If we sang praises to the Lord

Leonor de Carvajal

End of the 16th Century

If we sang praises to the Lord
Every day with as much care
As He takes in giving us joy
And in showing His favor in every part of our lives,
Then our suffering would not be relentless
And no great adversity would last:
We would all be worthy of His kindness
And of inhabiting His holy city
Where our years would be long
Free from danger, free from harm.
I confess that our disobedience
Is the reason we were cast out from our land.
Now we live among uncircumcised peoples
And face starvation and wars,
Each bringing different types of cruelty.
We were cast out from our land.
Let us return to the Lord, for He is merciful,
And He will make our spirits glad.
Let us sing His praise on this day
That the Lord has chosen and given as a gift.
Let us exalt His righteous holy path,
For to us alone He entrusted it.
Of all human lineages that He created
He favored that of Israel above all,
Multiplying its progeny
More than the stars in the sky.
Our hope will not be in vain
And what was promised will not be withheld:
Very soon we shall enjoy fair weather
If we focus our thoughts on goodness.
Those who hope in God shall obtain all
If they are not dissuaded from finding hope in goodness.
May the Lord make us forever hope in Him
And make us keep all of His holy law.
The Lord has promised that if we return
To the law of His holy will
And if we are determined heart and soul
To carry out His will,
And if with righteousness we plead for His favor
As we face the greatest adversities,
He will gather us together again in that instant
From north, south, west, and east.
What other sign or proof could we ask for
Before recognizing our obligation
To sanctify that day
With all our soul and all our heart?
For on that day, the Lord forbids us
To earn our bread or buy provisions,
So let us spend it singing the praises
Of the Lord who so often shows us favor.

Translated by
Steven
Capsuto
.

Credits

Leonor de Carvajal, “Si con tanto cuidada cada día (If we sang praises to the Lord)” (Prayer, Mexico, end of the 16th century). Published in: Michelle M. Hamilton, “La poesía de Leonor de Carvajal y la tradición de los criptojudíos en Nueva España,” Sefarad vol. 60, no. 1 (June 30, 2000): 75–93:85–86 (Cántico).

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Creator Bio

Leonor de Carvajal

d. 1596

Leonor de Carvajal was the seventh of nine children born to Francisco Rodríguez de Matos and Francisca de Carvajal. The family left Spain around 1579, settling in New Spain (Mexico). However, in 1589 and 1590, most members of the family were arrested and convicted of Judaizing by the Inquisition. They repented, renouncing Judaism and declaring their devotion to the Catholic Church, and were punished. Five years later they were again arrested for Judaizing. Despite initial resistance, after being subjected to torture, Leonor confessed, implicating her family and acquaintances. Her confession includes depictions of various crypto-Jewish rites and customs, as well as the texts of poems and songs (some partial) recited and sung on these occasions, among them a poem about the Ten Commandments, Sabbath songs, and more. It offers fascinating insights into the practice of crypto-Jews and the important role that women played in passing on traditions within this community. Like her brother, Luis Carvajal, who refused to repent or renounce his Judaism, Leonor was burned at the stake in 1596.

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