יְדִידִי שִׂים סְבָרָא | Yedidi Sim Severa, performed in honor of the Ḥatan Bereshit before the reading of Bereshit Bara (the first aliya) • the Open Siddur Project

Excerpt: This song is performed in honor of the Ḥatan Bereshit - the person who reads the first aliya of the torah, which begins Bereshit Bara. These words - Bereshit Bara - are repeated throughout the poem. The poem is similar in structure and meter to Kelil Yofi, which is performed in honor of the Hatan Torah, the person who reads the last aliya of the Torah, which begins Vaya'al Moshe. . . .

Content:

This song is performed in honor of the Ḥatan Bereshit – the person who reads the first aliya of the torah, which begins Bereshit Bara. These words – Bereshit Bara – are repeated throughout the poem. The poem is similar in structure and meter to Kelil Yofi, which is performed in honor of the Hatan Torah, the person who reads the last aliya of the Torah, which begins Vaya’al Moshe.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)	Transliteration (Romanized Hebrew)
יְדִידִי שִׂים סְבָרָא וְכַוָּנָה כְשֵׁרָה קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	O friend, direct your thoughts and your proper intention. Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Yedidi sim sevara vechavvana cheshera Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
צְבִי חֵן תּוֹךְ חֲבֵרִים וּמִגֶּזַע יְשָׁרִים וְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַבְּרוּרִים בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	Lovely man,^[1] Literally “beloved gazelle” or “beloved deer” – an epithet for an attractive young man in medieval Hebrew love poetry. Here a term of honor/praise for the addressee. amidst your colleagues, from the stock of the righteous, From the pedigree of the the pure ones – [read]: In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Tsevi ḥen toch ḥaverim umiggeza‘ yesharim Veshoresh habberurim bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ וְתָשִׁית לְבָב חָתָן בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּעִיּוּנִית וּמַעֲשִׂית בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	Be strong and courageous, and set your heart, O Bridegroom of Bereshit, In theoretical and practical [understanding] – [to read]: In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Ḥazaḳ ve’emats vetashit levav ḥatan bereshit Be‘iyunit uma‘asit bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
קְרֹא קִרְאוּ בְשִׁירִים וּמִזְמוֹרִים יְקָרִים לְאַשֵּׁר בֶּן גְּבִירִים בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	Recite, indeed, songs and dear psalms, To acclaim the son of nobles – [to read]: In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Ḳero ḳiru veshirim umizmorim yeḳarim Le’ash-sher ben gevirim bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
חֲסָדָיו צוּר יְצַוֶּה בְּעָתִיד גַּם בְּהֹוֶה בְּטוּבוֹ לָךְ יְרַוֶּה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	May the Rock direct his mercy, in the future and in the present, And flush you with his goodness. [And read:] In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Ḥasadav tsur yetsavvé be‘atid gam behové Betuvo lach yeravvé bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
זְכוּת אָבוֹת תְּדִירָה לְךָ מָגֵן וְסִתְרָה לְהַצִּילְךָ מִצָּרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	May the merit of the ancestors be a constant shield and protection for you, To spare you from troubles. [And read]: In the beginning, created… Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Zechut avot tedira lecha maḡen vesitra Lehats-tsilecha mits-tsara bereshit bara Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara
קְדֹשִׁי הַמְזַכֶּה לְהַתְחִיל כֵּן יְזַכֶּה לְהַשְׁלִימָהּ לְחוֹכֵי בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא קְרַב לִקְרֹא בְּתוֹרָה בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא	May my holy [God], who has given [the community] the opportunity to begin [the reading of the Torah], Also give them the opportunity to finish it, for those that hope [for redemption]. [Read]: In the beginning, created…. Approach to read, in the Torah: In the beginning, created…	Ḳedoshi hammezakké lehatḥil ken yezakké Lehashlimah leḥoché bereshit bara. Ḳerav liḳro betora bereshit bara

משקל: V – – – V – – (חוץ מהצלעית האחרונה בכל סטרופה)

Recordings

Notes

Notes
1	Literally “beloved gazelle” or “beloved deer” – an epithet for an attractive young man in medieval Hebrew love poetry. Here a term of honor/praise for the addressee.

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Title: yedidi sim sevara – karaite jews of america
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