Hymn for the First Meal

Isaac Luria

ca. 1565

Prepare the feast

of perfect faith,

the delight of the Holy King.

Prepare the feast of the King.

This is the feast

of the Field of Holy Apples;

the Lesser Presence and Ancient Eminence

assemble with Her for the feast.

I sing in hymns

of praise to enter

the gates to the Field

of Holy Apples:

we call for Her now

with a newly set table,

and a fine candelabrum

that casts its light.

The Bride approaches

through left and right:

She passes wearing

Her jewels and gown.

She’s embraced by Her husband

in the sphere of foundation;

He gives Her great pleasure

as His strength is pressed.

Cries and vexation

are laid to rest,

as faces grow joyous—

and spirits with souls.

Great joy comes

once and then twice,

and lights for Her shine

as blessings increase.

Draw near, my companions

and make preparations

for sundry pleasures,

for fish and meat—

to take on souls

and new understanding,

along the three branches

and thirty-two paths.

Seventy crowns

are Hers, and the King

above crowns all

in the Holy Shrine.

All worlds are formed

and within Her impressed,

but all shine forth

as the Ancient One strikes.

May it be His Will

that Her grace be about us,

who delight in His Name

with honey and cakes.

To the south I set

the mysterious lamp,

and the table with bread

I arrange to the north,

with wine in the cup,

and bundles of myrtle,

to strengthen the weakened

bride and groom.

We’ll make them wreaths

of well-chosen words—

seventy crowning

Wisdom’s gates.

By six loaves

the Shekhinah is graced,

linked all around

to the sacred shrine,

as the impure powers

are distanced and stilled,

and the menacing demons

bound and annulled.

To break the bread

like an olive or egg,

two yods are taken,

clear and obscure,

and the purest oil

is pressed from stones;

rivers are drawn

in a whisper through Her—

for secret things

have here been uttered,

although unseen

and in mystery dressed

to adorn the Bride

with supernal secrets,

within this holy

messengers’ feast.

Translated by Peter Cole.

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Credits

Isaac Luria, “Hymn for the First Meal,” from The Poetry of Kabbalah, ed. and trans. Peter Cole, co-ed. Aminadav Dykman (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012), pp. 149–53. Used with permission of Yale University Press.

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

Hymn for the First Meal

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