Palms and Myrtles
(Hymn for the First Day of Tabernacles)
HY praise, O Lord, will I proclaim
In hymns unto Thy glorious name;
O Thou Redeemer, Lord and King,
Redemption to Thy faithful bring!
Before thine altar they rejoice
With branch of palm and myrtle-stem,
To Thee they raise the prayerful voice-
Have mercy, save and prosper them.
May'st Thou in mercy manifold,
Dear unto Thee Thy people hold,
When at Thy gate they bend the knee,
And worship and acknowledge Thee
Do thou their hearts' desire fulfil;
Rejoice with them in love this day,
Forgive their sins, and thoughts of ill,
And their transgressions cast away.
They overflow with prayer and praise
To Him, who knows the future days.
Have mercy Thou, and hear the prayer
Of those who palms and myrtles bear.
Thee day and night they sanctify
And in perpetual song adore,
Like the heavenly host, they cry,
"Blessed art Thou for evermore."
ELEAZAR Kalir.
(Translated by Alice Lucas.)
The Tabernacle
(Leviticus xxxiii., 33-43)
LET us build to the Lord of the earth in each place The Tent, which His glorious presence will grace. "Twill be hallowed with light that descends from on
Where the prayers and the praises are heard thro' the
'Tis the time when the beauty of earth is fulfilled,
And the stars all look down on the Tent that we build;
When the moon in her robing of silver attire,
Approaches in silence, the sun's crimson fire!
All the splendour of heaven, the beauties of earth,
Exult in the love that has given them birth!
The boughs of thick trees with their leaves all entwine,
Round the delicate stems of the Myrtle and Vine;
The Palm trees are clasping the Willows with joy,
A rapture that death cannot change or destroy;
Each tree that was bearing its fruit o'er the land,
Owes renewal of life, to the One mighty hand!
Its exquisite beauty enchanting our sight,
One thought has created, for taste and delight.
Choice flowers in manifold colours and scent,
Adorn the frail walls of the gorgeous built tent;
Where "showers of blessings" from promise divine,
Replete with His mandates, eternally shine!
Now twilight glides gently o'er trees, fruit and flower;
And fragrant the breath of the exquisite bower.
The lamps that were burning, are fast growing dim,
While angels have enter'd, and chant a soft hymn;
'Tis the music of heaven! their voices ascending,
In tones most celestial, with praises are blending.
The trees are all trembling with joy, and the Rose
Has awaken'd to see where the angels repose;
But they folded their wings all impervious thro' night,
And vanish'd ere dawn spread her roseate light!
ROSE EMMA COLLINS.
WHAT offerings can we bring Thee, Lord?
Thy ruined Temple stands forlorn;
Its stones are level with the sward
Or alien altars now adorn.
And bitter desolation stills
The lowings of the stately herds, The bleatings on a hundred hills, The shepherds' songs of joyous words. No fields of corn or luscious vines Thy people's toiling hands engage, And from the Ghetto's dark confines They make no holy pilgrimage To bring their offerings to Thy shrine With sound of tabret and of lute; They pour a draught of bitter wine And lay before Thee Dead Sea fruit! Oh, give us back our fathers' days, The land they trod in festive glee, When harvestings were acts of praise And best ripe fruits were gifts to Thee!
But soon his eyes brim over
As with sudden tears,
Ah, he learns the lesson
Of the coming years.
FOR garnered fields and meadows cropped
And orchards plucked of peach and pear-
Lord, what Thy hand has given us,
For this we bring our grateful prayer.
To Thee we come with hearts made glad:
For wheat that is our staff and stay;
For oats and rye that caught the glint
Of sunset on a summer's day.
With face upturned in sun and rain,
And stout resolves to do our taskO Lord, who gives to each his due,
Thy blessings for these do we ask:
That never faltering, though our arms
Were weary and and our spirits spent;
That bravely we endured the toil
And anguish that the seasons sent;
We thank Thee, yea, for throbs of Love
That glorify each earth-born soul,
And link all pulsing hearts to Thee
In one vast, universal whole.
(The Rejoicing of the Law)
"SIMCHAS-TORAH! skip and hop On your feet till down you drop!
In your mouth a merry jest―
And a burden in your breast."
So frisky and fit,
At table we sit,
We eat what we choose,
We drink and are gay.
Sing, brother Jews,
Be merry today!
Cup after cup
Drink it all up
No need to fear.
Lift up your voice,
To-day we rejoice,
Sing brothers dear.
Alas, Jewish singing!
And alas! Jewish gladness,
What means it; O tell me,
And whence is the sadness
That weighs on my heart when I hear.
I hang down my head
Like a child that is chidden.
And oft, ere I know it,
Uncalled for, unbidden,
Falls bitter and burning,
A tear!
Not always with sorrow
Our hopes are requited;
And often the sunshine
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