At the very heart of this book lies an attempt to understand what seemed a paradox to me at one time – that although Judaism throughout the ages was absorbed with the meaning of history, historiography itself played at best an ancillary role among the Jews, and often no role at all; and, concomitantly, that while memory of the past was always a central component of Jewish experience, the historian was not its primary custodian.
These significant dualities have often been obscured by rhetorical flourishes and a certain semantic confusion. The Jews, after all, have the reputation of being at once the most historically oriented of peoples and as possessing the longest and most tenacious of memories. Yet such accolades can be profoundly true or completely false, depending upon what one means by "history" or "memory." If they are not to be completely meaningless, we should at least want to know what kind of history the Jews have valued, what, out of their past, they chose to remember, and how they preserved, transmitted, and revitalized that which was recalled. (xxxiii)
...
It may help to point out...that in repeatedly employing such terms as "collective memory" or "group memory" I do not have in mind some vaguely genetic endowment, not an innate psychic structure analogous to the Jungian archetypes. Contrary to a theory widely held as late as the seventeenth century, a child left in the forest to its own linguistic devices would not speak Hebrew spontaneously, not even if it were a Jewish enfant sauvage, and neither would it "remember" that Abraham journeyed from Ur to Canaan. Only the group can bequeath both language and a transpersonal memory. It was the abiding merit of Maurice Halbwachs...to have insisted to psychologists and philosophers alike that even individual memory is structured through the conscious efforts and institutions of the group. (xxxiv)
(ה) 'יזכור' לקרובי משפחה:
(ו) יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמַת (זְקֵנַי וּזְקֵנוֹתַי, דּוֹדַי וְדוֹדוֹתַי, אָחַי וְאַחְיוֹתַי, בָּנַי וּבְנוֹתַי, בַּעֲלִי, אִשְׁתִּי) (שם הנפטר בן שם אביו) שֶׁהָלַךְ לְעוֹלָמוֹ, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאֶתֵּן בְּלִי נֶדֶר צְדָקָה בַּעֲדוֹ. בִּשְׂכַר זֶה תְּהֵא נַפְשׁוֹ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים עִם נִשְׁמַת אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וְעִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקִים וְצִדְקָנִיּוֹת שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
(ז) 'יזכור' למתים על קידוש השם:
(ח) יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמוֹת (כָּל קְרוֹבַי וּקְרוֹבוֹתַי, הֵן מִצַּד אָבִי, הֵן מִצַּד אִמִּי) הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַטְּהוֹרִים הֵן שֶׁהוּמְתוּ הֵן שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ הֵן שֶׁנִּשְׁחֲטוּ וְשֶׁנִּשְׂרְפוּ וְשֶׁנִּטְבְּעוּ וְשֶׁנֶּחְנְקוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאֶתֵּן בְּלִי נֶדֶר צְדָקָה בְּעַד הַזְכָּרַת נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם. בִּשְׂכַר זֶה תִּהְיֵינָה נַפְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם צְרוּרוֹת בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים עִם נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וְעִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקִים וְצִדְקָנִיּוֹת שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
(5) 'Yizkor' for a relative:
(6) Remember, God, the soul of (my grandfathers and grandmothers [literally, male and female elders], my uncles and aunts, my brothers and sisters, my husband, my wife) (the name of the departed, son [or daughter] of the name of his [or her] father), who went to his world, because I will - without making a vow - give charity for him. In recompense for this, let his [or her] soul be bound with the Binding of life (God), with the soul of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah, and with the other righteous men and women in the Garden of Eden. And let us say, Amen.
(7) 'Yizkor' for those that died for Kiddush Hashem [the Sanctification of God's name]:
(8) Remember, God, the holy and pure souls of (all of my male relatives and female relatives, whether from my father's side [or] whether from my mother's side), those that were killed, those that were exterminated, those that were slaughtered and burned and drowned and asphyxiated for the sanctification of God's name, because I will - without making a vow - give charity for the memory of their souls. In recompense for this, let their souls be bound with the Binding of life (God), with the souls of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah, and with the other righteous men and women in the Garden of Eden. And let us say, Amen.
For a man:
O Power, full of mercy, who dwells on high, establish proper rest upon the wings of the Divine Presence, on the levels of the holy and pure ones [who] shine like the splendor of the firmament, [for] the soul of (the name of the departed, son of the name of his father) who went to his world, because I will - without making a vow - give charity for the memory of his soul; let his rest be in the Garden of Eden. Hence, Master of mercy, cover him in the cover of God's wings forever and bind his soul with the Binding of life (God). God is his inheritance and let him rest upon his place of repose in peace. And let us say Amen.
BY: SHOSHANA BOYD GELFAND
May God remember for ever my dear ones…and may my life always bring honor to their memory.
—Yizkor service, Gates of Repentance
From its beginning, Jewish literature has focused intently on the subject of memory. Yizkor, meaning “to remember,” appears in the Bible 228 times, referring to such diverse elements as Shabbat, Miriam’s leprosy, and Amalek’s attack on the Israelites.
Judaism also embraces the idea of collective memory. The Torah’s oft-repeated rationale, “because you were slaves in Egypt,” draws on collective memory to promote moral behavior. The assertion that we all stood during the revelation at Sinai is a profound statement that all Jews are bound together in a shared autobiographical experience.
This focus on communal memory makes the Yizkor ceremony all the more striking, for Yizkor is the one moment in the Jewish liturgical calendar when what matters is not communal but individual memory, each of us standing personally consumed by singular memories of relatives and friends who have died. Unlike a funeral or shiva, where individual memories are shared publicly to fashion a collective mosaic of the person being remembered, Yizkor provides a communal space for inward memorializing. Why is it that Judaism, a religion so fully dedicated to communal memory, makes this regular exception when it comes to Yizkor?
Jewish tradition doesn’t offer us a reason—but neuroscience may help.
“Memories are not static,” writes Joshua Foer, a contender in the 2009 USA Memory Championships, inMoonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering. “Somehow, as memories age, their complexion changes. Each time we think about a memory, we integrate it more deeply into our web of other memories, and therefore make it more stable and less likely to be dislodged. But in the process, we also transform the memory, and reshape it—sometimes to the point that our memories of events bear only a passing resemblance to what actually happened.”
In other words, the very act of remembering alters the memory itself!
Neuroscientist Eric Kandel explains that long-term memories actually change their molecular structure over time. One class of memory molecules, prions, seem virtually indestructible, yet are surprisingly “plastic” in their ability to easily change shape. Science writer Jonah Lehrer elaborates: “Every time we conjure up our pasts, the branches of our reflections become malleable again. While the prions that mark our memories are virtually immortal, their dendritic details are always being altered, shuttling between the poles of remembering and forgetting. The past is at once perpetual and ephemeral.”
Neuroscience is describing what we all know from experience: memory is inaccurate, malleable, imperfect. In recalling a memory, we do not replay an exact mental recording of the event, but draw upon our subjective experience of it. This act of recollection physically alters the brain so as to change the memory itself. Ironically, the very act of remembering changes what is remembered.
This may be the key to understanding a Jewish memorial ritual that is profoundly individual—the Yizkor service.
The psychological logic behind the Jewish funeral and shiva rituals is unmistakable: having just experienced a loss, we conjure whatever precious imprint we have as a means to hang onto the person who has died. At the funeral, we listen to eulogies; during shiva, we share photos and stories to solidify our impressions of our loved one.
Yizkor works differently. It is not intended as a time to sharpen our memories, for there is no corrective of physical evidence or balance provided by others’ recollections. Instead, Yizkor encourages an evolution of our own private ongoing relationship. Each time we recite Yizkor and remember, we deepen the parts of that relationship that sustain us, while forgetting those characteristics that do not.
In some ways, then, Yizkor (“remembering”) should more accurately be called Yishkach (“forgetting”), as forgetting is a necessary part of the process by which we maintain meaningful memories.
Daily, we successfully forget most of the mundane details of our encounters with others. Much of the time we focus instead on the meta-level of experiencing people as whole human beings; losing the detail, we gain in richness and depth. In like manner, after a loved one dies, through the evolving experience of Yizkor, we are able to focus on his/her essence.
Strikingly, how our brain processes memories facilitates this ability. “The fading, mutating, and disappearance of memories over time,” says Foer, “happens in the brain at the cellular level.” As memories are being recalled during our individual recitation of Yizkor, our brain cells change.
And so, even though we can no longer have an actual relationship with the people we have lost, we can have a dynamic and changing relationship through our memory of them. In this way, our memories of our loved ones literally keep them alive.
Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand is director of JHub and former chief executive of the United Kingdom Movement for Reform Judaism. This article was adapted from May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor, edited by Lawrence A. Hoffman (Jewish Lights, 2013).
(א) קידוש ליל שבת
(ב) לפני הקידוש יש אומרים לשם יחוד, מספר לשון חכמים
(ג) לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, בִּדְחִֽילוּ וּרְחִֽימוּ, וּרְחִֽימוּ וּדְחִֽילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם יוֹ"ד קֵ"א בְּוָא"ו קֵ"א בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים, בְּשֵׁם כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, הִנֵּה אֲנַֽחְנוּ בָּאִים לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה דְאוֹרַיְתָא לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת, וּלְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה דְרַבָּנָן לְקַדֵּשׁ עַל־הַיָּֽיִן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּֽרְשֽׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵֽינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה פָּסוּק זָכ֛וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת לְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ׃ זָכְרֵֽהוּ בִּדְבָרִים הַנֶּאֱמָרִים עַל־הַיָּֽיִן. לְתַקֵּן שֹֽׁרֶשׁ מִצְוֹת אֵֽלּוּ בְּמָקוֹם עֶלְיוֹן. וַהֲרֵי אֲנַֽחְנוּ מוּכָנִים לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹרוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים לַחֲקַל תַּפּוּחִין קַדִּישִׁין עַל־יְדֵי הֲכָנָה בְּסוֹד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וַהֲכָנָה בְּסוֹד הַדִּבּוּר.
(ד) וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה לְפָנֶֽיךָ כְּאִלּוּ כִּוַּֽנְנוּ בְּכָל־הַכַּוָּנוֹת הָרְאוּיוֹת לְכַוֵּן בְּסוֹד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וּבְסוֹד הַדִּבּוּר אֲשֶׁר יִסְּדוּ לָֽנוּ עֲבָדֶֽיךָ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּסֵֽדֶר הַקִּדּוּשׁ שֶׁל שַׁבָּת, וְיַעֲלֶה לְפָנֶֽיךָ קִדּוּשׁ זֶה עִם קִדּוּשֵׁי בָנֶֽיךָ הַיּֽוֹדְעִֽים וּמְכַוְּנִים כָּהֹֽגֶן. וְיִמָּשֵׁךְ שֶֽׁפַע וּבְרָכָה רַבָּה בְּכָל־הָעוֹלָמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, וּמִשָּׁם יִמָּשֵׁךְ שֶֽׁפַע רַב לְנַפְשֵֽׁנוּ רוּחֵֽנוּ וְנִשְׁמָתֵֽנוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וְלִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל־שַׁבְּתוֹת קָדְשֶֽׁךָ, כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּֽינוּ, בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה וְדִבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה, בְּיִרְאָה וְאַהֲבָה וְשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה. וַהֲרֵי אֲנַֽחְנוּ מוּכָנִים לְקַבֵּל עָלֵֽינוּ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל הַתְּשׁוּבָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וְשַׁבְתָּ֙ עַד־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֖ בְּקֹלֽוֹ. וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ:
(ה) וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, שֶׁיְּהֵא עַתָּה עֵת רָצוֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ, וְיִמָּשֵׁךְ לָֽנוּ וְלִנְשׁוֹתֵֽינוּ וּלְבָנֵֽינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵֽינוּ וּלְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶֽׁפַע שָׁלוֹם, טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה, חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶֽסֶד, וְרַחֲמִים, עַל יְדֵי כ"ב צִנּוֹרוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם פְּתוּחִים וּמְרִיקִים שֶֽׁפַע וּבְרָכָה מִבְּרֵיכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה מֵרֹאשׁ כָּל־הַכְּתָרִים. וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, שֶׁבִּזְכוּת מִצְוַת מְזִיגַת כּוֹס הַיַּֽיִן שֶׁל הַקִּדּוּשׁ בְּמַֽיִם, מַלֵּא יָדֵֽינוּ מִבִּרְכוֹתֶֽיךָ, מֵעֹֽשֶׁר מַתְּנוֹת יָדֶֽיךָ, וּבִזְכוּת יַעֲקֹב תְּמִימֶֽךָ, אֲשֶׁר מִתֵּק הַגְּבוּרוֹת בַּחֲסָדִים, כַּכָּתוּב וַיָּ֧בֵא ל֦וֹ יַ֖יִן וַיֵּֽשְׁתְּ דְּאַרְמֵי לֵיהּ מַיָּא בְּיֵינָא, כֵּן בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ יִתְמַתְּקוּ כָּל־הַגְּבוּרוֹת וְהַדִּינִין וְגָמְלֵֽנוּ חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים:
(ו) וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, שֶׁבִּזְכוּת מִצְוַת הַבְּרָכָה שֶׁל קִדּוּשׁ שַׁבָּת עַל כּוֹס יַֽיִן מָלֵא, יִתְמַלְּאוּ אוֹתִיּוֹת כּוֹס שֶׁהֵם כָּ"ף וָא"ו סָֽמֶ"ךְ, שֶׁעוֹלִים מִסְפָּר הַבְּרָכָה, וְיִהְיוּ צִנּוֹרוֹת לְקַבֵּל לָֽנוּ שֶֽׁפַע הַבְּרָכָה מִן הַבְּרֵכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה מִמְּקוֹר הַבְּרָכוֹת. וְיִתְקַיֵּם בָּֽנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב יְצַ֨ו יְהֹוָ֤ה אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֔ה בַּאֲסָמֶ֕יךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ. וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים הוֹאֵל וּבָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ וּמִבִּרְכָֽתְךָֽ יְבֹרַךְ בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ לְעוֹלָם. יִ֥הְיֽוּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃
(ז) יש נוהגים לומר נוסך קצרה (כף החיים ס' רע"א ס"ק ס"ג)
לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, בִּדְחִֽילוּ וּרְחִֽימוּ, וּרְחִֽימוּ וּדְחִֽילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם יוֹ"ד קֵ"א בְּוָא"ו קֵ"א בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים, בְּשֵׁם כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲרֵֽינִי בָּא לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה דְאוֹרַיְתָא לְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת בִּדְבָרִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב זָכ֛וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת לְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ. וְמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה דְרַבָּנָן לְקַדֵּשׁ עַל־הַיָּֽיִן. וְמִצְוַת סְעוּדָת לֵיל שַׁבָּת. לְתַקֵּן שֹֽׁרֶשׁ מִצְוֹת אֵֽלּוּ בְּמָקוֹם עֶלְיוֹן. וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ:
(ח) יש נוהגים לומר
מִזְמ֥וֹר (תהילים כ״ג:א׳-ב׳) לְדָוִ֑ד יְהֹוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֥נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
(ט) י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃ וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכׇל־צְבָאָֽם וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃ וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
(י) ואומר המקדש סַבְרִי מָרָנָן, ועונים לְחַיִּים.
(יא) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּֽפֶן:
(יב) יכון לקים מצות עשה דאורייתא של הקידוש, ומצוה דרבנן על היין.
(יג) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְרָֽצָה בָֽנוּ, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָֽנוּ, זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹֽדֶשׁ זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ, בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת:
(יד) ישב וישתה
(1) Kiddush Of Friday Night
(9) The Sixth Day: And they were completed - the Heavens & the Earth & all their Hosts. And G·d finished, on the Seventh Day, all the work that He had done & He rested on the Seventh Day from all the work that He had done. And G·d Blessed the Seventh Day & sanctified it, for on it He rested from all His work – that G·d created to make.
(10) [The One Saying Kiddush Says] Hearken, Our Masters! [Diners Answer:] To Life
(11) Blessed are You, L·rd, Our G·d, King of the Universe, Who creates fruit of the vine.
(13) Blessed are You, L·rd, Our G·d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His Commandments & has favored us & His Holy Shabbat, with Love & favor did He bequeath to us, a remembrance of the act of Creation, the beginning of all holy callings, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt, & Your Holy Shabbat with love & favor, You bequeathed to us. Blessed are You, L·rd, Who sanctifies the Shabbat.
(ג) לֹא־תֹאכַ֤ל עָלָיו֙ חָמֵ֔ץ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֛ים תֹּֽאכַל־עָלָ֥יו מַצּ֖וֹת לֶ֣חֶם עֹ֑נִי כִּ֣י בְחִפָּז֗וֹן יָצָ֙אתָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכֹּר֔ אֶת־י֤וֹם צֵֽאתְךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃
(3) You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you should eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for in haste did you come out of the land of Egypt; that you may remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt, all the days of your life.
בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם, בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּרוּךְ הוּא. כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה: אֶחָד חָכָם, וְאֶחָד רָשָׁע, וְאֶחָד תָּם, וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל.
חָכָם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֵדוֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶתְכֶם. וְאַף אַתָּה אֱמוֹר לוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַפֶּסַח: אֵין מַפְטִירִין אַחַר הַפֶּסַח אֲפִיקוֹמָן:
רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזּאֹת לָכֶם. לָכֶם – וְלֹא לוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל כָּפַר בְּעִקָּר. וְאַף אַתָּה הַקְהֵה אֶת שִׁנָּיו וֶאֱמוֹר לוֹ: "בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה' לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם". לִי וְלֹא־לוֹ. אִלּוּ הָיָה שָׁם, לֹא הָיָה נִגְאָל:
תָּם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה זּאֹת? וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו "בְּחוֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ ה' מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים".
וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל – אַתְּ פְּתַח לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה' לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם.
Blessed be the Place [of all], Blessed be He; Blessed be the One who Gave the Torah to His people Israel, Blessed be He. Corresponding to four sons did the Torah speak; one [who is] wise, one [who is] evil, one who is innocent and one who doesn't know to ask.
What does the wise [son] say? "'What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded you?' (Deuteronomy 6:20)" And accordingly you will say to him, as per the laws of the Pesach sacrifice, "We may not eat an afikoman [a dessert or other foods eaten after the meal] after [we are finished eating] the Pesach sacrifice (Mishnah Pesachim 10:8)."
What does the evil [son] say? "'What is this worship to you?' (Exodus 12:26)" 'To you' and not 'to him.' And since he excluded himself from the collective, he denied a principle [of the Jewish faith]. And accordingly, you will blunt his teeth and say to him, "'For the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt' (Exodus 13:8)." 'For me' and not 'for him.' If he had been there, he would not have been saved.
What does the innocent [son] say? "'What is this?' (Exodus 13:14)" And you will say to him, "'With the strength of [His] hand did the Lord take us out from Egypt, from the house of slaves' (Exodus 13:14).'"
And [regarding] the one who doesn't know to ask, you will open [the conversation] for him. As it is stated (Exodus 13:8), "And you will speak to your son on that day saying, for the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt."
(ח) וַיָּבֹ֖א עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּרְפִידִֽם׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בְּחַר־לָ֣נוּ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְצֵ֖א הִלָּחֵ֣ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק מָחָ֗ר אָנֹכִ֤י נִצָּב֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וּמַטֵּ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדִֽי׃ (י) וַיַּ֣עַשׂ יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽמַר־לוֹ֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן וְח֔וּר עָל֖וּ רֹ֥אשׁ הַגִּבְעָֽה׃ (יא) וְהָיָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ים מֹשֶׁ֛ה יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנִ֛יחַ יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֥ר עֲמָלֵֽק׃ (יב) וִידֵ֤י מֹשֶׁה֙ כְּבֵדִ֔ים וַיִּקְחוּ־אֶ֛בֶן וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב עָלֶ֑יהָ וְאַהֲרֹ֨ן וְח֜וּר תָּֽמְכ֣וּ בְיָדָ֗יו מִזֶּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ וּמִזֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י יָדָ֛יו אֱמוּנָ֖ה עַד־בֹּ֥א הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (יג) וַיַּחֲלֹ֧שׁ יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֥ק וְאֶת־עַמּ֖וֹ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃ (פ) (יד) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יי אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה כְּתֹ֨ב זֹ֤את זִכָּרוֹן֙ בַּסֵּ֔פֶר וְשִׂ֖ים בְּאָזְנֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ כִּֽי־מָחֹ֤ה אֶמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (טו) וַיִּ֥בֶן מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יי ׀ נִסִּֽי׃ (טז) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַיי בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃
8) Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9) So Moses said to Joshua, "Pick men for us, and go out and fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10) Joshua did as Moses had told him, to fight against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur ascended to the top of the hill. 11) It came to pass that when Moses would raise his hand, Israel would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail. 12) Now Moses hands were heavy; so they took a stone and placed it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one from this side, and one from that side; so he was with his hands in faith until sunset. 13) Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14) The Lord said to Moses, "Inscribe this as a memorial in the book, and recite it into Joshua's ears, that I will surely obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens." 15) Then Moses built an altar, and he named it "The Lord is my miracle." 16) And he said, "For there is a hand on the throne of the Eternal, that there shall be a war for the Lord against Amalek from generation to generation."
(יז) זָכ֕וֹר אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֥ם מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (יח) אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָֽרְךָ֜ בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיְזַנֵּ֤ב בְּךָ֙ כָּל־הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִ֣ים אַֽחַרֶ֔יךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה עָיֵ֣ף וְיָגֵ֑עַ וְלֹ֥א יָרֵ֖א אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (יט) וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יי אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ מִכָּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃
17) You shall remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you went out of Egypt, 18) how he happened upon you on the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he did not fear God.19) Therefore, it will be, when the Lord your God grants you respite from all your enemies around you in the land which the Lord, your God, gives to you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget!
[ג] וכן הוא אומר "זכור את יום השבת לקדשו"-- יכול בלבך? כשהוא אומר "שמור", הרי שמירת הלב אמורה. הא מה אני מקיים "זכור"? שתהא שונה בפיך. וכן הוא אומר (דברים כה, יז) "זכור את אשר עשה לך עמלק"-- יכול בלבך? כשהוא אומר (דברים כה, יט) "לא תשכח", הרי שכחת הלב אמורה. הא מה אני מקיים "זכור"? שתהא שונה בפיך.
3) It is written (Ex. 20:8) "Remember (Zachor) the day of Sabbath to sanctify it." We might think, remember in your heart. But later the Torah writes, "Observe (Shamor) the Sabbath day to keep it holy" - observance in the heart is already stated. How, then, are we to understand Remember? That you repeat it with your mouth. Similarly, we read "Remember (Zachor) what Amalek did to you." I might think, remember in your heart. But verse 19 writes, "Do not forget," heart-forgetfulness is already stated. How, then, are we to understand Remember? That you repeat it with your mouth.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [קהל: אמן]
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
אבל: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא:]
לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name in the world which God created, according to plan. May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime and the life of all Israel — speedily, imminently, to which we say: Amen.
Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel. To which we say: Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace us and to all Israel. To which we say: Amen.
We were slaves to Pharoah in Egypt, and the Lord, our God, took us out from there with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm. If the Holy One, Blessed be God had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children and our children's children would still be enslaved to Pharoah in Egypt. Even if all of us were wise, all of us understanding, all elders and versed in the knowledge of the Torah, we would still be obligated to discuss the Exodus from Egypt; and everyone who discusses the Exodus from Egypt at length is praiseworthy.
(ט) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל עָם וְרוֹמְמָנוּ מִכָּל לָשׁוֹן וְקִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וַתִּתֶּן לָנוּ ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה אֶת יוֹם (לשבת הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה וְאֶת יוֹם) הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה, יוֹם (לשבת זִכְרוֹן) תְּרוּעָה (לשבת בְּאַהֲבָה) מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם, כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וּדְבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ מְקַדֵּשׁ (לשבת הַשַּׁבָּת וְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן: ומברך שהחיינו:
Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Sovreign of Time and Space, who chose us from every people, and exalted us from every tongue, and sanctified us in God's mitzvot. And give us Eternal our God, in love this Day of Remembrance, a day of calling, a sacred occasion, a memorial to the Exodus from Egypt. For you chose us and sanctified us from all the peoples, and your word is true and extant forever. Blessed are you Eternal, Sovreign over the whole Earth, Sanctifier of Israel and the Day of Remembrance.
“I mean that we control the way we remember the past, and that’s what matters in the present. We choose what is worthy of our memory. We should probably be grateful that we can’t remember everything as God does, because if we did, we would find it impossible to forgive anyone. The limit of human memory encourages humility.”
― Dara Horn, A Guide for the Perplexed: A Novel