Maariv for weekdaysA

translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Altneushul (Prague)

Introduction to the ASL translations of the Jewish services

Reader: HE HAVE-MERCY-ON-us FORGIVE SIN AND NOT DESTROY. OFTEN HE CANCEL ANGRY, NOT FULL BLOW-TOP. LORD, SAVE US. PRAY KING ANSWER US HAPPEN WE CALL-ON.

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'38, DAY SHUT-DOWN39. (>) 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-LIST40. INSPIRED WE. (2h)alt.INDEX, WE (2h)THINK-ABOUT (<) ALL-DAY, (>) ALL-NIGHT. WHY? WE REALLY-WANT41 YOU CHERISH US CONTINUE"over time'. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? YOU CHERISH JEWISH PEOPLE.

SHEMA

JEWISH PEOPLE, ATTEND-TO-me, KNOW-THAT42 LORD
HIMSELF OUR GOD. LORD, ONLY-ONE43. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

Some congregations say the first paragraph of the Sh'ma out loud:

BOW-DOWN, NAME HIS KINGDOM44 HAVE GLORY FOREVER FOREVER.

YOU'singular' SHOULD LOVE LORD, YOUR GOD USE WHOLE45 HEART, USE WHOLE SOUL, USE EVERYTHING YOU OWN. MY COMMANDMENT46 SHOULD PUT-DOWN-ON-HEART47 HEART. YOUR CHILDREN@lf, YOU SHOULD TEACH"zz"-lf. SIT"over time" HOME, HASH-OUT"tl"-WITH-ctr48. GO-FOR-WALK-TO-rt49, CONVERSE"mm"-WITH-rt50. (<) GO-TO-BED, (>) GET-UP, THINK-ABOUT"tl". COMMANDMENT, PUT-DOWN-ON-bicep51 WRAP-AROUND-arm52. PUT-DOWN-ON-forehead53 TIE-AROUND-head54. PUT-DOWN MEZUZAH55, (<) HOUSE, (>) GATE.

(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 MOSES56. LORD WHO HAVE AUTHORITY LIKE YOU. YOU HOLY* NAME~SHINY. PEOPLE SCADS-OF57 PRAISE++ YOU. YOUR WORK WONDERFUL*. WHO LIKE YOU? HAVE-NONE58. LONG-AGO JEWISH PEOPLE THEY-rt CONFRONT RED SEA, YOU SEPARATE++-away59. YOUR POWER, CLEAR. THEY-rt SHOCKED, SAY HE, OUR GOD.

PRAY+ LORD CONTINUE CONTROL IDEA~LIKE KING FOREVER. TORAH, TELL-STORY. (2h)alt.LONG-AGO JACOB60, SELF-ctr SLAVE. BUT LORD OPPRESSION-OFF61. 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. FOR LIFE AND PEACE FROM-NOW-ON FOREVER. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? HE-rt PROTECT HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL FOREVER. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

KINGDOM YOURS AND YOU WILL REIGN FOREVER-AND-EVER WITH GLORY. HAVE-NONE KING, ONLY YOU. WE PRAISE YOU LORD, KING HAVE GLORY. HE-rt CONTROL US CONTINUALLY FOREVER-AND-EVER, AND CONTROL (2h)#ALL THINGS HE-rt CREATE.

HALF 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.

The Shemoneh Esreh is recited here.

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

Between Pesach and Shavuot, the Omer is counted:

Counting the Omer.

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 WHITTLE72 SHAPE, (>) STONE CHISEL73 SHAPE. WE BEND-KNEES74 BOW-DOWN. WHY? HE KING TOP, HOLY*. APPROPRIATE PRAISE HIM. HEAVEN, HE SET-UP IDEA~LIKE TENT'stretch over head'75. EARTH, HE FOUNDATION. STAR (2h)5:-CL'stars in the sky'76 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.

ADON OLAM

HE-rt LORD RULE77 UNIVERSE78
LONG-AGO WORLD THERE NOT-YET
HAPPEN HE-rt CREATE79 WORLD
EVERYTHING ADMIT HE-rt KING.

SOME-DAY80 OLD WORLD END,
HE-rt STILL ALONE RULE.
ETERNAL81 SAME-OLD-THING82.
HIS-rt GLORY CHANGE NEVER.

HE-rt ONLY-ONE, OTHERS83 NONE
EQUAL HIM-rt, HELP-rt NOT~NEED.
WITHOUT START, WITHOUT END,
(<) POWER, (>) AUTHORITY84, HIS-rt ALWAYS.

HE-rt MY GOD, PAY-OFF85 MY DEBT86.
HAPPEN GRIEF87, ESCAPE TO HIM-rt.
HE-rt MY MIRACLE88, AND PROTECTOR.
ANY TIME ME SUMMON89, HE-rt ANSWER.

EVERY-MORNING AWAKE, EVERY-NIGHT FALL-ASLEEP,
MY SPIRIT OFFER-UP-TO HIM-rt.
SUPPOSE MY SPIRIT SPIRAL-UP90 GO-AWAY91,
NOT~NEED FEAR92, WHY? GOD WITH ME.

Footnotes

  1. All glosses marked with a footnote are described below. For an explanation of other glossing symbols used, see Explanation of glossing used. COME-ON is (2h)[B] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

  2. GROUP-WANDER"th" - (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs away, are held apart a few inches and move forward in a disorganized pattern with "th".

  3. WILDERNESS - COUNTRY SETTLE, NOT-YET. Where the second sign is (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, descend with several stops along the way.

  4. (2h)alt.ERR - ERR is as a shorter glossing than MAKE-MISTAKE.

  5. KNOW-NOTHING - [F], PO > NDS, FOs up, move hand side-to-side slightly at midforehead.

  6. 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.

  7. SUPREME - (2h)[A], FOs away, DH starts below NDH and arcs around it until it is on top.

  8. 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.

  9. BRIDE - (2h)[S], POs ><, FOs away, DH is held on top of the NDH as if holding a bouquet and the hands move forward in two downward arcs. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - bride.

  10. LOOK-BACK - (2h)[N], PO > signer, FO up, start in neutral space and move in an outward arc to the DS shoulder.

  11. 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.

  12. ASSEMBLE - (2h)[S], FO > signer, move > signer while opening to (2h)[5wg].

  13. BACK-OF-MIND - FT of [X] taps back of head.

  14. JERUSALEM - Touch [B] to lips, then bow forward with (2h)[B], POs down.

  15. #BACK-TOGETHER-God - (2h)[B], POs ><, FOs up, are held with NDH close to the body and the DH high and close to where God is spatialized. The hands transition to a C and then a K while rushing towards each other and contacting.

  16. THROW-OUT - (2h)[5] grab an imaginary object and throw it to the side underhand.

  17. ADVANCED - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs up, move upwards arcing towards the signer.

  18. ANOINTED - [A dot] circles head with DH thumb pointing down.

  19. BODY-SHINY - (2h)[open 8], point middle fingers > body and move away while twisting at the wrists.

  20. GLORY - (2h)[5], POs><, FOs away from signer, DH which is on top wiggles fingers while ascending. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Glory.

  21. NOT-THAT - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, wave from side to side symmetrically.

  22. OPPRESSION-OFF - DH [B] lifts upwards and off from contacting [S], PO > DS while mouthing "off".

  23. EAT-UP - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move away while repeatedly closing to (2h)[S] and gnashing teeth.

  24. DEAF-APPLAUSE - (2h)[5}, POs away, FOs up, hands are held high and rotate rapidly at wrists.

  25. #ALL-OF-YOU - [A], PO up, FO > DS - held at DS then swings away in an arc and ends [L^], PO up, FO > NDS.

  26. TAKE-OFF - like DEVELOP but moves quicklt and abruptly with a "po".

  27. (2h)C-CL'thick trunk' - (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs away, are held a few inches apart and rise to show a tree trunk.

  28. PERKY - (2h)[S], fists held close to upperchest, elbows are thrust out to the side twice as if feeling energetic.

  29. CRASH - (2h)[5:] interlaced, POs ><, FTs move down while remaining interlaced so that the PO becomes down. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - break-down.

  30. (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.

  31. INDEX-LIST-OF-3 (4 or 5) - NDH [3] or whatever number of items are on the list, PO > signer, FO > DS, and DH points thumb, then moves > DS and down, then points to the index finger, and similarly with the middle finger to say we are referring to all the previously listed items.

  32. FAR-AWAY - [1] points to Heaven and twists rapidly as it moves in that direction.

  33. RABBI - (2h)[R], POs > signer, fingertips touch the top of the chest at each side and descend straight down the chest while touching it.

  34. TORAH - (2h)[S], POs up, twist twice while separating, as if unrolling a scroll.

  35. PASS-OUT-TO"all" - (2h)[O^], POs up, FOs away, cross at wrists, and separate while opening to (2h)[5].

  36. GRACE - [O^] or [S], held high and PO > Heaven, supinates and opens to [5] while being brought towards head. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Grace.

  37. HEAVENLY-FATHER - (2h)[A], FOs up, DH - held against forehead, NDH close to head but lower, both hands open to (2h)[5] while moving upwards.

  38. DARK'gradually' - (2h)[B], POs over shoulder, FOs up, slowly cross but with tiny stops and starts.

  39. SHUT-DOWN - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, are held side by side and both close to (2h)[O^].

  40. INDEX-LIST - index finger of DH points to thumb, then index finger, then middle finger of NDH [5], PO > signer, FO > DS.

  41. REALLY-WANT - the sign WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

  42. KNOW-THAT - Starts like KNOW but twists and descends, looking almost like DON'T-KNOW except the hand twists down at the end.

  43. ONLY-ONE - [1], PO away, FO up, supinates and moves upwards slightly.

  44. KINGDOM - KING + [5], PO down, FO away, circles horizontally. For an animated gif of this sign, see Valley Bible Church - ASL dictionary: Kingdom.

  45. WHOLE - (2h)[B^], POs up, FOs ><, DH circles around NDH and lands on its palm. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Whole.

  46. COMMANDMENT - C-LAW.

  47. PUT-DOWN-ON-heart - FT of [O^] touch heart, then palm of [B] touches heart.

  48. HASH-OUT - Index finger of [1], PO > signer, FO > NDS, strikes upturned palm of NDH multiple times.

  49. GO-FOR-WALK - [F], PO down, FO away, hand nods at wrist while moving away.

  50. CONVERSE - (2h)[1], POs ><, FOs up, are held at mouth and alt. move to and fro.

  51. PUT-DOWN-ON-bicep - FT of [O^] touch bicep, then palm of [B] touches bicep.

  52. WRAP-AROUND-arm - [A^], wraps a leather strap around the arm, starting at the bicep and moving towards the wrist.

  53. PUT-DOWN-ON-forehead - FT of [O^] touch forehead, then palm of [B] touches forehead.

  54. TIE-AROUND-head - (2h)[A^], pull leather strap around head from forehead to back of head and tie it in the back.

  55. MEZUZAH - FT of [G], PO > NDS, FO away, run down palm of [B], PO > DS, FO up.

  56. MOSES - M-LAW.

  57. SCADS-OF - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward to show many beings.

  58. HAVE-NONE - (2h)[B], POs > signer move upwards past mouth and swing upwards and apart while mouth blows on hands as they pass.

  59. SEPARATE++-away - SEPARATE is signed repeatedly while the hands move away from the body to show the splitting of the Red Sea.

  60. JACOB - Could be fingerspelled or signed as a [J] across the chin.

  61. 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".

  62. TENT'stretch over head' - Perhaps this gloss is obvious, but the sign TENT is produced over the signer's head.

  63. COVENANT - AGREE RELATIONSHIP-WITH-God.

  64. PUSH-ASIDE - (2h)[B], with DH higher, palms are pressed against imaginary wall that - pushed to one side.

  65. GET-OFF-MIND - (2h)[open 8], touch forehead, pronate and move away.

  66. DO-UP - (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, move in symmetric, vertical circles parallel to the chest while rising.

  67. 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.

  68. ABRAHAM - [A] strikes between the thumb and forefinger of [B], like BOTHER, but a single movement.

  69. ISAAC - [I] taps fingertip against throat.

  70. PASS-DOWN'bit by bit' - (2h)[O^], circle around each other from the shoulder and moving forward, but the action is stop and go.

  71. TRUE~BIZ - TRUE + (2h)[S], POs down, FOs away, DH brushes from side to side across NDH wrist.

  72. WHITTLE - Thumb of [A dot] twists at back hand of [S], PO down, FO away, as if whittling a piece out.

  73. CHISEL - (2h)[S], DH mimes hammering and NDH holding a chisel.

  74. BEND-KNEES - [V] stands on palm of NDH, then bend DH FT while maintaining contact with palm.

  75. 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.

  76. (2h)5:-CL'stars in the sky' - (2h)[5:], POs diagonally up, hands jab at space above while descending.

  77. RULE (RULER adds AGENT) - CONTROL

  78. UNIVERSE - U-WORLD.

  79. CREATE - C-MAKE.

  80. SOME-DAY - The sign FUTURE twists slightly at wrist.

  81. ETERNAL - ALWAYS + DH produces STILL in the usual way, and the NDH produces STILL so that it moves back over the shoulder. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Eternal.

  82. SAME-OLD-THING - (2h)[Y], POs down, FOs away, circle vertically and symmetrically in a plane parallel to the chest.

  83. OTHERS - [A dot], PO > NDS, FO away, twists repeatedly while moving in a horizontal circle.

  84. AUTHORITY - A-POWER.

  85. PAY-OFF - [open 8] runs middle finger up palm (> wrist), changes to a [B], PO down, and then moves back across palm.

  86. DEBT - [1^] taps FT against palm of [B], PO up, FO away. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Debt.

  87. GRIEF - (2h)[S] twist at heart.

  88. MIRACLE - GREAT WORK. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Miracle.

  89. SUMMON - DH [B] taps NDH [B], PO down, FO > signer, then moves > signer while closing to an [A], PO away from signer, FO up, and moving up.

  90. SPIRAL-UP - The [F] from SPIRIT spirals upwards.

  91. GO-AWAY - [5^], PO > signer, FO up, moves away while closing to [O^].

  92. FEAR - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, hands are held far from body and move back to body in a wavy pattern.
Image credits

1. Corbis digial pictures - Woman with Sabbath candles.

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