לצום גדליה 3

מו. ע"פ א"ב. חיבר רבנו שלמה בר יצחק (רש"י)

The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi).

אָז טֶרֶם נִמְתְּחוּ נִבְלֵי־שְׁכָבִים.

Even before the clouds were stretched above,

בָּאָרֶץ עַד לֹא דֻבְּקוּ רְגָבִים:

and the soil was joined together on earth,¹Before God created heaven and earth.

גַּבָּךְ

in Your Presence

שִׁבְעָה דְּבָרִים הָיוּ מְגֻבָּבִים.

seven things were [already] gathered:

דַּת וָכֵס

the Torah; the Divine Throne;

וּרְטִיַּת

and [Repentance] the remedy

בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים:

for rebellious children.

הוֹד גַּן־עֵדֶן וְעֶלֶק הַבְהָבִים.

The beauty of Paradise; and the flames of Hell;

וּמְקוֹם כַּפָּרָה

and a Place of atonement [the Altar]

עַל־יְדֵי מַקְרִיבִים:

by virtue of the offerings [brought thereon];

זֹהַר שֵׁם יִנּוֹן

and the glorious name of the Moshiach

מְחוֹלָל מֵחוֹבִים.

which has been desecrated through our sins.

חֻבְּרוּ אַלְפַּיִם

All these were created two thousand years

קֹדֶם בְּרִיאַת יִשּׁוּבִים:

before the creation of the inhabited earth.

טְכוּסִים עַל־רָקִיעַ

They are arranged above the firmament,

בּוֹטִים כִּשְׁבִיבִים.

appearing with sparkling lustre,

יְעוּרִים וּמְשֹׁרָשִׁים

firmly rooted

פְּנֵי יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרוּבִים:

before Him Who dwells over the Cherubim.

כִּסֵּא הָיָה מֻנַּח בָּרָקִיעַ

His throne was placed in the firmament,

בְּיִצּוּבִים.

standing firmly—

לְמוֹשַׁב מֶלֶךְ

the seat of the King

וְנוֹרָא עַל־סְבִיבִים:

Whose awe is upon all that surround Him.

מִימִינוֹ

From His right hand [He gave us the Torah]

אֵשׁ־דָּת חֲקוּקָה בִּכְתָבִים.

a fiery law engraved in writing,

נְתוּנָה עַל בִּרְכּוֹ

which was set on His knees

בְּשַׁעֲשׁוּעַ אֲהָבִים:

with loving caress.

סָדוּר עַל־הַדָּרוֹם גַּן־רְטוּבִים.

Situated on the south, was the Garden of Eden,

עָרוּךְ עַל־הַצָּפוֹן

on the north

תֹּפֶת שַׁלְהֵבִים:

was the blazing hell.

פְּנֵי־הַמִּזְרָח יְרוּשָׁלַיִם

Facing east was Jerusalem

הַבְּנוּיָה בְּמַחֲצָבִים.

built with hewn stones,

צָפוּן בְתוֹכָהּ

concealing within it

מִקְדַּשׁ־אֵל בְּיִשּׁוּבִים:

the Almighty’s Sanctuary on earth;

קָבוּעַ בְאֶמְצַע מִזְבֵּחַ

set in its center was the Altar,

כִּפּוּר חַיָּבִים.

that atoned the guilty,

רְבוּצָה עָלָיו

it lay

אֶבֶן שְׁתִיַּת חֲטוּבִים:

on the hewn, foundation stone.²From which God shaped the world.

שֵׁם יִנּוֹן

The name of Yinon [Moshiach]

עָלֶיהָ חָקוּק בְּמִכְתָּבִים.

was engraved on it,

תֹּאַר שֵׁם־הַמְּפֹרָשׁ

also the ineffable four-letter Name

בְּתָוֵי גִּלּוּבִים:

was etched in letters.

שָׁמָּה בַּתָּוֶךְ

There in the center

לִפְנֵי מַאֲזִין מֵאֶשְׁנַבִּים.

before Him Who blesses His people with rain

לִוּוּי תְּשׁוּבָה

repentance is joined [with the other six objects],

אֶרֶךְ לְנִדְוִים וְכֹאֲבִים:

it is the remedy for the sick and grieved.³Because of their sins and transgressions.

מְעֻתֶּדֶת לְכִבּוּס צוֹאִים,

It is ready to cleanse the filth,

וּלְהַלְבִּישׁ מוּטָבִים.

and to provide clean garments,

הָרֵק שֶׁמֶן הַטּוֹב

and to pour good [fragrant] oil

עַל־רֹאשׁ שָׁבִים:

on the heads of the penitent.

בְּכֵן אָתָאנוּ לְךָ

Therefore, we come before You,

עֲלָמִים וְשָֹבִים.

young and old, [pleading with You]

רַחֵץ מִצַּחַן

to cleanse us from the stench [of sin],

וְהַשְׁלֵךְ טִמּוּס סְאָבִים:

and cast away the record of our iniquity.

בִּתְפִלָּה יְקַדְּמוּךָ

With prayer, they approach You

בָּנִים־שׁוֹבָבִים.

Your rebellious children;

יוֹם־יוֹם לְדָרְשֶׁךָ

they seek You every day

בְּפִיץ־נִבִים:

with words of prayer.

יֵחָשֵׁב אֲמָרֵינוּ

Let our words be considered

כְהֶקְטֵר דָּמִים וַחֲלָבִים.

as the burning of sacrificial blood and fat,

צִפְצוּפֵנוּ יְקַבַּל

and accept the murmuring of our lips

כְּפִסּוּגֵי פָרִים וּכְבָשִׂים:

as the sacrificial pieces of bullocks and lambs.

חֲטָאֵינוּ הַצְלֵל בְּקַרְקַע

Cause our sins to sink into the earth.

נִטְפֵי־מַרְזֵבִים.

there where water drips.⁴Causing the earth to be soft and absorbent.

קָרְבֵנוּ אֵלֶיךָ

Bring us near to You,

בִּרְחִיפַת רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים:

under the wings of Your abundant mercy.

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים

For in Your abundant mercy

אָנוּ בְטוּחִים,

we trust,

וְעַל צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים,

and on Your righteousness, we rely,

וְלִסְלִיחוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ מְקַוִּים,

and for Your pardon, we hope,

וְלִישׁוּעָתְךָ אָנוּ מְצַפִּים:

and for Your deliverance, we yearn.

אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ,

You are a King

אוֹהֵב צְדָקוֹת מִקֶּדֶם,

Who loves righteousness from of old,

מַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ,

Who passes over the iniquities of His people,

וּמֵסִיר חַטֹּאת יְרֵאָיו:

and removes the sins of those who fear Him.

כּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לָרִאשׁוֹנִים,

You made a covenant with the Patriarchs,

וּמְקַיֵּם שְׁבוּעָה

and will keep [Your] oath

לָאַחֲרוֹנִים:

with their descendants.

אַתָּה הוּא, שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ

You are He Who descended

בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל הַר סִינַי,

in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai,

וְהֶרְאֵיתָ דַּרְכֵי טוּבְךָ

and disclosed the ways of Your goodness

לְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ:

to Moses, Your servant.

וְאָרְחוֹת חֲסָדֶיךָ

The ways of Your kindliness,

גִּלִּיתָ לוֹ,

You revealed to him;

וְהוֹדַעְתּוֹ

and You made known to him

כִּי אַתָּה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן,

that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד

Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness,

וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב,

and full of beneficence,

וּמַנְהִיג אֶת־כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ

guiding the entire world

בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים:

with the quality of mercy.

וְכֵן כָּתוּב:

And so it is written:

וַיֹּאמֶר

“And He said:

אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר

‘I will cause to pass

כָּל־טוּבִי עַל־פָּנֶיךָ

all My goodness before you,

וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה

and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy

לְפָנֶיךָ.

in your presence;

וְחַנֹּתִי

I will be gracious

אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן,

to whom I will be gracious,

וְרִחַמְתִּי

and I will be compassionate

אֶת־אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם:

to whom I will be compassionate.’”

אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּֽיִם אַתָּה.

You are Almighty, Slow to Anger,

וּבַֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים נִקְרֵֽאתָ.

Lord of Mercy, You are called,

וְדֶֽרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה הוֹרֵֽיתָ:

and the way of repentance, You have taught us.

גְּדֻלַּת רַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ.

The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness,

תִּזְכֺּר הַיּוֹם וּבְכָל־יוֹם

remember this day and every day

לְזֶֽרַע יְדִידֶֽיךָ:

for the descendants of Your loved ones.

תֵּֽפֶן אֵלֵֽינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים.

Turn to us with compassion

כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים:

for You are the Lord of Mercy.

בְּתַחֲנוּן וּבִתְפִלָּה

With supplication and prayer

פָּנֶֽיךָ נְקַדֵּם.

we approach Your Presence,

כְּהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made known

לֶעָנָיו מִקֶּֽדֶם:

to [Moses,] the modest one of old.

מֵחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ שׁוּב.

From Your fierce anger turn,

כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב:

as it is written in Your Torah.

וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ

In the shadow of Your wings,

נֶחֱסֶה וְנִתְלוֹנָן.

may we be sheltered and lodged,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיֵֽרֶד יְהֺוָה בֶּעָנָן:

“When Adonoy descended in the cloud.”

תַּעֲבֺר עַל־פֶּֽשַׁע

Remove [our] transgression,

וְתִמְחֶה אָשָׁם.

and blot out [our] iniquity,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם:

“And He stood with him there.”

תַּאֲזִין שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ

Give ear to our cry

וְתַקְשִׁיב מֶֽנוּ מַאֲמַר.

and listen to our speech,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה,

“And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה עַל פָּנָיו

“And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת:

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 לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ 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 אֲדֺנָי

For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל־קוֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ,

Seek Adonoy while He may be found,

קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב׃

call upon Him while He is near.

שׁוּבוּ אֵלַי וְאָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם

“Return to Me, and I will return to you,”

אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת:

says Adonoy of hosts.

מִי־יוֹדֵעַ יָשׁוּב

He who knows shall return,

וְנִחַם הָאֱלֹהִים,

and God will relent

וְשָׁב מֵחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ

and turn from His fierce anger,

וְלֹא נֹאבֵד׃

and not destroy

מִי יוֹדֵעַ יָשׁוּב וְנִחָם,

He who knows shall return and repent,

וְהִשְׁאִיר אַחֲרָיו בְּרָכָה׃

and leave a blessing after him.

וְקִרְעוּ לְבַבְכֶם וְאַל־בִּגְדֵיכֶם

Rend your hearts, not [merely] your clothes,

וְשׁוּבוּ אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

and return to Adonoy, your God.

כִּי־חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם הוּא

For He is gracious and merciful,

אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד

slow to anger and abundant in kindness,

וְנִחָם עַל־הָרָעָה׃

and relenting of evil.

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.

קהל ואח"כ חזן:

The Chazzan repeats after the congregation:

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:

הקהל אומרים:

The Congregation says:

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.