“Ben Adam” in Selichot and on One’s Birthday

“Ben Adam” in Selichot and on One’s Birthday

  The Selichot prayers begin with the piyyut “Ben Adam” (son of man). Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra—the author of the piyyut “Ben Adam”—introduced the custom of singing this piyyut on the evening of Yom Kippur. Rabbi Shmuel Uzedah discusses it at length in his “Midrash Shmuel” on “Pirkei Avot.” Since then, the minhag has developed of reciting this passage on the evening of Yom Kippur. Sephardim recite it for 40 days as part of Selichot. The Kabbalists teach, however, that it is also beneficial to recite it on one’s birthday—with the kavanah of “bishvili nivra ha-Olam”—“the world was created for my sake.” The Sages reveal why Ha-Shem first created Adam and then Eve, and conclude that it was for one purpose בלבד: so that each person could say, “The world was created for my sake, and it cannot exist without me; I am needed, and I have a purpose.” Thus, with Ha-Shem’s help, every person is given the opportunity to understand that a birthday is the day of a person’s “beriah” (creation), and that his or her very presence in this world is exceedingly precious. The central phrase of the piyyut is— לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים “Lekha Ado-nai ha-tzedakah, ve-lanu boshet ha-panim”—“To You, G-d, belongs righteousness; while shame covers our faces”—taken from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (9:7).   בֶּן אָדָם בֶּן אָדָם מַה לְּךָ נִרְדָּם קוּם קְרָא בְּתַחֲנוּנִים שְׁפֹךְ שִׂיחָה דְּרֹשׁ סְלִיחָה מֵאֲדוֹן הָאֲדוֹנִים רְחַץ וּטְהַר וְאַל תְּאַחַר בְּטֶרֶם יָמִים פּוֹנִים וּמְהֵרָה רוּץ לְעֶזְרָה לִפְנֵי שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנִים וּמִפֶּשַׁע וְגַם רֶשַׁע בְּרַח וּפְחַד מֵאֲסוֹנִים אָנָּא שְׁעֵה שִׁמְךָ יוֹדְעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶאֱמָנִים לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים עֲמֹד כְּגֶבֶר וְהִתְגַּבֵּר לְהִתְוַדּוֹת עַל חֲטָאִים יָהּ אֵל דְּרֹשׁ בְּכֹבֶד רֹאשׁ לְכַפֵּר עַל פְּשָׁעִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם לֹא נֶעְלָם מִמֶּנּוּ נִפְלָאִים וְכָל מַאֲמָר אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמַר לְפָנָיו הֵם נִקְרָאִים הַמְרַחֵם הוּא יְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים Ben Adam Ben Adam, ma lekha nirdam? Kum kera va-tahanunim. Shefokh siḥah, derosh selikhah, me-Adon ha-adonim. Reḥatz u-tehar ve-al te'akher, beterem yamim ponim. U-meherah rutz le-ezrah lifnei shoḥen me'onim. U-mi-pesha ve-gam resha, beraḥ u-fḥad me-as onim. Ana she'eh, shimkha yode'ei Yisrael ne'emanim. Lekha Ado-nai ha-tzedakah, ve-lanu boshet ha-panim. Amod ke-gever, ve-hitgaber, le-hitvadot al ḥata'im. Yah, El, derosh, be-khoved rosh, le-khaper al pesh a'im. Ki le-olam, lo ne'lam, mimenu, nifla'im. Ve-khol ma'amar, asher ye'amar, lefanav hem nikra'im. Ha-merachem, hu yerachem, aleinu, ke-raḥem av al banim. Lekha Ado-nai ha-tzedakah, ve-lanu boshet ha-panim. Lekha Ado-nai ha-tzedakah, ve-lanu boshet ha-panim. Ma nit'onen u-ma nomar, ma nedaber u-ma nitztadak. Naḥpesah derakheinu ve-naḥkorah, ve-nashuvah elekha.   Translation O man, why do you slumber? Awaken and cry out in repentance: pour out the words of your heart and seek forgiveness from the Master of masters. Wash and purify yourself, and do not delay, for time is passing. Hurry and run for help before the One Who dwells in the heavenly abodes. Flee from transgression and evil, and beware of the misfortunes that may befall you. “Please heed Your faithful people Israel, who know Your Name.” To You, G-d, belongs righteousness; while shame covers our faces. Stand firm like a man; find the courage to confess your sins. Call out to G-d with a bowed head and ask Him to atone for your transgressions. For nothing is hidden from Him forever. Indeed, every word uttered by a person before Him is recorded. The Merciful One will have mercy on us, like a father who forgives his children. To You, G-d, belongs righteousness; while shame covers our faces. To You, G-d, belongs righteousness; while shame covers our faces. What can we complain about, and what can we say? What can we tell You, and how can we justify ourselves? Let us examine our ways and search them thoroughly, and return to You.   [Le-Iluy Nishmat Noam ben Erez Yeḥi'el—the sweet-voiced singer of Selichot at the “Yodei Binah” Yeshivah]. (Based on the book “Selichot,” edited by Rav Baruch Malaev)