Yigdal
Yigdal (“may he be magnified”) is
often the concluding prayer of the
Friday evening service in Sephardic congregations; the Ashkenazim recite
it during weekday morning prayers. This prayer, believed to be composed
by R Daniel bar Judah, is based on the “Thirteen
Principles of Faith” described by Maimonides in his book, Commentary on the Mishnah. Yigdal restates
the first two commandments of the Ten
Commandments — “I am the Lord thy God” and “Thou
shalt have no other gods before Me.” Yigdal is a powerful
hymn reminding the Jewish people of the power of God.
Translations:
Yigdal Elokim chai v'yishtabach nimtza v'ein et el m'tziuto. Echad
v'ein yachid k'yichudo ne'lam v'gam ein sof l'achduto. Ein lo d'mut
haguf v'eino guf lo na'aroch elav k'dushato. Kadmon l'chal davar asher
nivra rishon v'ein reishit l'reishito. Hino adon olam l'chal notzar
yoreh g'dulato umalchuto. Shefa n'vuato n'tano el anshei s'gulato v'tifarto.
Lo kam b'Yisrael k'Moshe od navi umabit et t'munato. Torat emet natan
l'amo el al yad n'vio ne'eman beito. Lo yachalif haEl v'lo yamir dato
l'olamim l'zulato. Tzofeh v'yode'a s'tareinu mabit l'sof davar b'kadmato.
Gomeil l'ish chesed k'mifalo noten l'rasha ra k'rishato. Yishlach l'ketz
hayamim m'shichenu lifdot m'chakei ketz y'shuato. Meytim y'chaiyeh el
b'rov chasdo Baruch adei ad shem t'hilato.
Exalted be the Living G-d and praised, He exists - unbounded by time
in His existence. He is One - and there is no unity like His Oneness.
Inscrutable and infinite is His Oneness. He has no semblance of a body
nor is He corporeal; nor has His holiness any comparison. He preceded
every being that was created - the First, and nothing preceded His precedence.
Behold! He is Master of the universe to every creature, He demonstrates
His greatness and His sovereignty. He granted His flow of prophecy to
His treasured splendrous people. In Yisrael none like Moshe arose again
- a prophet who perceived His vision clearly. G-d gave His people a
Torah of truth, by means of His prophet, the most trusted of His household.
G-d will never amend nor exchange His law for any other one, for all
eternity. He scrutinizes and knows our hiddenmost secrets; He perceives
a matter's outcome at its inception. He recompenses man with kindness
according to his deed; He places evil on the wicked according to his
wickedness. By the End of Days He will send our Mashiach, to redeem
those longing for His final salvation. G-d will revive the dead in His
abundant kindness - Blessed forever is His praised Name.
Sources: Eisenberg, Ronald L. The
JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA: Jewish Publication Society,
2004;Wigoder, Geoffrey , Ed. The
New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia. NY: Facts on File, 1992;
“Yigdal” |