Maariv for Festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot)A

translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Altneushul (Prague)

Altneushul, Prague.

Reader: ADMIT-TO LORD, WE NEED PRAISE HIM.

Cong. and Reader: WE PRAISE LORD FROM-NOW-ON FOREVER.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... (<) NIGHT, (>) DAY, YOU SEPARATE. (<) DARK'gradually'1, DAY SHUT-DOWN2. (>) SUNRISE, NIGHT FADE-AWAY. (2h)alt.INDEX FOLLOW YOUR LAW. WHY? YOU MAKE (2h)alt.INDEX. WE HOPE YOU IDEA~LIKE KING WILL SUPERVISE US FOREVER. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? YOU CAUSE NIGHT DARK'gradually'.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... (<) PLEASE TEACH-us US TORAH, (>) COMMAND INDEX-LIST3. INSPIRED WE. (2h)alt.INDEX, WE (2h)THINK-ABOUT (<) ALL-DAY, (>) ALL-NIGHT. WHY? WE REALLY-WANT4 YOU CHERISH US CONTINUE"over time'. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? YOU CHERISH JEWISH PEOPLE.

SHEMA

JEWISH PEOPLE, ATTEND-TO-me, KNOW-THAT5 LORD
HIMSELF OUR GOD. LORD, ONLY-ONE6.
(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

LORD YOUR-pl GOD, REAL. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

LONG-AGO GOD CONTROL"each" JEWISH PEOPLE, THEY-rt ACCEPT. THEY-rt SING TOGETHER MOSES7. LORD WHO HAVE AUTHORITY LIKE YOU. YOU HOLY* NAME~SHINY. PEOPLE SCADS-OF8 PRAISE++ YOU. YOUR WORK WONDERFUL*. WHO LIKE YOU? HAVE-NONE9. LONG-AGO JEWISH PEOPLE THEY-rt CONFRONT RED SEA, YOU SEPARATE++-away10. YOUR POWER, CLEAR. THEY-rt SHOCKED. HE, OUR GOD. ALLOW LORD CONTINUE CONTROL IDEA~LIKE KING FOREVER. TORAH, TELL-STORY. (2h)alt.LONG-AGO JACOB11, SELF-ctr SLAVE. BUT LORD OPPRESSION-OFF12. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? HE WILLING OPPRESSION-OFF, JEWISH PEOPLE SAVED. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

EVERYTHING WE DO, PLEASE TAKE-CARE-OF-us FROM-NOW-ON FOREVER. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? YOUR PEACE SPREAD, PROTECT IDEA~LIKE TENT'stretch over head'13 FOR US, FOR JEWISH PEOPLE GENERAL, FOR JERUSALEM.

If the Festival occurs on Sabbath, the congregation, followed by the reader, recites:

Chorus: GOD COMMAND JEWISH PEOPLE CELEBRATE SABBATH14 CONTINUALLY15. COVENANT16, TEACH"each" CHILDREN PASS-DOWN FROM-NOW-ON FOREVER.

WHY? SABBATH SHOW"all" JEWISH PEOPLE CONNECT-TO-God STRONG*. Chorus

LONG-AGO GOD (<) SET-UP HEAVEN, (>) SET-UP EARTH, SIX-DAY CONTINUE (2h)alt.INVENT MAKE++. Chorus

BUT SEVENTH DAY ARRIVE, GOD STOP, REST; PUSH-ASIDE17, REST; GET-OFF-MIND18, REST. Chorus

MOSES ANNOUNCE LORD HIS-God's FESTIVAL19, INFORM JEWISH PEOPLE.

HALF KADDISH

GOD HIS NAME~SHINY20, HOLY*. PRAISE GOD. WE MUST ANNOUNCE HIS WORTH. SPREAD WORLD THEREABOUTS HE HIMSELF MAKE. HOPE DURING YOUR LIFE TIME-PERIOD EVERYONE ACCEPT AUTHORITY HIS. #ALL-OF-YOU21 SAY, AMEN.

HOPE HE CONTINUE BLESS US FROM-NOW-ON, FOREVER.

WE ANNOUNCE HE BLESS US. HIS NAME~SHINY, ADVANCED22; WE PRAISE. WE HONOR. WE ADMIT HIS NAME HOLY. PRAISE GOD. WE REALIZE (1-OF-3)23 ANNOUNCE, (2-OF-3) HONOR, (3-OF-3) PRAISE, INDEX-LIST-OF-3 NOT ENOUGH. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

The shemoneh esreh is recited here.

If the Festival occurs on Sabbath, the congregation, followed by the reader, recites:

LONG-AGO GOD (<) SET-UP HEAVEN, (>) SET-UP EARTH. SIX-DAY, HE WORK++'sta', BUT SEVENTH DAY ARRIVE, WORK PUT-ASIDE, REST. GOD DECIDE SABBATH SPECIAL, DO-UP24 HOLY. WHY? PEOPLE WORK++'sta' SIX-DAY ENOUGH++, SEVENTH DAY REST++ MUST.

Reader. LORD, OUR GOD, OUR FOREFATHERS25, (1-OF-3) ABRAHAM26, (2-OF-3) ISAAC27, (3-OF-3) JACOB28, WORSHIP YOU. PASS-DOWN'bit by bit'29. WE ALSO WORSHIP YOU. YOURSELF-God STRONG*, ADVANCED*, WONDERFUL*. WORLD~GENERAL, YOU CONTROL.

Reader and Congregation. YOU SWEAR PROTECT JEWISH PEOPLE. IF SOMEONE DIE, YOU CAN ORDER WAKE-UP, LIVE. SABBATH HOLY, YOU ESTABLISH. FOR-FOR? ALLOW YOUR PEOPLE REST. EVERYDAY WE WORSHIP. HOW? HUMBLE, HONOR, ADMIT HE BLESS. WE OWE THANK++, HIMSELF CAUSE PEACE. SEVENTH DAY, HE SEPARATE-TO-lf, BLESS-lf, HE CALL-lf SHABAT HOLY. JEWISH PEOPLE THEY-rt (<) REST, (>) CHERISH. DURING SABBATH THEY-rt LOOK-BACK THINK-ABOUT LONG-AGO GOD MAKE (<) HEAVEN, (>) EARTH.

Reader. WE WORSHIP YOU LIKE OUR FOREFATHERS WORSHIP YOU. WE HOPE HOW WE REST SATISFY YOU. YOUR TORAH ORDER US BECOME HOLY. YOUR GOOD~THING, PLEASE (2h)alt.GIFT-TO"each"30. OPPRESSION-OFF, INSPIRED WE. OUR HEART NEED BECOME CLEAN*. FOR-FOR? WORSHIP TRUE~BIZ31. SABBATH HOLY, WE REALLY-WANT CONTINUE PASS-DOWN. JEWISH PEOPLE WANT SHOW"all" YOU HOLY. HOW? WE REST DURING SABBATH SAME-AS-God. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? SABBATH, YOU SEPARATE-TO-lf, MAKE HOLY.

FULL KADDISH

GOD HIS NAME~SHINY, HOLY*. PRAISE GOD. WE MUST ANNOUNCE HIS WORTH. SPREAD WORLD THEREABOUTS HE HIMSELF MAKE. HOPE DURING YOUR LIFE TIME-PERIOD EVERYONE ACCEPT AUTHORITY HIS. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY, AMEN.

HOPE HE CONTINUE BLESS US FROM-NOW-ON, FOREVER.

WE ANNOUNCE HE BLESS US. HIS NAME~SHINY, ADVANCED; WE PRAISE. WE HONOR. WE ADMIT HIS NAME HOLY. PRAISE GOD. WE REALIZE (1-OF-3) ANNOUNCE, (2-OF-3) HONOR, (3-OF-3) PRAISE, INDEX-LIST-OF-3 NOT ENOUGH. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

EVERYTHING #ALL-OF-US JEWISH PEOPLE (<) PRAY, (>) BEG, HEAVENLY-FATHER PLEASE ACCEPT. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

PRAY HEAVEN SEND (<) PEACE, (>) LIFE, FOR US, PLUS JEWISH PEOPLE GENERAL. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

FAR-AWAY HEAVEN, GOD ESTABLISH PEACE. PRAY HERE SAME-AS-Heaven. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY, AMEN.

kiddush cup

KIDDUSH

All the short text in grey from here to end is for the Sabbath.

When the Festival falls on Friday night, begin here:

SIXTH DAY FINISH, GOD END MAKE (<) HEAVEN, (>) EARTH, PLUS EVERYTHING INCLUDE. SEVENTH DAY, GOD GET-OFF-MIND32 SIX DAY WORK++"sta". GOD BLESS SEVENTH DAY, MAKE HOLY. WHY? ITSELF SPECIAL DAY WORK++"sta" SET-ASIDE33.

LORD, OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? YOU INVENT~MAKE GRAPES. (Congregation:) AMEN.

LORD, OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? (1-OF-4) PEOPLE GROUP"each", YOU PICK-lf JEWISH GROUP@lf. (2-OF-4) LANGUAGE VARIOUS, HEBREW TOP. (3-OF-4) COMMAND JEWISH PEOPLE ACT DIFFERENT. (4-OF-4) GIVE-TO-us US WITH L-O-V-E SABBATH FOR REST PLUS HOLIDAY34 CAUSE HAPPY. TODAY WE REMEMBER SABBATH PLUS

On Passover: HOLIDAY PASSOVER35, TIME-PERIOD WE OPPRESSION-OFF,

On Shavuot: HOLIDAY SHAVUOT36, TIME-PERIOD YOU GIFT-TO-us TORAH,

On Sukkot: HOLIDAY SUKKOT39, TIME-PERIOD WE HAPPY,

On Shemini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah: HOLIDAY EIGHTH DAY ASSEMBLE38, TIME-PERIOD WE HAPPY,

WITH L-O-V-E WE ASSEMBLE, LOOK-BACK39, REMEMBER EGYPT, JEWISH SLAVE HIT* FREE, LEAVE. PEOPLE GROUP"each" YOU PICK-lf JEWISH GROUP@lf. YOU MAKE US HOLY. HOW? SABBATH PLUS YOUR HOLY FESTIVAL WITH L-O-V-E AND WITH FAVOR, WE (<) THRILLED, (>) HAPPY, YOU PASS-DOWN TO US. LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? YOU MAKE HOLY SABBATH PLUS JEWISH PEOPLE PLUS YOUR FESTIVAL. (Congregation:) AMEN.

On Saturday night, add the following two Havdalah blessings:

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? YOU INVENT~MAKE FIRE. LIGHT, SPREAD.

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? (<) HOLY, (>) EVERYDAY; (<) LIGHT, (>) DARK; (<) JEWISH PEOPLE, (>) OTHER PEOPLE; (<) SEVENTH DAY, (>) SIX-DAY WORK'sta'++; (<) HOLY SABBATH, (>) HOLY FESTIVAL. GOD SEPARATE (2h)#ALL40. LORD, WE PRAISE WHY? (<) HOLY SABBATH, (>) HOLY FESTIVAL, YOU SEPARATE.

On Sukkot, recite this: LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? PEOPLE GROUP"each", YOU PICK JEWISH PEOPLE HELP BECOME HOLY. COMMAND "WHAT"? LIVE INSIDE SUKKAH.

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? (1-OF-3) GIVE-TO-us LIFE, (2-OF-3) HELP-us BE-STRONG, (2-OF-3) ALLOW US ARRIVE NOW+ TIME-PERIOD.

ALENU

OUR RESPONSIBILITY "WHAT"? PRAISE LORD HIMSELF CONTROL (2h)#ALL. ANNOUNCE HE ADVANCED*, (<) HEAVEN SET-UP, (>) EARTH SET-UP. OTHER PEOPLE THEY-rt WORSHIP "WHAT", (<) WOOD WHITTLE41 SHAPE, (>) STONE CHISEL42 SHAPE. WE BEND-KNEES43 BOW-DOWN44. WHY? HE KING TOP, HOLY*. APPROPRIATE PRAISE HIM. HEAVEN, HE SET-UP IDEA~LIKE TENT'stretch over head'45. EARTH, HE FOUNDATION. STAR (2h)5:-CL'stars in the sky'46 SHOW-TO-us HIS NAME~SHINY. MOUNTAIN, WE LOOK-AT"over time", HIS POWER CLEAR. HIMSELF, OUR GOD ONLY-ONE. HIMSELF, OUR KING. RULER THEY-lf COMPARE-lf-WITH-GOD, NOTHING-TO-IT THEM-lf. TORAH, TELL-STORY QUOTE, NOW+ KNOW-THAT LORD HIMSELF TRUE GOD. HE CONTROL HEAVEN. HE CONTROL EARTH. HIS AUTHORITY SUPREME. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

GOD~BOOK PREDICT QUOTE LORD WILL BECOME KING. MEAN, HE CONTROL EARTH~THEREABOUTS COMPLETE*. SAME~TIME HAPPEN, LORD BECOME ONLY-ONE. PLUS HIS NAME BECOME ONLY-ONE.

MOURNER'S KADDISH

Mourner. GOD HIS NAME~SHINY, HOLY*. PRAISE GOD. WE MUST ANNOUNCE HIS WORTH. SPREAD WORLD THEREABOUTS HE HIMSELF MAKE. HOPE DURING YOUR LIFE TIME-PERIOD EVERYONE ACCEPT AUTHORITY HIS. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY, AMEN.

Cong. and Mourner. HOPE HE CONTINUE BLESS US FROM-NOW-ON, FOREVER.

Mourner. WE ANNOUNCE HE BLESS US. HIS NAME~SHINY, ADVANCED; WE PRAISE. WE HONOR. WE ADMIT HIS NAME HOLY. PRAISE GOD. WE REALIZE (1) ANNOUNCE, (2) HONOR, (3) PRAISE, INDEX-LIST-OF-3 NOT ENOUGH. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

PRAY HEAVEN SEND (<) PEACE, (>) LIFE, FOR US, PLUS JEWISH PEOPLE GENERAL. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

FAR-AWAY HEAVEN, GOD ESTABLISH PEACE. PRAY HERE SAME-AS-Heaven. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY, AMEN.

WE (<) PRAISE, (>) WORSHIP, GOD TRUE~BIZ.
God-HIMSELF LIVE, BUT CHANGE NEVER.
HE ONLY-ONE, NONE EQUAL-God.
(<) MULTIPLE-COMPLEX47, (>) STILL ONLY-ONE. HOW? BIG-QUESTION48.

GOD IDEA~LIKE SPIRIT. BODY, HAVE-NONE.
TOP* HOLY HE. EVERYTHING@lf COMPARE-TO-God INDEX-lf WORTHLESS.
(2h)LONG-AGO GOD SET-UP WORLD.
WHO CAUSE GOD WHO? NONE.

WORLD GENERAL, LORD CONTROL.
HIS POWER CLEAR*.
FROM-TIME-TO-TIME GOD (2h)alt.PICK PEOPLE PREDICT TELL-STORY.
HE CHERISH EACH.

UP-TO-NOW PROPHET VARIOUS HAVE.
TOP-PRIORITY49 WHO? MOSES HE-lf.
PROOF, GOD TEACH-lf LAW.
HE TRUST-lf ANNOUNCE JEWISH PEOPLE RIGHT*.

TORAH TRUTH DEFINITE50.
GOD (<) CHANGE, (>) REPLACE, NEVER.
WE THINK SECRET, BUT GOD KNOW OUR INSIDE-SELF51.
HE PREDICT FAR-FUTURE"lalala"52 CAN.

(<) PERSON HIMSELF@lf SOFT-HEARTED HELP"each", GOD (2h)alt.GIFT-TO-lf BENEFIT.
(>) PERSON MEAN WORSE+, GOD PUNISH WORSE+.
UP-TO-NOW PEOPLE VARIOUS SLAVE.
TIME RIGHT* HE SEND MESSIAH. HIT* WORLD SAFE.

PLUS PEOPLE (2h)alt.DIE, SOME* GOD CHERISH.
HE CAUSE EACH WAKE-UP, (2h)alt.GET-UP.
WE (<) PRAISE, (>) WORSHIP, GOD TRUE~BIZ.

Footnotes

  1. All glosses marked with a footnote are described below. For an explanation of other glossing symbols used, see Explanation of glossing used. DARK'gradually' - (2h)[B], POs over shoulder, FOs up, slowly cross but with tiny stops and starts.
  2. SHUT-DOWN - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, are held side by side and both close to (2h)[O^].
  3. INDEX-LIST - index finger of DH points to thumb, then index finger, then middle finger of NDH [5], PO > signer, FO > DS.
  4. REALLY-WANT - the sign WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.
  5. KNOW-THAT - Starts like KNOW but twists and descends, looking almost like DON'T-KNOW except the hand twists down at the end.
  6. ONLY-ONE - [1], PO away, FO up, supinates and moves upwards slightly.
  7. MOSES - M-LAW.
  8. SCADS-OF - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward to show many beings.
  9. HAVE-NONE - (2h)[B], POs > signer move upwards past mouth and swing upwards and apart while mouth blows on hands as they pass.
  10. SEPARATE++-away - SEPARATE is signed repeatedly while the hands move away from the body to show the splitting of the Red Sea.
  11. JACOB - Could be fingerspelled or signed as a [J] across the chin.
  12. OPPRESSION-OFF - Starts like PRESSURE, DH [B], PO down, FO away, push down slightly on [S], PO > DS, FO away, then the DH - brought upwards suddenly and the signer mouths "off".
  13. TENT'stretch over head' - Perhaps this gloss is obvious, but the sign TENT is produced over the signer's head.
  14. SABBATH - The DH [F], PO down, descends between NDH [B], PO down, at the wrist area and the body, then moves away from the body and rises up while changing to [S], PO down.
  15. CONTINUALLY - the sign CONTINUE moves in a vertical circle orthogonal (perpendicular) to the chest.
  16. COVENANT - AGREE RELATIONSHIP-WITH-God.
  17. PUSH-ASIDE - (2h)[B], with DH higher, palms are pressed against imaginary wall that - pushed to one side.
  18. GET-OFF-MIND - (2h)[open 8], touch forehead, pronate and move away.
  19. FESTIVAL - (2h)[5], POs ><, tap thumbs on respective sides of chest.
  20. NAME~SHINY - Starts like the sign NAME, the NDH is left in place while the DH touches it with the [open 8] (as in the sign FEEL), then moves upwards while twisting the wrist.
  21. #ALL-OF-YOU - [A], PO up, FO > DS - held at DS then swings away in an arc and ends [L^], PO up, FO > NDS.
  22. ADVANCED - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs up, move upwards arcing towards the signer.
  23. (1-OF-3), (2-OF-3), (3-OF-3) - NDH [3], PO > signer, FO > DS, and DH taps thumb for "(1-OF-3)", taps index finger for "(2-OF-3)", and taps middle finger for "(3-OF-3). (1-OF-4), later in this text, has a similar structure.
  24. DO-UP - (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, move in symmetric, vertical circles parallel to the chest while rising.
  25. FOREFATHERS - (2h)[A], FOs up, DH - held against forehead, NDH close to head but lower, both hands open to (2h)[5] while moving upwards + (2h)[5], POs ><, FOs up, move in a vertical circle while moving back over shoulder.
  26. ABRAHAM - [A] strikes between the thumb and forefinger of [B], like BOTHER, but a single movement.
  27. ISAAC - [I] taps fingertip against throat.
  28. JACOB - Could be fingerspelled or signed as a [J] across the chin.
  29. PASS-DOWN'bit by bit' - (2h)[O^], circle around each other from the shoulder and moving forward, but the action is stop and go.
  30. GIFT-TO - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, hands move forward and FOs end pointing to the person that something is being given to freely.
  31. TRUE~BIZ - TRUE + (2h)[S], POs down, FOs away, DH brushes from side to side across NDH wrist.
  32. GET-OFF-MIND - (2h)[open 8] touch forehead, then pronate and move away.
  33. SET-ASIDE - (2h)[B] push topic aside.
  34. HOLIDAY - (2h)[5], POs >&l;, FOs up, alt. tap thumb against check on respective sides.
  35. PASSOVER - [S] taps thumbside against elbow (like CRACKER). For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - cracker.
  36. SHAVUOT - EIGHT-WEEKS.
  37. SUKKOT - (2h)[A] is shaken like the sign TOGETHER, but slowly and with an exaggerated movement.
  38. ASSEMBLE - (2h)[5] close to (2h)[O^] diagonally with DH high and NDH low and then diagonally with hands vice versa. Motion is the same as ADD-TOGETHER. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - assemble.
  39. LOOK-BACK - (2h)[N], POs > back, FOs up, move back over shoulder.
  40. (2h)#ALL - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs up, are held at shoulder height and move away while opening to (2h)[L].
  41. WHITTLE - Thumb of [A dot] twists at back hand of [S], PO down, FO away, as if whittling a piece out.
  42. CHISEL - (2h)[S], DH mimes hammering and NDH holding a chisel.
  43. BEND-KNEES - [V] stands on palm of NDH, then bend DH FT while maintaining contact with palm.
  44. BOW-DOWN - (2h)[B], POs away, FOs up, are held like the final position of GIVE-UP, then bend these arms twice while bowing at waist once.
  45. TENT'stretch over head' - (2h)[horns] touch FT and move diagonally away and down, but this is done above head and encloses the signer's body.
  46. (2h)5:-CL'stars in the sky' - (2h)[5:], POs diagonally up, hands jab at space above while descending.
  47. MULTIPLE-COMPLEX - (2h)[4], POs ><, FOs up, hands pass each other while wg.
  48. BIG-QUESTION - like the sign QUESTION-MARK but both hands and all fingers (not the thumb) form a symmetric shape that - a question mark in the right hand and a reversed question mark in the left hand.
  49. TOP-PRIORITY - palm of DH [5] strikes index finger of [5], PO > signer, FO > DS.
  50. DEFINITE - (2h)[5], POs ><, FOs away are held in neutral space and descend slightly and abruptly while closing to (2h)[F].
  51. INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.
  52. FAR-FUTURE"lalala" - [B], PO > NDS, FO away, is held at shoulder height and moves forward like FUTURE, but it moves farther than usual and the tongue is shuttle from side to side.

Image credits

A. From http://www.jewish-holiday.com/awesome.html (Awesome), which is no longer extant.

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