מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים | Ma'ariv Aravim, translation by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman & Shaul Vardi

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=30111

Date: 2020-02-08

Last Updated: 2025-02-02

Categories: Maariv Aravim

Tags: blessings prior to the shema, מעריב ערבים ma'ariv aravim

Excerpt: The first evening blessing before the recitation of the Shema in Hebrew with English translation . . .

Content:

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרוֹ מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים,	Blessed are You, YHVH our elo’ah, Ruler of the world, whose word brings on the evening.
בְּחָכְמָה פּוֹתֵחַ שְׁעָרִים, וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים, וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת הַכּוֹכָבִים בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּרָקִיעַ כִּרְצוֹנוֹ. בּוֹרֵא יוֹם וָלָיְלָה, גּוֹלֵל אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְחֹשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אוֹר, וּמַעֲבִיר יוֹם וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה, וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה, יהוה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ.	God’s wisdom opens heaven’s gates; God’s understanding makes the ages pass and the seasons alternate; God’s will controls the stars as they travel through the skies. Creator of day and night, rolling light away from darkness, and darkness from light; God causes day to pass and brings on the night; God sets day and night apart: YHVH of Hosts is God’s name.
אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.	May the living and eternal El rule us always, to the end of time!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה, הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים׃	Blessed are you, YHVH, whose word makes evening fall.

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This translation of the first evening blessing before the recitation of the Shema can be found in HaAvodah SheBaLev – the Service of the Heart (Kehilat Kol HaNeshama, Jerusalem, 2007). “Adonai” is used as a circumlocution for the Tetragrammaton in the English translation. I have replaced ‘Adonai’ with ‘YHVH,’ ‘God’ with ‘El,’ and ‘our God’ with ‘our elo’ah.’ –Aharon Varady.

Source(s)

 

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Contributor: Shaul Vardi (translation)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Shaul Vardi (translation)
  Bio: Shaul Vardi is a freelance translator and editor living in Jerusalem and active in the Reform community Kol HaNeshama (KKH). Among other liturgical projects, Shaul devised the transliteration methods used in KKH’s bilingual Siddur and in the bilingual accompaniment to the new Israeli Reform Siddur Tefilat Ha-Adam. He also composed the first Hebrew-language “mi she-berakh” for LGBTQI+ Pride Shabbat.
  Website: http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/member33991.htm
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/shaul-vardi
• 
  Name: Levi Weiman-Kelman (translation)
  Bio: Levi Weiman-Kelman is the founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Haneshama, a Reform community in Jerusalem devoted to prayer, study and social action. He is a founding member of Rabbis for Human Rights and teaches at the Hebrew Union College.
  Website: http://www.kolhaneshama.org.il
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/levi-weiman-kelman
• 
  Name: Unknown Author(s)
  Bio: Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/unknown

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