כִּי הִנֵּה כַּחֹֽמֶר בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵר. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מַרְחִיב וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְקַצֵּר. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ חֶֽסֶד נוֹצֵר. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כָאֶֽבֶן בְּיַד הַמְּסַתֵּת. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ אוֹחֵז וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְכַתֵּת. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מְחַיֶּה וּמְמוֹתֵת. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כַגַּרְזֶן בְּיַד הֶחָרָשׁ. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ דִּבֵּק לָאוֹר וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ פֵּרַשׁ. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ תּוֹמֵךְ עָנִי וָרָשׁ. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כַהֶֽגֶה בְּיַד הַמַּלָּח. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ אוֹחֵז וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ שִׁלַּח. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ אֵל טוֹב וְסַלָּח. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כַזְּכוּכִית בְּיַד הַמְזַגֵּג. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ חוֹגֵג וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְמוֹגֵג. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מַעֲבִיר זָדוֹן וְשׁוֹגֵג. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כַיְרִיעָה בְּיַד הָרוֹקֵם. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מְיַשֵּׁר וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְעַקֵּם. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ אֵל קַנֹּא וְנוֹקֵם. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
כִּי הִנֵּה כַכֶּֽסֶף בְּיַד הַצּוֹרֵף. בִּרְצוֹתוֹ מְסַגְסֵג וּבִרְצוֹתוֹ מְצָרֵף. כֵּן אֲנַֽחְנוּ בְּיָדְךָ מַמְצִיא לְמָזוֹר תֶּֽרֶף. לַבְּרִית הַבֵּט וְאַל תֵּֽפֶן לַיֵּֽצֶר:
Like clay in the hands of the potter, if he wills, he can expand it, if he wills, he can contract it; so too are we in Your hand, Preserver of loving kindness.
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like stone in the hand of the mason, if he wills, he holds it [in position], if he wills, he smashes it; so too are we in Your hands, Source of life and death.
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like iron in the hand of the smith, if he wills, he puts it to the fire, if he wills, he removes it; so too are we in Your hand, Supporter of the poor and destitute
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like the rudder in the hand of a seaman, if he wills, he holds it if he wills, he lets it go; so too are we in Your hand, Almighty, Who is good and forgives.
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like glass in the hand of the glazier, if he wills, he shapes it, if he wills, he dissolves it; so too are we in Your hand, Absolver of intentional and unintentional sin.
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like a tapestry in the hand of an embroiderer, if he wills, he makes it straight if he wills, he makes it crooked; so too are we in Your hand, jealous and vengeful God. Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
Like silver in the hand of the refiner if he wills, he adulterates it, if he wills, he keeps it pure; so too are we in Your hand, Who prepares a cure for our wounds.
Look to the covenant and not the accuser!
(1) The word that came to Jeremiah from GOD: (2) “Go down to the house of a potter, and there I will impart My words to you.” (3) So I went down to the house of a potter, and found him working at the wheel. (4) And if the vessel he was making was spoiled, as happens to clay in the potter’s hands, he would make it into another vessel, such as the potter saw fit to make. (5) Then the word of GOD came to me: (6) O House of Israel, can I not deal with you like this potter?—says GOD. Just like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in My hands, O House of Israel! (7) At one moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be uprooted and pulled down and destroyed; (8) but if that nation against which I made the decree turns back from its wickedness, I change My mind concerning the punishment I planned to bring on it. (9) At another moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be built and planted; (10) but if it does what is displeasing to Me and does not obey Me, then I change My mind concerning the good I planned to bestow upon it. (11) And now, say to the citizenry of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus said GOD: I am devisingThe same Hebrew word as is used above for “potter.” disaster for you and laying plans against you. Turn back, each of you, from your wicked ways, and mend your ways and your actions!
(7) But now, O ETERNAL One, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You are the Potter,
We are all the work of Your hands. (8) Be not implacably angry, O ETERNAL One,
Do not remember iniquity forever.
Oh, look down to Your people, to us all!
מַהוּ אֲנַחְנוּ הַחֹמֶר וְאַתָּה יֹצְרֵנוּ, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם אַתָּה הִכְתַּבְתָּ לָנוּ (ירמיה יח, ו): הִנֵּה כַחֹמֶר בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵר כֵּן אַתֶּם בְּיָדִי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְכָךְ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָנוּ חוֹטְאִים וּמַכְעִיסִים לְפָנֶיךָ אַל תִּסְתַּלֵּק מֵעָלֵינוּ, לָמָּה, שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ הַחֹמֶר וְאַתָּה יֹצְרֵנוּ. בּוֹא וּרְאֵה הַיּוֹצֵר הַזֶּה אִם יַעֲשֶׂה חָבִית וְיַנִּיחַ בָּהּ צְרוֹר, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיּוֹצְאָה מִן הַכִּבְשָׁן אִם יִתֵּן אָדָם בָּהּ מַשְׁקֶה מְנַטֶּפֶת הִיא מִמְּקוֹם הַצְּרוֹר וּמְאַבֶּדֶת אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ, מִי גָרַם לֶחָבִית לְנַטֵּף וּלְאַבֵּד מַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכָהּ, הַיּוֹצֵר, שֶׁהִנִּיחַ בּוֹ אֶת הַצְּרוֹר, כָּךְ אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם בָּרָאתָ בָּנוּ יֵצֶר הָרָע מִנְעוּרֵינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ח, כא): כִּי יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם רַע מִנְּעֻרָיו, וְהוּא גּוֹרֵם לַחְטוֹא לְפָנֶיךָ וְאֵין אַתָּה מְסַלֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת הַחַטָּיָא אֶלָּא בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ הַעֲבִירֵהוּ
What is the meaning of We are clay, You are our Potter? Israel said: "Master of the universe, You have caused it to be written about us, Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, Israel. Therefore, do not leave us even though we sin and provoke You, for we are merely the clay and You are the Potter. Consider: if a potter makes a jar and leaves a pebble in it, when it comes out of the furnace it will leak from the hole left by the pebble and lose the liquid poured into it. Who caused the jar to leak and lose its liquid? The potter who left the pebble in the jar as it was being made."
This is how Israel pleaded before God: "Master of the universe, You created in us an evil inclination from our youth, as it says, for the inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth, and it is this that caused us to sin, since You have not removed from us the inclination that instigates us to sin....
(ב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
(ג) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ אֵין לָֽנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָֽתָּה:
(ד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ:
(ה) בעשי"ת:
(ו) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חַדֵּשׁ עָלֵֽינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה:
(ז) בתענית ציבור:
(ח) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בָּרֵךְ עָלֵֽינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה:
(ט) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בַּטֵּל מֵעָלֵֽינוּ כָּל גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת:
(י) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בַּטֵּל מַחְשְׁ֒בוֹת שׂוֹנְ֒אֵֽינוּ:
(יא) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הָפֵר עֲצַת אוֹיְ֒בֵֽינוּ:
(יב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כַּלֵּה כָּל צַר וּמַשְׂטִין מֵעָלֵֽינוּ:
(יג) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ סְתוֹם פִּיּוֹת מַשְׂטִינֵֽנוּ וּמְ֒קַטְרִיגֵֽנוּ:
(יד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כַּלֵּה דֶּֽבֶר וְחֶֽרֶב וְרָעָב וּשְׁ֒בִי וּמַשְׁחִית וְעָוֹן וּשְׁ֒מַד מִבְּ֒נֵי בְרִיתֶֽךָ:
(טו) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מְנַע מַגֵּפָה מִנַּחֲלָתֶֽךָ:
(טז) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ סְלַח וּמְ֒חַל לְכָל עֲוֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ:
(יז) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מְחֵה וְהַעֲבֵר פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ וְחַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ מִנֶּֽגֶד עֵינֶֽיךָ:
(יח) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מְחוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים כָּל שִׁטְ֒רֵי חוֹבוֹתֵֽינוּ:
(יט) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הַחֲזִירֵֽנוּ בִּתְ֒שׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
(כ) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ שְׁלַח רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְחוֹלֵי עַמֶּֽךָ:
(כא) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ קְרַע רֹֽעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵֽנוּ:
(כב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹב לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
(כג) בעשרת ימי תשובה:
(כד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כָּתְ֒בֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר חַיִּים טוֹבִים:
(כה) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כָּתְ֒בֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר גְּאֻלָּה וִישׁוּעָה:
(כו) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כָּתְ֒בֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה:
(כז) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כָּתְ֒בֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר זְכֻיּוֹת:
(כח) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כָּתְ֒בֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר סְלִיחָה וּמְ֒חִילָה:
(כט) בתענית ציבור
(ל) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים:
(לא) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ לִגְ֒אֻלָּה וִישׁוּעָה:
(לב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ לְפַרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה:
(לג) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ לִזְ֒כֻיּוֹת:
(לד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכְ֒רֵֽנוּ לִסְ֒לִיחָה וּמְ֒חִילָה:
(לה) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הַצְמַח לָֽנוּ יְשׁוּעָה בְּקָרוֹב:
(לו) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הָרֵם קֶֽרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ:
(לז) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הָרֵם קֶֽרֶן מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ:
(לח) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מַלֵּא יָדֵֽינוּ מִבִּרְ֒כוֹתֶֽיךָ:
(לט) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מַלֵּא אֲסָמֵֽינוּ שָׂבָע:
(מ) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ שְׁמַע קוֹלֵֽנוּ חוּס וְרַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ:
(מא) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ קַבֵּל בְּרַחֲמִים וּבְ֒רָצוֹן אֶת תְּפִלָּתֵֽנוּ:
(מב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ פְּתַח שַׁעֲרֵי שָׁמַֽיִם לִתְ֒פִלָּתֵֽנוּ:
(מג) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ זָכוֹר כִּי עָפָר אֲנָֽחְנוּ:
(מד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ נָא אַל תְּשִׁיבֵֽנוּ רֵיקָם מִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ:
(מה) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ תְּהֵא הַשָּׁעָה הַזֹּאת שְׁעַת רַחֲמִים וְעֵת רָצוֹן מִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ:
(מו) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חֲמוֹל עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל עוֹלָלֵֽינוּ וְטַפֵּֽנוּ:
(מז) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן הֲרוּגִים עַל שֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ:
(מח) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן טְבוּחִים עַל יִחוּדֶֽךָ:
(מט) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן בָּאֵי בָאֵשׁ וּבַמַּֽיִם עַל קִדּוּשׁ שְׁמֶֽךָ:
(נ) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ נְקוֹם לְעֵינֵֽינוּ נִקְ֒מַת דַּם עֲבָדֶֽיךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ:
(נא) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְ֒ךָ אִם לֺא לְמַעֲנֵֽנוּ:
(נב) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְ֒ךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
(נג) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:
(נד) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא שֶׁנִּקְרָא עָלֵֽינוּ:
(נה) אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָנֵּֽנוּ וַעֲנֵֽנוּ כִּי אֵין בָּֽנוּ מַעֲשִׂים עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ צְדָקָה וָחֶֽסֶד וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
(2) Our Father, our King! we have sinned before You.
(3) Our Father our King! we have no King except You.
(4) Our Father, our King! deal with us [kindly] for the sake of Your Name.3See Ezekiel 36.
(5) During the Ten Days of Penitence, say:
(6) Our Father, our King! renew for us a good year.
(7) On public fast-days, say:
(8) Our Father, our King! bless us with a good year.
(9) Our Father, our King! annul all harsh decrees concerning us.
(10) Our Father, our King! annul the designs of those who hate us.
(11) Our Father, our King! thwart the plans of our enemies.
(12) Our Father, Our King! rid us of every oppressor and adversary.
(13) Our Father, Our King! seal the mouths of our adversaries and accusers.
(14) Our Father, Our King! remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity, destruction, [the burden of] iniquity and religious persecution from the members of Your covenant.
(15) Our Father, Our King! withhold the plague from Your inheritance.
(16) Our Father, Our King! forgive and pardon all our iniquities.
(17) Our Father, Our King! blot out and remove our transgressions and sins from before Your eyes.
(18) Our Father, Our King! erase in Your abundant mercy all records of our liabilities.
(19) Our Father, Our King! bring us back in wholeheartedrepentance before You.
(20) Our Father, Our King! send complete healing to the sick among Your people.
(21) Our Father, Our King! tear up the evil [parts] of our sentence.
(22) Our Father, Our King! remember us favorably before You.
(23) The following five prayers are said during the Ten Days of Penitence.
(24) Our Father, Our King! inscribe us in the Book of the Good Life.
(25) Our Father, Our King! inscribe us in the Book of Redemption and Deliverance.
(26) Our Father, Our King! inscribe us in the Book of Maintenance and Sustenance.
(27) Our Father, Our King! inscribe us in the Book of Merits.
(28) Our Father, Our King! inscribe us in the Book of Pardon and Forgiveness.
(29) The following five prayers are said on public fast-days.
(30) Our Father, Our King! remember us for a good life.
(31) Our Father, Our King! remember us for redemption and deliverance.
(32) Our Father, Our King! remember us for maintenance and sustenance.
(33) Our Father, Our King! remember us for merit.
(34) Our Father, Our King! remember us for pardon and forgiveness.
(35) Our Father, Our King! cause deliverance to spring forth for us soon.
(36) Our Father, Our King! raise up the might of Your people Israel.
(37) Our Father, Our King! raise up the might of Your anointed.
(38) Our Father, Our King! fill our hands with Your blessings.
(39) Our Father, Our King! fill our storehouses with abundance.
(40) Our Father, Our King! hear our voice, spare us and have compassion upon us.
(41) Our Father, Our King! accept our prayer with compassion and favor.
(42) Our Father, Our King! open the gates of heaven to our prayer.
(43) Our Father, Our King! remember, that we are dust.
(44) Our Father, Our King! Please do not turn us away empty-handed from You.
(45) Our Father, Our King! let this hour be an hour of compassion and a time of favor before You.
(46) Our Father, Our King! have compassion upon us, and upon our children and infants.
(47) Our Father, Our King! do it for the sake of those who were slain for Your holy Name.
(48) Our Father, Our King! do it for the sake of those who were slaughtered for [proclaiming] Your Unity.
(49) Our Father, Our King! do it for the sake of those who went through fire and water for the sanctification of Your Name.
(50) Our Father, Our King! avenge before our eyes the spilled blood of Your servants.
(51) Our Father, Our King! do it for Your sake if not for ours.
(52) Our Father, Our King! do it for Your sake and deliver us.
(53) Our Father, Our King! do it for the sake of Your great mercy.
(54) Our Father, Our King! do it for the sake of Your great, mighty, and awesome Name which is proclaimed upon us.
(55) Our Father, Our King! favor us and answer us for we have no deeds; deal with us charitably and kindly with us and deliver us.
Avinu Malkeinu
Rabbi David Seidenberg
It says, no deeds
not good-bad, not beautiful-ugly
no trace of the past in us to
constrain, condone, condemn
our forward path,
not regret, not mistakes, not strife, nor failure
or triumph,
ki ein banu ma’asim.
What-for-ever in us is the now, the aha
of one instant — just!
So here, bring your lovely-most self
nothing else
to meet-greet the unladen year.
Clear the channel; become hollow
as a bone.
What you are
becoming now here, for the Source of Life:
a wellspring of tzedakah and
hesed, of righteous love,
a fountain of blessing.
Peirush (based on this teaching):
The words of Avinu Malkeinu are a little different from the standard translation. It doesn’t say in Hebrew, “we have no good deeds” (ein lanu ma’asim tovim"), but rather, “there are no deeds in us” (ein banu ma’asim). The p’shat (literal meaning) implies that whatever we have done in the past does not have to live inside of us – we can release our deeds and be released from them, fully, to start over, like a newborn, to become whoever we need to become.
Planting Seeds of the New Year
by Rabbi David G. Winship
Preparing myself for the new year
Is such a slog
Through so much pain,
So much grief,
So much bad news,
The question: where do we go from here?
Like an apple,
The year was filled
With bites of sweetness.
Yet its core was indigestible
The stem, too tough to swallow.
Yet the core of my apple,
Of this past year,
Contains seeds
Which when not consumed
But rather freed and planted
Give rise to apple trees,
Give rise to the possibility
Of generations more of blessing.
May the seeds of this year
Be planted
And blossom
Into Justice.
Into Love
Into Joy
Into Peace.