Meditation on the Aqedah, by Shim’on Menachem

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=8452

open_content_license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license date_src_start: 2014-02-17 date_src_end: 2014-02-17 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"},{"name":"Hebrew","code":"heb","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"},{"name":"Hebrew (Ktav Ashuri)","code":"Hebr","standard":"ISO 15924"}]

Date: 2014-02-17

Last Updated: 2025-05-29

Categories: Aqédat Yitsḥaq

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Avraham Avinu, death and resurrection of the beloved son, English vernacular prayer, paraliturgical reflections, self-sacrifice, יצחק Yitsḥaq, עקדת יצחק Akeidat Yitsḥaq

Excerpt: I had an opening, with the help and support of some holy chevrei, to take on Binding of Isaac and accompanying meditations that occupy a conspicuous space during the morning blessings. This is what came out. . . .


Content:
Contribute a translation Source (English)

My God and the God of my ancestors,
My limbs, my heart, the tips of my fingers buzz with creation.
This body is Your instrument
Ready to move
On the knife’s edge of action.

My God and the God of my ancestors calls out,
Avraham, Avraham
Which one am I?
Do I put forth my hand?
Do I not?

Ribbono shel olam,
If I step beck, will I tip the balance of mercy?
If I move, will I doom us all?
And if the angel calls, will I hear?

Ribon kol haOlamim,
This body, my breath, my vanities
I empty them before You
All that is left is hineini

I had an opening, with the help and support of some holy chevrei, to take on Binding of Isaac and accompanying meditations that occupy a conspicuous space during the morning blessings. This is what came out.

Contributor: Shim'on Menachem

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
Effet Kirlian sur la position du lotus by Emmanuel Heredia (CC-BY-SA)
Title: Effet Kirlian sur la position du lotus by Emmanuel Heredia (CC-BY-SA)
Caption: "Effet Kirlian sur la position du lotus" (credit: Emmanuel Heredia, license, CC-BY-SA)