Elul 18 - Eil Nora Alilah

MOSES BEN JACOB IBN EZRA (c. 1055–after 1135)

Spanish Hebrew poet and philosopher.

Born in Granada;comprehensive Jewish and Arabic education.

1090: Granada captured by the Almoravides, Jewish community destroyed, Ibn Ezra family dispersed.

Prolific poet of secular and sacred verse and authority on theory of poetics.

Called Ha-Sallah, the writer of seliḥot (penitential prayers).

אֵל נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה, אֵל נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה,
הַמְצִיא לָנוּ מְחִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

מְתֵי מִסְפָּר קְרוּאִים, לְךָ עַיִן נוֹשְׂאִים,
וּמְסַלְּדִים בְּחִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

שׁוֹפְכִים לְךָ נַפְשָׁם, מְחֵה פִּשְׁעָם וְכַחְשַׁם,
וְהַמְצִיאֵם מְחִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

הֱיֵה לָהֶם לְסִתְרָה, וְהַצִילֵם מִמְּאֵרָה,
וְחָתְמֵם לְהוֹד וּלְגִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

חוֹן אוֹתָם וְרַחֵם, וְכָל לוֹחֵץ וְלוֹחֵם,
עֲשֵׂה בָּהֶם פְּלִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

זְכֹר צִדְקַת אֲבִיהֶם, וְחַדֵּשׁ אֶת יְמֵיהֶם,
כְּקֶדֶם וּתְחִלָּה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

קְרָא נָּא שְׁנַת רָצוֹן, וְהָשֵׁב שְׁאָר הַצֹּאן,
לְאָהֳלִיבָה וְאָהֳלָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

תִּזְכּוּ לְשָׁנִים רַבּוֹת, הַבָּנִים וְהָאָבוֹת,
בְּדִיצָה וּבְצָהֳלָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

מִיכָאֵל שַׂר יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵלִיָּהוּ וְגַבְרִיאֵל,
בַּשְּׂרוּ נָא הַגְּאֻלָּה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

God of awe, God of might, God of awe, God of might,
Grant us pardon in this hour, As Your gates are closed this night.

We who few have been from yore,

Raise our eyes to heaven's height,
Trembling, fearful in our prayer, As Your gates are closed this night.

Pouring out our soul we pray

That the sentence You will write
Shall be one of pardoned sin, As Thy gates are closed this night.

God, our refuge strong and sure, Rescue us from dreadful plight;
Seal our destiny for joy, As Your gates are closed this night.

Grant us favor, show us grace; But of all who wrest the right
And oppress, be You the judge, As Your gates are closed this night.

Generations of our sires Strong in faith walked in Your light.
As of old, renew our days, As Your gates are closed this night.

Gather Judah's scattered flock Unto Zion's rebuilt site.
Bless this year with grace divine, As Your gates are closed this night.

May we all, both old and young, Look for gladness and delight
In the many years to come, As Your gates are closed this night.

Michael, Prince of Israel, Gabriel, Your angels bright,
With Elijah, come, redeem, As Your gates are closed this night.

אֵל נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה, אֵל נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה,
הַמְצִיא לָנוּ מְחִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

God of awe, God of might, God of awe, God of might,
Grant us pardon in this hour, As Your gates are closed this night.

(ה) לְכ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת אֱלֹהִ֑ים נוֹרָ֥א עֲ֝לִילָ֗ה עַל־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
(5) Come and see the works of God, who is held in awe by men for His acts.

What works of God are held in awe? What is the impact of the word "awe" here?

בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

At the time of closing.

How does this prayer and the change of nusach at the beginning of Ne'ilah affect you? How powerful is the image of gates closing for you?

שׁוֹפְכִים לְךָ נַפְשָׁם, מְחֵה פִּשְׁעָם וְכַחְשַׁם,
וְהַמְצִיאֵם מְחִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

הֱיֵה לָהֶם לְסִתְרָה, וְהַצִילֵם מִמְּאֵרָה,
וְחָתְמֵם לְהוֹד וּלְגִילָה, בִּשְׁעַת הַנְּעִילָה.

Pouring out our soul we pray

That the sentence You will write
Shall be one of pardoned sin, As Thy gates are closed this night.

God, our refuge strong and sure, Rescue us from dreadful plight;
Seal our destiny for joy, As Your gates are closed this night.

What does it mean to pour out our souls? How do these two stanzas connect?

Here are some different interpretations:

Eyal Bitton: Cantor and choir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lUUFNVXNmM

Spanish & Portuguese Jews' Congregation of London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHWmjncxfOU

Women of the Wall and Maureen Nehedar: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155466515500673

Ira Rohde and Schola Hebraeica Choir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIyeHSfFn3c

The Mediterranean Andalusian Orchestra, Conductor: Tom Cohen

https://youtu.be/lwx_9ljhxwE