Shabbat Shira

Yemei Horpi // ימי חורפי // In My Youth (In My Wintry Days)

Excerpts from the poem with translation:

יְמֵי חָרְפִּי אֲהַבְתָּנִי

עַתָּה בַּבּוֹר נְטַשְׁתָּנִי

דּוֹדִי כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָנִי
אָנָּא חוּשׁ וְשַׂמְּחֵנִי

In the days of my youth you loved me, now, you have discarded me in a pit.
Please, hurry my love, and bring me joy equal to the pain I feel in these days of suffering.

…

כִּי לֹא תִזְנַח לְעוֹלָמִים

לָךְ אוֹחִיל אִם אָרְכוּ יָמִים

אֶמְצָא חֵן כִּי נִחַמְתָּנִי

הֵן לִי דִבַּרְתָּ נִחוּמִים

For You I await, even as days grow long, for you will not abandon forever
You have spoken words of comfort to me, may I find your favor; console me.

…

וְשָׂא מִרְיִי וּמַעֲלִי

זְכוֹר עָנְיִי וַעֲמָלִי
כִּי כַּחֹמֶר עֲשִׂיתָנִי

רְאֵה נָא צוּרִי גוֹאֲלִי

Remember my suffering and toil, and forgive my wrongdoings. See me, my Rock and redeemer, and remember, from dust you made me.

Yemei Horpi // ימי חורפי // In My Youth (In My Wintry Days)
Poem by R’ Israel Najara, 16th century
Melody: Hungarian Folksong, ‘Katona Sirato’

Produced by Jacob Blumberg
Vocals: Jessica Kate Meyer
Guitar: Dan Nadel
Clarinet: Ismail Lumanovsky
Accordion: Shoko Nagai
Percussion: Satoshi Takeishi