Ma'oz Tzur
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"Ma'oz Tzur"(Hebrew:מָעוֹז צוּר,romanized:Māʾōz Ṣūr) is aJewishliturgical poem orpiyyut.It is written inHebrew,and is sung on the holiday ofHanukkah,after lighting the festival lights. The hymn is named for its Hebrewincipit,which means "Strong Rock (of my Salvation)" and is aname or epithet for God in Judaism.It is thought to have been written sometime in the 13th century, although recent research suggests the 12th century. It was originally sung only at home, but has been used in thesynagoguesince the 19th century or earlier. In more recent years, of its six stanzas sometimes only the first stanza is sung (or the first and fifth).
Time and author[edit]
"Ma'oz Tzur Yeshuati" is commonly thought to have been written in the 13th century, during theCrusades.[1]The first letters of the first five stanzas form anacrosticof the composer's name,Mordechai(the five Hebrew letters מרדכי). There are several hypotheses regarding his identity. He may have been theMordecai ben Isaac ha-Leviwho wrote the Sabbath table-hymn "Mah Yafit".[2][3]Judging from the appeal in the closing verse, he may have been the Mordecai whose father-in-law was martyred at Mayence (nowMainz,Germany) in 1096 as part of the First Crusade.[citation needed]
Avraham Fränkel (2014)[4]suggests it was composed in Germany between 1160 and 1190.[5]
Some argue that the sixth stanza is an original part of the poem and was removed due to concerns of creating conflict with non-Jews,[4][5]while others argue that it is a late addition.[6]
Content[edit]
The hymn retells Jewish history in poetic form and celebrates deliverance from four ancient enemies,Pharaoh,Nebuchadnezzar,HamanandAntiochus.Like much medieval Jewish liturgical poetry, it is full of allusions to Biblical literature and rabbinic interpretation. Thus,malchut eglahdenotesEgypt(Jeremiah46:20);nogesisNebuchadnezzar;y’miniisMordechai(Esther 2:5);y’vanimis Antiochus;shoshanimis the Jewish people (Shir HaShirim 2:2);b’nei vinahare the rabbinic sages; andshirrefers to theHallelpsalms.[7][8]
A second acrostic is found in the first letters of the opening words of the final stanza, the acrostic contains the wordhazak(Hebrew:חזק,meaning "be strong" ).
The four middle stanzas refer to the salvations from the four persecutions of the Jewish people:The ExodusfromEgypt,the end of theBabylonian captivity,escaping the persecution in Persia byHaman(the miracle ofPurimaccording to theBook of Esther) and the successful revolt against the Greek rule in Syria during theHasmonean period,as commemorated byHanukkah.[9]
The first and last stanzas are written in the present tense. The first expresses hope for the rebuilding of theTempleand for the defeat of enemies, who are metaphorically referred to as barking (menabe'ah).
The final stanza once again calls for divine retribution against the enemies of the Jewish people. The termAdmon,meaning "the red one", was understood by some to refer to the emperor,Friedrich Barbarossa,whose name means Frederick "Redbeard". It was speculated that it was a later addition; at least it was not found in print up to the 18th century.[9]It is suggested that the stanza was passed only in oral tradition as self-censorship due to its strong anti-Christian hints.[9]
Tune[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%96_%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%AA%D7%99_%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99_%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94_%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%A7_%D7%9E%D7%91%D7%A6%D7%A2_%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%9C_%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94_%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%AA%D7%9F_%D7%A9%D7%98%D7%A0%D7%A6%D7%9C_hanukkah_songs_maoz_tzur_yeshuati.pdf/page1-220px-thumbnail.pdf.jpg)
The bright and stirring tune now so generally associated with "Ma'oz tzur" serves as the "representative theme" in musical references to the feast (compare Addir Hu, Aḳdamut, Hallel). It is sung almost universally by Jews on this festival (although there are many other traditional melodies[10]). It has come to be regarded as the only Hanukkah melody, four other Hebrew hymns for the occasion being also sung to it[11][12]). It was originally sung for "Shene Zetim"(שני זיתים or שני זתים," Two Olives "(the ones that supply oil to theMenorahfromZechariah's vision, Zech. 4)), apiyyut,preceding theShemaofshaharithof the (first)Shabatof Hanukah. Curiously enough, "Shene Zetim"alone is now sometimes sung to a melody which two centuries ago was associated with" Ma'oz tzur ". The latter is a Jewish-sounding air in the minor mode, and is found inBenedetto Marcello's "Estro Poetico Armonico," or "Parafrasi Sopra li Salmi" (Venice, 1724), quoted as a melody of the German Jews, and utilized by Marcello as the theme for his "Psalm XV." This air has been transcribed by Cantor Birnbaum of Königsberg in the "Israelitische Wochenschrift" (1878, No. 51)[13]
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This most popular melody for the Hanukkah hymn has been identified by Birnbaum as an adaptation from the old German folk-song "So weiss ich eins, dass mich erfreut, das pluemlein auff preiter heyde," given in Böhme's "Altdeutsches Liederbuch" (No. 635); it was widely spread among German Jews as early as 1450. By an interesting coincidence, this folk-melody was also the first utilized by Luther for his German chorales. He set it to his "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein".[14]It is the tune for a translation by F. E. Cox of the hymn "Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut," by J. J. Schütz (1640–1730). As such it is called "Erk" (after the German hymnologist), and, with harmonies by Bach (BWV 388), appears as No. 283 of "Hymns, Ancient and Modern" (London, 1875). The earliest transcription of the Jewish form of the tune is by Isaac Nathan, who set it to the poem "On Jordan's Banks" in Byron's "Hebrew Melodies" (London, 1815). Later transcriptions have been numerous, and the air finds a place in every collection of Jewish melodies. It was modified to the form now favoured by British Jews byJulius Mombach,to whom is due the modulation to the dominant in the repetition of the first strain. In Mombach's version the closing phrase of each verse is not repeated.[13]Prior to theWorld War IIinGermanythis hymn was commonly sung with analternative melodyto the 2nd and 4th verses as recorded byCantor Israel Alter.Thisalternative pre-war melodywas revived by the Jewish Amsterdam Chamber Ensemble in theRoyal Concertgebouwin 2018.
Text[edit]
Hebrew | Romanization | Translation[15] |
---|---|---|
מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי, לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי, וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ. |
Ma'oz Tzur Yeshu'ati, lekha na'eh leshabe'ach. |
My Refuge, my Rock of Salvation! 'Tis pleasant to sing Your praises. |
רָעוֹת שָׂבְעָה נַפְשִׁי, בְּיָגוֹן כֹּחִי כָּלָה
חַיַּי מֵרְרוּ בְקֹשִׁי, בְּשִׁעְבּוּד מַלְכוּת עֶגְלָה |
Ra'ot save'ah nafshi, b'yagon kochi kala. |
|
דְּבִיר קָדְשׁוֹ הֱבִיאַנִי, וְגַם שָׁם לֹא שָׁקַטְתִּי
וּבָא נוֹגֵשׂ וְהִגְלַנִי, כִּי זָרִים עָבַדְתִּי |
D'vir kodsho hevi'ani, v'gam sham lo shakateti. |
He brought me to His holy abode. Even there, I found no rest. |
כְּרוֹת קוֹמַת בְּרוֹשׁ בִּקֵּשׁ, אֲגָגִי בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא
וְנִהְיָתָה לוֹ לְפַח וּלְמוֹקֵשׁ, וְגַאֲוָתוֹ נִשְׁבָּתָה |
K'rot komat berosh bikesh, Agagi ben Hamdatah. |
|
יְוָנִים נִקְבְּצוּ עָלַי, אֲזַי בִּימֵי חַשְׁמַנִּים
וּפָרְצוּ חוֹמוֹת מִגְדָּלַי, וְטִמְּאוּ כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים |
Y'vanim nikbetzu alai, azai bimei Chashmanim. |
The Greeks gathered against me, in days of theHasmoneans. |
חֲשׂוֹף זרוֹעַ קדְשֶׁךָ וְקָרֵב קֵץ הַיְשׁוּעָה
נְקֹם נִקְמַת עֲבָדֶיךָ (דָם) מֵאֻמָּה הָרְשָׁעָה |
Chasof z'ro'a kodshekha, v'karev ketz hayeshu'a. |
O bare Your holy arm and bring the end [of] salvation.[e] |
- ^Follower of heretical teaching i.e. heretical doctrines
- ^Haman
- ^Mordecai
- ^Literally 'the lilies' [later interpretd by some as 'roses'], an affectionate name for Israel
- ^Yeshualiterally means 'salvation' but its use here is ambiguously worded so that it may also be read as 'Jesus', and thus the longer phrase may be read either as 'final salvation' or as 'an end to Jesus[ism]'[16]
- ^Literally "the Red One" referring toEsau(Edom) (Genesis25:25). Most likely refers toChristianity.
- ^Tzalmonliterally means 'idol' or 'image', but in Medieval times referred to the cross of Christianity.
- ^Who will deliver Israel from oppression (Micah5:4)
English version[edit]
A popular non-literal translation, called "Rock of Ages", is based on the German version by Leopold Stein (1810–1882), and was written byTalmudiclinguistMarcus JastrowandGustav Gottheil.[17]
These are the original English lyrics,[18]which are sometimes changed into gender neutral language.[19][failed verification]
Rock of Ages, let our song, praise Thy saving power;
Thou, amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us, but Thine arm availed us,
And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.
Kindling new the holy lamps, priests, approved in suffering,
Purified the nation's shrine, brought to God their offering.
And His courts surrounding, hear, in joy abounding,
Happy throngs, singing songs with a mighty sounding.
Children of the martyr race, whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs where ye may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering that the time is nearing
Which will see, all men free, tyrants disappearing.
In popular culture[edit]
ThepiyyutinspiredIsraelisongwriterNaomi Shemerto write the song "Shivchei Ma'oz" (meaning "praises of the fortress" ), as performed by theSouthern Command Band (the band of theIDFSouthern Command) in 1969. In this song Shemer drew a connection between the Jewish hymn and the military positions that were attacked in theWar of Attritionof the time.
References[edit]
- ^Zunz"Literaturgesch."p. 580
- ^The triumph of Mordechai
- ^"Maoz Tzur, our Muslim hero",By ALEXANDER SPINRAD Published: DECEMBER 24, 2016 20:59,The Jerusalem Post
- ^abAvraham Fränkel, “The Song on the Rescue of Worms and the Time of the Composition of Ma'oz Tzur,”Ha-Ma'ayan,208, 2014: 9-21
- ^abThe Authorship and Background to Maoz Tzur Yeshuati,By Mitchell First | December 22, 2022Jewish Link
- ^Gabriel Wasserman, "Liturgical poems of Ḥanukka from Europe" (Doctoral disertation), Volume 1, Page 102.
- ^Rabbi Dr Raymond Applehttp:// oztorah /2007/07/the-strange-6th-verse-of-maoz-tzur
- ^"אתר הפיוט והתפילה – פס הקול של תרבות ישראל".
- ^abc"Maoz Tzur and the “End of Christianity” ",Yitzhak Y. Melamed
- ^"אתר הפיוט והתפילה – פס הקול של תרבות ישראל".
- ^Zunz pp. 422, 429
- ^D. Kaufmann, in "Ha-Asif,"ii. 298
- ^abAdler, Cyrus; Cohen, Francis L."MA'OZ ẒUR".jewishencyclopedia.
- ^Julian, "Dictionary of Hymnology," s. v. "Sing praise to God who reigns above"
- ^Translation and notes fromTheAuthorised Daily Prayer Book,Eli Cashdan(London 1990)
- ^Melamed, Yitzhak Y. (2016)."Ma'oz Tzur and the" End of Christianity "".TheTorah.
- ^"Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)"atJewish Heritage Online Magazine.Retrieved January 13, 2006.
- ^Chanukah Songs - German Maoz Tzurat Chazzanut. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^See, for example,Hanukkah Songs: Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) - All About the Hanukkah Song Maoz TzurArchived2011-12-07 at theWayback Machine,By Ariela Pelaia, at Judaism.about
External links[edit]
- Irwin Oppenheim,"Chanukah Songs"at Chazzanut Online. Web page includes MIDI audio of the German and Italian tunes for Maoz Tzur and of the Dutch tune for Shene Zetim.
- Sephardic Pizmonim Project:Contains the song and can be heard according to Sephardic tradition.