At the beginning of my words (Akdamut milin)

Meir ben Isaac of Worms

Late 11th Century

At the beginning of my words, the start of my speech, let me first take permission and approval.
In two or three topics, which I’ll begin with my knees knocking in fear, with the permission of the One who created and sustains through old age.
Eternal acts of might are His, and it would not be sufficient to state them explicitly, even if the skies were all parchment, and all the forests reed pens,
the seas and all the collected waters ink, and the land’s residents all scribes and amanuenses.
The beauty of the Master of heaven, who rules over the earth, who set up the world on His own, and conquered it thoroughly.
He built it completely, with no effort and no weakness, with a light letter, which has no substance.1
He prepared all His work in these six days, then His shining presence ascended his fiery throne.
An army of a thousand thousands, and a myriad to serve Him, new ones sprout up each morning, very faithfully.
Seraphim burn greatly, who have six wings; until they are given instruction, they remain in still silence.
They receive permission one from another, immediately, with no delay: His glory fills the whole earth! In their three-fold Kedushah.2
Like a noise from Shaddai, the rumble of many waters, cherubim facing galgalim [angelic wheels] praise with great sound,
to see the divine appearance, the image like the rainbow’s arrows; wherever they are sent, they are expeditious, with immediacy.
They bless: Blessed is His glory—in every language utterable— from the place of residence of His presence (Targum Ezekiel 3:12)—which does not need to be searched.
Heaven’s whole host roars with praise, as they tremble. His kingdom, so gleaming, is for all generations, forever!
His Kedushah is recited by them, and when the time is over, that’s it, forever—they won’t come back even in seven years.
But His designated nation, His glorious lot, are so beloved, for they regularly praise His oneness, at the sun’s rise and setting.
They are separated off as His portion, to do His will; they recount His wondrous deeds as they speak.
He yearns, craves, longs for them to toil greatly, and then He accepts their prayers, and their petitions work.
Their prayers are tied as a crown on the Living One, by means of an adjuration, and sit regularly next to His glorious phylactery.
On that phylactery is inscribed, wisely and sagely, an inscription about the greatness of Israel, who recite the Shema‘.
Like that utterance in praise of Israel, I find it pleasing to praise the master of the universe in the presence of the non-Jewish empires.
They come and assemble, looking like many waves; they express astonishment, and ask about His miracles.
“Who, indeed, is your beloved, O you who are so beautiful in appearance, that you suffer death on his behalf, in the lairs of lions?
You are so pretty! If you accept our authority, we will do your will in all places.”
She responds to them with wisdom, to inform them of the eschaton. “If you knew Him, you would realize, with full understanding,
that the greatness you suggest is worth nothing compared to the glorious greatness that He will give me when the time comes to rescue us—
When light comes to me, shame will cover you all, when His glory is revealed fiercely and proudly.
He’ll repay vengeance to His enemies, and the lands of in the sea, but justice to His beloved nation, and many benefits,
total joy when He arrives, and pure vessels, when He gathers the exiles to the city of Jerusalem.
He’ll spread his glory over them, by day and by night, His canopy, to make crowns with it, with praises.
For the glow of the clouds will beautify the canopies; the booths will be made in accordance with each person’s deeds.
With thrones of gorgeous gold, and seven steps leading up to them, the righteous will be in front of the One Great in Deeds—
and their appearance will be like utmost joy, like the shining heavens and the light of the stars,
beauty that cannot be expressed by the lips; the prophets never heard it or saw it in their visions!
The eye has never seen, in paradise, the righteous spend time on the dance floor together with the divine presence.
They point to him: This is He!, indeed, in awe, We hoped for Him during our captivity, with great faith (Isaiah 25:9).
He’ll lead us forever, like youths; this is our portion, which He designated for us long ago.
The sport of the Leviathan and the Ox of the High Mountain, when the two are entangled with each other and make battle.
The Behemoth gores him, with power, then the Fish leaps toward him with his fins, mightily.
Then his creator brings him near with his sword, with dominion, to prepare a feast for the righteous.
They’ll recline around tables of jasper and carbuncle, with rivers of balsam oil flowing in front of them.
And they’ll be delighted and satiated with overflowing cups of delicious wine, aged in wineries since the time of creation.
O upright people, just as you’ve heard this poem of praise, so may you have a place in that fellowship!
And may you merit to sit in those rows on high, since you’re hearing His words, which went forth with such beauty.
God is lofty, since the beginning of time and through the end; He desired us and found us favorable and handed us the Torah.”3

Translated by Gabriel Wasserman.

Notes

[Alluding to the talmudic tradition that God created the world by means of the letter heh, which produces the light aspirate sound h. —Trans.]

[A reference to the phrase “Holy, holy, holy” in the Kedushah, from the verse “Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts, whose glory fills the whole earth” (Isaiah 6:3).—Trans.]

[I.e., the Decalogue. The congregation is about to hear the resumed Torah reading of the first day of Shavuot (and its Aramaic Targum), which includes the Decalogue.—Trans.]

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.

Engage with this Source

This is a complex Aramaic poem that is recited during the Torah reading for the Shavuot festival. Written as an introduction to the recitation of the Aramaic Targum, this poem was originally recited after the first verse had been read, and a few communities today maintain this practice. Later authorities moved it before that verse, to avoid interrupting the Torah reading, and this method is followed in most communities today. It praises God for having given Israel the Torah, which is described in grand and mystical terms. This poem is ninety lines long. Each line has ten syllables, with a single end rhyme throughout the poem, and the first letters make up a double alphabetic acrostic, followed by an acrostic of the author’s name.

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Related Guide

Early Medieval Liturgical Poetry (Piyyut)

7th to 12th Century

Creator Bio

Meir ben Isaac of Worms

11th Century

Meir ben Isaac was a liturgical poet and preacher active in Worms, Germany. Many later authorities cited his views about synagogue customs, holding him in high esteem. More than fifty of Meir’s piyyutim survive. The most famous among them is “At the beginning of my words” (Akdamut milin), which is still recited in many Ashkenazic communities on the morning of Shavuot prior to the reading of the Torah. Meir’s piyyutim inspired several commentaries, including by the early biblical commentator Menahem ben Helbo (ca. 1015–1085). Meir had at least two sons, Jacob and Isaac; Isaac died in the Crusader attacks of 1096.

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