Date:    Mon, 20 Oct 1997 14:45:25 -0400
From:    MFRYDENBERG@BENTLEY.EDU
Subject: Geshem: Verses for Our Mothers

A few years ago, I wrote these verses of Geshem to complement the
traditional verses, mentioning only our male ancestors, which appear in
the Siddur.

I originally posted them to Tor-Ch in 1995; Rabbi Simcha Roth translated them
to Hebrew for me. Each year since, the piece has evolved slightly.
As liturgy in process, here's how it stands now.  I encourage you to
use them at your synagogue's services later this week.

I have a typeset Hebrew version (in Dagesh format) which I can make available
by request.

Moadim l'simcha,
Mark

- - - - -


Geshem:  Verses for Our Mothers
Composed by Mark Frydenberg, Translated by Rabbi Simcha Roth
(c) 1995

Sarah:

Remember the barren one who offered the three [strangers] water [Gen. 18:2]
At a time when she ceased to be as living waters [Gen. 18:11]
And God remembered her [Gen 21:1] in her old age, in her womb creating water [1]
For her sake don't hold back water.

Zchor aqarah shelak'chah lish'loshah mayyim [Gen 18:2]
Et chadal liheyot lah orach mayim chayyim [Gen 18:11 ]
ve-nifkedah [Gen 21:1] b'ziknatah v'shafir sovevu et ubarah mayyim [1]
- - Ba'avurah al timna mayyim.


Rebecca:
 Remember the kind one who carried a pitcher of water [Gen 24:13]
 To the servant she gave water [Gen. 24:17]
 In Charan for the camels, she drew water. [Gen. 24:19]
 For her sake, grant water.

Zchor chasudah she'eyr'ah el ha-shoqet mayyim [Gen 24 13]
La'eved nat'nah lishtot mikaddah mayyim [Gen 24 17]
B'Charan ha'ir lig'malav sha'avah mayyim [Gen  24 19]
- - Btzidkah chon chashrat mayyim.



Rachel:
Remember the younger one who to the flock [of Lavan] she gave water
[Gen 29:10]
Her lover kissed her near the well of water [Gen 29:11]
At Ramah for her children, her eyes weep tears of water [Lamentations 1:16]
For her sake, don't hold back  water.

Zchor tze'irah ro'at tzon l'yad be'er mayyim [Gen 29 10]
Vayyishaq lah ahuvah l'yad be'er ha-mayyim [ Gen 29:11]
B'Ramah mevakkah banehah v'eynah yordah mayyim [Jeremiah 31 15/Eikha 1:16]
- - Ba'avurah al timna mayyim.


Leah:
Remember the Mother of Children who at Yabbok was first to cross the
water [Gen 32:23/33:2] [2]
Her eyes were tender from crying tears of water [Gen 29:18]
Her son lived out his days at the edge of the water [Gen 49:13] [3]
For her sake, grant water.

Zchor eim ha-banim she-be-Yabboq rishonah avrah mayyim [Gen 32:23/33:2]  [2]
Rakot eynehah mimazgu dim'ot mayyim [ Gen 29:18]
B'nah shakhan l'yad chof yammim v'hiflig b'mayyim [Gen 49:13] [3]
- - Btzikdah chon chashrat mayyim.


Miriam:
Remember the sister who watched the baby crying in the water [Ex. 2:6]
She sang and rejoiced after the people Israel crossed the water [Ex. 15:20]
In Kadesh she was buried near gurgling water [Num. 20:1]
For her sake, don't hold back water.

Zchor achot she-hishgichah al na'ar bocheh ba-mayyim [Ex 2:6]
Shirah an'tah ba'avor Yisra'el b'giz'rot ha-mayyim [Ex 15:20]
B'Qadesh q'vuratah b'qirvat be'er ha-mayyim [Num 20:1]
- - Ba'avurah al timna mayyim.


Notes:
[1]Shafir in Hebrew means 'fine',
but 'mey shafir' means the amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus ('ubbar')
in the womb.

2  Eim Habanim is from Psalm 113.
In Gen. 32:23, she and her children ford the Yabbok.  Gen 33:2 states
explicitly that Leah and her offspring were the first to
brave Esau's expected wrath; we suggest that they forded the Yabbok
first as well.


3.  In Gen.49:13, Leah's son Zvulun is blessed saying he'll dwell at the shore
of the sea.

Go back to the Sampler page

Go back to the TOR-CH home page

http://www.tor-ch.org/rules.html