In this zemer (hymn) for se’udah shelisheet, the third Sabbath meal, I speak of human travails and God’s providential care. I close with an expression of hope in the coming Redemption. On Saturday evening, as the sun begins to set and the holy Sabbath draws to a close, I wish to enliven hearts and spirits with words of thanksgiving and joyous faith.
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החזן קורא והקהל עונים אחריו:
הִנֵּה בַּיַֽעַר נֶאֱבַדְתִּי עַד־בֹּֽאֲךָ לְהַנְחֵֽנִי. הקהל אומרים שתי פעמים: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא רְצוֹנִי בְּתוֹךְ הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ הִנְּךָ שִׁמְשִׁי. |
The cantor chants the following couplet, followed by the congregation:
Behold! I was lost in the forest Until You came to lead me. The congregation chants the following couplet twice: My God, my Glory, You are my desire In the midst of darkness You are my sun. |
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חזן: חַֽדּוּ דַּרְדַּר בַּשְׁבִילִים
וַתַּנְעִילֵֽנִי בְּסַנְדָּלִים. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא שְׂשׂוֹנִי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּֽךָ, מְלֹךְ עַל־נַפְשִׁי. |
cantor: Thorns are sharp along the paths
But You have shod me in sandals. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Joy I am Your servant; reign over my soul! |
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חזן: הִפִּילַּֽנִי רֽוּחַ־יָמִין
וַתּוֹצִיאֵֽנִי מִפִּי תַּנִּין. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא מַצִּילִי בְּלֵיל הַסַֽעַר הִנְּךָ שִׁקְטִי. |
cantor: The south wind cast me down
But you took me from out of the sea monster’s mouth. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Rescuer You are my Quiet in the night of the tempest. |
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חזן: לוּלֵא מַחְסֵה חֻפָּתְךָ
אֲזַי גָוַע עָז־גָּלְמִי. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא מוֹשִׁיעִי מְאֹד קָטֹֽנְתִּי נֹֽכַח גִּבּוֹרִי. |
cantor: Were it not for Your sheltering canopy
Then the splendor of my cocoon would have perished. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Savior I am exceedingly small before my Mighty One. |
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חזן: מַר בָּכִיתִי וָאֱהִי עֵירֹם
וַתְּכַסֵּֽנִי בְּשָׁלוֹם. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא מְזִינִי רָעֵב הָיִיתִי וְהֶאֱכַלְתָּֽנִי. |
cantor: I wept bitterly and was naked
And You covered me with peace. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Nourisher I was hungry and You fed me. |
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חזן: רַֽבּוּ שֵׁדִים וַיַּבְחִידוּנִי
וַיַּבְרִיחֵם חַנּוּנִי. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא לוֹחֲמִי הֵן! הוּסַבֹּֽתִי וַתְּהִי חַרְבִּי. |
cantor: Many are the demons who have frightened me
But my Gracious One chased them away. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Warrior Lo! I was surrounded and You were my sword. |
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חזן: נָהָֽתָה־נֶֽהִי קִרְיַת צִיּוֹנִי
תָּסִיר יְגוֹנָהּ, יִחַדְּ עַמִּי. קהל: אֵלִי כְּבוֹדִי, אַנְתְּ הוּא תּוֹחַלְתִּי רַבּוֹת הֵכַנְתִּי לִמְשִׁיחִי. |
cantor: My city of Zion has lamented dolefully
But You shall take away her sorrow and my People shall rejoice. congregation: My God, my Glory, You are my Hope I have prepared much for my Messiah. |
Eli Kevodi (My God, My Glory”), for seudah shelisheet, was composed by Asher Hillel Burstein in 2018. The hymn was awarded the “Rabbi Hershel Matt Creative Liturgy Award,” the first prize in the creative liturgy contest sponsored by ARC (The Association of Rabbis and Cantors), an interdenominational group of Jewish clergy.
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