחֲדוּ שִׁמְךָ לְקַדֵּשׁ וְנַפְשָׁם הִשְׁלִֽימוּ לְהָדֵשׁ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ׃ (חגי א:א) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	To the slaughter, we were thought of as lambs; those as valued as gold were stolen. Truth and peace they loved.^[1] Find Zechariah 8:19 Your Name they sanctified as one, and they accepted their souls’ threshing, on the first day of the month. (Haggai 1:1) Do not silence Yourself!
כׇּל־אַלּוּפֵי תוֹרָה דּוֹרְשֵׁי מִצְוָה בָּרָה יִרְאַ֤ת יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮׃ (תהלים יט:י) לְיוֹם מִצְוַת הַגְבָּלָה הֻזְבְּחוּ בְּנֵי הַקְּהִלָּה מְנוֹרַת֩ זָהָ֨ב כֻּלָּ֜הּ׃ (זכריה ד:ב) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Knights of Torah all, seekers of refined commandments; awe of the Cause is pure. (Psalms 19:10) Leading to bordering’s command-day,^[2] The third day before Shavuot, 3 Sivan, on which the boundary around Mt. Sinai was set. On 3 Sivan (27 May 1096) Count Emicho and his cohort of crusaders massacred the Jews of Mainz. (Speyer was attacked on 8 Iyyar, Worms on Rosh Ḥodesh Sivan, and Cologne on Shavuot itself.) the community’s children were sacrificed, a lampstand all of gold. (Zechariah 4:2) Do not silence Yourself!
מְשַׂחֶֽקֶת קְרוּעָה וּשְׂרוּפָה רְמוּסָה וּבְדָם הוּצְפָה אִמְרַ֣ת אֱל֣וֹהַּ צְרוּפָ֑ה׃ (משלי ל:ה) נוֹצְרֶֽיהָ הֻקְדְשׁוּ לְהִתְחַיֵּב זוֹלְלוּ חוֹלְלוּ לְדַיֵּב כִּ֥י גָבַ֖ר אוֹיֵֽב׃ (איכה א:טז) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Making light of being torn and buried, trampled and flooded in blood — the Sole God’s word is refined! (Proverbs 30:5) Now made martyred were its guardians; they devoured and caused upset, for the enemy was victorious! (Lamentations 1:16) Do not silence Yourself!
סָמוּךְ לְחַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת קְרָאוּנִי רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּפְרֹֽעַ פְּרָעוֹת׃ (נראה שופטים ה:ב) עֵינֶֽיךָ פְּקַח אָיוֹם בִּיטָה לְהָחִישׁ פִּדְיוֹם כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כׇל־הַיּ֑וֹם׃ (תהלים מד:כג) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Soon before the Shavuot festival, many misfortunes called upon me, as breaches breached in Israel!^[3] Find Judges 5:2 Open Your eyes, Awesome One, gaze down, hurry redemption, for we are killed for You all day! (Psalms 44:23) Do not silence Yourself!
פִּרְחֵי לְוִיִּם וְכֹהֲנִים תַּמּוּ בְּהַסְתֵּר פָּנִים חֲדָשִׁ֖ים גַּם־יְשָׁנִ֑ים׃ (שיר השירים ז:יד) צִיּוּן שַׁעֲרֵי תְעוּדָה רְעוּצִים בִּישִׁיבַת בְּדוּדָה וַאֲנִ֥י שְׁכוּלָ֖ה וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה׃ (ישעיה מט:כא) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Priests and Levites’ striplings finished off; with Your Face hidden, both new and old. (Song of Songs 7:14) Zion,the gates of testimony, crushed in the lonely dwelling,^[4] In Jerusalem (see Lam. 1:1), the crusaders rounded all of the Jews up into the synagogue and burned them alive. and I am bereaved and barren! (Isaiah 49:21) Do not silence Yourself!
קָרֵב קֵץ הַפְּלָאוֹת הַצֵּל עִמְּךָ מִתְּלָאוֹת גֹּאֲלֵ֕נוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת׃ (ישעיה מז:ד) רַחֲפָם בְּאֶבְרָתְךָ לְהַנְחוֹת אַמְּצֵם לְהַשִּׂיג רְוָחוֹת אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת׃ (תהלים טז:יא) אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Quicken the final miracles, save Your people from troubles, our Redeemer, Cause of Multitudes! (Isaiah 47:4) Rest Your guiding wings over them, strengthen them to obtain relief, the path of life, fullness of joy. (Psalms 16:11) Do not silence Yourself!
שְׁאוֹן קָמִים הָדֵק מַהֵר בְּנֵה עִיר הַצֶּדֶק לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק׃ (מלכים ב׳ יב:יג) תְּמַלֵּא שִׁמְךָ בְּעֶֽרֶץ נֹֽעַם כִּסְאֲךָ לְהַתְרֵץ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן עַל־כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ (תהלים פג:יט)	Shorten the opposing tumult, speedily build the righteous city, to strengthen the breach. (II Kings 12:13) Then fill Your name with admiration, to make level Your sweet throne, highest over all the earth! (Psalms 83:19) Do not silence Yourself!
שְׁׄנַת חֲמִשִּׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה מַׄחְצִי וּׄמַכָּתִי אֲׄנוּשָׁה יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְׄעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃ (תהלים מ:יד) חַׄנּוּן זְׄקֹׄף מִטּוּי קַרְנֵֽנוּ כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָֽנוּ שַׂמְּחֵֽנוּ הָאֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ וְעֶזְרָתֵֽנוּ׃ אַל דֳּמִי לָךְ	Six and fifty the year,^[5] The term “Gzerot TaTN”O” means “the decrees of the year ‘856,” i.e. 4856, the Hebrew-calendar equivalent of 1096, the year that the crusades began. my wound is untreatably egregious; Cause, lend me Your help, quickly! (Psalms 40:14) Straighten, One who is Gracious, our fallen horn, let us rejoice per our suffering’s days, the Deity of our salvation and help!^[6] Find Psalms 68:20 as well as the blessing of the Hoda’ah Do not silence Yourself!

Notes

Notes
1	Find Zechariah 8:19
2	The third day before Shavuot, 3 Sivan, on which the boundary around Mt. Sinai was set. On 3 Sivan (27 May 1096) Count Emicho and his cohort of crusaders massacred the Jews of Mainz. (Speyer was attacked on 8 Iyyar, Worms on Rosh Ḥodesh Sivan, and Cologne on Shavuot itself.)
3	Find Judges 5:2
4	In Jerusalem (see Lam. 1:1), the crusaders rounded all of the Jews up into the synagogue and burned them alive.
5	The term “Gzerot TaTN”O” means “the decrees of the year ‘856,” i.e. 4856, the Hebrew-calendar equivalent of 1096, the year that the crusades began.
6	Find Psalms 68:20 as well as the blessing of the Hoda’ah

גאולה לשבת לפני שבעות | Geulah piyyuṭ for the Shabbat before Shavuot, by Rabbi Yehuda bar Shmuel he-Ḥasid of Regensburg

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) — Thu, 29 May 2025 19:38:49 +0000

This geulah piyyut, by R. Yehuda heḤasid, is, similar to the prior zulat, a response to the massacres of the First Crusade. It specifically focuses, in the way only a maverick like heḤasid could, on holding God to account for breach of covenant, and calls out both Christians and — on a much rarer theme — Muslims for their slaughter of Jews during the Crusades. As a geulah, it is recited right before concluding berakha of the Emet blessing and the Amidah.

This is the sixth and final piyyut of a complete set of yotsrot (piyyutim inserted into the reading of the Shema) in the old Ashkenazi rite, for the Shabbat before Shavuot, including alphabetical gender-neutral translations.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
יוֹנָה נְשָׂאתָהּ עַל־כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים וְקִנְנָה בְּחֵיקְךָ בְּחַדְרֵי חֲדָרִים לָמָּה נְטַשְׁתָּהּ נְדוּדָה בַּיְעָרִים וּמִכׇּל־עֲבָרִים פֹּרְשֵׂי מִכְמוֹרִים יְסִיתֽוּהָ זָרִים לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִיא בְּמִסְתָּרִים תִּבְכֶּה לְבַֽעַל נְעוּרִים׃ וַתִּשָּׂא אִישׁוֹן לְבַעֲלָהּ הָרִאשׁוֹן וּבֵין אֵֽצֶר וְדִשׁוֹן תַּחֲלִיק לוֹ לָשׁוֹן לָמָּה תַּעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל׃	You lifted the dove on the wings of eagles, and nested it in Your lap in the innermost chambers. Why have You abandoned her, wandering among the forests? And from all passers-by casting nets, strangers incited to other gods, and she, in the hidden places, cries to the Spouse of her youth. And she raises her pupil to her first Spouse, and between Etzer and Dishon^[1] Two sons of Seir the Horite, mentioned in Genesis 36:21. Here representing Christianity and the diaspora as a whole. her tongue slips to Them, For I know that you have no other Redeemer.^[2] Ruth 4:4. A repeated refrain throughout the poem. to ask: “Why did you leave my soul?
הֲלָנֶֽצַח תַּמָּה תְּהִי גְלוּיַת צַמָּה מִזָּה וְשַׁמָּה לְבִזָּה וְשַׁמָּה וּבֶן הָאָמָה בִּעֲתַֽנִי אֵימָה כִּי בְיָד רָמָה קֶֽשֶׁת רָמָה וְאׇהֳלֵי בָמָה לְאׇהֳלִיבָמָה וְאׇהֳלִי בַמָּה תְּיַחֵל עוֹד וְכַמָּה׃ אֵין מֽוֹפֵת וְאֵין אוֹת וְאֵין חָזוּת וּמַרְאוֹת וְאִם אֶשְׁאַל לִרְאוֹת מָתַי קֵץ הַפְּלָאוֹת יַעֲנוּ נְבוּאוֹת הִקְשִֽׁיתָ לִשְׁאוֹל וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל׃	How could the pure one forever go with hair uncovered?^[3] A sign of disgrace, see Numbers 5:18 and the sotah ritual. Mizzah and Shammah^[4] Two grandsons of Esau, mentioned in Genesis 36:13 and 17. Here representing Christianity. to shame and disgrace! And the slavegirl’s son^[5] Ishmael son of Hagar. Here representing Islam. startled me in fear, for with a high hand he cast the bow.^[6] A weapon associated with Ishamel. See Genesis 21:20 And the shrine’s tents^[7] An untranslateable pun — “the shrine’s tents” is oholei vama to Oholivama,^[8] One of Esau’s wives, see Genesis 36:2. Perhaps referring to the Crusader conquest of Jerusalem. And my tent, how long^[9] Another untranslateable pun — “my tent, how long” is oholi va-ma and how much will you wait? There is no wonder, there is no sign, and there is no vision or sight, and were I to ask to see when is the final miracle, prophecies would answer, “You made it hard to ask… for I know that you have no other Redeemer.
וּבָנוֹת עֲדִינוֹת הׇגְלוּ מִמְּדִינוֹת וּמִמִּטּוֹת רַעֲנַנּוֹת וּמְנוּחוֹת שַׁאֲנַנּוֹת וְנִפְזְרוּ בֵּינוֹת עַם לֹא־בִינוֹת בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה וּלְשׁוֹנוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת אֵיךְ שׁוֹמְרֵי אֱמוּנוֹת בָּם הָיוּ טְמוּנוֹת וְלֶאֱלִילֵי תְמוּנוֹת אֵין חֶפְצָם לַעֲנוֹת׃ לָמָּה בַּמֶּרְחָק תַּעֲמֹד דָּר שַׁחַק דּוֹדִי רָחַק וְרוֹדִי דָחַק וּלְקֵץ הַיָּמִין נִשְׁאַל נִשְׁאוֹל וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל׃	Ushered into exile were the gentle daughters from the provinces, and from verdant tribes, and from tranquil resting-places, and they were scattered among people lacking understanding, with alien dialects and strange languages. How could the guardians of faith be buried among them? who have no desire to answer to iconized godlings? Why do You stand afar, o Dweller in the Welkin? My Beloved withdraws, and my subjugator stresses!^[10] Another untranslateable pun, in this case a spoonerism. “My Beloved withdraws” = dodi raḥaq, while “my subjugator stresses” is rodi daḥaq. For I know that you have no other Redeemer. For the End of Dawes^[11] An obsolete Middle English plural of day, to reflect the unique plural form yamin used here, based on the Aramaic-influenced form of Daniel 12:13. we ask, yea, ask!
דֶּֽגֶל אַהֲבָה מֵעָלַי הוּסַר וְרֶֽגֶל גַּאֲוָה עָלַי עֹל מָסַר וַאֲנִי מְיֻסָּר בְּאַכְזְרִיּוּת מוּסָר גּוֹלֶה וְנֶאֱסָר וּמַר וְזָעֵף וָסָר אֵין מִנְּזָר וְטִפְסָר אֵין מֶֽלֶךְ וְאֵין שָׂר צָר אֵלַי סָר וְצוּר מֶֽנִּי סָר׃ הֶחֱרִיב בְּקִצְפּוֹ מָקוֹם מִדְרַךְ כַּפּוֹ וְהִצִּית בְּזַעְפּוֹ מְזוּזָתוֹ וְסִפּוֹ וְאֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְּאַפּוֹ וַתִּיקַד עַד־שְׁאוֹל וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל׃	Down came the flag of love from over me, and the prideful foot set a yoke upon me. And I am punished, cruelly removed, an exile and prisoner, and bitter and angry and sullen. There is no crown-prince nor marshal, no king and no noble. The stressor turned towards me, and the Rock turned from me.^[12] Another untranslatable pun. “Stressor” = tsar, while “Rock” is tsur. They destroyed in Their fury the place Their sole walks.^[13] The Temple. And They ignited in Their anger Their doorpost and Their lintel. And fire fevered in Their rage and kindled unto the underworld. For I know that you have no other Redeemer.
הַֽ֭לְעוֹלָמִים יִזְנַ֥ח ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י הַאֵין קֵֽצֶה לְמֽוֹפֵת חֶזְיוֹנָי קוּמָה יְהֹוָה וְיָפֻצוּ שׂוֹטְנָי וְשׁוּב אֶל־מְעוֹנַי אֶל־הֵיכַל לִפְנָי וְהָשֵׁב לִשְׁכֵנַי גְּמֻלוֹת יְגוֹנָי וְתִגָּלֶה לְעֵינַי כְּבֹאֲךָ מִסִּינָי׃ וּבְטַל יֶָשַׁע רֵד עַל־יָרֵא וְחָרֵד וּמִכִּסְאִי הוֹרֵד בֶּן־הָאָמָה מוֹרֵד עַד לֹא־אֵרֵד בְּיָגוֹן אֶל שְׁאוֹל וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל׃	Always will my Master abandon? Is there no conclusion to my wondrous visions? Arise, Cause, and may my adversaries be scattered, and return to my abodes, to the temple’s midst, and bring upon my neighbors requital for our sorrow, and reveal to my eyes as You came upon Sinai! and with dew of salvation descend upon the reverent and awed, and bring down the rebellious slavegirl’s son^[14] Ishmael. Find note above on “the slavegirl’s son.” from my seat, till I no longer descend in sorrow to the underworld, for I know that you have no other Redeemer.
בִּגְלַל אָבוֹת תּוֹשִׁיעַ בָּנִים וְתָבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לִבְנֵי בְּנֵיהֶם׃ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל׃	For the parents’ sake You will save the children and bring redemption to their children’s children. Blessed are You, Cause, who redeemed Israel.

Notes

Notes
1	Two sons of Seir the Horite, mentioned in Genesis 36:21. Here representing Christianity and the diaspora as a whole.
2	Ruth 4:4. A repeated refrain throughout the poem.
3	A sign of disgrace, see Numbers 5:18 and the sotah ritual.
4	Two grandsons of Esau, mentioned in Genesis 36:13 and 17. Here representing Christianity.
5	Ishmael son of Hagar. Here representing Islam.
6	A weapon associated with Ishamel. See Genesis 21:20
7	An untranslateable pun — “the shrine’s tents” is oholei vama
8	One of Esau’s wives, see Genesis 36:2. Perhaps referring to the Crusader conquest of Jerusalem.
9	Another untranslateable pun — “my tent, how long” is oholi va-ma
10	Another untranslateable pun, in this case a spoonerism. “My Beloved withdraws” = dodi raḥaq, while “my subjugator stresses” is rodi daḥaq.
11	An obsolete Middle English plural of day, to reflect the unique plural form yamin used here, based on the Aramaic-influenced form of Daniel 12:13.
12	Another untranslatable pun. “Stressor” = tsar, while “Rock” is tsur.
13	The Temple.
14	Ishmael. Find note above on “the slavegirl’s son.”