We Are The Clay

מחזור אשכנז ליום כיפור, תפלת ערבית לליל יום כפור, יעלה ע״ח-פ״ד

כִּי הִנֵּה כַּחֹֽמֶר בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵר. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מַרְחִיב וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְקַצֵּר. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ חֶֽסֶד נוֹצֵר. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כָאֶֽבֶן בְּיַד הַמְּסַתֵּת. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ אוֹחֵז וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְכַתֵּת. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מְחַיֶּה וּמְמוֹתֵת. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כַגַּרְזֶן בְּיַד הֶחָרָשׁ. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ דִּבֵּק לָאוֹר וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ פֵּרַשׁ. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ תּוֹמֵךְ עָנִי וָרָשׁ. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כַהֶֽגֶה בְּיַד הַמַּלָּח. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ אוֹחֵז וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ שִׁלַּח. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ אֵל טוֹב וְסַלָּח. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כַזְּכוּכִית בְּיַד הַמְזַגֵּג. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ חוֹגֵג וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְמוֹגֵג. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מַעֲבִיר זָדוֹן וְשׁוֹגֵג. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כַיְרִיעָה בְּיַד הָרוֹקֵם. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מְיַשֵּׁר וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְעַקֵּם. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ אֵל קַנֹּא וְנוֹקֵם. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

כִּי הִנֵּה כַכֶּֽסֶף בְּיַד הַצּוֹרֵף. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מְסַגְסֵג וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְצָרֵף. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מַמְצִיא לְמָזוֹר תֶּֽרֶף. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:

Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz, Maariv Service for Yom Kippur Eve, Yaaleh 78-84

(78) Like clay in the hands of the potter, if he wills, he can expand it, if he wills, he can contract it; so too are we in Your hand, Preserver of kindliness and not the accuser!

(79) Like stone in the hand of the mason, if he wills, he holds it [in position], if he wills, he smashes it; so too are we in Your hands, Causer of life and death. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!

(80) Like iron in the hand of the smith, if he wills, he puts it to the fire, if he wills, he removes it; so too are we in Your hand, Supporter of the poor and destitute Heed the covenant and not the accuser!

(81) Like the rudder in the hand of a seaman, if he wills, he holds it if he wills, he lets it go; so too are we in Your hand, Almighty, Who is good and pardons. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!

(82) Like glass in the hand of the glazier, if he wills, he shapes it, if he wills, he dissolves it; so too are we in Your hand, Absolver of intentional and unintentional sin. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!

(83) Like a tapestry in the hand of an embroiderer, if he wills, he makes it straight if he wills, he makes it crooked; so too are we in Your hand, jealous and vengeful Almighty heed the covenant and not the accuser!

(84) Like silver in the hand of the refiner if he wills, he adulterates it, if he wills, he keeps it pure; so too are we in Your hand, Who prepares a cure for our wounds. Heed the covenant and not the accuser!

מגילה י״ד א:כ׳

״וְאֵין צוּר כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ״, אֵין צַיָּיר כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ. אָדָם צָר צוּרָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַכּוֹתֶל וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַטִּיל בָּהּ רוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה, קְרָבַיִם וּבְנֵי מֵעַיִם. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא צָר צוּרָה בְּתוֹךְ צוּרָה, וּמֵטִיל בָּהּ רוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה, קְרָבַיִם וּבְנֵי מֵעַיִם.

Megillah 14a:20

Hannah further said: “Neither is there any rock [tzur] like our God” (I Samuel 2:1). This can be understood as saying that there is no artist [tzayyar] like our God. How is He better than all other artists? Man fashions a form upon a wall, but is unable to endow it with breath and a soul, or fill it with innards and intestines, whereas the Holy One, Blessed be He, fashions a form of a fetus inside the form of its mother, rather than on a flat surface, and endows it with breath and a soul and fills it with innards and intestines.

Reflecting:

The prayer compares our relationship with God to material in the hands of many types of craftspeople. Which is your favorite metaphor and why?
Write your own verse to the poem...what metaphor would you add?
Throughout the Bible and in later sources, God is consistently referred to as a creator. The Talmud in Tractate Megillah extends this image and says that God is, in fact, the greatest artist ever known, as evidenced by all of God's creations. What acts of creating make you feel most empowered? Where in your life is creativity important?
The poem expresses a feeling of vulnerability. Over the past year, when have you felt this vulnerable? What have you found reassuring in those moments?

אָהַבְנוּ, בֵּרַכְנוּ, גָּדַלְנוּ, דִּבַּרְנוּ יֹפִי	We have loved, We have blessed, We have grown, We have spoken positively.
הֶעֱלִינוּ, וְחַסְנוּ, זֵרַזְנוּ, חָמַלְנוּ, טִפַּחְנוּ אֱמֶת	We have raised up, We have shown compassion, We have acted enthusiastically, We have been empathetic, We have cultivated truth.
יָעַצְנוּ טוֹב, כִּבַּדְנוּ, לָמַדְנוּ, מָחַלְנוּ, נִחַמְנוּ, סָלַלְנוּ, עוֺרַרְנוּ, פָּעַלְנוּ, צָדַקְנוּ, קִוִּינוּ לָאָרֶץ	We have given good advice, We have respected, We have learned, We have forgiven, We have comforted, We have been creative, We have stirred, We have been spiritual activists, We have been just, We have longed for the Land [of Israel].
רִחַמְנוּ, שָׁקַדְנוּ, תָּמַכְנוּ, תָּרַמְנוּ, תִּקַּנּוּ	We have been merciful, We have given full effort, We have supported, We have contributed, We have repaired.

ודוי חיובית | Positive Vidui, by Rabbi Avi Weiss

אָשַֽׁמְנוּ.

בָּגַֽדְנוּ.

גָּזַֽלְנוּ. דִּבַּֽרְנוּ דֹּֽפִי.

הֶעֱוִֽינוּ.

וְהִרְשַֽׁעְנוּ.

זַֽדְנוּ.

חָמַֽסְנוּ.

טָפַֽלְנוּ שֶֽׁקֶר.

יָעַֽצְנוּ רָע.

כִּזַּֽבְנוּ. לַֽצְנוּ.

מָרַֽדְנוּ.

נִאַֽצְנוּ.

סָרַֽרְנוּ.

עָוִֽינוּ.

פָּשַֽׁעְנוּ.

צָרַֽרְנוּ.

קִשִּֽׁינוּ עֹֽרֶף.

רָשַֽׁעְנוּ.

שִׁחַֽתְנוּ.

תִּעַֽבְנוּ.

תָּעִֽינוּ.

תִּעְתָּֽעְנוּ:

We have trespassed ;

We have betrayed ;

We have stolen; We have slandered.

We have caused others to sin;

We have caused others to commit sins;

We have sinned with malicious intent;

We have forcibly taken others’ possessions even though we paid for them;

We have added falsehood upon falsehood; We have joined with evil individuals or groups;

We have given harmful advice;

We have deceived; we have mocked;

We have rebelled against God and His Torah;

We have caused God to be angry with us;

We have turned away from God’s Torah;

We have sinned deliberately;

We have been negligent in our performance of the commandments;

We have caused our friends grief;

We have been stiff-necked, refusing to admit that our suffering is caused by our own sins.

We have committed sins for which we are called רָשָׁע, [raising a hand to hit someone].

We have committed sins which are the result of moral corruption;

We have committed sins which the Torah refers to as abominations;

We have gone astray;

We have led others astray.

ישעיהו ס״ד:ז׳

וְעַתָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אָבִ֣ינוּ אָ֑תָּה אֲנַ֤חְנוּ הַחֹ֙מֶר֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדְךָ֖ כֻּלָּֽנוּ׃

Isaiah 64:7

But now, O LORD, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You are the Potter,
We are all the work of Your hands.

משנה יומא ח׳:ט׳

(ט) הָאוֹמֵר, אֶחֱטָא וְאָשׁוּב, אֶחֱטָא וְאָשׁוּב, אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה.

Mishnah Yoma 8:9

(9) With regard to one who says: I will sin and then I will repent, I will sin and I will repent, Heaven does not provide him the opportunity to repent, and he will remain a sinner all his days.

ישעיהו מ״ד:כ״ב

(כב) מָחִ֤יתִי כָעָב֙ פְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָ וְכֶעָנָ֖ן חַטֹּאותֶ֑יךָ שׁוּבָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י כִּ֥י גְאַלְתִּֽיךָ׃

Isaiah 44:22

(22) I wipe away your sins like a cloud,
Your transgressions like mist—
Come back to Me, for I redeem you.

יומא פ״ו א:י״ד-ט״ז

אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא (בַּר) חֲנִינָא:

גְּדוֹלָה תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁמְּבִיאָה רִפְאוּת לְעוֹלָם,

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶרְפָּא מְשׁוּבָתָם אוֹהֲבֵם נְדָבָה״.

Yoma 86a:14-16

§ Further on the topic of repentance, Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: Great is repentance, as it brings healing to the world,

as it is stated: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely” (Hosea 14:5), which teaches that repentance from sin brings healing...

הושע י״ד:ה׳

אֶרְפָּא֙ מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם אֹהֲבֵ֖ם נְדָבָ֑ה כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ב אַפִּ֖י מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

Hosea 14:5

I will heal their affliction,
Generously will I take them back in love;
For My anger has turned away from them.

הושע י״ד:ב׳

שׁ֚וּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּעֲוֺנֶֽךָ׃

Hosea 14:2

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
For you have fallen because of your sin.

שמות ל״ד:ו׳-ז׳

(ו) וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ (ז) נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃

Exodus 34:6-7

(6) The LORD passed before him and proclaimed: “The LORD! the LORD!^-a a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, (7) extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations.”

מחזור אשכנז ליום כיפור, תפלת מוסף, חזרת הש"ץ י״ט

שַׁדַּי הִנְּנוּ בְיָדְךָ כְּיוֹצֵר חֹֽמֶר. רְצוֹנְךָ לְהַחֲיוֹת וְלֹא לְהָמִית וּלְגַמֵּר: חזן

Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz, Musaf for Yom Kippur, Reader's Repetition of the Amidah 19

Oh Dios Todopoderoso, henos en Tus manos cual arcilla en manos del alfarero. Tu deseo es concedernos la vida, y no la muerte y el fin.

סידור אשכנז, ימי חול, תפילת שחרית, עמידה, גבורות ח׳

בעשי"ת: מִי כָמֽוֹךָ אַב הָרַחֲמִים זוֹכֵר יְצוּרָיו לְחַיִּים בְּרַחֲמִים:

Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Amidah, Divine Might 8

(During the Ten Days of Penitence add: Who is like You merciful Father, Who remembers His creatures for life, in His mercy)