by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com The Kinos were meant to be said in a slow dirge in rhyme.  That is how they were written.  When it is read in English – this is lost.  There is something unique that takes hold of you when you combine a slow dirge with rhyme.  Those that are not so fluent in the Hebrew lose the impact. To some, this poetic translation may help bring across that feeling. The Kinnah is numbered as #44 and is an expansion of The Pasuk in Yoel 1:5 אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ עֲלֵי אַרְמוֹן אֲשֶׁר נֻטַּשׁ, בְּאַשְׁמַת צֹאן עֲדָרֶיהָ, עַל בִּיאַת מְחָרְפֵי אֵל, בְּתוֹךְ מִקְדַּשׁ חֲדָרֶיהָ. אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ Cry, O Zion, and cities around her! As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her. And like a mournful, newly-wed bride, Crying over her groom who died. Cry for the palace abandoned and forlorn, Because of the sins of the flock she had borne. And for the arrival of the blasphemers that looms, Into the sanctuary of the Temple’s rooms. Cry, O Zion, and cities around her! As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her. And like a mournful newly-wed bride, Crying over her groom who died. עֲלֵי גָלוּת מְשָׁרְתֵי אֵל, נְעִימֵי שִׁיר זְמָרֶיהָ, וְעַל דָּמָם אֲשֶׁר שֻׁפַּךְ כְּמוֹ מֵימֵי יְאוֹרֶיהָ. אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ Cry for the exile of the servants of G-d, Who sang songs, praised and applaud, And for their blood, spilled in barrels.. Bursting forth like waters of her channels. Cry, O Zion, and cities around her! As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her. And like a mournful, newly-wed bride, Crying over her groom who died. עֲלֵי הֶגְיוֹן מְחוֹלֶיהָ, אֲשֶׁר דָּמַם בְּעָרֶיהָ, וְעַל וַעַד אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַם וּבִטּוּל סַנְהֶדְרֶיהָ.. אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ Cry for the lyrics of her dances so grand Now absent and silent throughout the land And for the great hall, in which it did stand The glorious Sanhedrin, now unmanned. Cry, O Zion, and cities around her.. As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her.. And like a mournful newly-wed bride.. Crying over her groom who died.. עֲלֵי זִבְחֵי תְמִידֶיהָ וּפִדְיוֹנֵי בְּכוֹרֶיהָ, וְעַל חִלּוּל כְּלֵי הֵיכָל וּמִזְבַּח קְטוֹרֶיהָ אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ Cry for the daily offering lost to the nation And for the Pidyon Bechor’s negation.. And for her vessel’s desecration And for the incense altar’s salvation.. Cry, O Zion, and cities around her.. As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her.. And like a mournful newly-wed bride.. Crying over her groom who died.. עֲלֵי טַפֵּי מְלָכֶיהָ בְּנֵי דָוִד גְּבִירֶיהָ, וְעַל יָפְיָם אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁךְ בְּעֵת סָרוּ כְּתָרֶיהָ. אֱלִי צִיּוֹן וְעָרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ אִשָּׁה בְּצִירֶיהָ, וְכִבְתוּלָה חֲגוּרַת שַׂק, עַל בַּעַל נְעוּרֶיהָ For the children of her kings, let’s cry The descendents of David, flying so high And for their beauty, now entirely lost When her royal crowns were tossed 6] Cry, O Zion, and cities around her.. As a woman in labor whose birth pangs confound her.. And like a mournful newly-wed bride.. Crying over her groom who died.. עֲלֵי כָבוֹד אֲשֶׁר גָּלָה בְּעֵת חָרְבַּן דְּבִירֶיהָ, וְעַל לוֹחֵץ אֲשֶׁר לָחַץ וְשָׂם שַׂקִּים […]

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