לערב ראש השנה 30

מד. חתום בו מחברו מאיר ברבי יצחק חזק ואמץ:

The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Meir ben Isaac.

תְּפִלָּה תִקַּח תְּחִנָּה תִבְחַר.

Receive our prayer, accept our supplication

תְּמוּר נִיחֹחַ

in place of the fragrance

תְּמִיד הַשַּׁחַר:

of the continual morning offering.¹After the destruction of the Temple, prayers replaced the daily offerings. See Mesechet Berachos 26b.

שְׁקֹל לָעוֹמְדִים שִׁמְךָ לְשַׁבֵּחַ.

Consider those who rise to praise Your Name,

כְּאִלּוּ זָכוּ

as though they had been privileged

תְּרֹם מִזְבֵּחַ:

to remove the ashes from the Altar.²The removal of the ashes from the Altar was the first function of the sacrificial order.

רְצֵה עֲבוֹדָתָם

Accept their worship [prayers]

בְּמִקְדַּשׁ שְׁבִיתָם.

in the sanctuary [synagogues] of their exile

כִּבְבֵית־עוֹלָמִים לְעוֹשֵֹי חֲבִיתָּם:

as if it were the “Chavittin” in the Temple.³These were daily meal offerings brought by the Kohen Gadol.

קְשֹׁב מִקְרָאוֹת

Listen to our reading [of the Sh’ma]

וְחִינוּן סְדָרִים.

and the order of our Amidah prayers,

כְּעֵין אֵבָרִים וְעִכּוּל פְּדָרִים:

as the burning of the limbs and fat pieces.⁴If these were not consumed on the Altar at night, they were placed at the sides of the Altar in the morning. See Mesechet Tamid 2:1.

צְרֹף שִׁטּוּחַ

Consider the spreading of our hands [in prayer]

פְּנֵי טָפוּחַ.

towards heaven,

כְּמַעֲלֶה אֵפֶר עַל גַב תַּפּוּחַ:

as the bringing up of the ashes to the heap.⁵The sacrificial ashes were heaped on the Altar.

פְּאַת קָדִימָה פְּנֵיהֶם יִזְרָח.

Consider our facing eastward [in prayer]

כְּסוֹדְרֵי־חָזִית כְּלַפֵּי מִזְרָח:

as the wood on the Altar that faced eastward.⁶See Mesechet Tamid 2:4.

עֲרֹב

May it be pleasant before You

מַחְבֶּרֶת לְמִדּוֹת עֲרוּכוֹת.

how they place their feet together at prayer,⁷During the Amidah prayers.

כְּשָׁרֵת כָּשֵׁר

as the service of the [proper] kohain

שְׁתֵּי מַעֲרָכוֹת:

when he arranged the two wood piles.⁸One on the sacrificial Altar and one on the incense Altar.

סְפֹר לִצְעָדִים

Count the steps

לְעָבְדְךָ גָּשִׁים.

of those who approach You in worship,

כְּמוֹ בָּעֲזָרָה

as those of the kohanim in the Sanctuary

לְפַיֵּס רוֹגְשִׁים:

who rushed to draw lots [to serve You].⁹The priests drew lots each day for the privilege of performing various services in the Temple.

נְכוֹן הַשַּׁחַר

May our rising early to pray at dawn,

וְכוֹכָבִים בְּרֹן.

as the stars go up in song, be considered

בְּרַק הַשַּׁחַר

as those who announced the dawn,

זְכוּת שֶׁבְּחֶבְרוֹן:

evoking the merit of Hebron.¹⁰Before the daily morning sacrifice was offered, they would go up on the roof to see if the daylight had reached Hebron, where the Patriarchs are buried.

מְמֻנֶּה מְזָרֵז

The presiding kohain ordered

לְהָבִיא טָלֶה.

that a lamb be brought

מִלִּשְׁכַּת־טְלָאִים

from the chamber [pen] of lambs,

בְּבִקּוּר מוּפְלֶא:

which was carefully examined [for blemishes].

לְכוֹס שֶׁל זָהָב

From a golden vessel

יְשֻׁלַּח לְהַשְׁקוֹת.

it was given to drink,¹¹This was done to facilitate the skinning which was done later.

בְּבַקְּרוֹ שֵׁנִית לְאוֹר הָאֲבוּקוֹת:

and was examined again by torchlight.

כְּזָכָה

The kohain who won the privilege

בְּתָמִיד

of offering the daily sacrifice—

וְזִכָּה אֶחָיו.

and who allotted twelve of his brethren

מְשָׁכוֹ וְהוֹלֵךְ לְבֵית מִטְבָּחָיו:

[the privilege of assisting him]—brought the lamb to the slaughter house.

יְדֵי שְׁחִיטָתוֹ זְבֹחַ יַחְדֹּל.

He delayed the slaughtering

עֲדֵי יִפָּתֵחַ הַשַּׁעַר הַגָּדוֹל:

until the large gate was opened.

טְרֹד עַד־שֶׁחִי

He maneuvered his hand, up to his elbow,

פָּתוֹחַ כֵּיוָן.

into the opening of the gate [to open one lock]

שְׁתֵּי מַפְתֵּחוֹת לְפָתְחוֹ כִּוָּן:

two keys were needed for opening the gate.

הֲרָצָיו כְּגַלְגְּלוּ

When the door turned on its hinges,

וְצִירֵי צְרִיחוֹ.

it would give out a creaking sound

וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ בְּבִקְעַת יְרִיחוֹ:

that was heard in the plain of Jericho.

זְרִיזִים

The diligent [kohanim]

זְהִירִים עֲקֵדָה לִגְמֹר.

carefully bound [the lamb],

בְּיָד וְרֶגֶל

binding the fore and hind legs

כְּיִצְחָק בְהַר מוֹר:

as Isaac was bound on Mount Moriah.

וְזָכוּ שְׁנִיּוֹת

The second ring merited

שְׁחִיטָה לְשַׁמֵּשׁ.

that it be used for slaughtering,¹²This ring was used to hold the head of the lamb when it was slaughtered.

שַׁחַר וָאֶמֶשׁ

both the morning and afternoon sacrifices

לְמוּל הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ:

were performed facing the sun.¹³In the morning it was offered in the northwest corner and in the evening in the northeast so as to face the sun.

הֲרָמַת שְׁתַּיִם

The blood was sprinkled twice

לְאַרְבַּע יִתְרֹם.

against the four sides of the Altar—

לְמִזְרָח צָפוֹן

once on the northeast corner

לְמַעֲרָב דָּרוֹם:

and once on the southwest corner.

דְּמֵי־שִׁירַיִם

The remaining blood was poured out

יְסוֹד הַדָּרוֹם.

at the southern base of the Altar;

וְטָעוּן הֶפְשֵׁט

and the lamb had to be skinned,

וְכָלִיל

and totally consumed by fire

לַמָּרוֹם:

as an offering to the Most High.

גְּלַל הַנְּתִיחָה

The operation of the dissection [of the lamb]

מְרֻבָּה בְדִבּוּר.

is too lengthy to describe,

שְׁתִיקָה יָפָה וְאֵימַת צִבּוּר:

silence is better than to weary the congregation.

בְּתִשְׁעָה קָרֵב

Nine kohanim performed the offering

בְּצֵרוּף זוֹכִים.

joined by three others who were privileged

חֲבִתִּים

to perform the pan-offering,

וְסֹלֶת וְיֵין הַנְּסֻכִים:

the fine flour offering and the wine libation.

אֲזַי יַם הַכֶּבֶשׁ

Then, on the western side of the ramp,

מְלָחוּם

the pieces were salted;

וּבָאוּ בְּלִשְׁכַּת־גָּזִית

and then they went into the Stone Chamber

שְׁמַע יִקְרָאוּ:

to read the [morning] Sh’ma.

מְבָרְכִים בְּמִנּוּי בְּרָכָה אַחַת.

At the signal they recited one blessing;¹⁴After receiving a signal from the presiding kohain, they recited the blessing of “אַהֲבָה רַבָּה,” the blessing before the Sh’ma.

עֲשֶֹרֶת הַדִּבְרוֹת

they also recited the “Ten Commandments,”

וּמוֹסִיף בְּנַחַת:

and an additional blessing on the Sabbath.

אֱמֶת וַעֲבוֹדָה

They recited True and firm and the Avodah,¹⁵The seventeenth blessing of the Amidah.

וּבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים.

and the “Priestly Blessing” [in which]

יְבָרְכוּ הָעָם בְּרָכָה נֶהֱנִים:

they blessed the people a benificent blessing

יְבָרְרוּ חֲדָשִׁים לְפַיֵס

New kohanim were selected by lot

קְטֹרֶת.

for the privilege of offering the incense,

וְלֹא־שָׁנוּ בָהּ

and he who was chosen once, could not repeat

וְהִיא מְעַשֶּׁרֶת:

because it enriched the one who performed it.

רְבִיעִי פַּיִּס בְּיַחַד נִקְבָּע.

At the fourth lot, all kohanim participated,

נְתָחִים לְהַעֲלוֹת

for the privilege of carrying the pieces

לְגַב הַמְּרֻבָּע:

to the square [Altar].¹⁶The Altar was a square.

בְּקוֹל מַגְרֵפָה

Then they sounded the “Magrephah”

מַרְבִּים זְמָרִים.

which produced many sounds,¹⁷The Magrephah had ten holes each of which was capable of producing ten different sounds. See Mesechet Arachin 10b.

וְקוֹלָהּ נִשְׁמַע בְּעִיר־הַתְּמָרִים:

and its sound was heard in Jericho.¹⁸Jericho was known as the city of psalms.

רְגִילִים לְקוֹלָהּ לְוִיִּם וְכֹהֲנִים.

Levites and kohanim were trained at its sound

לְשִׁיר וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָאוֹת

to be ready

הֱיוֹת מְזֻמָּנִים:

for song and worshipful kneeling.

בְּמַעֲלוֹת אוּלָם עֲלוֹת בִּמְרוּצָה.

They quickly ran up the steps of the Vestibule,

מִדֶּשֶּׁן

the kohanim who had to remove the ashes

פְּנִימִי

from the inner Altar

טֶנִּי נָטַל וְיָצָא:

took the basket of ashes and withdrew.

יְדַשֵּׁן מְנוֹרָה

Another cleaned the “Menorah”;

וְכָבָה יַעֲרְכוֹ.

rekindled the extinguished lamps,

וְהַכּוּז נָטַל

and took the vessel with the Menorah’s ashes

וְנָחַץ לְדַרְכּוֹ:

and hurriedly went on his way.

יְרַדֵּד זוֹכֶה

Another kohain spread¹⁹This kohain had the privilege of bringing burning coals from the outer-altar to the golden altar.

בְּשׁוּלֵי מַחְתָּה. לְגַחֲלֵי הָאֵשׁ

the burning coals with the back of the censer;

וְשָׁחָה וְאָתָה:

he bowed and withdrew.

צְבוֹר הַקְּטוֹרֶת

Another heaped the incense on the coals

פְּנִימָה חוּץ־לוֹ.

from the center of the Altar outwards;²⁰Towards himself.

מְלַמְּדִין מַקְטִיר

they taught him to spread them in this manner

בְּלִי־כְּווֹת אֲצִילוֹ:

so that his arms should not be burned.

חֲרֵדִים לִפְרֹשׁ

Trembling, they quickly withdrew

בְּעֵת־הַקְטָרָה.

during the burning of the incense,²¹They were not permitted to have benefit from the holy aroma.

חֲשָׁאִי כַּפָּרָה

this was done secretly to atone

לְחֵץ־מַטָּרָה:

for slander [which is done in secret].

קְבוּעוֹת הָיוּ לְמוּל הַפְּרָצוֹת.

Fixed according to the breaches²²The Greeks made thirteen breaches in the wall by which they entered into Jerusalem.

בְּהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיוֹת

were the number of prostrations [they made]

לְאֵל־חַי לִרְצוֹת:

to appease the living Almighty.

חֲגוּרֵי חֶרֶב

Those who were girded with swords²³Kohanim were composed to soldiers who knew their duties in battle.

כְתָב

pronounced the Divine Name as it is written,

וְלֹא בְּכִנּוּי.

and not with its appellations

מְבָרְכִין אַחַת

when they recited one Priestly Blessing,²⁴Outside the temple, however, the Priestly Blessings were divided into three blessings as we have it today.

וְעַל־רֹאשׁ מִנּוּי:

lifting their hands over their heads.

זְמַן הַגָּדוֹל

Whenever the Kohain Gadol desired

לְחֶלְקוֹ כּוֹבֵשׁ.

he could take part in the sacrificial order;

סֶגֶן מִימִינוֹ

the Vice Kohain Gadol would be at his right

עֲלוֹת בַּכֶּבֶשׁ:

as they walked up the ramp [to the Altar].

קְרֵבִים אֶצְלוֹ

The other kohanim came near him

וְלוֹ מַגִּישִׁים נְתָחִים

and handed him the pieces

לִסְמֹךְ

upon which he laid his hands

זְרֹק לָאִשִּׁים:

and threw them into the fire.

וְאָז בַּשִּׁיתִן

And then into the special openings

נְסָכִים סִדֵּר.

he poured the [wine] libations.

וְסֶגֶן עוֹמֵד

The Vice Kohain Gadol stood

וּמֵנִיף בַּסּוּדָר:

and waved a cloth.²⁵This was a signal that the libations were completed.

מַחְצַצְרִים בָּאִים

The trumpeteers²⁶These were kohanim. came

עָמַד לוֹ אֵצֶל (בֶּן אַרְזָא).

and stood next to Ben Arza²⁷A member of the only family who knew how to make these sounds.

צְרָדָה מַקִּישׁ

who with his thumb and middle finger

לְשֵׁמַע צִלְצֵל:

caused the tsaltsal²⁸The tsaltsal was a musical instrument that could be heard at a distance. to be heard.

לְוִיִּם

When the Levites heard the sound,

דִּבְּרוּ בְּשִׁיר הַחֲוָיָה.

they chanted songs of praise;

לְפֶרֶק

at the conclusion of each psalm,

תְּקִיעָה

they sounded trumpets

וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה:

and prostrated themselves.

וְזֶה סֵדֶר עֲבוֹדַת תָּמִיד.

This was the order of the daily service

בְּבֵית אֱלֹהֵינוּ

in the House of our God—

מְהֵרָה לְהַעֲמִיד:

may it be speedily restored.

תְּמִיד הַבֹּקֶר

May the daily morning offering

יְשֻׁלַּם בְּסִפּוּר.

be fulfilled through our recounting of it,

וּלְעוֹלָם זֹאת עַל־יְשֻׁרוּן כִּפּוּר:

and serve as atonement for Jeshurun [Israel].

כְּסִדְרוֹ

The same order of the morning sacrifice,

בַּמִּנְחָה וְנֶסֶּךְ קָרֵב.

and for the meal and wine offerings,

עֲסֹק בַּשֵּׁנִי לְעִתּוֹת עָרֶב:

was used for the evening sacrifice.

בְּאַחַד־עָשָֹר זְכוּת בּוֹ מְחַזְּרִים.

Eleven kohanim were privileged to offer it,²⁹Two more than the morning sacrifice.

שְׁנַיִם בְיָדָם שְׁנֵי גְזִרִים:

two of whom held the two wooden logs.³⁰Which were used to maintain the fires on the Altar.

כְּבָשִֹים כֹּבְשִׁים

The lamb offerings subdued

עֲוֹנוֹת מְכַבְּסִים.

and washed away iniquities;

כְּתִינוֹק בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ

and the innocence of a year old child

סְגֻלָּה עוֹשִֹים:

was brought upon the treasured [people].

פְּרַקְלִיט סַנֵּגוֹר

These sacrifices were like a mighty advocate

בְּצֶדֶק לְלוֹנְנָהּ.

making it possible for righteousness to abide

בְעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ

in the city of our God,

אֱלֹהִים יְכוֹנְנָהּ:

may God [soon] restore it.

דֳּמִי אַל תִּתְּנוּ

Be not silent [you Angels]

מְמֻנִּים שֹׁמְרִים.

appointed as guardians [of Jerusalem]

וְאַתָּה תָקוּם תְּרַחֵם אוֹמְרִים:

say: “And You shall rise and be merciful.”

יְרוּשָׁלַיִם בְּנוּיַת עֶרֶץ.

May the Jerusalem built in heaven

יְכוֹנֵן וְיָשִֹים לְשֵׁם בָאָרֶץ:

be established and be renowned on earth.

וְיַעֲמֹד הַמְשֵׁל הַשַֹּר הַגָּדוֹל.

And may the great angel [Michael] rise

בְּעַד בְּנֵי עַמּוֹ לְחַנֵּן

to plead for his people

רַע מֵחֲדֹל:

that evil be removed from them.

תְּחִנַּת־שַׁוְעָם לְהַכְתִּיר תֶּעֱרַב.

May their cry³¹Their cry of supplication. adorn You as a crown,

לְמִזְבֵּח מַעֲלָה

and ascend the heavenly Altar

כְּכָלִיל יִקְרָב:

as a burnt-offering.

וְשַֹר הַפַּחַד

And you, the awesome angel [Gabriel],

אֲחוֹרֵי הַפַּרְגּוֹד.

who stands behind the veil of separation,³²Pargod refers to the separation between the sky and the Shechina. See Mesechet Berachos 18b.

בְּיֹשֶׁר תַּמְלִיץ

recommend our righteousness

וּבִזְכוּת תֶּאֱגֹד:

and bind our merits together,

כְּאָז לַחֲמוּדוֹת בְּלַמְּדְךָ זְכוּת.

as you once interceded favorably for Daniel,

וְזָכִיתָ לַחֲזוֹר לְמֶמְשָׁל וּנְסִיכוּת:

and thereby regained your original high rank.³³See Mesechet Yoma 77a for explanation of this incident.

בְּעַד יִשְֹרָאֵל צֶדֶק לִמְדוּ.

On behalf of Israel, plead for justice,

פְּנֵי הָאָדוֹן יְהֹוָה עִמְדוּ:

stand before the Master, Adonoy.³⁴This is addressed to Michael and Gabriel.

צְדָקוֹת לְגַלְגֵּל כְמֹר נִחוּמִים.

Let righteousness arouse His mercy as myrrh,

לְפָנָיו תָּבֹאוּ

and appear before Him

בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים:

with the attribute of mercy.

מַכְנִיסֵי רַחֲמִים. הַכְנִיסוּ רַחֲמֵינוּ, לִפְנֵי בַּעַל־הָרַחֲמִים. מַשְׁמִיעֵי תְפִלָּה. הַשְׁמִיעוּ תְפִלָּתֵנוּ, לִפְנֵי שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה: מַשְׁמִיעֵי צְעָקָה. הַשְׁמִיעוּ צַעֲקָתֵנוּ, לִפְנֵי שׁוֹמֵעַ צְעָקָה: מַכְנִיסֵי דִּמְעָה. הַכְנִיסוּ דִמְעוֹתֵינוּ, לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מִתְרַצֶּה בִּדְמָעוֹת: הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּ וְהַרְבּוּ תְחִנָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה, לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ אֵל רָם וְנִשָּׂא: הַזְכִּירוּ לְפָנָיו הַשְׁמִיעוּ לְפָנָיו, תּוֹרָה וּמַעֲשִׂים־טוֹבִים שֶׁל שׁוֹכְנֵי־עָפָר: יִזְכֹּר אַהֲבָתָם, וִיחַיֶּה זַרְעָם שֶׁלֹּא תֹאבַד שְׁאֵרִית־יַעֲקֹב: כִּי־צֹאן רוֹעֶה־נֶאֱמָן הָיָה לְחֶרְפָּה, יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי־אֶחָד לְמָשָׁל וְלִשְׁנִינָה: מַהֵר עֲנֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ, וּפְדֵנוּ מִכָּל־גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת, וְהוֹשִׁיעָה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקָךְ וְעַמָּךְ:

מָרָן דְּבִשְׁמַיָא לָךְ מִתְחַנֵּנָן, כְּבַר שִׁבְיָא דְמִתְחַנֵּן לִשְׁבוּיֵהּ: כֻּלְּהוֹן בְּנֵי־שִׁבְיָא בְּכַסְפָּא מִתְפָּרְקִין, וְעַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרַחֲמֵי וּבְתַחֲנוּנֵי: הַב־לָן שְׁאֶלְתִּין וּבָעוּתִין, דְלָא־נֶהֱדַר רֵיקָם מִן־קָדָמָךְ:

מָרָן דְבִשְׁמַיָא לָךְ מִתְחַנֵּנָן, כְּעַבְדָּא דְּמִתְחַנֵּן לְמָרֵיהּ: עֲשִׁיקֵי אֲנַן וּבַחֲשׁוֹכָא שָׁרִינָן. מְרִירָן נַפְשִׁין מֵעַקְתִין דִּנְפִישִׁין: חֵילָא לֵית־בָּן לְרַצוּיָךְ. מָרָן. עֲבִיד בְּדִיל קַיָּמָא דִגְזַרְתְּ עִם־אֲבְהָתָנָא:

שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמוֹר שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאַל יֹאבַד יִשְׂרָאֵל הָאֹמְרִים שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל:

שׁוֹמֵר גּוֹי אֶחָד שְׁמוֹר שְׁאֵרִית עַם אֶחָד וְאַל יֹאבַד גּוֹי אֶחָד הַמְיַחֲדִים שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד:

שׁוֹמֵר גּוֹי קָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹר שְׁאֵרִית עַם קָדוֹשׁ וְאַל יֹאבַד גּוֹי קָדוֹשׁ הַמְשַׁלְּשִׁים בְּשָׁלשׁ קְדֻשּׁוֹת לְקָדוֹשׁ:

מִתְרַצֶּה בְּרַחֲמִים וּמִתְפַּיֵּס בְּתַחֲנוּנִים הִתְרַצֶּה וְהִתְפַּיֵּס לְדוֹר עָנִי כִּי אֵין עוֹזֵר: