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.

Chayav Inish L'vesumei

 
חייב איניש לבסומי


Chayav inish l'vesumei, ad delo yadah
חייב איניש לבסומי, עד דלא ידע.

Translation:

A man is required to drink, until he does not know
(User-contributed translation)

Information:

Gemara Megilla 7b says:
Raba said: A man is required to drink on Purim, until he does not know the difference between cursing Haman and blessing Mordechai

Layehudim Haysa Orah

 
ליהודים היתה אורה


LaY'hudim Haytah orah v'simcha v'sason vikar.
Ken tih'yeh lanu.
ליהודים היתה אורה, ושמחה, וששון, ויקר.
כן תהיה לנו.

Translation:

The Jews had light and joy and gladness and honor. So be it with us.

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

Information:

Lyrics: First sentence is Megillat Esther 8:16. It appears with the second line in the introduction to Havdalah.

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

Mi Shemaamin

 
מי שמאמין


Bechol makom, kol hazman
yesh lechulanu migadol ve’ad katan
yamim yafim vegam pachot
uvenehem tshuva lechol hashe’elot

Yesh Elohim echad gadol
hu ba’olam haze noten lanu hakol
ben afela lekeren or
et hanativ anachnu rak tzrichim livchor

Veze yadu’a hachayim hem matana
hakol tzafuy veharashut netuna

Mi shema’amin lo mefached
et ha’emuna le’abed
velanu yesh et melech ha’olam
vehu shomer otanu mikulam

Ha’am haze hu mishpacha
echad ve’od echad ze sod ha’atzlacha
am Israel lo yevater
tamid al hamapa anachnu nisha’er

Veze yadu’a hachayim hem matana
hakol tzafuy veharashut netuna

Mi shema’amin lo mefached...

Mitzva gdola lihyot besimcha
lihyot besimcha tamid

Mi shema’amin lo mefached...
בכל מקום, כל הזמן
יש לכולנו מגדול ועד קטן
ימים יפים, וגם פחות
ובניהם תשובה לכל השאלות

יש אלוהים אחד גדול
הוא בעולם הזה נותן לנו הכל
בין אפלה לקרן אור
את הנתיב אנחנו רק צריכים לבחור

וזה ידוע החיים הם מתנה
הכל צפוי והרשות נתונה

מי שמאמין לא מפחד
את האמונה לאבד
ולנו יש את מלך העולם
והוא שומר אותנו מכולם

העם הזה הוא משפחה
אחד ועוד אחד זה סוד ההצלחה
עם ישראל לא יוותר
תמיד על המפה אנחנו נשאר

וזה ידוע חיים הם מתנה
הכל צפוי והרשות נתונה

מי שמאמין לא מפחד...

מצוה גדולה להיות בשמחה
להיות בשמחה תמיד

מי שמאמין לא מפחד...

Translation:

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

Information:

Words: Yosi Gaspin; Melody: Adi Laon.

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

Mishenichnas Adar

 
משנכנס אדר


Mishenichnas Adar marbin b'simcha.
משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה

Translation:

When [the month of] Adar arrives, we increase our joy!

Translation by Gabe Seed

Information:

From the Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 29a
Video below is by Simcha Leiner

Psalm 29: Mizmor l'David Havu Ladonai

 
מזמור לדוד הבו ליי


Mizmor l’david: Havu la’adonai, benei elim,
havu la’adonai kavod va’oz.

Havu la’adonai kavod shemo, hishtachavu la’adonai be’hadrat kodesh.

Kol adonai al hamayim, el ha’kavod hirim, adonai al mayim rabim.

Kol adonai ba’koach, kol adonai be’hadar.
Kol adonai shover arazim va’yeshaber adonai et-arzei ha’levanon.

Va’yarkidem k’mo egel, levanon ve’sirion k’mo ven-re-emim.

Kol adonai chotzev la’havot esh.
Kol adonai yachil midbar,
yachil adonai midbar kadesh.

Kol adonai yecholel ayalot.
Va’yechesof yearot, u’veheikhalo kulo omer kavod.

Adonai lamabul yashav,
va’yeshev adonai melekh l’olam.

Adonai oz le’amo yiten, adonai yevarekh et-amo va’shalom.
מִזְמוֹר, לְדָוִד: הָבוּ לַיהוָה, בְּנֵי אֵלִים; הָבוּ לַיהוָה, כָּבוֹד וָעֹז.

הָבוּ לַיהוָה, כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ; הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה, בְּהַדְרַת-קֹדֶשׁ.

קוֹל יְהוָה, עַל-הַמָּיִם:
אֵל-הַכָּבוֹד הִרְעִים יְהוָה, עַל-מַיִם רַבִּים.

קוֹל-יְהוָה בַּכֹּחַ; קוֹל יְהוָה, בֶּהָדָר.
קוֹל יְהוָה, שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים; וַיְשַׁבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶת-אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

וַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמוֹ-עֵגֶל; לְבָנוֹן וְשִׂרְיֹן, כְּמוֹ בֶן-רְאֵמִים.

קוֹל-יְהוָה חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ.
קוֹל יְהוָה, יָחִיל מִדְבָּר; יָחִיל יְהוָה, מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ.

קוֹל יְהוָה, יְחוֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת-- וַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרוֹת:
וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ- כֻּלּוֹ, אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד.

יְהוָה, לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב; וַיֵּשֶׁב יְהוָה, מֶלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם.

יְהוָה--עֹז, לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן; יְהוָה, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם.

Translation:

1 A Psalm of David. Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye sons of might, ascribe unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
the God of glory thundereth, even the LORD upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox.
7 The voice of the LORD heweth out flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and strippeth the forests bare;
and in His temple all say: 'Glory.'
10 The LORD sat enthroned at the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth as King for ever.
11 The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

(Translation from the JPS 1917 edition)

Information:

Psalms 29 (תהלים כט) is the sixth song of the Kabalat Shabbat service. It is also sung after the torah is read on Shabbat morning.

Shoshanat Ya'akov

 
שושנת יעקוב


Shoshanat ya'akov tzahala vesamecha, birotam yachad tchelet Mordechai.

Tshuatam hayyita lanetzach vetikvatam bechol dor vador.

Lehodiya shechol kivecha lo yevoshu velo yichalmu lanetzach kol hachosim bach.

Arur Haman asher bikesh leabedi. Baruch Mordechai hayehudi!

Arurah Zeresh eshet mafchidi. Brucha Ester be'adi. Vegam Charbona zachur latov.
שׁוֹשַׁנַּת יַעֲקֹב צָהֳלָה וְשִׁמְחָה בִּרְאוֹתָם יַחַד תְּכֵלֶת מָרְדְּכַי
תְּשׁוּעָתָם הָיְיִתָ לְנָצַח וְתִקְוָתָם בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר
לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁכָּל קוֹוֶיךָ לֹא יְבוֹשׁוֹ וְלֹא יִכָּלְמוּ לָנֶצַח כָּל הַחוֹסִים בָּךְ
אָרוּר הַמָּן אֲשֶׁר בִּקֵּשׁ לְאַבְּדִי
בָּרוּךְ מָרְדְּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי
אֲרוּרָה זֶרֶשׁ אֵשֶׁת מַפְחִידִי
בְּרוּכָה אֶסְתֵּר בַּעֲדִי
וְגַם חַרְבוֹנָה זָכוֹר לְטוֹב

Translation:

The lily of Jacob rejoiced and was glad when Mordecai was seen in the purple. Thou hast ever been Israel's salvation, and their hope in every generation, to make known that all who hope in thee shall not be ashamed, neither shall any be confounded who put their trust in thee. Accursed be Haman who sought to destroy me; blessed be Mordecai the Jew; accursed be Zeresh, the wife of him that terrified me; blessed be Esther my protectress, and may Harbonah also be remembered for good.

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

Information:

Lyrics: Traditional

Video version below Performed by Dana International:
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Utzu Eitzah

 
עֻצוּ עֵצָה


Utzu etza vetufar;
Dabru davar velo yakum,
Ki imanu El.
עֻצוּ עֵצָה, וְתֻפָר;
דַּבְּרוּ דָבָר וְלֹא יָקוּם,
כִּי עִמָּנוּ אֵל.

Translation:

They have devised schemes but they have been foiled, they have made declarations [against us], but they will not be fulfilled, because God is with us!

Information:

Yamim Al Ye'mei Melech

 
יָמִים עַל יְמֵי מֶלֶךְ


Yamim al yemei melech toseef, shnotav kemo dor va-dor
יָמִים עַל יְמֵי מֶלֶךְ תּוֹסִיף, שְׁנוֹתָיו כְּמוֹ דֺר וָדֺר.

Translation:

Mayest Thou add days unto the king's days! May his years be as many generations!

Translation from 1917 Jewish Publication Society Bible (Public Domain)

Information:

Psalms 61:7

Printed from the Zemirot Database