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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 8

Translation and Transliteration of 

1the entire people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the Teaching of Moshe with which Hashem had charged Yisrael.

vai-ye-a-S'FU kol ha-AHM k'-EESH e-KHAD el ha-RE-khOV a-SHER lif-NEI sha-ar ha-MA-yim va-YO-meru l'-e-ZRA ha-SO-fer l'-ha-VEE et-SE-fer to-RAT mo-SHEH a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et yis-ra-AYL

אוַיֵּאָסְפ֤וּ כׇל־הָעָם֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד אֶל־הָ֣רְח֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמָּ֑יִם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְעֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֔ר לְהָבִ֗יא אֶת־סֵ֙פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

2On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the Kohen brought the Teaching before the congregation, men and women and all who could listen with understanding.

vai-YA-vee e-ZRA ha-ko-HAYN et ha-TO-RAH lif-NAY ha-ka-HAL may-EESH v'-AD i-SHAH v'-KOL may-VEEN lish-MO-a b'-YOM e-KHAD la-KHO-desh ha-sh'-vee-EE

בוַיָּבִ֣יא עֶזְרָ֣א הַ֠כֹּהֵ֠ן אֶֽת־הַתּוֹרָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַקָּהָל֙ מֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְכֹ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃

3He read from it, facing the square before the Water Gate, from the first light until midday, to the men and the women and those who could understand; the ears of all the people were given to the scroll of the Teaching.

vai-yik-RA-bo l'-f'-NAY ha-RE-khov a-SHER l'-f'-NAY sha-ar ha-MA-yim min ha-OR ad ma-kha-TZIT ha-YOM NE-ged ha-a-na-SHEEM v'-ha-na-SHEEM v'-ha-m'-vi-NEEM v'-o-Z'-nay kol-ha-AM el s'-FER ha-to-RAH

גוַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ֩ לִפְנֵ֨י הָרְח֜וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמַּ֗יִם מִן־הָאוֹר֙ עַד־מַחֲצִ֣ית הַיּ֔וֹם נֶ֛גֶד הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים וְאׇזְנֵ֥י כׇל־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־סֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

4Ezra the scribe stood upon a wooden tower made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriya, Chilkiyahu, and Maaseiah at his right, and at his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zecharya, Meshullam.

vai-YA-a-MOD e-ZRA ha-SO-fer al-mig-DAL-ETZ a-SHER a-SU la-DA-var, vai-YA-a-MOD etz-LO ma-tit-YA v'-SHE-ma v'-a-NA-ya v'-u-ri-YA v'-khil-ki-YA u-ma-a-SE-ya al-ye-MI-no, u-mi-s'-mo-LO p'-da-YA u-mi-sha-A-EL u-mal-ki-YA v'-kha-SHUM v'-khash-ba-DA-na z'-khar-YA m'-shu-LAM. (P)

דוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד עֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר עַֽל־מִגְדַּל־עֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ לַדָּבָר֒ וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד אֶצְל֡וֹ מַתִּתְיָ֡ה וְשֶׁ֡מַע וַ֠עֲנָיָ֠ה וְאוּרִיָּ֧ה וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָ֠ה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְחָשֻׁ֥ם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה זְכַרְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃

5Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; as he opened it, all the people stood up.

vai-YIF-takh e-ZRA ha-SE-fer l'-ay-NAY kol ha-AM, kee-ME-al kol ha-AM ha-YA, u-k'-fit-KHO a-M'-DU kol ha-AM

הוַיִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י כׇל־הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־מֵעַ֥ל כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם הָיָ֑ה וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ עָֽמְד֥וּ כׇל־הָעָֽם׃

6Ezra blessed Hashem, the great Hashem, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with hands upraised. Then they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before Hashem with their faces to the ground.

vai-ya-va-REKH e-z'-RA et a-do-NAI ha-e-lo-HEEM ha-ga-DOL va-ya-a-NU kol ha-AHM a-MEN, a-MEN b'-mo-AL ye-DAY-hem va-yi-k'-DU va-yish-ta-KHA-vu la-a-do-NAI a-PA-yim o-ret-ZAH

ווַיְבָ֣רֶךְ עֶזְרָ֔א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הַגָּד֑וֹל וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ כׇל־הָעָ֜ם אָמֵ֤ן ׀ אָמֵן֙ בְּמֹ֣עַל יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְּד֧וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֛וּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה אַפַּ֥יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

7Yeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azarya, Yozavad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Leviim explained the Teaching to the people, while the people stood in their places.

v'-ye-SHU-a u-va-NEE v'-she-re-VY-a YA-meen a-KUV sha-b'-TAI ho-di-YAH ma-a-say-YAH k'-lee-TA a-za-rya yo-za-VAHD cha-NAN p'-la-YAH v'-hal-vee-YEEM me-vee-NEEM et ha-AHM la-to-RAH v'-ha-AHM al-o-M'-DAM

זוְיֵשׁ֡וּעַ וּבָנִ֡י וְשֵׁרֵ֥בְיָ֣ה ׀ יָמִ֡ין עַקּ֡וּב שַׁבְּתַ֣י ׀ הֽוֹדִיָּ֡ה מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה קְלִיטָ֣א עֲזַרְיָה֩ יוֹזָבָ֨ד חָנָ֤ן פְּלָאיָה֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מְבִינִ֥ים אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לַתּוֹרָ֑ה וְהָעָ֖ם עַל־עׇמְדָֽם׃

8They read from the scroll of the Teaching of Hashem, translating it and giving the sense; so they understood the reading.

vai-yik-RE-u va-SE-fer b'-to-RAT ha-e-lo-HEEM m'-fo-RASH, v'-SOM SE-khel va-ya-VEE-nu ba-mik-RA

חוַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בְּתוֹרַ֥ת הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃

9Nechemya the Tirshatha, Ezra the Kohen and scribe, and the Leviim who were explaining to the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to Hashem your God: you must not mourn or weep,” for all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Teaching.

vai-YO-mer ne-KHEM-yah HU ha-tir-SHA-ta v'-ez-RA ha-ko-HAYN ha-so-FAYR v'-hal-vi-YEEM ha-m'-vi-NEEM et ha-AHM l'-KOL ha-AHM ha-YOM ka-DOSH-HU la-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem al ti-ta-VEL-u v'-al ti-v'-KU, kee bo-KHEEM kol ha-AHM k'-sh'-mo-AM et di-v'-RAY ha-to-RAH

טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר נְחֶמְיָ֣ה ה֣וּא הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא וְעֶזְרָ֣א הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ הַמְּבִינִ֨ים אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לְכׇל־הָעָ֗ם הַיּ֤וֹם קָדֹֽשׁ־הוּא֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם אַל־תִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּ וְאַל־תִּבְכּ֑וּ כִּ֤י בוֹכִים֙ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם כְּשׇׁמְעָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

10He further said to them, “Go, eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in Hashem is the source of your strength.”

vai-YO-mer LA-HEM le-KHU ikh-LU mash-ma-NEEM u-she-TU mam-ta-KEEM v'-shil-KHU ma-NOT l'-AYN na-KHON LO, kee-ka-DOSH ha-YOM la-a-do-NAY-nu, v'-al-te-a-TSE-vu kee-khe-D'vat a-do-NAI HEE ma-u-Z'KHEM

יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם לְכוּ֩ אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּשְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְאֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַיּ֖וֹם לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ וְאַל־תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ כִּֽי־חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃

11The Leviim were quieting the people, saying, “Hush, for the day is holy; do not be sad.”

v'-hal-vi-YIM makh-SHEEM l'-kol-ha-AM lay-MOR ha-SU, KEE ha-YOM ka-DOSH v'-al-te-a-TSE-vu

יאוְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם מַחְשִׁ֤ים לְכׇל־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר הַ֔סּוּ כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם קָדֹ֑שׁ וְאַל־תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃

12Then all the people went to eat and drink and send portions and make great merriment, for they understood the things they were told.

vai-YEL-khu kol ha-AM le-e-KHOL v'-lish-TOt u-l'-sha-LAKH ma-NOT v'-la-a-SOT sim-KHA g'-do-LAH, KEE he-VEE-nu ba-d'-va-REEM a-SHER ho-DEE-u la-HEM.

יבוַיֵּלְכ֨וּ כׇל־הָעָ֜ם לֶאֱכֹ֤ל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָנ֔וֹת וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה כִּ֤י הֵבִ֙ינוּ֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹדִ֖יעוּ לָהֶֽם׃

13On the second day, the heads of the clans of all the people and the Kohanim and Leviim gathered to Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Teaching.

u-va-YOM ha-SHE-ni ne-eS-FU ra-SHEI ha-a-VOT l'-KOL ha-AAM ha-KO-ha-NEEM v'-hal-vi-YIM el eZ-RA ha-SO-fer u-l'-ha-s'-KEEL el di-v'-REI ha-TO-ra

יגוּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִ֡י נֶאֶסְפוּ֩ רָאשֵׁ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת לְכׇל־הָעָ֗ם הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־עֶזְרָ֖א הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

14They found written in the Teaching that Hashem had commanded Moshe that the Israelites must dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month,

vai-YIM-tz'-U ka-TOOV ba-to-RAH a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI b'-yad mo-SHE, a-SHER yay-sh'-VU v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ba-su-KOT b'-khag ba-kho-DESH ha-sh'-vee-EE

ידוַֽיִּמְצְא֖וּ כָּת֣וּב בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֩ יֵשְׁב֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל בַּסֻּכּ֛וֹת בֶּחָ֖ג בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃

15and that they must announce and proclaim throughout all their towns and Yerushalayim as follows, “Go out to the mountains and bring leafy branches of olive trees, pine trees, myrtles, palms and [other] leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

va-a-SHER yash-MEE-u v'-ya-a-VEE-ru KOL b'-khol a-ray-HEM u-vee-ru-sha-LA-im lay-MOR tz'-U ha-HAR v'-ha-VEE-u a-lay ZA-yit va-a-lay AYTZ SHE-men va-a-LAY ha-DAS va-a-LAY t'-ma-REEM va-a-LAY AYTZ a-VOT la-a-SOT su-KOT ka-ka-TUV

טווַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יַשְׁמִ֗יעוּ וְיַעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֥וֹל בְּכׇל־עָרֵיהֶם֮ וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם לֵאמֹר֒ צְא֣וּ הָהָ֗ר וְהָבִ֙יאוּ֙ עֲלֵי־זַ֙יִת֙ וַעֲלֵי־עֵ֣ץ שֶׁ֔מֶן וַעֲלֵ֤י הֲדַס֙ וַעֲלֵ֣י תְמָרִ֔ים וַעֲלֵ֖י עֵ֣ץ עָבֹ֑ת לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת סֻכֹּ֖ת כַּכָּתֽוּב׃

 8:15   Go out to the mountains and bring leafy branches of olive trees

Olive branches in the Galilee

Any species of tree may be used to construct the sukkah, the booth used to observe the holiday of Sukkot. For this particular Sukkot, though, the people specifically looked for olive branches. Besides being one of the seven special agricultural species of the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8), the olive also plays a significant role in the story of Noach’s flood. After the rain stopped falling, Noach sent out a dove to see if the flood waters had receded. When the dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf, “Noach knew that the waters had decreased on the earth” (Genesis 8:11). Additionally, the menorah ‘lamp’ in the Beit Hamikdash is kindled daily exclusively with olive oil, and this oil is also used ceremoniously to anoint a new king. The common theme of these events is renewal. After the flood, the world was given a new start. Each time the menorah is lit, it is kindled anew, without any reliance on previous lightings, and the coronation of a new monarch also begins a new era for the kingdom. This symbolism was certainly not lost on the people in Nechemya’s time, who were renewing their traditions in the God-given land of their forefathers.

16So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves booths on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the House of Hashem, in the square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Efraim Gate.

vai-YAY-tz'-U ha-AM va-ya-VEE-u va-ya-a-SU la-HEM su-KOT eesh al ga-GO u-v'-cha-tz'-ro-TAY-hem u-v'-cha-tz'-ROT bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM u-vir-KHOV sha-ar ha-MA-yim u-vir-KHOV sha-ar ef-RA-yim. (S)

טזוַיֵּצְא֣וּ הָעָם֮ וַיָּבִ֒יאוּ֒ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ לָהֶ֨ם סֻכּ֜וֹת אִ֤ישׁ עַל־גַּגּוֹ֙ וּבְחַצְרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְחַצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבִרְחוֹב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הַמַּ֔יִם וּבִרְח֖וֹב שַׁ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

17The whole community that returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths—the Israelites had not done so from the days of Yehoshua son of Nun to that day—and there was very great rejoicing.

vai-ya-a-SU kol ha-ka-HAL ha-sha-VEEM min ha-sh'-VEE su-KOT va-yei-sh'-VU ba-su-KOT, kee lo-a-SU mi-MAY y'-shu-a ben-NUUN, ken b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ad ha-YOM ha-HU, va-TE-hee sim-KHA g'-do-LAH m'-OD

יזוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֣וּ כׇֽל־הַ֠קָּהָ֠ל הַשָּׁבִ֨ים מִן־הַשְּׁבִ֥י ׀ סֻכּוֹת֮ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ בַסֻּכּוֹת֒ כִּ֣י לֹֽא־עָשׂ֡וּ מִימֵי֩ יֵשׁ֨וּעַ בִּן־נ֥וּן כֵּן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

18He read from the scroll of the Teaching of Hashem each day, from the first to the last day. They celebrated the festival seven days, and there was a solemn gathering on the eighth, as prescribed.

vai-YIK-ra b'-SE-fer to-RAT ha-E-lo-HEEM YOM b'-YOM min ha-YOM ha-ree-SHON ad ha-YOM ha-a-cha-RON va-ya-a-SU-khag SHE-va-at ya-MEEM u-va-YOM ha-sh'-mi-NEE a-tze-RET ka-mish-PAT.

יחוַ֠יִּקְרָ֠א בְּסֵ֨פֶר תּוֹרַ֤ת הָאֱלֹהִים֙ י֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֔וֹם מִן־הַיּוֹם֙ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הָאַחֲר֑וֹן וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־חָג֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וּבַיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֛י עֲצֶ֖רֶת כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃