Tags: Acrostic signature, אז ישיר Az Yashir, ימי השובבים Yemei haShovavim, פיוטים piyyutim, פרשת בשלח parashat B'shalaḥ, שבת שירה shabbat shirah, שירת הים Shirat haYam
Excerpt: This piyyuṭ, bearing the acrostic signature "Samuel," is traditionally recited in the communities of Babylonia and India as a petiḥa, or opening poem, before the Song of the Sea. It is also sung on Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath where we read the Song of the Sea in public. This translation is an attempt to preserve the original meaning as well as the rhyme scheme and poetic form. . . .
Content:
This piyyuṭ, bearing the acrostic signature שמואל (“Samuel”), is traditionally recited in the communities of Babylonia and India as a petiḥah, or opening poem, before the Song of the Sea. It is also sung on Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath where we read the Song of the Sea in public. This translation is an attempt to preserve the original meaning as well as the rhyme scheme and poetic form.
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.”
Song anew will I sing, and the name of EL
I will sanctify in the assembly of the Lion of EL
As Moses would sing with the children of Israel
this song, to the CAUSE. (Exodus 15:1)
My soul, how it longs — as feeling dead —
for in the Holy House’s court to tread
and offer to God my fire-bread
a sweet scent for the CAUSE. (Leviticus 1:9 and elsewhere)
Upon my exulting God in greatest cheer
and happiness and joy sincere
lauding and praising for all to hear —
Hallelujah! Praise, servants of the CAUSE! (Psalms 113:1)
Lastly, send the anointed heir
to quickly come and answer our prayer
and bring us to the land, so there
we may envision the beauty of the CAUSE. (Psalms 27:4)
Recordings
Contributor: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
Co-authors:
Name: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation) Bio: From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog. Website:https://igmjewishcreativeworks.com Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/isaac-gantwerk-mayer
Name: Shmuel haPaytan Bio: Nothing is known about this paytan save his name preserved as an alphabetic acrostic in the piyyut, "Shir Ḥadash Ashir," sung before the Shirat haYam in Iraqi and Indian Jewish communities. Website: Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/shmuel-hapaytan
Featured Image: Title: BL Or 1404; 1350-1374; ‘Brother Haggadah f7r’ Caption: BL Or 1404; 1350-1374; 'Brother Haggadah f7r'
