אַ סאָציאַליסטישער הַלֵּל -- A Socialist Hallel

The original Yiddish text of the Krakow-Podgorze Socialist Hagaddah from which this Hallel is taken can be found here:

Socialist Yiddish Haggadah, 1919

[ On Seder night, after reciting the Maggid (up to page 14 in the Krakow-Podgorze Socialist Hagaddah), begin below with "Halleluhu".

On Rosh Chodesh, Chanukkah, May Day, and the three Festivals, one might recite, in place of the opening blessing, this strengthening call:

"Hold high with outstretched hands our red flag of Socialism!" ]

Halleluhu! – Praise him, you honest people. Honour his name – "Freedom!" This name should be blessed from now until eternity! From east to west extol the name "Freedom!" Over all peoples she has raised herself up, up to the heavens she has reached. She has reached the heavens and driven out the gods, has lowered herself down to earth and broken the chains! She raises up the lonely from the dust, the poor from the filth she tears away! And she sets them equal with the nobles, with the notables of the nation. The housewife, the mother, the slavewoman, she sets equal with the sons. She revels in human happiness and rejoices – Halleluhu!

Betseis Ho'am Mimitsrayim, when a people escapes the constraints and fights for its liberation, when its rights are sacred to it, and awareness of humanity rules it, then it roars forth like the sea, it floods forth like wild streams, mountains leap in fright, swelling waves shrink away. Why are you roaring, o sea? Why are you flooding, o wild streams? Why are you leaping, o mountains, and why are you shrinking, o swelling waves? From before the ruler of the world: from before the strong might of the people. Which impacts and creates and blasts, and builds palaces from stones and from the earth draws out bread!

[ On Seder night, recite here the passage beginning "Borukh Ato – Blessed are you holy idea..." Eat and drink if any food or drink is to be found, and continue with "Shefokh Khamosekho – Pour out your warmth..."(The above passages are found on page 15 of the Krakow-Podgorze Socialist Hagaddah) ]

Lo lonu, lo lonu, such thoughts are not for us! That's what a certain class says: 'We have a god in heaven and he does what he wants. He rules the world, and we must live by his rulings.' Atsabehem kesef vezohov, ma'aseh yedei odom. But their idols are gold and silver, made by human hands. These people have eyes and do not see, as the elderly are crushed under their false gods. They have ears and do not hear, as the stormwind [of revolution] blows; have minds and do not understand that these gods must fall, just like all previous created gods, and along with them will fall all those who rely on them – all those, for whom gold and militarism is the only help and security.

[ The passages Zekhoronu Yevorekh, Ohavti, Moh Oshiv, Hallelu, and Hodu are omitted. However, in place of Hodu, one may recite:

Advance with Progress, he is good!

His impact endures forever.

Praise the saviour, Progress.

His impact endures forever. ]

Min Hametsar – from the constraints, from the oppression, peoples raise themselves up; they fight and become free. As long as they are united, they have no fear. What can anyone do to them? When they help their own selves, despots tremble! It is better to rely on one's own self, than to rely on demagogues. It is better to support one's own self, than to rely on aristocrats. This is what the peoples are now learning, and they are fighting for freedom, their protection and their stronghold. Their mighty hand is raised high, the hand of the peoples works wonders. We do not want to die; we want to live and enjoy the fruits of our labour! Open quickly for us the gates of happiness, let us too tarry there! We have been tormented enough. There must at last come salvation!

Workers, awake!

Workers, awake!

Proletariat, forward!

Proletariat, forward!

Borukh Habo, welcome is anyone, in the name of liberation, who lends a hand to this good cause.

[ The passage Yehalelukho is omitted.

On Rosh Chodesh, Chanukkah, May Day, and the three Festivals, one might recite, in place of the closing blessing, this poetic reminder:

“When you with your strong arm will

All the wheels will stand still”

On the Seder night, continue below. ]

Nishmas Kol Khai Veruakh Kol Bosor, you are the soul of everything that lives, and the measure of all bodies! Through you everything is maintained in constant evolution, in progressive change, in an eternal course on the path to perfection. You have no beginning and you have no end; you rule over nature; the world follows only your laws; all creatures advance towards you! You are always present and you never cease! You awaken from slumber dead atoms, you combine them into living machines, you let them grow and flourish, and then unravel themselves again into unconscious atoms in the universe. If our mouths were full of speech as the sea with water, our tongue with words as the sea with waves, and if our eyes could see all like the sun and the moon, we would still not be able to work out even a millionth of all the various forms and changes and evolutions that you, almighty Progress, bring forth! Thus say all the limbs in our bodies, thus says the reason of our minds, and the tongues in our mouths. And it is you, great Progress, who has led people to the correct idea: that humanity does not need to fight and hurt one another; rather, with her powers combined, she can seek her happiness in the rich treasures of nature. Matsil oni meikhozok mimenu ve'oni ve'evyon migozlo, you save the weak from the thieving of the strong, and the Proletariat from Capital, that robs them!

[ The passage Yishtabakh is omitted. Continue with songs of praise and of revolution, found on page 18 of the Krakow-Podgorze Socialist Haggadah. Continue until

"Uv'chen – And so, may there soon come to the world Socialism, the saviour, speedily in our days, amen!" ]