My palate speaks your praise: For the Sabbath before Purim

Jacob Ibn Tsur

Beginning of the 18th Century

For Shabbat Zakhor

All my bones say: O Lord, who is like you?1

My palate speaks your praise, O my Rock, my Redeemer, my King;
You bring light to my darkness and bring me out of destruction.
The Amalekite, the Agagite, planned evil, to bring me anguish,
To cut down my stalk and my tendrils, on a day of confusion and turmoil.
You spoiled his plots and annulled his plans.
He fell into the pit that he had dug, and you caught him in a net.
On the gallows that he prepared, he was hanged, and the bundle was all unfurled.
Then, with joy and gladness, the king’s anger calmed down.
His ten sons, joined together with him, were also hanged,
For the Rock drew a bow and shot it at them.
The son of Yair, Mordechai, gave great light2 to my paths,
To the point that my steps were awash in the blood of the benighted nation.3
Raised higher and higher, to the point of becoming a treasure,
Was the nation4 that had been lowly, poor, crouching, and small.
O my rock, glorious in holiness, you gave much honor, splendor, and beauty
In the month of Adar, to the congregation, the princely community.
And we hope to you, O rock, doer of miracles, that you will again
Reveal your help to rescue us, and soon bring healing to our pains.
O merciful one, bring us back,5 and hasten our redemption,
And restore our days to enjoy goodness and blessing!

 

Translated by

Gabriel 
Wasserman

.

Notes

[Psalms 35:10, which is part of the prayer Nishmat kol ḥay. This line situates this poem to be recited at the relevant point within the Nishmat prayer.—Trans.]

[Mordechai’s father’s name, “Yair,” means “enlightenment” in Hebrew—Trans.]

[I.e., until my enemies were slaughtered, and I was victorious.—Trans.]

[The Jewish people.—Trans.]

[To Zion.—Trans.]

Credits

Jacob Ibn Tsur, “My Palate Speaks Your Praise: For the Sabbath before Purim (For Shabbat Zakhor: All My Bones Say, O Lord, Who Is Like You?)” (poem, Fez, beginning of the 18th century). Published in: Ephraim Hazan, Ha-shirah ha-ʻivrit bi-tsefon Afrikah (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1995; online, 2003), pp. 276–277.

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

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Creator Bio

Jacob Ibn Tsur

1673–1752

Jacob Ibn Tsur was one of the greatest Moroccan rabbis of his time. He was a learned talmudist, a highly productive author, and judge, and gained a reputation as a practical kabbalist. Ibn Tsur spent most of his life in Fez, apart from periods in Meknes (1717–1730) and Tétouan (1738–1740). He was not afraid to confront even the most powerful figures in the community and at times found himself involved in disagreements. In addition to his published responsa, Mishpat u-tsedakah be-Ya‘akov (Judgment and Righteousness [Are] in Jacob), a number of works by Ibn Tsur have survived in manuscript form. In addition, he composed many piyyutim (liturgical poems), among them laments for the Ninth of Av that were incorporated into the Moroccan Jewish canon.

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