Achat sha'alti

 
אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי


Achat sha'alti me'eit Hashem, otah avakesh:
shivti b'veit Hashem, kol y'mei chayai, lachazot b'noam Hashem, u'l'vaker b'heikhalo.
אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת-יְהוָה אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ:
שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה, כָּל-יְמֵי חַיַּי,
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה, וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ.

Translation:

One thing I ask from the Lord, one thing I desire
That I might dwell in Your house all the days of my life
To behold the graciousness of the Lord, and to enter God's sanctuary.

Information:

From Psalms 27:4, the Psalm for the days of awe.
B'kol Echad page 77

Tzlil v'Zemer tune used with permission. (Featured below in the recordings by Shmuel Popper and Yisroel Mendelson)

Al Hanissim

 
עַל הַנִּסִּים


Al hanissim, v'al hapurkan, v'al hag'vurot v'al hat'tshuot v'al hamilchamot sh'asita lavoteinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh.
עַל הַנִּסִּים, וְעַל הַפֻּרְקָן, וְעַל הַגְּבוּרוֹת, וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת, וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת, שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Translation:

We thank you also for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds and saving acts, wrought by you, as well as for the wars which you waged for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

Based on The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915)

Information:

Taken from the liturgy for Purim, Hannukah (and Yom Haatzmaut).
B'kol Echad page 46

The tune sung by Jacob Alperin-Sheriff is a folk melody, according to this post on the URJ website. The URJ website features an arrangement of the folk melody by Elliot Z. Levine.

Anovim Anovim

 
עֲנָוִים עֲנָוִים


Be'sha'ah she melech hamashiach ba, omed al gag beit hamikdash, umashmia leyisrael veomer--anavim anavim higiah zman geulatchem, ve'im ein atem ma'aminim reu beuri shezoreach.
בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ בָּא, עוֹמֵד עַל גַּג בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמַשְׁמִיעַ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר - עֲנָוִים עֲנָוִים הִגִּיעַ זְמַן גְּאֻלַּתְכֶם, וְאֵם אֵין אַתֶּם מַאֲמִינִים, רָאוּ בְּאוֹרִי שֶׁזּוֹרֵחַ.

Translation:

In the hour that the the King Messiah comes, he stands on the roof of the Temple, makes himself heard to all of Israel and says:

"Humble ones, humble ones, the time of your redemption has arrived, and if you do not believe this, look at my light that is shining."

(User-contributed translation)

Information:

Lyrics: Yalkut Shimoni on Isaiah, Chapter 60.

Sung by Mordechai Ben David and Yossi Green, The 8th Note
Composer: Yossi Green

See it sung by Shaul Hayun Orchestra:

Blessed is the Match

 
אַשְׁרֵי הַגַפְרור


Ash-rei ha-gafrur she-nis-raf v'hi-tzit l'ha-vot.

Ash-rei ha-l'-ha-va she-ba-'a-ra b'sit'rei l'-va-vot.

Ash-rei hal-va-vot she yad-'u l'-kha-dol b'-kha-vod.

Ash-rei ha-gafrur she-nis-raf v'hi-tzit l'ha-vot.
אַׁׁׁׁשְׁרֵי הַגַפְרור שֶׁנִשְׂרַף וְְהִצִית לְהַבוֹת.

אַשְׁרֵי הַלֶהָבָה שֶׁבָּעֲרָה בּסִתְרֵי לְבַבוֹת.

אַשְׁרֵי הַלְּבַבוֹת שֶׁיָּדְעוּ לְחֲדוֹל בְּכָבוֹד.

אַׁׁׁׁשְׁרֵי הַגַפְרור שֶׁנִשְׂרַף וְְהִצִית לְהַבוֹת.

Information:

This poem by the martyred freedom fighter Hannah Szenes (July 17, 1921-November 7, 1944) was set to music by John Bryson Eulenberg and Joan Sharrow Gochberg. It is especially appropriate for Yizkor and for Chanukkah.

The lyrics are displayed under license of ACUM.

The music below is Copyright 2000 by John Bryson Eulenberg and Joan Sharrow Gochberg. Permission for private use is granted.

Sheet music and other links are found here:
http://www.msu.edu/~eulenber/John/Songs/Blessed/Ashrei_Hagafrur.html

Blessings, and Psalm for Chanukah

 
ברכות חנוכה' הנרות הללו ומזמור שיר



Information:

It is the blessings over the lighting of the candles, hanerot hallalu, and the singing of mizmor shir chanukat habayit ledavid, psalm 30

The recording is by Jack Cohen, a Holocaust survivor from Chalkis, Greece, from Evia, an island where Jews have lived for 2000 years according to the custom of Chalkis.

Chasof

 
חשוף


Chasof Zroah Kodshecha Vekarev Keitz Hayeshuah, Nekom Nikmas Dam Avodecha Meiuma Harshoah. Ki Orcha Lanu Hayeshuah V'Ein Keitz Leyimei Haroah Dechei Admon Betzel Tzalmon Hakeim Lanu Roim Shiva
חשוף זרוע קדשיך וקרב קץ הישועה, נקום נקמת דם עבדיך מאמה הרשעה, כי ארכה לנו הישועה ואין קץ לימי הרעה, דחה אדמון בצל צלמון הקם לנו רועים שבעה

Translation:

Expose your holy arm and bring the end of the redemption.
Avenge the blood of your servants from the evil nation.
Because the salvation has been a long time coming and there is no end to the days of evil.
Push Edom into the shadows and bring the seven shepherds.

(User-contributed translation)

Information:

Last paragraph of Ma'oz tzur

Edom, referenced in the last paragraph, was associated with the Roman Empire in the Midrash and later with Christian nations. The paragraph may have been added in the Middle Ages to describe the persecution of Jews in Europe at that time. "Tzel tzalmon" might be translated as "the shadow of the cross."

See a Ma'oz Tzur commentary by Rabbi Raymond Apple

Haneirot Halalu

 
הנרות הללו


Hanerot halalu anu madlikin
Al hanisim ve'al hanifla'ot
Ve'al hatshu'ot ve'al hamilchamot,
Sheh asita lavoteinu
Bayamim haheim, bazman hazeh.
Al yedei kohanecha hakdoshim.
Vechol shmonat yemei Chanukah
Hanerot halalu kodesh hen,
V'ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahen,
Ela lirotam bilvad.
Kedei lehodot ulehallel
leshimcha hagadol al nisecha,
Ve'al niflotecha, ve'al yeshuatecha.
הנרות הללו אנו מדליקין
על הניסים ועל הנפלאות
ועל התשועות ועל המלחמות
שעשית לאבותינו,
בימים ההם, בזמן הזה
על ידי כוהניך הקדושים וכל שמונת ימי חנוכה הנרות הללו קודש הן
ואין לנו רשות להשתמש בהן
אלא לראותן בלבד
כדי להודות ולהלל לשמך הגדול
על ניסיך ועל נפלאותיך ועל ישועותיך

Translation:

These candles that we light, on the miracles and the wonders and the salvations and the wars, that you did for our forefathers, in those days, at this time. By the hand of your holy priests and all these eight days of Chanukah, these candles, they are holy, and we have no permission to use them, except to see them only, in order to give thanks and to praise your big name, on your miracles and your wonders and your salvations.

User-contributed translation

Information:

Shlomo Carlebach version is below, sung by Shlomo Carlebach on the official Carlebach YouTube channel (click video to go to channel).

Hodu Ladonai

 
הֹדוּ לַה׳


Hodu ladonai ki tov,
ki l'olam chasdo. Yomar-na Yisrael, ki l'olam chasdo.
Yomru-na beit aharon, ki l'olam chasdo. Yomru-na yirei adonai, ki l'olam chasdo.
הֹדוּ לַה׳ כִּי טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ
יֹאמַר-נָא יִשְׁרָאֵל, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
יֹאמְרוּ-נָא בֵית אַהֲרֹן, כּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
יֹאמְרוּ-נָא יִרְאֵי ה׳, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.

Translation:

O Give Thanks unto the Lord for God is good,
For God's mercy endures forever.
Let Israel say now:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
Let now the house of Aaron say:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
Let them that revere the Lord say:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
(B'kol Echad, page 86)

Information:

Psalm 107:1

Lev Tahor

 
לב טהור


Lev tahor b'ra li Elohim, vruach nachon chadesh b'kirbi-Al tashlicheni mi'lfanecha, v'ruach kodshecha al tikach mimeni.
לֵב טָהוֹר, בְּרָא-לִי אֱלֹהִים; וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן, חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי.
אַל-תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ; וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ, אַל-תִּקַּח מִמֶּנִּי.

Translation:

Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

Translation source: Jewish Publication Society Bible (1917) (public domain)

Information:

Psalms 51:12-13
On YouTube (Dani Golan and Friends):
Object removed for printing.

Ma Tovu

 
מַה טֹּבוּ


Mah tovu ohaleicha ya'akov mishkenoteicha yisrael.

Va'ani berov chasdecha avo beitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodesheca beyiratecha.
מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

וַאֲנִי בְּרב חַסְדְּךָ אָבא בֵיתֶךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ.

Translation:

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwelling places, O Israel! As for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house: I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee.

Translation from The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

Information:

Numbers 24.

Video version below Shalsheles Junior

Ma'oz tzur

 
מעוז צור


Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati lecha na'eh leshabei'ach,
Tikon beit tefilati vesham todah nezabei'ach,
Le'eit tachin matbei'ach mitzar hamenabei'ach,
Az egmor beshir mizmor chanukat hamizbei'ach.

Ra'ot sav'ah nafshi beyagon kochi kilah,
Chayai meireru bekoshi beshibud malchut eglah,
Uveyado hagedolah hotzi et hasegulah,
Cheil par'o vechol zar'o yardu kaeven bemetzulah.

Devir kadsho hevi'ani vegam sham lo shakateti,
Uva nogeis vehiglani ki zarim avadeti,
Veyein ra'al masachti kim'at she'avarti,
Keitz bavel zerubavel lekeitz shiv'im noshati.

Kerot komat berosh bikeish agagi ben hamedata,
Venihiyata lo lepach ulemokeish vega'avato nishbata,
Rosh yemini niseita ve'oyeiv shemo machita,
Rov banav vekinyanav al ha'eitz talita.

Yevanim nikbetzu alai azai beyimei chashmanim,
Ufartzu chomot migdalai vetim'u kol hashemanim,
Uminotar kankanim na'asah neis lashoshanim,
Benei vinah yemei shemonah kav'u shir urenanim.

Chasof zero'a kadshecha vekareiv keitz hayeshu'ah,
Nekom nikmat dam avadecha mei'uma haresha'ah,
Ki archa lanu hayeshu'ah ve'ein kaitz leyimei hara'ah,
Dechei admon betzeil tzalmmon hakeim lanu ro'im shiv'ah.
מעוז צור ישועתי לך נאה לשבח,
תכון בית תפלתי ושם תודה נזבח,
לעת תכין מטבח מצר המנבח,
עז אגמור בשיר מזמור חנכת המזבח.

רעות שבעה נפשי ביגון כחי כלה,
חיי מררו בקשי בשעבוד מלכות עגלה,
ובידו הגדולה הוציא את הסגלה,
חיל פרעה וכל זרעו ירדו כאבן במצולה.

דביר קדשו הביאני וגם שם לא שקטתי,
ובא נוגש והגלני כי זרים עבדתי,
ויין רעל מסכתי כמעט שעברתי,
קץ בבל זרובבל לקץ שבעים נושעתי.

כרות קומת ברוש בקש אגגי בן המדתא,
ונהיתה לו לפח ולמוקש וגאותו נשבתה,
ראש ימיני נשאת ואויב שמו מחית,
רב בניו וקניניו על העץ תלית.

יונים נקבצו עלי אזי בימי חשמנים,
ופרצו חומות מגדלי וטמאו כל השמנים,
ומנותר קנקנים נעשה נס לשושנים,
בני בינה ימי שמונה קבעו שיר ורננים.

חשוף זרוע קדשך וקרב קץ הישועה,
נקום נקמת דם עבדיך מאמה הרשעה,
כי ארכה לנו הישועה ואין קץ לימי הרעה,
דחה אדמון בצל צלמון הקם לנו רועים שבעה.

Translation:

O Fortress, Rock of my salvation, unto thee it is becoming to give praise: let my house of prayer be restored, and I will there offer thee thanksgivings when thou shalt have prepared a slaughter of the blaspheming foe, I will complete with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.

Full sated was my soul with ills, my strength was spent with sorrow; they embittered my life by hardship during my subjection to the dominion of Egypt, but God with his great power brought forth the chosen race, while the host of Pharaoh and all his seed sank like a stone into the deep.

To his holy oracle he brought me, yet there also I found no peace, for the oppressor came and led me captive, because I had served strange gods: I had to quaff the wine of bewilderment; well nigh had I perished, when Babylon's end drew near; through Zerubbabel I was saved after seventy years.

The Agagite (Haman), the son of Hammedatha, sought to cut down the lofty fir tree (Mordecai); but his design became a snare to himself, and his pride was brought to an end. The head of the Benjamite thou didst exalt, but the enemy's name thou Midst blot out: the many sons he had gotten thou didst hang upon the gallows.

The Grecians were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmoneans; they broke down the walls of my towers, and defiled all the oils; but from one of the last remaining flasks a miracle was wrought for thy beloved, and their men of understanding appointed these eight days for song and praises.

Trans​​lation​ up to this point from the Authorize​​d Daily Prayer Book by Simeon Singer, published​​ in 1890 (now in public domain)

Expose your holy arm and bring the end of the redemption.
Avenge the blood of your servants from the evil nation.
Because the salvation has been a long time coming and there is no end to the days of evil.
Push Edom into the shadows and bring the seven shepherds.
(Last paragraph is a user-contributed translation)

Information:

The author of this song was named 'Mordechai'. He composed it in the mid-thirteenth century. His name can be formed from the first letter of the first five stanzas.

The video below contains The Zamir Chorale & Zamir Noded singing Ma’oz Tzur, composed by Benedetto Marcello and arranged by Hugo Chaim Adler, at Merkin Hall in 2019, conducted by Matthew Lazar.

Od'cha

 
אודך


Pitchu Li

 
פִּתְחוּ-לִי


Pitchu li sha'arei tzedek
Avo vam odeh Yah.
Zeh hasha'ar la'adonai tzadikim yavo'u vo.
Odicha ki anitani vatehi li l'yeshua.
Even ma'asu habonim hayta l'rosh pina.
פִּתְחוּ-לִי שַׁעֲרֵי-צֶדֶק אָבֹא בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ.
זה השער ליי צדיקים יבאו בו.
אודך כי ענתני ותהי לי לישועה.
אבן מעסו הבונים היתה לראש פנה.

Translation:

Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto the LORD.

Translation from Jewish Publication Society 1917 Bible, in the public domain.

Information:

Psalm 118:19.

Found in B'kol Echad, pg 93

Video below is Tzlil V'zemer Boys Choir





Shlomo Carlebach version is below, sung by Shlomo Carlebach on the official Carlebach YouTube channel (click video to go to channel).

Sura Choshech

 
סורה חושך


Banu choshech legaresh, beyadeinu or va'esh.
Kol echad hu or katan, vechulanu or eitan.

Sura choshech, hallah shchor. Sura, mipnei ha-or!

Tzil-tzil-tzil bapa'amonim, mi anachnu? Savivonim. Lanu regel achat,
im nipol, gam lo nifchad.

Sura choshech, hallah shchor. Sura, mipnei ha-or!

Anu shovavim g'dolim, alizim veholelim.
Ach ned'a yafeh me'od lesaper, lashir, lirkod.

Sura choshech, hallah shchor. Sura, mipnei ha-or!
באנו חושך לגרש, בידינו אור ואש.
כל אחד הוא אור קטן וכלנו אור איתן.
סורה חושך, הלאה שחור! סורה מפני האור!

ציל–ציל–ציל בפעמונים מי אנחנו? סביבונים. לנו רגל אחת אם נפול– גם לא נפחד.

סורה חושך, הלאה שחור! סורה מפני האור!

אנו שובבים גדולים עליזים והוללים אך נדע יפה מאד לספר, לשיר, לרקוד.

סורה חושך, הלאה שחור! סורה מפני האור!

Translation:

Note: We are not licensed to display a translation until the song is in the public domain.

Information:

Lyrics by Sara Levi-Tanai, tune by Emanuel Amiran.

The lyrics and cover recording are displayed under license of ACUM.

U-va'u Zarim

 
ובאו זרים


U-va'u zarim be-mikdashi
Le-gadde'a keren yisrael
heiferu chogi ve-chodshi
shaveta avoda me-ariel

ve-ye'etayu chasmona'im tzivita
azartam oz u-gevura
le-yesha amecha yatzata
u-ge'altam chish mehera
ובאו זרים במקדשי
לגדע קרן ישראל
הפרו חגי וחדשי
שבתה עבודה מאריאל

ויאתיו חשמונאים ציוית
אזרתם עז וגבורה
לישע עמך יצאת
וגאלתם (י"א והשמדתם) חיש מהרה

Translation:

Foreigners came into my Temple to lower the horn of Israel, they rejected my holidays and new moons, stopping the service from Ariel.

But then the Hasmoneans came, at your command, you girded them with strength and bravery, You came out for the salvation of Your people and you redeemed them (some say: destroyed their foes) speedily.

User-contributed translation

Information:

According to this website, the words to this song are from the Imrei Aish, published in 1864. Source of tune recorded below is unknown (to us).

Ulecha asita

 
ולך עשית


Ulecha asita shem gadol vekadosh beolamecha

Uleamecha Yisrael asita teshua gedolah ufurkan kehayom hazeh
ולך עשית שם גדול וקדוש בעולמך

ולעמך ישראל עשית תשועה גדולה ופורקן כהיום הזה

Translation:

And for You have made a great and holy Name in your world

And for Your Nation, Yisrael, you have made a great salvation and redemption, like this day

Information:

From the Al hanissim prayer insertion (Amidah, Birkat HaMazon) on Chanukah

Yeme hachannukah

 
ימי החנוכה


Yeme hachannukah, channukat miqdasheinu
Bgil ubsimcha mimaleem et libeinu
Leila v'yom svivoneinu nisov
Sufganiot nochal gam larov.

Haeeru! Hadliku!
Nerot Channukah rabim
Al hanisim v'al haniflaot asher holilu hamakabim
Al hanisim v'al haniflaot asher holilu hamakabim
ימי החנוכה, חנוכת מקדשינו
בגיל ובשמחה ממלאים את ליבינו
לילה ויום סביבוניינו ניסוב
סופגניות נאכל גם לרוב.

האירו! הדליקו!
נרות חנוכה רבים
על הנסים ועל הנפלאות אשר חוללו המכבים
על הנסים ועל הנפלאות אשר חוללו המכבים

ניצחון המכבים נספר, נזמרה,
על האויבים אז ידם כי גברה
ירושלים שבה לתחיה
עם ישראל עשה תושיה.

האירו, הדליקו...

ירושלים לנו הבירה
לב ישראל שירו לה שירה

Translation:

Note: We are not licensed to post an English translation until the song passes into the public domain.

Information:

The tune to this song is from the Yiddish song "Khanike Oy Khanike" and is in the public domain. The lyrics are by Avraham Avrunin. The lyrics and the recording are displayed with a license from ACUM.

Printed from the Zemirot Database