Day of God, Leopold Stein's "O Tag des Herrn!" (1840) adapted from Frederick Lucian Hosmer's translation (1904) as a hymn for Yom Kippur by Angie Irma Cohon (1921)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=45266

Date: 2022-06-24

Last Updated: 2025-04-16

Categories: Yom Kippur

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, hymns, O Tag des Herrn, paraliturgical kol nidrei

Excerpt: Angie Irma Cohon's "Day of God" is a hymn for Yom Kippur, an abbreviated adaptation of "O Tag des Herrn!," a paraliturgical Kol Nidrei by Leopold Stein, translated from German to English by Frederick Lucian Hosmer. Cohon's abridged rendering is published in תפלת ישראל (Tefilat Yisrael) A Brief Jewish Ritual (Women of Miẓpah 1921), p. 20. . . .

Content:

Source by L. Stein (German)	Translation by F.L. Hosmer (English)	Adaptation by A.I. Cohon (English)
O Tag des Herrn	O Day of God. (Col-Nidre.)	Day of God
O Tag des Herrn! Du nahst Und das Herz erbebt, Und Schauer fassen die Seele, Sie gedenket ihrer Missethat, Sie gedenket, daß ihr Richter naht, Und zittert. Sie bangt, sie zagt; sie weint und klagt Und vergeht in Thränen.	O day of God! Thou comst — And the heart bows down, And fear o’ershadows the spirit. She remembers now her evil ways. As no more her righteous Judge delays,— And trembles. She weeps, she sighs, she moans, she cries. Overwhelmed with sorrow.	O day of God! thou com’st, Thou com’st, thou com’st, thou com’st! And my heart is alarmed; My soul is stricken with terror. She remembers her sins, with fear, As the judgment of her God draws near; And trembles; She sighs and moans, she cries and groans, Overwhelmed with anguish.
Fasse Muth, o belastet Herz! Schau du nur trostvoll himmelwärts! Gütig ist der Herr, Gern gibt er Gehör, Naht sich auszusöhnen.	Courage, heart! Rise now from the dust!— Heavenward lift thine eyes in trust! Lo, thy gracious Lord Speaks the saving word Of reconciliation.—	Courage heart! rise from the dust! Heavenward lift Thine eyes in trust. Lo! thy gracious Lord Speaks the saving word Of reconciliation.
Herr Gott, sieh’, Sieh’ meines Herzens Wehen, Und neig dein Ohr! Herr vermmm, Vernimm mein heißes Flehen, Oeffn’ uns das Thor! Nimm weg die Missethat, Oeffn’ uns das Thor der Gnad’, Und zieh’ uns empor.	Lord! God! See,— See Thou my heart’s contrition, And bow Thine ear! Hear, hear the voice of my petition, Banish my fear! Blot out my evil ways, Open the doors of grace, Bid us enter there!	Lord! behold, behold my heart’s contrition; And bow Thine ear! Hear, O hear the voice of my petition; Banish my fear. My sinful deeds efface; Open the door of grace; Bid us enter there!

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Angie Irma Cohon’s “Day of God” is a hymn for Yom Kippur, an abbreviated adaptation of “O Tag des Herrn!,” a paraliturgical Kol Nidrei by Leopold Stein, translated from German to English by Frederick Lucian Hosmer. Cohon’s abridged rendering is published in תפלת ישראל (Tefilat Yisrael) A Brief Jewish Ritual (Women of Miẓpah 1921), p. 20. Hosmer’s translation appears in Hymns and Anthems for Jewish Worship (ed. Isaac S. Moses, 1904), hymn №107 pp. 69-71.

Source(s)

 

 

 

Contributor: Angie Irma Cohon

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Angie Irma Cohon
  Bio: Angie Irma Cohon (née Reinhart, 1890-1991) was a Jewish author, poet, translator, and educator. Born to parents J.F. and Amelia (Marks) Reinhart in 1890, Cohon lived in Portland, Oregon until moving to Ohio at 19 to attend Hebrew Union College. She transferred to the University of Cincinnati, earning a bachelors degree in 1912. On June 12 of the same year she graduated, Cohon married Rabbi Samuel S. Cohon. In Chicago, they ran Temple Mizpah, with A. Irma Cohon organizing the sisterhood (Women of Mizpah) and the synagogue's religious school. A prayer pamphlet she prepared, A Brief Jewish Ritual, was published by Women of Mizpah in 1921. Cohon is best known for her contributions to the field of Jewish music in the English language. The National Council on Jewish Women published Introduction to Jewish Music in Eight Illustrated Lectures, with a second edition coming out in 1923. This work became a basis for the Council's study of music for nearly 30 years. She collaborated with Abraham Zevi Idelsohn on Harvest Festivals, A Children’s Succoth Celebration (1925).
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angie_Irma_Cohon
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/angie-irma-cohon
• 
  Name: Frederick Lucian Hosmer
  Bio: Frederick Lucian Hosmer (1840–1929) was an American Unitarian minister who served congregations in Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, and California and who wrote many significant hymns. Beginning in 1875 and continuing for nearly four decades, he and William Channing Gannett worked together, making a contribution to hymnody comparable to that of the "two Sams," Longfellow and Johnson, a generation earlier.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Lucian_Hosmer
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/frederick-lucian-hosmer
• 
  Name: Leopold Stein
  Bio: Leopold Stein (1810-1882) was a German Reform Movement rabbi and writer.
  Website: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_Stein_(Rabbiner)
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/leopold-stein
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription

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Title: day of god – hymn for yom kippur (A. Irma Cohon after F.L. Hosmer and Leopold Stein 1921) – cropped
Caption: day of god - hymn for yom kippur (A. Irma Cohon after F.L. Hosmer and Leopold Stein 1921) - cropped