Av Harachamim or Abh Haraḥamim (אב הרחמים‎ "Father [of] mercy" or "Merciful Father") is a Jewish memorial prayer which was written in the late eleventh or early twelfth century, after the destruction of the Ashkenazi communities around the Rhine River by Christian crusaders during the First Crusade.[1] First appearing in prayer books in 1290, it is printed in every Orthodox siddur in the European traditions of Nusach Sefarad and Nusach Ashkenaz and recited as part of the weekly Shabbat services, or in some communities on the Shabbat before Shavuot and Tisha B'Av.[2][3]

The Yizkor service on Jewish holidays concludes with the Av Harachamim, which prays for the souls of all Jewish martyrs.

Text

Hebrew Original English translation Transliteration

אָב הָרַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן מְרוֹמִים‎

 The Merciful father, who dwells upon high, Av harachameem shochein m'romeem

בְּרַחֲמָיו הָעֲצוּמִים הוּא יִפְקוד בְּרַחֲמִים‎

 in His great mercy will consider with compassion b'rachamav ha-atzumeem hu yeefkod b'rachamim.

הַחֲסִידִים וְהַיְשָׁרִים וְהַתְּמִימִים. קְהִלּות הַקּדֶשׁ שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם‎

 the pious, the upright, the pure, the holy congregations which laid down their lives in sanctification of God. hahaseedeem v'ha-yshareem v'ha-Tymeemeem, k'heelot hakodesh shemas'ru nafsham al kdushat haSheim

הַנֶּאֱהָבִים וְהַנְּעִימִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם וּבְמותָם לא נִפְרָדוּ. מִנְּשָׁרִים קַלּוּ וּמֵאֲרָיות גָּבֵרוּ לַעֲשׂות רְצון קונָם וְחֵפֶץ צוּרָם.‎

 "Who were beloved and cherished in their lives, and even in death were not parted. Who were swifter than eagles and fiercer than lions" in their service to the Creator. hane-eh-haveem v'ha-n'eemeem b'chayeihem, uvmotam lo neefradu. Meen'shareem kalu umeiarayot gaveiru laasot r'tzon konam v'cheifetz tzuram.

יִזְכְּרֵם אֱלהֵינוּ לְטובָה עִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקֵי עולָם. וְיִקום לְעֵינֵינוּ נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדָיו הַשָּׁפוּךְ‎

 He will mark them down for good, together with the heroes of old. We will see Him avenge them, avenge the spilled blood of His servants. Yeezk'reim Eloheinu l'tova eem sh'ar tzadeekei olam v'yeenkom l'eineinu neekmat dam avadav hashafuch

כַּכָּתוּב בְּתורַת משֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלהִים. הַרְנִינוּ גויִם עַמּו כִּי דַם עֲבָדָיו יִקּום וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצָרָיו וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתו עַמּו:‎

 As it says in the Law of Moses, "Sing of His people, O nations, for He will avenge the blood of his servants, return vengeance upon his enemies, will soothe His land and His people". kakatuv b'torat moshe eesh haEloheem: harneenu goyeem amo kee dam avadav yeekom v'nakam yasheev l'tzarav v'cheeper admato amo.

וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמר. וְנִקֵּיתִי דָּמָם לא נִקֵּיתִי וַיהוָה שׁכֵן בְּצִיּון:‎

 And it further says in the Prophets, "Even when I forgive, I will not forgive their bloodshed, when the LORD dwells in Zion". V'al y'dei avadecha haN'vee-eem katuv leimor: V'neekeitee damam lo neekeitee vAdonoy Shochein b'tzeeyon.

וּבְכִתְבֵי הַקּדֶשׁ נֶאֱמַר לָמָּה יאמְרוּ הַגּויִם אַיֵּה אֱלהֵיהֶם. יִוָּדַע בַּגּויִם לְעֵינֵינוּ נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶיךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ:‎

 And in the Writings it says, "Why do the nations ask, 'Where is their God?' We should see the nations taught how You revenge the spilled blood of Your servants". Uvcheetvei hakodesh ne-eh-mar: lama yom'ru hagoyeem ayei ehloheihem yeevada bagoyeem l'eineinu neekmat dam avadecha hashafuch.

וְאומֵר, כִּי דורֵשׁ דָּמִים אותָם זָכָר לא שָׁכַח צַעֲקַת עֲנָוִים:‎

 And it says, "For the Seeker of Blood will remember them, He will not ignore the cries of the innocent". V'omeir: kee doreish dameem otam zachar lo shachach tza-ah-kat anaveem.

וְאומֵר, יָדִין בַּגּויִם מָלֵא גְוִיּות מָחַץ ראשׁ עַל אֶרֶץ רַבָּה. מִנַּחַל בַּדֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁתֶּה עַל כֵּן יָרִים ראשׁ:‎

 And it says, "He will judge among the nations, full of corpses, His head bowed across the great land. From a stream by the way He will drink -- only then will He raise His head!" V'omeir: yadeen bagoyeem malei g'veeyot machatz rosh al eretz raba. Meenachal baderech yeeshte al kein yareem rosh.

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See also

References

  1. ↑ Eisenberg, Ronald (January 2010). Jewish Traditions: A JPS Guide. p. 461. ISBN 9780827610392.
  2. ↑ Foley, Edward (2000). Worship Music: A Concise Dictionary. p. 24. ISBN 9780814658895.
  3. ↑ Baer, Rabbi Dr. S. (1800s). Siddur Avodath Yisrael. Roedelheim.


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