לצום גדליה 10

נג. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום בנימין בר זרח.

This prayer was composed by Rabbi Benjamin ben Zorach.

הוֹרֵיתָ דֶּרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה,

You taught the way of repentance

לְבַת הַשּׁוֹבֵבָה.

to the rebellious daughter [Israel];

בֵּין כֶּסֶא לֶעָשֹוֹר,

between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

עָדֶיךָ לָשׁוּבָה.

we are to return unto You [in repentance].

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

אָז מֵאָז מִקֶּדֶם,

Long ago, from of old,

הִקְדַּמְתָּ תְּשׁוּבָה.

You prepared the way for repentance,

בְּטֶרֶם הִמְתַּחְתָּ עֶרֶץ

before You spread out the mighty heavens,

וִיסוֹדֵי רְגוּבָה.

and established the earth;

גַּם־לְכָל־הַשָּׁבִים,

thus, for all who return,

צֳּרִי וּמַרְפֵּא חֲשׁוּבָה.

repentance is a balm and a remedy.

דּוֹפְקֵי דְלָתֶיךָ

Those who knock at Your door,

רֵיקָם מִלְּהָשִׁיבָה.

do not send them away empty-handed.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

הֵן רֹאשׁ עַפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל,

Behold, the first to be created from dust,

אֲשֶׁר רִאשׁוֹן נוֹצָר.

Adam, the first to be formed,

וְנִסִּיתוֹ בְּמִצְוָה קַלָּה,

You tried him with a light commandment,¹Not to eat from the tree of knowledge.

וְאוֹתָהּ לֹא־נָצָר.

which he did not keep.

זָעַמְתָּ וְאָנַפְתָּ עָלָיו,

You were indignant and angry with him,

שְׁנוֹתָיו לְקַצֵּר.

[and decreed] to shorten his years;

חָזַר־בִּתְשׁוּבָה

but when he repented,

וְכָאִישׁוֹן הוּנְצָר.

You preserved him like the apple of Your eye.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

טָעָה גִזְעוֹ

When his offspring [Cain] went astray

דְּמֵי־אָחִיו בְּשָׁפְכוֹ.

by shedding his brother’s blood,

יִסַּרְתּוֹ בְּנָע וָנָד,

You sentenced him to be a wanderer,

לֶכֶת כֹּה וָכֹה.

to go from place to place;

כָּעֵת שָׁב־אֵלֶיךָ,

but when he returned to You

וְעָזַב רֹעַ דַּרְכּוֹ.

and left his evil ways,

לְשִׁבְעָתַיִם הֶאֱרַכְתּוֹ,

You prolonged his life to seven generations,

כָּל־מוֹצְאוֹ

anyone who found him

בְּלִי־לְהַכּוֹ.

was forbidden to slay him.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

מְחַלֵּל יְצוּעֵי יוֹלְדוֹ,

He [Reuben] who profaned his father’s bed,

אֲשֶׁר־פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם.

was unstable as water,

נָטָיוּ רַגְלָיו כִּמְעַט,

his feet had almost slipped²He was almost condemned to Gehinom for his sin.

לוּלֵי שָׁפַךְ לֵב כַּמַּיִם.

had he not poured out his heart as water.³Before You in repentance.

סָרַח גּוּר־אַרְיֵה,

The young lion [Judah] sinned

בִּקְדֵשָׁה הִיא בָעֵינָיִם.

with Tamar at Enaim,⁴See Genesis 38:15–23.

עֲוֹנוֹ הוֹדָה,

when he confessed his sin,

וְהִכְרַעְתּוֹ לְצֶדֶק בְּכַף־מֹאזְנַיִם.

You inclined the scale to justify him.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

פָּרַץ גִּדְרוֹת עוֹלָם,

He broke the barriers of the world,

בֶּן־עָמְרִי בְּרֶשַׁע.

did [Achav] son of Omri, with his wickedness,

צַלְמֵי־אֲשֵׁרִים חָשַׁק,

he desired to worship the Asherim idols,

וְהוֹסִיף־עַל חַטָּאתוֹ פָּשַׁע.

and added transgression upon sin.⁵By causing others to do likewise.

קָרַעְתָּ גְּזַר דִּינוֹ

You tore up his sentence

בְּשׁוּבוֹ מִלִּפְשַׁע.

when he repented of his transgressions;

רֻחַם כְּמוֹדֶה

You had mercy on him as he confessed

וְעוֹזֵב,

and forsook [his evil way],

וּבְךָ נוֹשַׁע.

and in You he found deliverance.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

שָׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֹנָם כְּחֵץ,

Tongues as sharp as arrows

אַנְשֵׁי עִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה.

had the people of [Ninveh] the great city,

שִׁגְיוֹנָם וּזְדוֹנָם

their errors and willful sins

רָבּוּ עַד־לְמַעְלָה.

were numerous, without count;

תִּתְּךָ חֲזוֹן הֲפִיכָתָם,

when You sent the vision of their destruction⁶Through the prophet Jonah.

אֲחָזוּם רֶתֶת וְחַלְחָלָה.

they were seized with trembling and terror;

תְּשׁוּבָה עָשֹוּ כְּהֹגֶן,

they repented properly, and

וְלִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא־כְבוֹדְךָ נִתְקַבְּלָה.

it was accepted before Your glorious throne.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

בּוֹחֵן כְלָיוֹת וָלֵב,

You Who searches the innermost heart,

נֶאֶזָר בִּגְבוּרָה.

and Who is girded with might,

יַדְּעֵנוּ מַדַּע

teach us that we may know

לֶכֶת בְּאֹרַח יְשָׁרָה.

to walk the straight path;

מְשׁוּבוֹתֵינוּ אִם־רָבּוּ

if our rebelliousness is great

בְּפֶשַׁע וּסְרָרָה.

with transgression and crookedness,

נָא לְמַעַנְךָ הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ,

for Your sake, please, cause us to return,

עֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה כַּשׁוּרָה,

that we should repent in the proper way.

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ,

Cause us to return to You, Adonoy,

וְנָשׁוּבָה:

and we shall return.

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.”

אַל תִּזְכָּר לָנוּ עֲו‍ֹנוֹת רִאשׁוֹנִים.

Remember not the sins of our ancestors;

מַהֵר יְקַדְּמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ

let Your compassion come swiftly toward us,

כִּי דַלּוֹנוּ מְאֹד:

for we have been brought very low.

חַטֹּאת נְעוּרֵינוּ וְפְשָׁעֵינוּ

The sins of our youth and our transgressions,

אַל תִּזְכֹּר

remember not;

כְּחַסְדְּךָ זְכָר לָנוּ אַתָּה

with Your kindliness remember us

לְמַעַן טוּבְךָ יְהֹוָה

for the sake of Your goodness, Adonoy.

זְכֹר רַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה

Remember Your mercies, Adonoy,

וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ

and kindlinesses

כִּי מֵעוֹלָם הֵֽמָּה:

for they are from the beginning of the world.

זָכְרֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה

Remember us Adonoy

בִּרְצוֹן עַמֶּֽךָ

with favor for Your people

פָּקְדֵֽנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ:

recall us with Your deliverance.

זְכֹר עֲדָתְךָ

Remember Your congregation

קָנִֽיתָ קֶּֽדֶם

which You have acquired of old,

גָּאַֽלְתָּ שֵֽׁבֶט

You have redeemed the tribe

נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ

of Your inheritance,

הַר צִיּוֹן זֶה שָׁכַנְתָּ בּוֹ:

this mountain of Zion where You have dwelled.

זְּכוֹר יְהֹוָה חִבַּת יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ

Remember, Adonoy, the affection of Jerusalem,

אַהֲבַת צִיּוֹן אַל תִּשְׁכַּח לָנֶֽצַח:

the love of Zion, forget not until eternity.

זְכֹר יְהֹוָה

Remember, Adonoy,

לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם אֵת יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ

to the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem,

הָאֹמְרִים

[it was they] who said,

עָֽרוּ עָֽרוּ עַד הַיְסוֹד בָּהּ:

“Raze it, raze it to its very foundations.”

אַתָּה תָקוּם

You will arise

תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן.

and have compassion on Zion,

כִּי עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ

for it is time to be gracious to her,

כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד:

for the appointed time has come.

זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל

Remember Abraham, Isaac, Israel,

עֲבָדֶֽיךָ

Your servants,

אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ

to whom You swore by Your very Self,

וַתְּדַבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם

and You said to them:

אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲכֶם

“I will multiply your seed

כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָֽיִם.

as the stars of the heavens;

וְכָל הָאָֽרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתִּי

and all this land that I have promised,

אֶתֵּן לְזַרְעֲכֶם

I will give to your descendants,

וְנָחֲלוּ לְעוֹלָם:

and they will inherit it forever.”

זְכֹר לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ

Remember Your servants,

לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;

אַל תֵּֽפֶן אֶל קְשִׁי הָעָם הַזֶּה

do not regard the stubborness of this people,

וְאֶל רִשְׁעוֹ וְאֶל חַטָּאתוֹ:

or their wickedness, or their sin.

אַל נָא

Do not, we beseech You

תָשֵׁת עָלֵֽינוּ חַטָּאת

place upon us this sin,

אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַֽלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָֽאנוּ:

wherein we have acted foolishly and sinned.

חָטָֽאנוּ צוּרֵֽנוּ

We have sinned, our Rock;

סְלַח לָֽנוּ יוֹצְרֵֽנוּ:

pardon us our Creator.