Baruch El Elyonis apiyyutattributed toBaruch ben Samuelof Mainz (c. 1150– 1221).[1]The poem is acrostically signed "BaRUCH HaZaQ".[2]AmongAshkenaziccommunities, it is a traditionalzemerforShabbatlunch. Though one manuscript lists it at the end of the order for the Sabbath,Israel Isserlein(1390-1460) already sang it on Sabbath morning.[3][4]
The poem's theme is singing praises to God, who gave complete physical and mental rest to his people. The payytan describes the joy of Shabbat and its dignity, which is glorified with delicious food and festive clothes, the enormous reward that the keeper of the Sabbath will receive both now and in heaven, the powerful human experience of the Sabbath, the feelings it evokes, and the importance of Shabbat to God.
According to the piyyut, the Sabbath breaks the natural routine of the weekdays and in the process elevates the Jew to another level. The piyyut also recalls that God will redeem his people because of the Sabbath: "Yohanansaid thatShimon ben Yochaisaid, 'If Israel kept two Shabbats appropriately, we would immediately be redeemed' ".[5]
Text
editThe piyyut contains seven verses, each four lines with 12 syllables per line.[6]The first and last verses rhyme on an ABABABAB pattern, while the middle five verses follow an ABABABCD pattern, where C rhymes with A (4x) or B (1x) and D rhymes with the first verse.[7]One 13th-century manuscript ofMachzor Vitrycontains verses 1, 2, and 4, spelling ברך.[8]One 14th-century fragment includes verses 6-7.[9]Another manuscript of Machzor Vitry contains all seven verses.[10]MS Schocken 22, a machzor for the Jews ofCorfu,also includes the piyyut.[11][1]
| Hebrew Original[8][9][10] | English translation |
|---|---|
בָּרוּךְ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר נָתַן מְנוּחָה |
Blessed beEl Elyon,who gave rest
To our bodies, release, relief, and uplift. He seeks Zion,[a]the abandoned city, How long will you aggrieve this sad soul? The Sabbath observer, male or female, is pleasing[b]to god likemeal on the pan. |
רוֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת מֶלֶךְ עוֹלָמִים |
Rider[c]on the eves, eternal king,[d]
His people to rest, he seeks delicacies.[e] With sweet foods, variety of dishes, With glorious clothing, a family feast.[f] The Sabbath observer... |
וְאַשְׁרֵי כָל־חוֹכֶה לְתַשְׁלוּמֵי כֵפֶל |
Happy are all who wait for doubled reward
From the all-seeing cloud dweller. He will inherit mountain and valley, Inheritance and rest like the sun rises just for him! The Sabbath observer... |
כָּל שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת כַּדָּת מֵחַלְּלוֹ |
All who protect the Sabbath properly from desecrators,
Preparation by reverence for the Holy is their lot.[g] And if he completes the day's obligations, praise him,[h] To God who made him,[i]ameal-offeringis sent. The Sabbath observer... |
חֶמְדַּת הַיָּמִים קְרָאוֹ אֵלִי צוּר |
My god, my Rock, called it the best of days,
And praised be the pure ones if it is protected. A jeweled[j]crown he'll set on their heads, The spirit of the Eternal Rock will rest on them.[k] The Sabbath observer... |
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ |
Recall the Sabbath day and sanctify it,
His pride raised, a diadem on his head. Therefore does man give[l]to his body, joy and happiness, by which to be anointed.[m] The Sabbath observer... |
קֹדֶשׁ הִיא לָכֶם שַׁבָּת הַמַּלְכָּה |
Holy to you is the Sabbath queen,
Into your houses, to grant blessing. In all your dwellings, do not domelakha, Even your children and your servants. The Sabbath observer... |
Hagadol version
editAn early alternative version of the last verse is found inNLIMs. Heb. 8°844, a 15th-centurySephardicsiddur,where it is marked as a "pizmonforShabbat Hagadol".The piyyut mentions the commandment to eat matza and the Exodus.
| Hagadol version[12] | English translation |
|---|---|
קֹדֶשׁ הִיא לָכֶם הַשַׁבָּת הַמַּלְכָּה |
Holy to you is the Sabbath queen,
Into your houses, to grant blessing. In all your dwellings, eatmatzah, Your enslaved ancestors all inherited. |
References
edit- ^The first scribe of the Paris manuscript: "He will rebuild Zion."
- ^Many modern printings use the plural form ירצו, "are pleasing"; the 1514 editio princeps uses יהי רצוי, "will be pleasing".
- ^The Paris manuscript: "The rider," which better fits the metre but ruins the acrostic.
- ^In the Parma manuscript, "creator of worlds."
- ^In the Paris manuscript and in printings, בנעימים "He tells his people to rest sweetly." This makes somewhat less sense but fits the metre better.
- ^Paris first scribe: "sacrifice of meal."
- ^In the Parma manuscript, "He pleases God, the love of his lot."
- ^In the Parma manuscript, "and if he completes his obligation in everything he has".
- ^Or perhaps emend: מָחוּל לוֹ "God who pardoned him" after b. Shabbat 118b, PdRE 18:13, etc.
- ^So the second scribe of Paris. The first scribe of Paris: "הלולים", delights, while printings: "הלומים", "kingship" after the Talmud's statement that אין הלום אלא מלכות; the Talmud also uses ה.ל.מ as a verb meaning coronation in b. AZ 44a and Sanhedrin 21b.
- ^Paris first scribe: "The Eternal Rock commands rest for him."
- ^Vienna manuscript: "So does a man live for his body,"
- ^Vienna: "Joy and also happiness; oil for annointment."
- ^abHabermann, Abraham Meir (1932). "פיוטי רבינו ברוך בר רבי שמואל ממגנצא".ידיעות המכון לחקר השירה העברית(6): 47–161.
- ^"Piyut".old.piyut.org.il.Retrieved2022-07-21.
- ^Kanarti, Amichai (2009).Leket Yosher(in Hebrew). Vol. 1. Mechon Yerushalayim. p. 72.
- ^Kohn, Albert E. (2018-01-01)."SONGS WERE FOR ME YOUR STATUTES WHEREVER I MAY DWELL (PSALMS 119:54): A History of the Jewish Custom to Sing around the Table on the Sabbath (Shabbat Zemirot), 1200-1600".Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
- ^b. Shabbat 118b
- ^גולדשמידט, דניאל (1996).מחקרי תפילה ופיוט.Hotsaʼat sefarim ʻa. sh. Y.L. Magnes, ha-Universiṭah ha-ʻIvrit.OCLC746880904.
- ^"פרק א שבת ב אמירת זמירות".
- ^ab"מחזור ויטרי | כתב יד NNL_ALEPH000083855 | הספרייה הלאומית".nli.org.il(in Hebrew).Retrieved2022-07-21.
- ^ab"זמירות | כתב יד NNL_ALEPH002638508 | הספרייה הלאומית".nli.org.il(in Hebrew).Retrieved2022-07-21.
- ^ab"Paris (F), Bibliothèque de l'Alliance Israélite Universelle, H 133 - Notice Medium (édition avancée)".medium-avance.irht.cnrs.fr.Retrieved2022-07-21.
- ^"מחזור מנהג קורפו לכל השנה".nli.org.il.Retrieved2022-07-22.
- ^"סדור: תפלות החול, שבת, ראש חודש, חנוכה, פורים ופסח".nli.org.il.Retrieved2022-07-21.