עוּרִי עוּרִי – שִׁירַת מִרְיָם וּדְבוֹרָה | Uri Uri – Song of Miriam and Devorah, a piyyut for Shabbat Shirah by the Diwan Ashira Project • the Open Siddur Project

Tags: 2023-2024 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Devorah, Miriam, זמירות zemirot, פיוטים piyyutim, פרשת בשלח parashat B'shalaḥ, רשות reshut, שבת שירה shabbat shirah, שירת הים Shirat haYam

Excerpt: "Shirat Miriam and Devorah / Uri, Uri" (Song of Miriam, Song of Deborah / Rise up, Rise Up) was first published in 2024, as the second of four piyyutim published through the Diwan Ashira Project by Ephraim Kahn. . . .

Content:

This piyyut can be sung as a reshut (introductory piyyut) for the Haftarah read on Shabbat Shirah. The last stanza of the piyyut contains a reference to Judges 5:12, of Deborah to Baraq: וּשְׁבֵה שֶׁבְיְךָ (“Take your captives”) — a prayer for the hasty return of all the hostages.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
עוּרִי עוּרִי יוֹרֶדֶת יָם שְׂאִי בַת צִיּוֹן יְקָרָה קוֹל כִּשְׂאֵת נְהָרוֹת דָּכְיָם בְּשִׁירַת מִרְיָם וּדְבוֹרָה	Rise up, O traveller on high seas! Daughter of Zion, raise your voice Like a river flow – As did Miriam and Deborah!
יוֹם חֵיל פַּרְעֹה יָרֹה יָרָה אֵל נֶאֱמָן בִּמְצוּלוֹת יָם בְּתֻפִּים שִׁירוּ לוֹ שִׁירָה וַתַּעַן מִרְיָם עוּרִי…	On this day, when God sank Pharaoh’s army into the abyss of the seas, Play a praise on the tambourine – So exclaimed Miriam! Rise up…
צִדְקוֹת מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם אָשִׁירָה גַּם אֲזַמֵּרָה לְצָרֵינוּ אָמַר דַּיָּם וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה עוּרִי…	I sing and celebrate The justice of the eternal King Who has put an end to our evildoers – So sang Deborah! Rise up…
הֶעֱבִיר עַמּוֹ בִגְבוּרָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בְתוֹךְ הַיָּם לָכֵן הוֹדוּ לוֹ בְזִמְרָה וַתַּעַן מִרְיָם עוּרִי…	For leading His people with might Through sea on dry land, Sing a song of gratitude – Thus exclaimed Miriam! Rise up…
אֵל נוֹטֵר לִילָדָיו פִּרְיָם מִכָּל פְּרָעוֹת וְצָרָה מְהֵרָה יָשִׁיב אֶת שִׁבְיָם וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה עוּרִי…	May He who protects the fruit of His children From persecution and affliction Hasten the return of their captives – Thus sang Deborah! Rise up…

“Shirat Miriam and Devorah / Uri, Uri” (Song of Miriam, Song of Deborah / Rise up, Rise Up) was first published in 2024, as the second of four piyyutim published through the Diwan Ashira Project by Ephraim Kahn. Each piyyut is focused around a different biblical heroine, and sung in relation to a Jewish festival: 1) Hannah’s Prayer (El asher hasdo) for Rosh Hashanah, 2) Song of Miriam, Song of Deborah (Uri Uri) for Shabbat Shirah, 3) Queen Esther’s Prayer (‘Et sha’are armon) for Purim, 4) Ruth and Neomi (Biti ‘arvot) for Shavuot.

Recordings

Featured Image:

Title: the-pillar-of-fire-by-paul-hardy
Caption: The Pillar of Fire (1896) by Paul Hardy