Yedid Nefesh

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Yedid Nefesh (Hebrew: ידיד נפש yedid nefesh) is a name of a piyyut. It is usually sung on the Jewish Sabbath.

Contents

[edit] Traditions and origin

Some sing it between Minchah (afternoon prayer) of Friday and the beginning of Kabbalat Shabbat (literally: receiving or greeting the Sabbath — a collection of psalms usually sung to welcome in the Shabbat queen, as it were, the restful contentment that descends from above during nightfall on Friday).

It is sung by many (Orthodox) Jews during Seudat Shlishit (the third meal on Shabbat; the first is on Friday night, the second on Saturday lunch, and the third on Saturday before nightfall). This beautiful poem was originally written by the sixteenth century kabbalist, Rabbi Elazar Azikri, the author of Sefer Charedim. His philosophy centred around the intense love one must feel for God, a theme that is evident in this piyut (see references). The first letters of each of the four verses make up the four letter name of God, known in English as the tetragrammaton.

[edit] Audio

Follow these links to hear a couple of versions:

[edit] Text

The words are as follows:

Ashkenaz Transliteration English translation Original Hebrew

Verse 1
Yedid Nefesh ov horachamon, Beloved of the soul, Compassionate Father, ידיד נפש אב הרחמן
meshoch avdecho el retzonecho, draw Your servant to Your Will; משוך עבדך אל רצונך
yorutz avdecho kmo ayol, then Your servant will hurry like a hart ירוץ עבדך כמו איל
yishtachave el mul hadorecho, to bow before Your majesty; ישתחוה אל מול הדרך
ye-erav lo yedidosecho, to him Your friendship will be sweeter יערב לו ידידותיך
minofes tzuf v'chol to-am. than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste. מנפת צוף וכל טעם

Verse 2
Hodur no-e ziv ho-ōlom, Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe, הדור נאה זיו העולם
nafshi cholas ahavosecho, my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love. נפשי חולת אהבתך
ono kel no r'fo no loh, Please, O G-d, heal her now אנא קל נא רפא נא לה
b'haros loh noam zivecho, by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance; בהראות לה נעם זיוך
oz tis-chazeik v'sisrapei, then she will be strengthened and healed, אז תתחזק ותתרפא
v'hoyso loh simchas olom and eternal gladness will be hers. והיתה לה שמחת עולם

Verse 3
Vosik yehemu no rachamecho, Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused ותיק יהמו נא רחמיך
v'chuso no al bein ahuvecho, and please take pity on the son of Your beloved, וחוסה נא על בן אהובך
ki ze kamo nichsof nichsafti, because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely כי זה כמה נכסף נכספתי
lir'os m'heiro b'siferes uzecho, to see speedily to splendour of Your strength; לראת מהרה בתפארת עזך
eile chomdo libi, only these my heart desired, אלה חמדה לבי
v'chuso no v'al tis-alom. so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself וחוסה נא ואל תתעלם

Verse 4
Higolei no ufros chavivi olai, Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me הגלה נא ופרש חביבי עלי
es sukas shlomecho, the shelter of Your peace; את סכת שלומך
to-ir eretz mich'vodecho, illuminate the Earth with Your glory, תאיר ארץ מכבודך
nogilo v'nism'cho boch. that we may rejoice and be glad with You; נגילה ונשמחה בך
Maheir ehov ki vo mo-ed, hasten, show love, for the time has come, מהר אהוב כי בא מועד
v'choneinu kimei olom. and show us grace as in days of old. וחננו כימי עולם

[edit] References

  • Siddur Rinat Yisrael - Hotza'at Moreshet, p. 180
  • Siddur Sim Shalom, RA/USCJ, p. 252
  • The Complete Artscroll Siddur (סדור קול יעקב) — Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, Rabbi Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p591.
  • Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur, Sabbath and Festival (סדור זכרון אברהם) — Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, Rabbi Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p82.
  • The Essential Shiron-Birkon — Feldheim, p90.
  • The NCSY Bencher — Rothman Foundation, p51.

[edit] External links

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