Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv for the SabbathA

translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

woman lighting candles

Introduction to the ASL translations of the Jewish services

PSALM 95

(2h)COME-ON"each"1, WE NEED SING TO LORD. UP-TO-NOW GOD SAVE JEWISH PEOPLE MANY+ TIME. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... GOD SAY, DURING 40 YEAR JEWISH PEOPLE GROUP-WANDER"th"2 WILDERNESS3. THEY-rt (2h)alt.ERR4. ME (2h)ANGRY*. TRY TEACH"each", STILL THEY-rt KNOW-NOTHING5. UPSET, ME SWEAR THEY-rt ENTER COUNTRY ME PREPARE, NEVER*.

PSALM 96

SING-TO LORD SOMETHING NEW*. EVERYONE NEED SING, PRAISE HIS NAME. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

LORD ARRIVE HERE (2h)LOOK-AROUND, JUDGE. WORLD FAIR? EACH COUNTRY HONEST?

PSALM 97

COME-ON CELEBRATE. WHY? WORLD~GENERAL, LORD HIMSELF CONTROL. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... SOME PEOPLE THEY-lf TEND FOLLOW HIS LAW EASY, SATISFIED. BUT OTHER PEOPLE THEY-rt STRUGGLE"overtime". THEIR-rt CHARACTER FINALLY IMPROVE, INSPIRED. (2h)alt.INDEX NEED COOPERATE (2h)THANK HIM.

PSALM 98

SING LORD SOMETHING NEW*. EVERYTHING HE MAKE PERFECT. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... LORD ARRIVE HERE (2h)LOOK-AROUND, JUDGE. WORLD FAIR? EACH COUNTRY FOLLOW MY LAW?

PSALM 99

LORD CONTROL WORLD~GENERAL, PEOPLE ASTONISHED. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... GO++ HIS TEMPLE, BOW-DOWN6. ADMIT AUTHORITY HIS, SUPREME7. WHY? HIMSELF HOLY.

PSALM 29

YOU-pl ANGEL, (2h)COME-ON, ADMIT POWER, HIS+. (2h)COME-ON, ADMIT AUTHORITY, HIS. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)... (2h)LONG-AGO FLOOD, LORD CONTROL. LORD SELF, CONTINUE FOREVER. HIS PEOPLE STRONG. LORD BLESS, PEACE HAPPEN #WILL. (CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

LECHA DODI

Chorus: NOW SABBATH8 ARRIVE. (2h)COME-ON"each", CELEBRATE TOGETHER. HOW? SIMILAR WE (2h)WELCOME BRIDE9.

(2h)LONG-AGO GOD, COMMAND CELEBRATE SABBATH.
JEWISH PEOPLE OBEY, LOOK-BACK10 REMEMBER
LORD HIMSELF MAKE WORLD~GENERAL.
NOW #DO-DO, TELL-STORY HIS NAME~SHINY11.

Chorus

HERE WE ASSEMBLE12, HONOR SABBATH.
SABBATH ARRIVE, MEAN GOD READY BLESS.
HE INVENT~MAKE WORLD,
BACK-OF-MIND13 HE LOOK-FORWARD SABBATH.

Chorus

USED-TO-BE JERUSALEM14 HAVE TEMPLE GOLD SHINY,
KING CONTROL PEOPLE, NOW CITY MOURN.
BUT TIME ARRIVE MOURN DISSOLVE.
JEWISH #BACK-TOGETHER-GOD15, WORSHIP COOPERATE.

Chorus

GET-UP, JEWISH PEOPLE. MOURN THROW-OUT16.
WEAR SOMETHING FORMAL, YOUR-pl WORTH ADVANCED17.
SOON OUR KING ANOINTED18 BORN,
WE BECOME FREE LIKE LONG-AGO.

Chorus

(<) WAKE-UP! (>) WAKE-UP! WHY? YOUR-pl LIGHT ARRIVE FINISH.
COME-ON"each". GET-UP, BODY-SHINY19.
(<) WAKE-UP! (>) WAKE-UP! GO-AHEAD SING!
FOR-FOR? GOD HIS GLORY20 CLEAR.

Chorus

(<) EMBARRASED, (>) DEPRESSED, NOT-THAT21!
DISAPPOINTED YOU-pl? FOR-FOR?
YOU-pl PROTECT HIS PEOPLE CAN.
HILL'slowly sloping upwards', TOP "WHAT"? JERUSALEM.

Chorus

UP-TO-NOW OPPRESSED"over time". NOW OPPRESSION-OFF22.
OUR ENEMY, PLEASE EAT-UP23, THROW-OUT.
GOD CELEBRATE ABOUT YOU-pl IDEA~LIKE
MAN WOMAN MARRY, DEAF-APPLAUSE24.

Chorus

JEWISH PEOPLE SPREAD WORLD~THEREABOUTS
STILL CONTINUE HONOR LORD.
ANOINTED KING ARRIVE HELP"each".
FINALLY #ALL-OF-YOU25 SATISFIED.

Chorus

SABBATH IDEA~LIKE WIFE NEW.
HOW? WE LOOK-FORWARD PEACE, HAPPY.
WE ASSEMBLE HERE SAY
(bow lf) (2h)WELCOME BRIDE, (bow rt) (2h)WELCOME BRIDE.

During the week of shivah, mourners enter the synagogue at this point and are greeted by the leaders of the congregation, whereupon the congregation offers these words of consolation:

WE PRAY HE COMFORT YOU-mourner(s) PLUS ALL PEOPLE MOURN ABOUT Z-I-O-N AND JERUSALEM.

PSALM 92

PEOPLE UPRIGHT THEY-rt TAKE-OFF26 IDEA~LIKE P-A-L-M TREE. LIKE C-E-D-A-R TREE (2h)C-CL'thick trunk'27 GROW TALL*. LORD HIS HOUSE FOREST PUT-IN-PLACE"each". DEVELOP* CLOSE-TO GOD. BECOME OLD, STILL PRODUCE FRUIT CAN. ENTHUSIASTIC, PERKY28, THEY-rt ANNOUNCE LORD HIMSELF JUST. MY FOUNDATION, CRASH29 NEVER.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

IF LORD PROMISE, DEPEND-ON CAN. IF PEOPLE ENTER HIS TEMPLE, ACT HOLY MUST FROM-NOW-ON FOREVER.

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-OF-3)30 ANNOUNCE, (2-OF-3) HONOR, (3-OF-3) PRAISE, INDEX-LIST-OF-331 NOT ENOUGH. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY AMEN.

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

FAR-AWAY32 HEAVEN, GOD ESTABLISH PEACE. PRAY HERE SAME-AS-Heaven. #ALL-OF-YOU SAY, AMEN.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

KADDISH D'RABBANAN

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.

WE PRAY FOR ISRAEL, (<) RABBI33 HE-left TEACH"each", HIS-left STUDENT THEY-right, PASS-DOWN TORAH34. HERE OR ANY PLACE. PASS-OUT-TO"all"35 PEACE, GRACE36, KINDNESS, MERCY, LONG LIFE, FEED"each". HEAVENLY-FATHER37, SAVE US. #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.

MAARIV FOR SABBATH

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 congreations 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. HE, OUR GOD. ALLOW 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. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU. WHY? YOUR PEACE SPREAD, PROTECT IDEA~LIKE TENT'stretch over head'62 FOR US, FOR JEWISH PEOPLE GENERAL, FOR JERUSALEM.

Chorus: GOD COMMAND JEWISH PEOPLE CELEBRATE SABBATH CONTINUALLY. COVENANT63, 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-ASIDE64, REST; GET-OFF-MIND65, REST. Chorus

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.

(CONTINUE PRAY QUIET)...

The Shemoneh Esreh is recited here.

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-UP66 HOLY. WHY? PEOPLE WORK++'sta' SIX-DAY ENOUGH++, SEVENTH DAY REST++ MUST.

Reader. LORD, OUR GOD, OUR FOREFATHERS67, (1-OF-3) ABRAHAM68, (2-OF-3) ISAAC69, (3-OF-3) JACOB, WORSHIP YOU. PASS-DOWN'bit by bit'70. 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 SABBATH 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". OPPRESSION-OFF, INSPIRED WE. OUR HEART NEED BECOME CLEAN*. FOR-FOR? WORSHIP TRUE~BIZ71. 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

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

LORD, OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. YOURSELF MAKE US HOLY THROUGH YOUR COMMANDMENT, ENJOY US TOGETHER YOU. YOU GIVE-TO-us US SABBATH PASS-DOWN'bit by bit'. WHY? L-O-V-E, PREFER US. WE LOOK-BACK REMEMBER GOD (<) MAKE HEAVEN, (>) MAKE EARTH. SABBATH START EVERY HOLIDAY. WE REMEMBER ESCAPE EGYPT. YOU PICK-lf JEWISH, MAKE US ADVANCED MORE-THAN OTHER NATION. YOU GIVE-TO-us US SABBATH HOLY PASS-DOWN'bit by bit'. WHY? L-O-V-E, PREFER US. WE PRAISE YOU LORD. WHY? YOU MAKE SABBATH HOLY.

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 RULE76 UNIVERSE77
LONG-AGO WORLD THERE NOT-YET
HAPPEN HE-rt CREATE78 WORLD
EVERYTHING ADMIT HE-rt KING.

SOME-DAY79 OLD WORLD END,
HE-rt STILL ALONE RULE.
ETERNAL80 SAME-OLD-THING81.
HIS-rt GLORY CHANGE NEVER.

HE-rt ONLY-ONE, OTHERS82 NONE
EQUAL HIM-rt, HELP-rt NOT~NEED.
WITHOUT START, WITHOUT END,
(<) POWER, (>) AUTHORITY83, HIS-rt ALWAYS.

HE-rt MY GOD, PAY-OFF84 MY DEBT85.
HAPPEN GRIEF86, ESCAPE TO HIM-rt.
HE-rt MY MIRACLE87, AND PROTECTOR.
ANY TIME ME SUMMON88, HE-rt ANSWER.

EVERY-MORNING AWAKE, EVERY-NIGHT FALL-ASLEEP,
MY SPIRIT OFFER-UP-TO HIM-rt.
SUPPOSE MY SPIRIT SPIRAL-UP89 GO-AWAY90,
NOT~NEED FEAR91, 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".


Image credits

1. Corbis digial pictures - Woman with Sabbath candles.

Home