The poem at the centre of the Yom Kippur service

With thanks: Lisette

The Ten Penitential Days are about to reach their climax with Yom Kippur, which starts this evening.

To quote the Masorti website, Adon HaSelichot is one of the oldest known piyutim, liturgical poems, in the canon of High Holiday prayers.

In Sephardic communities, the piyut is at the center of the Selichot service, recited daily, besides Shabbat, from the 2nd day of Elul until after Yom Kippur.

The piyut has become well known across the Jewish communities of Israel, and is sung in most synagogues, with melodies coming from Turkey, Morocco, and Ottoman-era Palestine, among others. The poem, written in acrostic form, focuses on God’s omniscience and awareness of the sins and failings of every human. Despite this, we ask for God to have mercy on us, despite our various shortcomings.

Here is a spirited rendering of Adon Haselichot on the Shofar, the ram’s horn, by the Israel Sosna band. The audience of Sephardi Yeshiva boys supplies the chorus.

Wishing all those who are marking Yom Kippur an easy fast and all good wishes for 5782.

ADON HASELICHOT		LORD OF FORGIVENESS
Adon haselichot bochen levavot goleh amukot dover tzedakot Chatanu lefaneicha rachem aleinu. (x2) Hadur benifla’ot vatik benechamot zocher b’rit amo choker kelayot Chatanu lefaneicha rachem aleinu. (x2) Male zakiyut nora tehino tzone’ach avonot oneh be’etzavot Chatanu lefaneicha rachem aleinu. (x2)		Master of Forgivings examiner of hearts the revealer of depths speaker of justice We have sinned before You, have mercy upon us (x2) Glorious in wonders great in consolations remembering the covenant of his nation investigating innihilation We have sinned before You, have mercy upon us (x2) Full of gaining his entreaty is awesome drops evils to the ground answers sorrows We have sinned before You, have mercy upon us (x2)

Break the Yom Kippur Fast with these two Sephardi recipes