“Shirot ve-Tishbachot” for Ayelet HaShachar—a segula for sweetening judgments

 “Shirot ve-Tishbachot” are piyutim and hymns of praise.

Manuscripts of “Shirot ve-Tishbachot” from several Kabbalistic schools have survived to this day: the collection “Shirot ve-Tishbachot” by Rabbi Yisrael Najara (a disciple of the Arizal), the “Manuscript of Syrian Piyutim,” Yemenite manuscripts, and several from Baghdad. One well-known collection of piyutim belonged to the Kabbalist Rabbi Yechezkel Ezra Yehoshua Ha-Levi, a Baghdad mekubal and disciple of the Hakham Bashi of Baghdad. In 1890, together with Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer—author of “Kaf HaChaim”—they founded the Kabbalistic yeshivah “Shoshanim Le-David.” Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri was also among the students. These Sephardic Kabbalistic yeshivot had a tradition: every morning before Ayelet HaShachar, they would go to the Kotel (the Western Wall) and sing “Shirot ve-Tishbachot” (songs of praise and piyutim). It was believed that this was the most auspicious time to draw a “chut shel chesed ve-rachamim” (thread of kindness and mercy) upon the Jewish people through praises of the Almighty, to sweeten the Heavenly decrees, mimatek et ha-dinim (to sweeten the judgments). The most popular piyutim include: “Adon Olam” (by Rabbi Shlomo ibn Gabirol), “Agadelcha” (by Avraham ibn Ezra), “Ya Ribbon Olam” (by Rabbi Yisrael Najara), “Yoducha Rayonai” (by Rabbi Yisrael Najara), “Ashorer Shirah” (by Rabbi Baruch Toledano), “Chavivi” (by Rabbi Asher Mizrachi), and others. Interestingly, in most piyutim, the authors encoded their names in the initial letters of the verses. They also recited “Shirat HaYam”—the song that concluded the greatest salvation of Am Yisrael at Yam Suf—as well as “Aleinu Leshabeach” and other praises.   Shirot ve-Tishbachot  Adon Olam Adon olam asher malach, be-terem kol yetzir nivra. Le-et na'asah ve-cheftzo kol, azai melech shemo nikra. Ve-acharei kichlot hakol, levado yimloch nora. Ve-hu hayah ve-hu hoveh, ve-hu yihyeh be-tifarah. Ve-hu echad ve-ein sheni, le-hamshilo u-le-hachbirah. Beli reshit beli tachlit, ve-lo ha-oz ve-ha-misrah. Beli erech beli dimyon, beli shinui u-temurah. Beli chibur beli ferud, gadol koach u-gevurah. Ve-hu Eli ve-Chai go'ali, ve-tzur chevli be-yom tzarah [צרה – צהר] – (move the letters in the word “tzarah” (trouble) around mentally and read “tzo'h.” This is one of the thirteen types of light: seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the way out.) Ve-hu nisi u-manusi, menat kosi be-yom ekra. Ve-hu rofeh ve-hu marpeh, ve-hu tzofeh ve-hu ezrah. Be-yado afkid ruchi, be-et ishan ve-a'irah. Ve-im ruchi geviyati, Ad-nai li ve-lo ira. Be-mikdasho tagel nafshi, Meshicheinu yishlach meherah. Ve-az nashir be-veit kodshi, amen amen Shem ha-nora.   Translation: Master of the universe, Who reigned before the creation of the world; when all was made according to His will, He was called King; and after everything comes to an end, He alone, awe-inspiring, will reign. He was, He is, and He will be in glory forever. He is One, and there is no other who can compare to Him. He has neither beginning nor end; His is the power and dominion. He is complete and indivisible, mighty and powerful. He has no comparison or likeness; He is unchanging and irreplaceable. He is my G-d and my Redeemer, the Rock of my destiny on the day of trouble. He is my banner and my refuge, my portion on the day I call to Him. He is the Healer and the source of healing; He watches over me and helps me. Into His hand I entrust my spirit when I sleep and when I awaken. And with my spirit, my body as well; the L-rd is with me and I shall not fear. In His Sanctuary my soul will rejoice; He will soon send us our Mashiach. Then we will sing in His holy house: “Amen, amen, the awesome Name!”   “Adon Olam” with the Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov can be found here: Prayer “Adon Olam” with the Kavanot of the Baal Shem Tov     Ya Ribbon Olam  [composed in Aramaic as an acrostic spelling “Yisrael”, after the name of its author, Rabbi Yisrael Najara]   Y Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya, Ovadey gevurtecha ve-timhiya, shefar kodamach le-hachavaya. Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya. S Shevachin asader tzafra ve-ramsha, lach Elaha kadisha, Borei kol nafsha, irin kadishin u-vnei enasha, chevath bara ve-of shemaya. Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya. R Ravrevin ovadecha ve-takifin, machich rameya zakif kefifin, Lu yechi gevar shenin alfin, lo ye'ul gevurtecha be-chushbanaya. Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya. É Elaha dilei yekar u-revuta. Perok yat anach min pum aryevata, Ve-afek yat ammach mi-go galuta, ammach di vechart mi-kol ammaya. Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya. L Le-mikdashech tuv, u-le-kodesh kodashin, atar di veihadin ruchin ve-nafshin, Ve-zamrin lach shirin ve-rachshin, bi-rushlem karta de-shufraya. Ya Ribbon Olam ve-almaya, ant Hu Malka Melech malchaya.   Translation I will offer hymns of praise morning and evening: To You, holy G-d, Creator of all souls— Of angels and the sons of man, Of the beasts of the field and birds of heaven. Great and mighty are Your works. You humble the exalted and straighten the bent. Even if a man were to live a thousand years, He could not recount Your mighty deeds. Return to Your Sanctuary, to the Holy of Holies, O G-d, Whose glory and majesty endure. Save Your flock from the lion’s mouth, Bring Your people out of exile, The people You chose from among all nations! To the source of every soul’s joy, They will raise songs and prayers to You In Jerusalem, the city of Your beauty! Details here: ttps:1 тамуза йорцайт раби исраэля бен мош   Agadelcha [composed as an acrostic spelling “Avraham”, after Avraham ibn Ezra, 11th century] Agadelcha Elohai kol neshamah. Ve-odcha be-rov pachad ve-eimah. Ve-amdei toch kehalcha tzur le-romem. Lecha echra ve-ekof rosh ve-komah. Rekia rom halo nata be-mivta. Ve-ha-aretz yesadah al blimah. Hayuchal ish hakor et sod yotzro. Umi hu zeh be-chol kedmah va-yamah. Mromam hu alei kol peh ve-lashon. Asher hifli ve-asah kol be-chochmah. Ve-yitgadel be-goy kadosh ve-Elyon. Ve-yitkadash Shemei rabba be-alma. Translation I will exalt You, G-d of all souls, and thank You with great awe and trembling. Standing among Your congregation, Rock, I praise You, while I kneel and bow my head. He stretched out the heavens with His word and established the earth upon nothingness. Can a man fathom the mystery of his Creator? Is there anyone like Him from east to west? He is exalted above every mouth and tongue, for the wisdom of His creation is an incomprehensible wonder. May He be magnified among the holy and exalted nation, and may His great Name be sanctified throughout the world!   (those who continue with Shacharit may recite the remaining Shirot during the morning prayers) Shirat HaYam Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to the L-rd, saying: I will sing to the L-rd, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He cast into the sea. My strength and song is G-d, and He has become my salvation; this is my G-d and I will glorify Him, the G-d of my father and I will exalt Him. The L-rd is a Man of war; the L-rd is His Name. Pharaoh’s chariots and army He cast into the sea, and his chosen officers sank in Yam Suf. The depths covered them; they descended into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O L-rd, is mighty in power; Your right hand, O L-rd, crushes the enemy. Through Your great majesty You destroy those who rise against You; You send forth Your wrath, and it consumes them like straw. At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; the flowing waters stood like a mound, the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said: “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils; my soul will be filled with them, I will unsheathe my sword, my hand will dispossess them.” You blew with Your wind, and the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who is like You among the mighty, O L-rd? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praise, performing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. In Your kindness You led this people whom You redeemed; You guided them with Your strength to Your holy abode. The nations heard and trembled; terror seized the inhabitants of Pelashet. Then the chieftains of Edom were dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moav; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. Terror and dread fell upon them; through the greatness of Your arm they became still as stone, until Your people passed through, O L-rd, until this people whom You acquired passed through. You will bring them and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance, the place You made for Your dwelling, O L-rd—the Sanctuary, O Master, which Your hands established. The L-rd shall reign forever and ever. The L-rd shall reign forever and ever. The L-rd’s kingship endures forever and for all eternity. When Pharaoh’s horses entered with his chariots and horsemen into the sea, the L-rd turned the waters of the sea upon them, while the Children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. Translation:  Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to the L-rd, saying: I will sing to the L-rd, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He cast into the sea. (2) My strength and song is the L-rd; He has become my salvation. He is my G-d and I will glorify Him; the G-d of my father and I will exalt Him. (3) The L-rd is a Man of war; the L-rd is His Name. (4) Pharaoh’s chariots and army He cast into the sea, and his chosen officers sank in Yam Suf. (5) The depths covered them; they descended into the depths like a stone. (6) Your right hand, O L-rd, is mighty in power; Your right hand, O L-rd, crushes the enemy. (7) Through Your great majesty You destroy those who rise against You; You send forth Your wrath, and it consumes them like straw. (8) At the blast of Your anger the waters piled up; the flowing waters stood like a mound, the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. (9) The enemy said: “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils; my soul will be filled with them, I will unsheathe my sword, my hand will dispossess them.” (10) You blew with Your wind, and the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. (11) Who is like You among the mighty, O L-rd? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praise, performing wonders? (12) You stretched out Your right hand; the earth swallowed them. (13) In Your kindness You led this people whom You redeemed; You guided them with Your strength to Your holy abode. (14) The nations heard and trembled; terror seized the inhabitants of Pelashet. (15) Then the chieftains of Edom were dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moav; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. (16) Terror and dread fell upon them; through the greatness of Your arm they became still as stone, until Your people passed through, O L-rd, until this people whom You created passed through. (17) You will bring them and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance, the place You made for Your dwelling, O L-rd—the Sanctuary, O Master, which Your hands established. (18) The L-rd shall reign forever and ever. (19) When Pharaoh’s horses entered with his chariots and horsemen into the sea, the L-rd turned the waters of the sea upon them, while the Children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. [Kavanot here]: Shirat HaYam (Song of the Sea)     Aleinu Leshabeach  “Aleinu leshabeach la-Adon hakol, latet gedulah le-Yotzer bereishit. Shelo asanu ke-goyei ha-aratzot ve-lo samanu ke-mishpechot ha-adamah. Shelo sam chelkeinu ka-hem ve-goraleinu ke-chol hamonam she-hem mishtachavim la-hevel va-rik u-mitpalelim el el lo yoshia. (recited while bowing) Va-anachnu mishtachavim lifnei Melech Malchei ha-melachim, ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu. She-hu noteh shamayim ve-yosed aretz. U-moshav yekaro ba-shamayim mi-ma'al u-shechinat uzo be-govhei meromim. Hu Eloheinu ve-ein od acher. Emet Malkeinu ve-efes zulato, ka-katuv ba-Torah: “Ve-yadata ha-yom va-hashevota el levavecha Ad-nai ki Hu ha-Elohim ba-shamayim mi-ma'al ve-al ha-aretz mi-tachat ein od.” Al ken nekaveh lecha Ad-nai Eloheinu lirot meherah be-tiferet uzecha le-ha'avir gilulim min ha-aretz ve-ha-elilim karot yikaretun. Le-taken olam be-malchut Shaddai ve-chol bnei vasar yikreu vi-Shmecha. Le-hafnot elecha kol rish'ei aretz. Yakiru ve-yed'u kol yoshvei tevel. Ki lecha tichra kol berech, tishava kol lashon. Lefanecha Ad-nai Eloheinu yichre'u ve-yipolu, ve-li-chvod Shimcha yekar yitenu. Vi-kabelu chulam et ol malchutecha. Ve-timloch aleihem meherah le-olam va-ed. Ki ha-malchut shelcha hi, u-le-olmei ad timloch be-chavod. Ka-katuv be-Toratecha: Ad-nai yimloch le-olam va-ed. Ve-ne'emar: Ve-hayah Ad-nai le-Melech al kol ha-aretz; ba-yom ha-hu yihyeh Ad-nai Echad u-Shemo Echad.” Translation “It is our duty to praise the Master of all, to declare the greatness of the Creator of the universe. For He has not made us like the nations of the world, nor made us like the families of the earth. He has not given us their portion or our lot like all their multitudes, for they bow to vanity and emptiness and pray to a god who cannot save. We, however, bow and prostrate ourselves and offer thanks before the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He. He stretched out the heavens and established the earth; the throne of His glory is in the heavens above, and the dwelling place of His power is in the highest heights. He is our G-d, and there is none other. Truly, He is our King, and there is no other. As it is written in His Torah: ‘You shall know this day and take it to heart that the L-rd is G-d in the heavens above and on the earth below; there is none other.’ Therefore we place our hope in You, O L-rd our G-d, that we may soon see the glory of Your might, when idols will be removed from the earth and false gods will be utterly cut off. The world will be perfected under the sovereignty of the Almighty, and all human beings will call upon Your Name. All the wicked of the earth will turn to You. All the inhabitants of the world will recognize and know that every knee should bow before You and every tongue swear by Your Name. Before You, O L-rd our G-d, they will kneel and fall, and they will give honor to Your glorious Name. They will all accept the yoke of Your kingship, and You will soon reign over them forever and ever. For the kingdom is Yours, and You will reign in glory forever. As it is written in Your Torah: ‘The L-rd shall reign forever and ever.’” Tehillim 4 — Connection to “Ein Od Milvado”