Poetic Fragment for the Sabbath Morning Tefillah

Yismaḥ Mosheh (Moses Rejoiced)

ca. 4th–5th Century

Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion,

for You called him a faithful servant.

A glorious crown You placed on his head

as he stood before You on Mount Sinai.

Stone tablets he brought down in his hand

and written upon them was the observance of the Sabbath.

And so it is written in Your Torah:

The Israelite people shall keep the Sabbath,

observing the Sabbath throughout the ages as a covenant for all time:

It shall be a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel.

For in six days Adonai made heaven and earth,

and on the seventh day He ceased from work and was refreshed (Exodus 31:16–17).

Source: Taylor-Schechter Collection, Cambridge University Library, 10 H 10.2; Bodleian Library, Oxford University, MS Heb. d 25.12 (2723)

Translated byRichard S. Sarason.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.