Sabbath Blessing, a prayer by Caroline de Litchfield Harby (Reformed Society of Israel ca. 1826)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=39706

Date: 2021-10-15

Last Updated: 2024-12-17

Categories: Shaḥarit l'Shabbat ul'Yom Tov, Saturday

Tags: 19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, hymns, paraliturgical yotser ohr, South Carolina

Excerpt: "Sabbath Blessing" by Caroline de Litchfield Harby (ca.1800-1876), is included in the so-called Isaac Harby Prayerbook (1974) also known as the Cohn Lithograph, a handwritten prayerbook attesting to the prayers of the Reformed Society of Israel. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	We will give praise to God who ceased from all his works, and on the seventh day exalted himself and sat on the throne of his glory. With honour did he adorn the day of rest, and called the Sabbath a day of delight. This is the song of praise for the seventh day, whereon God rested from all his work: and the sabbath day praising and saying, a psalm and song for the Sabbath day.[1] Psalms 92:1
	Therefore, all whom God hath formed shall glorify him. They shall ascribe praise, honour, might and glory unto the King who hath formed all things and who causeth his People Israel to inherit rest on the holy Sabbath.
	Thy name, O lord our God! shall be sanctified; and thy memorial, our king! be glorified in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath, for all the the praiseworthy works of thy hands, and for the bright luminaries which thou hast formed: they shall glorify thee for ever. Blessed be thou for ever, our Rock, King, and Redeemer!
	Creator of holy angels, Praised shall be thy name for ever, o, our King! creator of officiating angels, and whose ministering angels are all established in the highest sphere, causing with reverence and unanimity, their voice to be heard, proclaiming the dictates of the Living God and eternal Sovereign. They are all lovely, pure, mighty, and holy Spirits, all performing the will of their master with sacred fear and reverence: all of them opening their mouths in holiness and purity: and with song and psalmody continually blessing, praising, glorifying, hallowing, reverencing, and ascribing sovereign Power, unto the name of God, the great, mighty, and tremendous King, who alone is holy. They also all willingly receive from each other, the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven; and give permission to one another, to sanctify their Maker, with a tranquil spirit, pure delivery, and sacred harmony; they altogether cry aloud with awful fear, and proclaim with reverence, Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord of Hosts! the whole earth is full of his glory.[2] Isaiah 6:3.   And the Ophanim, and holy creatures, with an impetuous motion upraise themselves towards each other, praising and saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his residence![3] Ezekiel 3:12.

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“Sabbath Blessing” by Caroline de Litchfield Harby (ca.1800-1876), is included in the so-called Isaac Harby Prayerbook (1974) also known as the Cohn Lithograph, a handwritten prayerbook attesting to the prayers of the Reformed Society of Israel. –Aharon Varady

Source(s)

Sabbath Blessing (Caroline de Litchfield Harby ca.1826) a

Sabbath Blessing (Caroline de Litchfield Harby ca.1826) b

Sabbath Blessing (Caroline de Litchfield Harby ca.1826) c

 

Notes

Notes

1	Psalms 92:1
2	Isaiah 6:3.
3	Ezekiel 3:12.

Contributor: Caroline de Litchfield Harby

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Caroline de Litchfield Harby
  Bio: Caroline de Litchfield Harby (ca.1800-1876), a poet, was associated with her brother Isaac Harby, co-founder of Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina, in his educational work in New York. Several of her hymns are included in the hymn-book of Beth Elohim (1842/1856), and one prayer of hers can be found among the handwritten prayerbooks of the Reformed Society of Israel.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/caroline-de-litchfield-harby
• 
  Name: Reformed Society of Israelites
  Bio: The Reformed Society of Israelites (1824-1833) was a group of forty-seven congregants of Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina, who gathered in late 1824 to petition the congregation to modify the service of prayers with an adapted liturgy emphasizing English translations, original hymns, and other modifications. Among other reforms, the group called for shorter services and sermons conducted in English that would relate the weekly parashah to everyday life. Prominent leaders in the group were Isaac Harby (1788–1828), Abraham Moïse (1799-1869), and David Nunes Carvalho (1784-1860). After Harby's death in 1828, the group published a prayerbook (later reprinted by Barnett Elzas/Bloch in 1916). In 1833, the group dissolved but in rejoining Beth Elohim they also managed to succeed in their original mission in putting the congregation on a firm Reform movement trajectory.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/reformed-society-of-israelites
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription

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