Our God and God of our fathers!

Then on Mount Mor¹

footnotes: ¹ Poetic form of Moriah.

the mute dove² rejoiced

footnotes: ² Isaac who accepted his role silently.

when Ethan³ took him

footnotes: ³ Literally “giant”—a reference to Abraham.

as a burnt whole offering

the proud One tested him,

“Take this lad

as a raise-offering to Adonoy, sanctified.”

“Like the law for the basket,⁴ 26:4.

footnotes: ⁴ The basket of first fruits; see Devorim

place him before Me

your son here,

bring him as a bread offering;

I have chosen him, come anoint him

with the oil of sanctified anointment.”

The pure one, upon hearing,

did not worry;

the will of His Rock was all he desired

united, both father and son

bowed to Adonoy

in the splendor of holiness.

He prepared wood intending to kindle it.

The only son wondered and hoped

saying, “Where is the lamb of offering

sanctified sacred to Adonoy?”

“The One Above will show the lamb,”

he replied,

“to satisfy, make happy the mother’s soul.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Sarah would rejoice if God would choose an animal and Isaac would return.

He Who sees the hidden, my son,

will heed your prayer,

He’ll send you aid from the sanctified place.”

“Stop, please, father and bind the sacrifice

lest I move in fear of the blade.

Tie me down lest I desecrate the offering

and spoil its sanctity.”

Kofer Eshkol⁶ Raba 1:14. burst into tears

footnotes: ⁶ An allusion to Isaac. See Shir HaShirim

when he thought of his father

bereft of his son.

He grabbed the knife to perform

the entire sanctified service.

Angels screamed up in Heaven,

“The mute dove’s slaughter,

who can watch?”

One to the other declared, “Don’t keep silent,

raise your hands in sanctity.”

The One Above gazed at binder and bound,

the bound lamb and the burning flame.

The Tester of puremindedness

recalled the pitied

and His voice was heard

entering the Sanctum.

Spoke the “advocate”⁷ as he took the knife,

footnotes: ⁷ The angel in the Name of God.

“Spare your only one from going to death.

This is written before me,

clearly inscribed,

inscribed in sanctified etching.

“I know the beautiful integrity of your way.

Rejoice and take a ram

instead of the buck.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ An allusion to Isaac. See above.

I’ve prepared a substitute

for the Eshkol Hakofer⁶ Raba 1:14.

footnotes: ⁶ An allusion to Isaac. See Shir HaShirim

and he and his replacement

will be sanctified.”

The youngster was saved from the sharp blade;

from outstretched throat

his blood did not flow.

His right grasped the gripped ram,

to sanctify it holy to Adonoy.

Merciful One!

You provided him a peaceful ending.

Till this day You recall

his covenant for his seed.

For the rest of the remnant,

what is left of his remainder,

let there be a haven in sanctity.

Almighty! King!

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

governs with kindness

forgives the iniquities of His people.

He removes their sins one by one,

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

and pardon to transgressors.

Acting righteously

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

not according to their wickedness

does He repay them.

Almighty!

You instructed us to recite

the thirteen Divine attributes;

remember unto us this day

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

as You made them known

to the humble Moses of old,

as it is written,

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

and stood with him there,

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

Congregation and Chazzan:

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses];

and proclaimed:

Adonoy, Adonoy,

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

Slow to Anger,

and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth.

Keeper of kindness

for thousands of generations,

Endurer of iniquity, and transgression,

and sin;

and Acquitter of those who repent.”

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

and take us for Your inheritance.”

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

“For You, my Master,

are good and forgiving,

and abounding in kindness

to all who call upon You.”