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.
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(Shalosh Seudos or Seudas Shlishis) (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 Azkari, 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.
Audio
Follow these links to hear a couple of versions:
Text
The words are as follows:
| Ashkenaz Transliteration | English translation | Original Hebrew |
|---|---|---|
|
Verse 1 |
||
| Yedid Nefesh ov horachamon, | ידיד נפש אב הרחמן | |
| Beloved of the soul, Compassionate Father, | ||
| meshoch avdecho el retzonecho, | משוך עבדך אל רצונך | |
| draw Your servant to your will; | ||
| yorutz avdecho kmo ayol, | ירוצ עבדך כמו איל | |
| then Your servant will hurry like a hart | ||
| yishtachave el mul hadorecho, | ישתחוה אל מול הדרך | |
| to bow before Your majesty; | ||
| ye-erav lo yedidosecho, | יערב לו ידידותיך | |
| to him Your friendship will be sweeter | ||
| minofes tzuf v'chol to-am. | מנפת צוף וכל טעם | |
| than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste. | ||
|
Verse 2 |
||
| Hodur no-e ziv ho-ōlom, | הדור נאה זיו העולם | |
| Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe, | ||
| nafshi cholas ahavosecho, | נפשי חולת אהבתך | |
| my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love. | ||
| ono kel no r'fo no loh, | אנא קל נא רפא נא לה | |
| Please, O G-d, heal her now | ||
| b'haros loh noam zivecho, | בהראות לה נעם זיוך | |
| by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance; | ||
| oz tis-chazeik v'sisrapei, | אז תתחזק ותתרפא | |
| then she will be strengthened and healed, | ||
| v'hoyso loh simchas olom | והיתה לה שמחת עולם | |
| and eternal gladness will be hers. | ||
|
Verse 3 |
||
| Vosik yehemu no rachamecho, | ותיק יהמו נא רחמיך | |
| Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused | ||
| v'chuso no al bein ahuvecho, | וחוסה נא על בן אהובך | |
| and please take pity on the son of Your beloved, | ||
| ki ze kamo nichsof nichsafti, | כי זה כמה נכסף נכספתי | |
| because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely | ||
| lir'os m'heiro b'siferes uzecho, | לראת מהרה בתפארת עזך | |
| to see speedily to splendour of Your strength; | ||
| eile chomdo libi, | אלה חמדה לבי | |
| only these my heart desired, | ||
| v'chuso no v'al tis-alom. | וחוסה נא ואל תתעלם | |
| so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself | ||
|
Verse 4 |
||
| Higolei no ufros chavivi olai, | הגלה נא ופרש חביבי עלי | |
| Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me | ||
| es sukas shlomecho, | את סכת שלומך | |
| the shelter of Your peace; | ||
| to-ir eretz mich'vodecho, | תאיר ארץ מכבודך | |
| illuminate the Earth with Your glory, | ||
| nogilo v'nism'cho boch. | נגילה ונשמחה בך | |
| that we may rejoice and be glad with You; | ||
| Maheir ehov ki vo mo-ed, | מהר אהוב כי בא מועד | |
| hasten, show love, for the time has come, | ||
| v'choneinu kimei olom. | וחננו כימי עולם | |
| and show us grace as in days of old. | ||
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.
External links
- Full transliteration and translation in an article on Shabbos afternoon and the third meal by Lori Palatnik for Aish HaTorah
- Sephardi transliteration of the first verse
- Instumental accompaniment to the first few lines
- The first verse in Hebrew
- Transliterated text of kabbalas Shabbos including full sephardi transliteration of Yedid Nefesh
- Details of the first verse with audio from project z'mirot
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