Vehi Sheamda (Hebrew: וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה) is a Jewish piyyut (liturgical poem) in the Haggadah of Passover Seder that mention's God's promise of ending the exile of the Jews from the Land of Israel.

Composition

Vehi Sheamda is a short passage in the Haggadah of Passover Seder that deals with saving the people of Israel by God, from all His enemies. It is customary to read the passage in a melody, and today it is also prevalent as a piyut on its own. It follows the previous paragraph of the text regarding God's promise of ending the exile[1] of the Jews and moreover, setting them free with much wealth.[2]

Hebrew Transliteration Translation

וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ
שֶׁלֹּא אֶחָד בִּלְבָד עָמַד עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ
אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ
וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם

V'hi she-am'dah la-avoteinu v'lanu.
Shelo echad bilvad, amad aleinu l'chaloteinu.
Ela sheb'chol dor vador, om'dim aleinu l'chaloteinu,
v'HaKadosh Baruch Hu matzileinu mi-yadam. 		And it is this (the Torah) that has stood by our ancestors and for us.
For not only one (enemy) has risen up against us to destroy us,
but in every generation they rise up to destroy us.
But the Holy One, Blessed be He, delivers us from their hands.[1][2]

Musical adaptations

Ultra-Orthodox singer Yonatan Razel, who sets Jewish liturgical poems and prayers into song, gained fame in 2009 for setting "Vehi Sheamda" to music for Yaakov Shwekey. Israeli Haredi radio station Kol Chai named the song its "Song of the Decade" as the song became popular with both secular and religious listeners, becoming an anthem for the holiday of Passover in Israel.[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Israeli singer Eden Ben Zaken performed a cover of "Vehi Sheamda" on YouTube.[3] Another stunning version of the song is made by Shneor Orel Sadon the 24 years old Orthodox Jewish singer born in Paris. Chneor Or-el Sadon, better known by his stage name Shneor Orel, is an Orthodox Jewish recording artist, Chazan and musical entertainer. Shneor was born in Paris to a Sephardi Jewish mother raised in France, and a Sephardi Jewish father born is Israel. Shneor attented Chabad school in Paris for 8 years.

References

  1. ^ a b Lehmann, Rabbi Dr. Marcus (1831–1890) [1969]. The Lehmann Haggadah (translation from German). Philipp Feldheim Inc. ISBN 0-87306-326-0.
  2. ^ a b "Pesach Haggadah, Magid, In the Beginning Our Fathers Were Idol Worshipers". Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Steinberg, Jessica (2020-04-10). "Pop star Eden Ben Zaken brings poignant Passover tune to YouTube". Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
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