"Tippling Through The Torah" refers to the occasionally tongue-in-cheek act of interpreting Jewish text through the lens of mixology. By searching the text for concepts, words, or narratives that we might link to beverages, we create an opportunity to engage with text and one another's interpretations of it...while raising a glass as a community.
What is meant by a "lowly spirit?" From this we can conclude that Torah should be interpreted not through fine wine and top-shelf liquors, but with the odds and ends of whatever has struck our fancy at Binny's and Kimbark Beverage. Friends, let us bless!
Many Ashkenazi synagogues read Akdamut Milin during the Torah service on the first day of Shavuot, usually after the Kohen is called to the Torah but before the blessing is recited. The text celebrates the Jewish people's commitment to the study of Torah.
The piyyut is traditionally attributed to Rabbi Meir (11th century cantor of Worms, Germany); the final 46 lines are an acrostic spelling out "Meir, son of Rabbi Isaac, may he grow in Torah and in good deeds. Amen. Be strong and have courage." Meir likely wrote the poem as a response to being forced to debated the precepts of Judaism, as compared to Christianity; by writing in Aramaic, he limited his audience to Jews. Some folktales further connect the hymn's composition with a miraculous event involving the defeat of an evil sorcerer monk who was using magic to kill countless Jews.
The work closes with imagery of a sumptuous banquet, open to all those who cleave to Torah. It seems appropriate, then, to concoct potions in its honor.
(א) אַקְדָּמוּת מִלִּין וְשָׁרָיוּת שׁוּתָא
(ב) אַוְלָא שָׁקֵלְנָא הַרְמָן וּרְשׁוּתָא
(ג) בְּבָבֵי תְּרֵי וּתְלַת דְאֶפְתַּח בְּנַקְשׁוּתָא
(ד) בְּבָרֵי דְבָרֵי וְטָרֵי עֲדֵי לְקַשִּׁישׁוּתָא
(ה) גְּבוּרָן עָלְמִין לֵהּ וְלָא סְפֵק פְּרִישׁוּתָא
(ו) גְּוִיל אִלּוּ רְקִיעֵי קְנֵי כָּל חוּרְשָׁתָא
(ז) דְּיוֹ אִלּוּ יַמֵּי וְכָל מֵי כְנִישׁוּתָא
(ח) דָּיְרֵי אַרְעָא סָפְרֵי וְרָשְׁמֵי רַשְׁוָתָא
(ט) הֲדַר מָרֵי שְׁמַיָּא וְשַׁלִּיט בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא
(י) הֲקֵים עָלְמָא יְחִידָאי וְכַבְּשֵׁהּ בְּכַבְּשׁוּתָא
(יא) וּבְלָא לֵאוּ שַׁכְלְלֵהּ וּבְלָא תְשָׁשׁוּתָא
(יב) וּבְאָתָא קַלִּילָא דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ מְשָׁשׁוּתָא
(יג) זְמִין כָּל עִיבִידְתֵּהּ בְּהַךְ יוֹמֵי שִׁתָּא
(יד) זְהוֹר יְקָרֵהּ עַלִּי עֲלֵי כָרְסְיֵהּ דֶּאֶשָּׁתָא
(טו) חֲיָל אֶלֶף אַלְפִין וְרִבּוֹא לְשַׁמְשׁוּתָא
(טז) חַדְתִּין נְבוֹט לְצַפְרִין סַגִּיאָה טְרָשׁוּתָא
(יז) טְפֵי יְקִידִין שְׂרָפִין כְּלוֹל גַפֵּי שִׁתָּא
(יח) טְעֵם עַד יִתְיְהֵב לְהוֹן שְׁתִיקִין בְּאָדִישְׁתָּא
(יט) יְקַבְּלוּן דֵּין מִדֵּין שָׁוֵי דְּלָא בְשַׁשְׁתָּא
(כ) יְקַר מְלֵי כָל אַרְעָא לְתַלּוֹתֵי קְדוּשְׁתָּא
(כא) כְּקָל מִן קֳדָם שַׁדַּי כְּקָל מֵי נְפִישׁוּתָא
(כב) כְּרוּבִין קֳבֵל גִּלְגְּלִין מְרוֹמְמִין בְּאַוְשָׁתָא
(כג) לְמֶחֱזֵא בְּאַנְפָּא עֵין כְּוָת גִּירֵי קַשְׁתָּא
(כד) לְכָל אֲתַר דְּמִשְׁתַּלְּחִין זְרִיזִין בְּאַשְׁוָתָא
(כה) מְבָרְכִין בְּרִיךְ יְקָרֵהּ בְּכָל לְשַׁן לְחִישׁוּתָא
(כו) מֵאֲתַר בֵּית שְׁכִינְתֵּהּ דְלָא צְרִיךְ בְּחִישׁוּתָא
(כז) נְהֵם כָּל חֵיל מְרוֹמָא מְקַלְּסִין בַּחֲשַׁשְׁתָּא
(כח) נְהִירָא מַלְכוּתֵהּ לְדָר וְדָר לְאַפְרַשְׁתָּא
(כט) סְדִירָא בְהוֹן קְדוּשְׁתֵּיהּ וְכַד חָלְפָא שַׁעְתָּא
(ל) סִיּוּמָא דִלְעָלַם וְאוֹף לָא לִשְׁבוּעֲתָא
(לא) עֲדַב יְקָר אַחְסַנְתֵּהּ חֲבִיבִין דְבִקְבַעְתָּא
(לב) עֲבִידָא לֵהּ חֲטִיבָא בִּדְנַח וּשְׁקַעְתָּא
(לג) פְּרִישָׁן לְמָנָתֵהּ לְמֶעְבַּד לֵהּ רְעוּתָא
(לד) פְּרִישָּׁתֵי שְׁבָחֵהּ יְחַוּוֹן בְּשָׁעוּתָא
(לה) צְבִי וְחָמֵד וְרָגֵג דְלָאוּן בְּלֵעוּתָא
(לו) צְלוֹתְהוֹן בְּכֵן מְקַבֵּל וְהַנְיָא בָעוּתָא
(לז) קְטִירָא לְחַי עָלְמָא בְּתָגָא בִּשְׁבוּעֲתָא
(לח) קֳבֵל יְקַר טוֹטַפְתָּא יְתִיבָא בִקְבִיעֲתָא
(לט) רְשִׁימָא הִיא גוּפָא בְּחָכְמְתָא וּבְדַעְתָּא
(מ) רְבוּתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל קְרָאֵי בִשְׁמַעְתָּא
(מא) שְׁבַח רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא אֲמִירָא דִכְוָתָא
(מב) שְׁפַר עֲלַי לְחַוּוֹיֵהּ בְּאַפֵּי מַלְכְּוָתָא
(מג) תָּאִין וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין כְּחֵזוּ אִדְוָתָא
(מד) תְּמֵהִין וְשָׁיְלִין לֵהּ בְּעֵסֶק אַתְוָתָא
(מה) מְנָן וּמָאן הוּא רְחִימָךְ שְׁפָרָא בְרֵוָתָא
(מו) אֲרוּם בְּגִינֵהּ סָפֵית מְדוֹר אַרְיָוָתָא
(מז) יְקָרָא וְיָאָה אַתְּ אִין תְּעָרְבִי לְמַרְוָתָא
(מח) רְעוּתִיךְ נַעֲבֵד לִיךְ בְּכָל אַתְרָוָתָא
(מט) בְּחָכְמְתָא מְתִיבָא לְהוֹן קְצָת לְהוֹדָעוּתָא
(נ) יְדַעְתּוּן חַכְּמִין לֵהּ בְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדָעוּתָא
(נא) רְבוּתְכוֹן מֶה חֲשִׁיבָא קֳבֵל הַהִיא שְׁבַחְתָּא
(נב) רְבוּתָא דְּיַעֲבֵד לִי כִּי מָטְיָא יְשׁוּעֲתָא
(נג) בְּמֵיתֵי לִי נְהוֹרָא וְתַחֲפֵי לְכוֹן בַּהֲתָא
(נד) יְקָרֵהּ כַּד אִתְגְּלִי בְּתָקְפָּא וּבְגֵיוָתָא
(נה) יְשַׁלֵּם גְּמֻלַּיָּא לְשָׂנְאֵי וְנַגְוָתָא
(נו) צְדַקְתָּא לְעַם חַבִּיב וְסַגִּי זַכְוָתָא
(נז) חֲדוּ שְׁלֵמָא בְּמֵיתֵי וּמָנָא דַכְוָתָא
(נח) קִרְיְתָא דִּירוּשְׁלֶם כַּד יְכַנֵּשׁ גַּלְוָתָא
(נט) יְקָרֵהּ מַטִּיל עֲלֵהּ בְּיוֹמֵי וְלֵילְוָתָא
(ס) גְּנוּנֵהּ לְמֶעְבַּד בָּהּ בְּתוּשְׁבְּחָן כְּלִילָתָא
(סא) דְּזֵהוֹר עֲנָנַיָּא לְמִשְׁפַּר כִּילָתָא
(סב) לְפוּמָא דַּעֲבִידְתָּא עֲבִידָן מְטַלָּתָא
(סג) בְּתַכְתְּקֵי דְּהַב פִּזָּא וְשֶׁבַע מַעֲלָתָא
(סד) תְּחִימִין צַדִּיקֵי קֳדָם רַב פָּעֳלָתָא
(סה) וְרֵוֵיהוֹן דָּמֵי לְשַׂבְעָא חֶדְוָתָא
(סו) רְקִיעָא בְּזֵהוֹרֵהּ וְכוֹכְבֵי זִיוָתָא
(סז) הֲדָרָא דְּלָא אֶפְשַׁר לְמִפְרַט סִפְוָתָא
(סח) וְלָא אִשְׁתְּמַע וַחֲמֵי נְבִיאָן חֶזְוָתָא
(סט) בְּלָא שָׁלְטָא בֵהּ עֵין בְּגוֹ עֵדֶן גִּנְּתָא
(ע) מְטַיְלֵי בֵי חִנְגָּא לְבַהֲדֵי דִשְׁכִינְתָּא
(עא) עֲלֵהּ רָמְזֵי דֵּין הוּא בְּרַם בְּאֶמְתָּנוּתָא
(עב) שְׂבַרְנָא לֵהּ בְּשִׁבְיָן תְּקוֹף הֵימָנוּתָא
(עג) יַדְבֵּר לָן עָלְמִין עֲלֵמִין מְדַמּוּתָא
(עד) מְנָת דְּלָן דְּמִלְּקַדְמִין פָּרֵשׁ בְּאָרָמוּתָא
(עה) טְלוּלָא דְּלִוְיָתָן וְתוֹר טוּר רָמוּתָא
(עו) וְחַד בְּחַד כִּי סָבִיךְ וְעָבֵד קְרָבוּתָא
(עז) בְּקַרְנוֹהִי מְנַגַּח בְּהֵמוֹת בִּרְבוּתָא
(עח) יְקַרְטַע נוּן לְקָבְלֵהּ בְּצִיצוֹי בִּגְבוּרְתָּא
(עט) מְקָרֵב לֵהּ בָּרְיֵהּ בְּחַרְבֵּהּ בְּרַבְרְבוּתָא
(פ) אֲרִסְטוֹן לְצַדִּיקֵי יְתַקֵּן וְשֵׁרוּתָא
(פא) מְסַחֲרִין עֲלֵי תַּכֵּי דְכַדְכּוֹד וְגוּמַרְתָּא
(פב) נְגִידִין קָמֵיהוֹן אֲפַרְסְמוֹן נַהֲרָתָא
(פג) וּמִתְפַּנְּקֵי וְרָווֹ בְּכַסֵּי רְוָיָתָא
(פד) חֲמַר מְרַת דְּמִבְּרֵאשִׁית נְטִיר בֵּי נַעֲוָתָא
(פה) זַכָּאִין כִּי שְׁמַעְתּוּן שְׁבַח דָּא שִׁירָתָא
(פו) קְבִיעִין כֵּן תֶּהֱווֹן בְּהַנְהוּ חֲבוּרָתָא
(פז) וְתִזְכּוּן דִּי תֵיתְבוּן בְּעֵלָּא דָרָתָא
(פח) אֲרֵי תְצִיתוּן לְמִלּוֹי דְנָפְקִין בְּהַדְרָתָא
(פט) מְרוֹמָם הוּא אֱלָהִין בְּקַדְמְתָא וּבַתְרָיְתָא
(צ) צְבִי וְאִתְרָעִי בָן וּמְסַר לָן אוֹרָיְתָא
(1) Before reciting the Ten Commandments,
(2) I first ask permission and approval
(3) To start with two or three stanzas in fear
(4) Of God who creates and ever sustains.
(5) He has endless might, not to be described
(6) Were the skies parchment, were all the reeds quills,
(7) Were the seas and all waters made of ink,
(8) Were all the world’s inhabitants made scribes.
(9) The glorious Lord of heaven and earth,
(10) Alone, formed the world, veiled in mystery.
(11) Without exertion did he perfect it,
(12) Only by a light sign, without substance.
(13) He accomplished all his work in six days;
(14) His glory ascended a throne of fire.
(15) Millions of legions are at his service;
(16) Fresh each morning they flourish with great faith.
(17) More glowing are the six-winged seraphim,
(18) Who keep silence till leave is given them.
(19) Without delay they call to one another:
(20) “God’s majestic splendor fills the whole earth!”
(21) Like a mighty thunder, like ocean’s roar,
(22) The cherubim and the spheres rise loudly
(23) To gaze at the rainbowlike appearance.
(24) Wherever set, they hasten anxiously,
(25) Whispering praise in each tongue: “Blessed be
(26) His glory in his entire universe.”
(27) All the heavenly hosts shout praise in awe:
(28) “His glory shines forever and ever!”
(29) Their hymn is timed; when the hour is gone,
(30) They shall at no period chant it again.
(31) Dear to him are the people of Israel,
(32) Acclaiming him each morning and evening.
(33) They are dedicated to do his will;
(34) His wonders, his praises, they declare hourly.
(35) He desires them to toil in the Torah,
(36) So that their prayer be well accepted,
(37) Bound up in the crown of the Eternal,
(38) Securely set near the precious frontlet.
(39) His frontlet is most skillfully inscribed:
(40) “Great is Israel who proclaims God’s Oneness.”
(41) The praise of the world’s Lord, in pure homage,
(42) I am pleased to declare before the kings.
(43) They come and gather like the surging waves,
(44) Wondering and asking about the signs:
(45) Whence and who is your beloved, O fair one?
(46) For whom do you die in the lion’s den?
(47) Most precious are you; if you merge with us,
(48) We will do your will in all the regions.
(49) With wisdom I answer them concisely:
(50) You must recognize and acknowledge him!
(51) Of what value is your glory compared
(52) With all that God will do for me in due time,
(53) When light will come to me and shame to you,
(54) When he will reveal himself in great might?
(55) He will repay the foes in all the isles;
(56) Triumph to the dear and upright people!
(57) Perfect joy, pure delight, will come into
(58) Jerusalem when he will gather the exiles.
(59) His glory will shield Zion day and night,
(60) While his tent for praise will be made in it
(61) Under a splendid canopy of bright clouds.
(62) For each godly man a booth will be made,
(63) Furnished with a gold throne of seven steps.
(64) The righteous will be arrayed before God,
(65) Their sights resembling sevenfold delight,
(66) The brilliant sky and the luminous stars –
(67) A splendor that no language can describe,
(68) That was not heard of nor viewed by prophets.
(69) No eye has penetrated Paradise,
(70) Where the righteous dance in presence of God,
(71) Reverently pointing out: “This is he
(72) For whom we looked in exile with firm faith!
(73) He now gently guides us eternally,
(74) Granting us the share long reserved for us.:
(75) Leviathan contends with Behemoth;
(76) They are locked in combat with each other.
(77) Behemoth gores mightily with its horns;
(78) The sea-monster counters with potent fins.
(79) The Creator slays them with his great sword,
(80) And prepares a banquet for the righteous,
(81) Who sit in rows at tables of precious stones,
(82) While before them there flow streams of balsam,
(83) And they indulge themselves and drink full cups
(84) Of the precious old wine preserved in vats.
(85) You upright, having heard this hymn of praise,
(86) May you be in that blissful company!
(87) You will merit to sit in the first row
(88) If you will obey God’s majestic words.
(89) God, exalted from beginning to end,
(90) Was pleased with us and gave us the Torah.