אָנָא אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ | Ana Élékh Méruḥekha, a piyyut by Yisrael Najara (ca. 16th c.)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=30681

Date: 2020-03-21

Last Updated: 2020-03-21

Categories: Morning Baqashot

Tags: 16th century C.E., 54th century A.M., בקשות Baqashot

Excerpt: A piyyut of divine-closeness by Yisrael Najara. . . .

Content:

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
אָנָא אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ אָֽנָא מִפָּנֶֽיךָ אֶבְרַח אֶבְרַח מִמְּךָ אֵלֶֽיךָ וּבְצֵל יָדְךָ אָגִיל אֶפְרַח	How can I escape your essence? How shall I flee before your Presence?[1] cf. Psalms 139:7.   When I flee, I move toward you; In the shadow of your hand, I rise up in delight.
יָהּ כְּבוֹדְךָ עוֹלָם מָלֵא אַתָּה הָאֵל־עֽוֹשֵׂה־פֶּֽלֶא אִם לַָשָּׁמַיִם אֶעֱלֶה שָׁם אֶמְצָא אוֹרְךָ יִזְרַח	Yahh, your kavod fills the world You are the one who perform wonders. If I rise up to the heavens There I find your shining light.
שַׁחַק לֹא יְכַלְכֶּלְךָ וְאֶֽרֶץ לֹא תְכִילֶֽךָ מִי יְמַלֵּל רֹב גָּדְלְךָ לוּ פִיו כַּיָּם בְּקוֹל יִצְרַח	The heavens cannot contain you Nor the Earth hold your essence. Who can proclaim your mighty acts? Were one’s mouth as vast as the sea, No sound could capture your might.
רְקִיעֵי רוּם הֵם כִּסְאֲךָ וְאֶֽרֶץ הֲדוֹם רַגְלֶֽךָ גָּדוֹל שִׁמְךָ וְהֵן לְךָ צָפוֹן דָּרוֹם מַֽעֲרַב מִזְרָח	The highest firmament is your throne And the earth your footstool Yet your name is a vast array, All directions and every height.
אֶסַּק שָׁמַֽיִם שָׁם אוֹרְךָ אַצִּיעָה שְׁאוֹל הִנֶּֽךָ אַֽחֲרִית יָם גַּם שָׁם יָדְךָ תִּקָּחֵֽנִי בְּלִי טֹרַח	I ascend to the heavens; there is your light, I descend below and I am before you. Your hand is found beyond the farthest sea, You take me without trouble or plight.
לָכֵן אֵין לִי מָנוֹס בִּלְתָּךְ וּבְחֶמְלָתָךְ אָבוֹא בֵיתָךְ וְאֶקַּח מָגֵן תּוֹרָתָךְ תּוֹרֵֽנִי דֶּֽרֶךְ וָאֹרַח	I have no refuge but you. Through your compassion I enter Your house. Your teachings are my protection; Teach me to follow your path aright.

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“Ana Élékh Méruḥekha” is one of many by R’ Yisrael Najara, a paytan and mystic who lived in the 16th century in Tsəfaṭ and who served as rabbi of ‘Azzah (Gaza). The translation here is that of Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet from his Siddur Masorti (Izzun Books 2019).

Source(s)

 

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Notes[+]

Notes

1	cf. Psalms 139:7.

Contributor: Adam Zagoria-Moffet (translation)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Adam Zagoria-Moffet (translation)
  Bio: Adam Zagoria-Moffet is the rabbi of St Albans Masorti Synagogue. He was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary where he also received an MA in Jewish Thought. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and has lived in Minnesota, New York, and Israel before moving to the UK. His interests are primarily in mysticism, ethics, and Sephardic Judaism and culture. He lives in St Albans with his family.
  Website: http://azmoffet.com
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/adam-zagoria-moffet
• 
  Name: Yisrael Najara
  Bio: Yisrael ben Mosheh Najara (Hebrew: ישראל בן משה נאג'ארה; Arabic: إسرائيل بن موسى النجارة‎, Isra'il bin Musa al-Najara; c. 1555, Safed, Ottoman Empire – c. 1625, Gaza, Ottoman Empire) was a prolific Jewish liturgical poet, preacher, Biblical commentator, kabbalist, and rabbi of Gaza.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_ben_Moses_Najara
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/yisrael-ben-mosheh-najara

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