Hymn for Shaḇuoth (Father, See Thy Children) — from a Confirmation hymn by Felix Adler (1868) adapted by Angie Irma Cohon (1921)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=45231

Date: 2022-06-24

Last Updated: 2025-02-18

Categories: Bnei (Bar/Bat) Mitsvah & Other Birthday Prayers, Shavuot

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., confirmation, hymns

Excerpt: "Hymn for Shaḇuoth (Father, See Thy Children)" is based on "Confirmation (Father, see thy suppliant children)" an original hymn by Felix Adler published in Hymns, for Divine Service in the Temple Emanu-El (1871), hymn 34, p. 68. The last four lines of the hymn have been amended and replaced with "Till our lives shall bud and blossom..." by Angie Irma Cohon, for use on Shavuot. This version was published in her תפלת ישראל (Tefilat Yisrael) A Brief Jewish Ritual (Women of Miẓpah 1921), p. 19. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Father, See Thy Children
	Father, see Thy suppliant children Trembling stand before Thy throne, To confirm the vow of Horeb: We will serve the Lord alone. Thy commands shall be engraven On the tablets of our heart Till the heart in death be broken, And the cord of life shall part.
	When dark tempests, lowering, gather, It will be our strength and stay; It will be our guardian angel Upon life’s laborious way.
	As a shelt’ring cloud at noontide, As a flaming fire by night, Through prosperity and sorrow, It will guide our steps aright, Till our lives shall bud and blossom With the beauty of Thy truth, And we reap, in age, the fruitage Of the planting of our youth. Amen. Amen.

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“Hymn for Shaḇuoth (Father, See Thy Children)” is based on “Confirmation (Father, see thy suppliant children)” an original hymn by Felix Adler published in Hymns, for Divine Service in the Temple Emanu-El (1871), hymn 34, p. 68. (While the Union Hymnal credits the Hamburg Temple Hymnal and Adler as a translator, I couldn’t locate any hymn in German corresponding to these lines in the hymnal of the Israelitischer Tempel in Hamburg (1880). Perhaps there is another famous synagogue hymnal they are referring to from Hamburg. If you know for certain that Adler was not the original author of this hymn, please leave a comment with a link or reference to the original source, or contact us.)

The last four lines of the hymn have been amended and replaced with “Till our lives shall bud and blossom…” by Angie Irma Cohon, for use on Shavuot. This version was published in her תפלת ישראל (Tefilat Yisrael) A Brief Jewish Ritual (Women of Miẓpah 1921), p. 19. –Aharon Varady

Source(s)

 

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Angie Irma Cohon
  Bio: Angie Irma Cohon (née Reinhart, 1890-1991) was a Jewish author, poet, translator, and educator. Born to parents J.F. and Amelia (Marks) Reinhart in 1890, Cohon lived in Portland, Oregon until moving to Ohio at 19 to attend Hebrew Union College. She transferred to the University of Cincinnati, earning a bachelors degree in 1912. On June 12 of the same year she graduated, Cohon married Rabbi Samuel S. Cohon. In Chicago, they ran Temple Mizpah, with A. Irma Cohon organizing the sisterhood (Women of Mizpah) and the synagogue's religious school. A prayer pamphlet she prepared, A Brief Jewish Ritual, was published by Women of Mizpah in 1921. Cohon is best known for her contributions to the field of Jewish music in the English language. The National Council on Jewish Women published Introduction to Jewish Music in Eight Illustrated Lectures, with a second edition coming out in 1923. This work became a basis for the Council's study of music for nearly 30 years. She collaborated with Abraham Zevi Idelsohn on Harvest Festivals, A Children’s Succoth Celebration (1925).
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angie_Irma_Cohon
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/angie-irma-cohon
• 
  Name: Felix Adler
  Bio: Felix Adler (August 13, 1851 – April 24, 1933) was a German-Jewish American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, influential lecturer on euthanasia, religious leader, and social reformer who, in 1876, founded the Ethical Culture movement. Felix Adler was the son of Rabbi Samuel Adler of Temple Emanu-El, the most prominent reform synagogue in New York City.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Adler_(professor)
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/felix-adler
• 
  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

Featured Image:

Title: hymn for shabuoth (Felix Adler and A. Irma Cohon 1921) – cropped
Caption: hymn for shabuoth (Felix Adler and A. Irma Cohon 1921) - cropped