בִּתִּי עַרְבוֹת – פיוט לחג השבועות | Biti ‘Arvot (Ruth and Naomi) – a piyyut for Shavuot by the Diwan Ashira Project • the Open Siddur Project

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., French translation, Naomi, Ruth, זמירות zemirot, פיוטים piyyuṭim

Excerpt: This piyyut tells the story of Naomi and Ruth through an imagined dialogue. Naomi, aged and alone, is taken aback by Ruth’s unwavering attachment. Ruth explains that it is with Naomi—and her faith—that she finds the truth and authenticity she longs for. It can also be read as an allegorical dialogue between the Torah and the people of Israel, you insist on remaining loyal to her. פתרונו כפול: פשוטו על נעמי ורות ורומז לתורה עם כנסת ישראל. . . .

Content:

This piyyut tells the story of Naomi and Ruth through an imagined dialogue. Naomi, aged and alone, is taken aback by Ruth’s unwavering attachment. Ruth explains that it is with Naomi—and her faith—that she finds the truth and authenticity she longs for. It can also be read as an allegorical dialogue between the Torah and the people of Israel, you insist on remaining loyal to her. פתרונו כפול: פשוטו על נעמי ורות ורומז לתורה עם כנסת ישראל.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (French)	Translation of French (English)
ותאמר נעמי בִּתִּי עַרְבוֹת שָׂדֵךְ שְׁבִי פֶּרַח וּפְרִי גַּנֵּךְ לָבִיא מָה לָךְ רְעוֹת מֵיצָר צְבִי מִצְאִי לָךְ מְנוּחָה בְּרֵעוּת וְשָׁלוֹם	Noémie dit: Ma fille, demeure aux abords de ton champ, Apportes-en fruits et fleurs jusqu’à ton jardin. Que poursuis-tu dans les confins d’une terre promise? Trouve plutôt la sérénité dans l’amitié et la paix.	Naomi said: My daughter, remain in the embrace of your field; Bear fruit and flowers in your garden. Why chase the confines of a promised land? Seek solace in the arms of friendship and peace.
ותען רות לִבִּי אַחַר פְּעָמַיִךְ שָׂם פְּעָמָיו בִּנְדוֹדַיִךְ אֵין בַּיִת לִי כֶּאלֹהַיִךְ שֹׁכַנְתְּ בַּשָּׂדֶה אֹהָלַיִךְ שָׁלוֹם	Et Ruth répondit: Mon cœur, dans le sillage de tes pas Choisit de placer les siens, pour vagabonder. Je n’ai, pas plus que ton Dieu, de demeure fixe; Ô résidente des champs, en tes tentes règne la paix!	And Ruth replied: In the footsteps of your wandering feet My heart chooses to journey. Like your God, I have no fixed abode; O dweller of the field, in your tent reigns peace!
ותאמר נעמי בִּתִּי נִרְדִּי רֵיחוֹ אָבַד שִׂמְלַת יָגוֹן לְגֵוִי בַד לִבְשִׁי עֵלוֹם אֵל לָךְ זָבָד אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ לִמְקוֹם אִמּוֹתַי בְשָׁלוֹם	Noémie dit: Ma fille, mon nard a perdu son arôme, Seule la tristesse tient encore chaud à ma carcasse. Revêts donc la jeunesse dont t’a graciée l’Éternel; Cependant, je m’en irai rejoindre mes aïeules en paix.	Naomi said: My daughter, my nard has lost its fragrance; Sadness is my sole companion. Adorn yourself with the youth bestowed by God; But I shall go to my foremothers’ fold in peace.
ותען רות אַף אִם לִבֵּךְ עָטָה אֵבֶל שִׁירוֹ יֶעֱרַב מִשִּׁיר נֵבֶל חֵיקֵךְ חֶלְקִי מִכָּל חֵבֶל כִּי בוֹ תוֹרַת חַיִּים וְאַהֲבַת שָׁלוֹם	Et Ruth répondit: Même vêtu d’une robe de deuil, Le chant de ton cœur m’est plus agréable que tout autre. Je choisis en héritage ta part parmi toutes; Elle porte la Tora de vie et l’amour de la paix.	And Ruth replied: Though robed in mourning, the song of your heart Is more pleasing to me than any other. I choose as inheritance your portion of all; It bears the Torah of life and the love of peace.
ותאמר נעמי בִּתִּי יָדַעְתְּ כִּי לְפוּקָה הִיא לִי כוֹסִי כּוֹס מְצוּקָה וְעוֹד נַפְשֵׁךְ בִּי חֲבוּקָה אֲבַקְשָׁה נָּא טוֹב לָךְ אֲדַבְּרָה שָׁלוֹם	Noémie dit: Ma fille, tu sais bien mon infortune, Consciente que tu es du malheur qui est mon lot, Et pourtant, ton âme demeure à la mienne si attachée. Je ne souhaite, pour toi, que le bon; mes paroles sont paix.	Naomi said: My daughter, you know my troubles; Misfortune is my lot. Yet your soul remains entwined with my own – I wish good unto you; my speech is peace.
ותען רות טוּב תּוֹרַת פִּיךְ לֹא אֶטּוֹשָׁה בּוֹ אַחֲזִיק לֹא אֵבוֹשָׁה גַּם כִּי אַזְקִין בָּךְ אֶדְרוֹשָׁה מָצָאתִי בְחֵילֵךְ שַׁלְוָה וְגַם שָׁלוֹם	Et Ruth répondit: Jamais je ne renierai le doux enseignement de ta bouche; À lui je m’accroche, contre vents et marées. Au crépuscule de mon âge, je m’y abreuverai encore. Auprès de toi, j’ai trouvé la quiétude et la paix.	And Ruth replied: I shall never forfeit the sweet teachings of your mouth; I will cling to them against all odds. In the twilight of my years, still shall I sip from its well. With you have I found tranquility and peace.
שִׂישִׂי שִׂמְחִי פִּרְצִי פֶרֶץ תּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁמֵי עֶרֶץ בָּךְ נָֽשְׁקָה אֱמֶת אֶרֶץ כִּי נָֽעֲמָה דַּרְכֵּךְ נְתִיבָתֵךְ שָׁלוֹם	Sois heureuse! Réjouis-toi et exulte! La Tora, venue du ciel, Épouse, en ta personne, la vérité terrestre, Car ta voie est aménité (noam), ton sentier est paix.	Rejoice and elate, break out of your bounds! The heavenly Torah has indeed, Through you, encoutered the earth, For your way is sweet (naʿama) and your path is peace.

“Biti ‘arvot” (Ruth and Naomi) was first published in 2024, as the fourth of a four piyyutim series 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 Naomi (Biti ‘arvot) for Shavuot.

The piyyut was born from a collaboration with Neta Elkayam, who’s insights shaped its content. Neta Elkayam also contributed precious edits and suggestions and set the poem to a melody from the Andalusian Ala tradition, Tasdir Qudam Rasd, “Aleyloun Azhiboun”. An additional rendition was recorded by the paytan Hai Korkos, who adapted it to the melody of “Eze meqom bina”, which is the opening of the Azharot sung during Shavuot in the Moroccan tradition.

The French and English translations were contributed by Diwan Ashira.

Recordings

Neta Elkayam:

Hai Korkos

Featured Image:

Title: Ruth swearing her allegiance to Naomi (Jan Victors, 1653)
Caption: Ruth swearing her allegiance to Naomi" by Jan Victors (1653)