VERSES OF SONG
Blessed be the One, who redeems and rescues. Blessed be the One, who gives rest to this people Israel on the holy Shabbat day. Blessed be the One, and blessed be God’s name and blessed be the knowledge of God for all eternity.
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KEx ¨A Baruch she’amar v’hayah ha–olam. Baruch hu. Baruch omeir v’oseh. Baruch gozeir um’kayyeim. Baruch oseh v’reishit.
Baruch m’racheim al ha–arets. Baruch m’racheim al ha–b’riot.
Baruch m’shaleim sachar tov lirei’av. Baruch ma’avir afeilah umeivi orah. Baruch eil chai la’ad v’kayam lanetsach. Baruch she’ein l’fanav avlah v’lo shich’chah v’lo masso fanim, v’lo mikkach shochad, tsaddik hu b’chol d’rachav v’chasid b’chol ma’asav. Baruch podeh umatsil. Baruch ha–manchil m’nuchah l’ammo yisra’el b’yom shabbat kodesh. Baruch hu u’varuch sh’mo, uvaruch zichro l’olmei ad. <<<
The passage locates God at the centre of creation. God spoke and worlds came into existence. Yet this is no God who remains remote from creation, but one who continues to speak, who acts with rachamim , translated here as ‘mercy’but meaning a deep and abiding love for the earth and all creatures that inhabit it. The world is to be built upon values, and though human beings may fail to live up to them, ultimate justice and integrity lie with God who shows no favour and cannot be bribed.
x ©n ¨` ¤W KEx ¨A Blessed be the One ... This passage marks the formal opening of the Verses of Songs. Considered to be of ancient origin, it contains Biblical and Talmudic phrases. As yet another example of the roots of British Reform in the Sephardi tradition, our version contains verses to mark the Shabbat and the phrase ‘who takes away darkness and brings on light’, which are not to be found in Ashkenazi versions.
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