Yedid Nefesh

Yedid Nefesh (Hebrew: ידיד נפש yedid nefesh) is a name of a piyyut. It is usually sung on the Jewish Sabbath.

Traditions and origin

Some sing it between Minchah (afternoon prayer) of Friday and the beginning of Kabbalat Shabbat (literally: receiving or greeting the Sabbath — a collection of psalms usually sung to welcome in the Shabbat queen, as it were, the restful contentment that descends from above during nightfall on Friday).

It is sung by many (Orthodox) Jews during Seudat Shlishit(Shalosh Seudos or Seudas Shlishis) (the third meal on Shabbat; the first is on Friday night, the second on Saturday lunch, and the third on Saturday before nightfall). This beautiful poem was originally written by the sixteenth century kabbalist, Rabbi Elazar Azikri, the author of Sefer Charedim. His philosophy centred around the intense love one must feel for God, a theme that is evident in this piyut (see references). The first letters of each of the four verses make up the four letter name of God, known in English as the tetragrammaton.

Audio

Follow these links to hear a couple of versions:

A high quality recording of Yedid Nefesh sung to a traditional tune in the Ashkenaz style by Zalman Goldstein and Chaim Fogelman for chabad.org

A recording from Aish HaTorah

Video of a live performance of the song.

Yedid Nefesh sung to a Modzitz nigun

Text

The words are as follows:

Ashkenaz Transliteration	English translation	Original Hebrew
	Verse 1
Yedid Nefesh ov horachamon,	Beloved of the soul, Compassionate Father,	Template:Hebrew
meshoch avdecho el retzonecho,	draw Your servant to your will;	Template:Hebrew
yorutz avdecho kmo ayol,	then Your servant will hurry like a hart	Template:Hebrew
yishtachave el mul hadorecho,	to bow before Your majesty;	Template:Hebrew
ye-erav lo yedidosecho,	to him Your friendship will be sweeter	Template:Hebrew
minofes tzuf v'chol to-am.	than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste.	Template:Hebrew

	Verse 2
Hodur no-e ziv ho-ōlom,	Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe,	Template:Hebrew
nafshi cholas ahavosecho,	my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love.	Template:Hebrew
ono kel no r'fo no loh,	Please, O G-d, heal her now	Template:Hebrew
b'haros loh noam zivecho,	by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance;	Template:Hebrew
oz tis-chazeik v'sisrapei,	then she will be strengthened and healed,	Template:Hebrew
v'hoyso loh simchas olom	and eternal gladness will be hers.	Template:Hebrew

	Verse 3
Vosik yehemu no rachamecho,	Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused	Template:Hebrew
v'chuso no al bein ahuvecho,	and please take pity on the son of Your beloved,	Template:Hebrew
ki ze kamo nichsof nichsafti,	because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely	Template:Hebrew
lir'os m'heiro b'siferes uzecho,	to see speedily to splendour of Your strength;	Template:Hebrew
eile chomdo libi,	only these my heart desired,	Template:Hebrew
v'chuso no v'al tis-alom.	so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself	Template:Hebrew

	Verse 4
Higolei no ufros chavivi olai,	Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me	Template:Hebrew
es sukas shlomecho,	the shelter of Your peace;	Template:Hebrew
to-ir eretz mich'vodecho,	illuminate the Earth with Your glory,	Template:Hebrew
nogilo v'nism'cho boch.	that we may rejoice and be glad with You;	Template:Hebrew
Maheir ehov ki vo mo-ed,	hasten, show love, for the time has come,	Template:Hebrew
v'choneinu kimei olom.	and show us grace as in days of old.	Template:Hebrew

References

Siddur Rinat Yisrael - Hotza'at Moreshet, p. 180
Siddur Sim Shalom, RA/USCJ, p. 252
The Complete Artscroll Siddur (סדור קול יעקב) — Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, Rabbi Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p591.
Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur, Sabbath and Festival (סדור זכרון אברהם) — Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, Rabbi Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p82.
The Essential Shiron-Birkon — Feldheim, p90.
The NCSY Bencher — Rothman Foundation, p51.

External links