Quotes
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. T. E. Lawrence (1888 - 1935), "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"
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| Al HaNissim for Yom HaAssmauth and Yom Y'rushalayim |
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| Wednesday, 29 April 2009 10:45 |
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Question:
Yasher koach on your initiative [Al HaNissim for Yom HaAssmauth and Yom Y'rushalayim]....may it succeed... I do think that you should add the words "v'al hanechamot" to the al hanisim, as most versions have, because there is no joy without remembering those who fell in the course of our great victories.
Answer:
04-02-62
4 Iyar 5769
Shalom Rabbi...
Thank you for your good wishes.
1. Regarding the words "al HaNehamoth" - although this additional phrase appears in present day S'pharadi/Edhoth HaMizrah siddurim, and was adopted in Nusah S'pharadh 200 odd years ago, it is absent from Nusah Ashk'naz and Nusah Teman siddurim to this day, and with good reason: it is similarly absent in all ancient siddurim, viz. Sedher Rav Amram Gaon, Siddur Rav Sa'adhya Gaon, Rambam, Rav Sh'lomo b'Rabbi Nathan (before the Rif), as well as in the authentic Nusah Ashk'naz as quoted by R. Elazar of Worms in his commentary on the siddur. It is even absent in the nusah of R. Y'hudha b'Rabbi Yaqar of Spain, one of the teachers of Ramban. It is clearly a later addition which was unknown even among the S'pharadhim until more recent times.
2. This is further confirmed by the nusah of "HaNeroth Hallalu" which we say when lighting Hannuka candles as quoted in M'sekheth Sopherim 20:4.
3. Ancient nushaoth tend to be concise and to the point. Over time words were added (never deleted), particularly among the S'pharadim and thence to Nusah S'pharadh, resulting in a bloated nusah.
4. I believe that as a general rule we should act in accordance with the words of Qoheleth (5:1): "Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven, and you are upon the earth; therefore let your words be few". See Ibn ‘Ezra ad loc.
In addition to all of the above, the intent of the phrase "al HaNehamoth" has never been very clear to me. Kol Tuv
Rabbi David Bar-Hayim
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 08 May 2011 17:29 |
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