לערב ראש השנה 17

לז. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום שלמה הבבלי.

This prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon HaBavli.

אָב

[Our] Father,

לְרַחֵם וְרַב סְלֹחַ חוֹלַלְתָּנוּ.

You created us with compassion and pardon,¹When God created man, He knew that man required His mercy and forgiveness.

בְּנֵי בְרִית קֹדֶשׁ

we are the children of Your holy covenant,

וְלֹא חִלַּלְתָּנוּ.

and You have never exchanged us;²For any other nation.

גּוֹלִים וְאַתָּה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ

even in our exile, You are with us,

כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנוּ.

as You have given us hope.³By promising not to leave us even in the worst of times.

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵנוּ

And [now] pardon our iniquity and our sin

וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.

דָּם וְגִאוּל תָּדִיחַ,

Wash away the blood and filth⁴Of our sins.

דִּין תָּאִיר.

bring our judgment into light;

הַחֵטְא יָעֳלַם

let our sin be hidden

וּבַל יִמָּצֵא לְהַכְעִיר.

and not be found to make us repulsive

וְעָוֹן יְבֻקַּשׁ

and let our iniquity be sought

וְאֵינֶנּוּ

and none be found,

כְּנַמְתָּ לְהַבְאִיר.

As You clearly stated:

כִּי אֶסְלַח לַאֲשֶׁר אַשְׁאִיר:

“I will forgive those that I will spare.”

זַהַם מְרֻבָּה

The foulness [of our sins] is great

וּפָסַק נִיחוֹחַ מְמֻלָּח.

and the aroma of our sacrifices⁵“ניחוח ממלח“ lit. the salted pleasant odor—all sacrifices were salted before being burnt on the altar as a pleasant fragrance to God. (v. Vayikra 2, 13) has ceased.⁶Since the destruction of the Temple.

חֲצִיצַת חֲפִיפַת

The covering of soil [caused by]

לִכְלוּךְ שֶׁרֶץ הַלָּח.

the filth of the moist creeping thing,⁷A ritually unclean person who has any foreign matter covering any part of his body cannot become ritually clean unless he first removes the impurity.

טְבִילַת טָהֳרַת

let that become cleansed by immersion

צִנּוֹר מֵימֶיךָ יְקַלָּח.

in the flow of Your waters,

כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה טוֹב וְסַלָּח:

for You are Adonoy, good and forgiving.

יַעַן סָרַחְנוּ נִדַּחְנוּ

Since we sinned we were exiled

וּמִשְׁמַן רָזֶה.

and from corpulence [we became] emaciated

כִּי רַבָּה הַטֻּמְאָה

for the impurity is abundant

וְאֵין מַזֶּה.

and there is none [priest] to sprinkle us.⁸With the mixture of water and ashes from the red heifer—the procedure used in purifying one who was contaminated with the ritual uncleanness of a dead body.

לְמַעַנְךָ יְהֹוָה

For Your sake, Adonoy,

כְּאָז וְלְפָנִים מִזֶּה.

as [You did] then and before this,

סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה:

forgive, please, the sins of this nation.

מִסַּפֵּר עָצְמוּ

They are too abundant to relate—

חַסְדֵי רֹב גְּמוּלֶיךָ.

the great goodness that You have bestowed.

נִהַגְתָּ לְעַם

You led the nation

בֵּית מֶרִי לְמוּלֶךָ.

[even] when it was rebellious towards You.

סִבְלָם נָא תִשָּׂא

Please, carry their burden

כְּמִקֶּדֶם נְטוּלֶיךָ.

as You carried it in previous days,

וְסָלַחְתָּ לְעַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר חָטְאוּ לְךָ:

and forgive Your nation that has sinned to You.

עָלֵינוּ מִמָּרוֹם

Upon us, from on high

רוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ יֵעָרֶה.

let His holy spirit pour forth,

פָּרוֹשׁ

so that we may separate ourselves [from sin],

וְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ

and sanctify [us]

וְחָדָשׁ לָנוּ יִבָּרֵא.

and [a] new [heart] create for us.

צֵרוֹף וּמֵרוֹק

The purification and the cleansing [from sin]—

בְּלִי יִסּוּרִין תּוֹרֶה.

order that they be without suffering,

כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה

for forgiveness is with You⁹It is in Your hands to forgive.

לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא:

so that You shall be feared.

קוֹמֵם נְפוּלָה

Stand upright the fallen one.¹⁰“Fallen one”—the Jewish nation.

עוֹד מִלְּהוֹסִיף דַּאֲבוֹנֵנוּ.

[Refrain] from adding to our misfortune.

רוּחַ חֵן רַוֵּה

[With] a spirit of kindness

שַׂבַּע רַעֲבוֹנֵנוּ.

satiate our hunger.

שָׁלְמוּ תַּמוּ

Annihilation has come [to those who]

עֵת רִעוּעַ בּוֹנֵנוּ.

rebuilt us at the time we were weakened.¹¹“To those … rebuilt us” i.e. the righteous of every generation.

לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה

For the sake of Your Name, Adonoy,

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲווֹנֵנוּ:

forgive our sins.

שִׁירַיִם הִנֵּנוּ

We have become as leftovers¹²“Leftovers”—the remains at the bottom of the pot.

וּמִי כָמוֹךָ נוֹשֵׂא.

and who, like You, can forgive [such as these].

לֹא עַל צִדְקוֹתֵינוּ

Not [based] upon our righteousness

אוֹת נְנַסֶּה.

will we attempt to seek a sign,¹³“A sign”—that You have forgiven us.

מִדַּת הֲמוֹן רַחֲמֶיךָ

but upon your virtue of abundant compassion

נַפִּיל מַחֲסֶה.

we will send¹⁴נפיל—lit. “throw.” our plea.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָעָה אֲדֹנָי סְלָחָה

Adonoy, listen! Adonoy, forgive!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה:

Adonoy, pay attention [to us] and do!

בְּיִרְאָתְךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ

In Your fear and in Your righteous Torah,

הָכֵן פְּעָמֵינוּ לִצְעֹד.

establish our footsteps to tread,

בְּיַד עֲוֹנֵינוּ

for through our sins

כִּי כָשַׁלְנוּ לִמְעֹד.

we have become too weak to take a step.

נָא־יֵאָמֵן דְּבָרְךָ הַטּוֹב

Please fulfill Your good promise

לִסְעֹד.

to support [us]:

כִּי אֶסְלַח לַעֲווֹנָם.

“For I shall forgive their iniquities,

וּלְחַטָּאתָם לֹא אֶזְכַּר־עוֹד:

and their sins I will no longer remember.”

יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּם

You know the hidden

כָּל דָּם וּלְחוּם

of every blood and flesh.¹⁵Blood and flesh, i.e. human.

חַטֹּאתֵינוּ

[We committed] iniquities

יְדַעֲנוּם

[despite] that we knew them

וְאִתָּנוּ בְּכָל תְּחוּם.

and they are with us everywhere.¹⁶And—everywhere, i.e. we cannot escape our sins.

הִנְנוּ אָתָאנוּ־לָךְ

We, hereby, come before You

מְצֹא כֹפֶר וְתַנְחוּם.

[that we may find redemption and consolation,

וְאַתָּה אֱלוֹהַּ סְלִיחוֹת

for You are the forgiving God

חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם:

gracious and compassionate.

אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ.

Almighty! King!

יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים.

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת.

governs with kindness

מוֹחֵל עֲו‍ֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ.

forgives the iniquities of His people.

מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן.

He removes their sins one by one,

מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים.

and pardon to transgressors.

עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת

Acting righteously

עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ.

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

לֹא כְרָעָתָם

not according to their wickedness

תִּגְמוֹל:

does He repay them.

אֵל

Almighty!

הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר

You instructed us to recite

שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the thirteen Divine attributes;

וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם

remember unto us this day

בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made them known

לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם.

to the humble Moses of old,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written,

וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם

and stood with him there,

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses],

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity, and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin;

וְנַקֵּה:

and Acquitter of those who repent.

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲו‍ֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי

“For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.”

לָמָה יְהוָה תַּעֲמֹד בְּרָחוֹק

Why do You stand from afar, Adonoy,

תַּעְלִים לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה׃

hiding Yourself in times of trouble?

שׁוּב לְמַעַן עֲבָדֶיךָ

Return for the sake of Your servants

שִׁבְטֵי נַחֲלָתֶךָ׃

the tribes of Your inheritance.

תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב

You will grant truth to Jacob,

חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם

kindliness to Abraham.

אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ

As You have sworn to our fathers

מִימֵי קֶדֶם׃

from the days of old.

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים

As a father has compassion on his children

כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ:

so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה,

Deliverance is Adonoy’s;

עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה:

upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ

Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה:

a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת,

Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ:

fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה,

Adonoy, deliver us;

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:

the King will answer us on the day we call.

סְלַח נָא לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה,

“Please pardon the sins of this nation

כְּגֹֽדֶל

in accordance with the greatness

חַסְדֶּֽךָ.

of Your lovingkindness;

וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה.

and as You forgave this people

מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה.

from when it left Egypt until now.”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה

“And Adonoy said,

סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”

הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע,

Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,

פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ,

open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,

וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ

and the city which is called by Your Name;

כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ,

for it is not on account of our righteousness

אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ,

that we let fall our supplication before You,

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but because of Your great mercy.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה,

My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה,

My Master, listen and take action,

אַל תְּאַחַר.

do not delay!

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי,

For Your sake, my God,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא

because Your Name is proclaimed

עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:

over Your city and over Your people.