The New Jew: A Field Guide

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pp. 1108-1109

Funeral Service

Levayat HaMet

לוויית המת

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After the funeral, the following is said, except on days on which Tahanun is omitted, or after nightfall. Some say the following before the funeral.

צדוק הדין

THE ACCEPTANCE OF JUDGMENT

Deut. 32

Hebrew

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ, כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט
אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא׃

Sephardi

HaTzur tamim po'olo, ki chol-derachav mishpat
Eil emunah ve'ein avel, tzadik veyashar hu:

English

The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A faithful God who does no wrong, righteous and fair is He.

1 Sam. 2

Hebrew

הַצּוּר תָּמִים בְּכָל פֹּעַל, מִי יֹאמַר לוֹ מַה תִּפְעָל
הַשַּׁלִּיט בַּמַּטָּה וּבַמַּעַל. מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה, מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל׃

Sephardi

HaTzur tamim bechol po'al, mi yomar lo mah tif'al
HaShalit baMatah uvaMa'al. Memit umechayeh, morid she'ol vaya'al:

English

The Rock, perfect in every deed: Who can say to Him, "What have You done?" He rules below and above. He brings death and gives life, bringing down to the grave and raising up again.

Hebrew

הַצּוּר תָּמִים בְּכָל מַעֲשֶׂה, מִי יֹאמַר לוֹ מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה
הָאוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה, חֶסֶד חִנָּם לָנוּ תַּעֲשֶׂה
וּבִזְכוּת הָנֶעֱקַד כַּשֶּׂה, הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה.

Sephardi

HaTzur tamim bechol ma'aseh, mi yomar lo mah ta'aseh
HaOmer ve'oseh, chesed chinam lanu ta'aseh
Uvizchut haNe'ekad kaseh, hakshivah va'aseh.

English

The Rock, perfect in every act: Who can say to Him, "Why do You so act?" You who speak and act: show us kindness we do not deserve, and in the merit of the one who was bound like a lamb, hear us and act.

Hebrew

צַדִּיק בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו הַצּוּר תָּמִים, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וּמָלֵא רַחֲמִים
חֲמֹל נָא וְחוּס נָא עַל אָבוֹת וּבָנִים
כִּי לְךָ אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת וְהָרַחֲמִים.

Sephardi

Tzadik bechol derachav haTzur tamim, erech apayim umale rachamim
Chamol na vechus na al avot uvanim
Ki lecha Adon haSelichot vehaRachamim.

English

Righteous in all His ways, the Rock who is perfect, slow to anger and full of compassion, please have pity and spare parents and children, for Yours, LORD, are forgiveness and compassion.

Hebrew

צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהֹוָה לְהָמִית וּלְהַחֲיוֹת
אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדְךָ פִּקְדוֹן כָּל רוּחוֹת, חָלִילָה לְךָ זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ לִמְחוֹת
וִיהִי נָא עֵינְךָ בְּרַחֲמִים עָלֵינוּ פְּקוּחוֹת
כִּי לְךָ אֲדוֹן הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִיחוֹת.

Sephardi

Tzadik atah Adonai lehamit ulehachayot
Asher beyadcha pikadon kol ruchot, chalilah lecha zichroneinu limchot
Vihi na eincha berachamim aleinu pekuchot
Ki lecha Adon haRachamim vehaSelichot.

English

You are righteous, LORD, in bringing death and giving life. In Your hand is the safekeeping of all spirits. Far be it from You to erase our remembrance. May Your eyes be open to us in compassion, for Yours, LORD, are compassion and forgiveness.

Hebrew

אָדָם אִם בֶּן שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה, אוֹ אֶלֶף שָׁנִים יִחְיֶה
מַה יִּתְרוֹן לוֹ, כְּלֹא הָיָה יִהְיֶה
בָּרוּךְ דַּיָּן הָאֱמֶת, מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה.

Sephardi

Adam im ben shanah yihyeh, o elef shanim yichyeh
Mah yitron lo, kelo hayah yihyeh
Baruch Dayan haEmet, memit umechayeh.

English

If one lives for a year or a thousand years, what does it profit him? He shall be as if he had never been. Blessed is the true Judge who brings death and gives life.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּי אֱמֶת דִּינוֹ, וּמְשׁוֹטֵט הַכֹּל בְּעֵינוֹ
וּמְשַׁלֵּם לְאָדָם חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ וְדִינוֹ, וְהַכֹּל לְשִׁמוֹ הוֹדָיָה יִתְּנוּ.

Sephardi

Baruch hu ki emet dino, umeshotet hakol be'eino
Umeshalem le'adam cheshbono vedino, vehakol leshmo hodayah yitenu.

English

Blessed is He for His judgment is true, and in His sight He surveys all. He repays man in accord with his account and just desert, and all must render acknowledgment to His name.

Ps. 119

Hebrew

יָדַעְנוּ יְהֹוָה כִּי צֶדֶק מִשְׁפָּטֶךָ, תַּצְדִּיק בְּדָבְרְךָ וְתִזְכֶּה בְּשָׁפְטֶךָ
וְאֵין לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מִדַּת שְׁפָטֶךָ. צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, וְיָשָׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ׃

Sephardi

Yadanu Adonai ki tzedek mishpatecha, tatzdik bedevarecha vetizkeh beshoftecha
Ve'ein leharher achar midat shoftecha. Tzadik atah Adonai, veyashar mishpatecha:

English

We know, LORD, that Your judgment is just. You are just when You speak and fair when You judge. It is not for us to criticize Your manner of judgment. You are righteous, LORD, and Your judgments are fair.