JUDAIZATION 271alphabeticpiyyut, sometimes thought “preclassical” (i.e., fifth rather than
sixth century) because of the absence of rhyme and the relative simplicity of
its language.^81 This poem was composed for the fast of the Ninth of Av, which
commemorates the destruction of both temples .It is one of the rare late an-
tiquepiyyutimstill used liturgically and thus appears in every Ashkenazic
prayer book:^82
So by our sins was the temple destroyed, and by our iniquities was the sanctuary
burnt;/ in the land joined together^83 they wove elegies, and the heavenly host
lifted its voice in dirges// How long will there be weeping in Zion and mourning
in Jerusalem!
The tribes of Jacob wept bitterly, and even the signs of the zodiac shed tears,/ the
banners of Jeshurun bent their heads, and the Pleiades and Orion, their faces
darkened// How long will there be weeping in Zion and mourning in Jerusa-
lem....
Aries first wept with embittered soul because his lambs were led to slaughter/
Taurus let its cry be heard on high because we were all pursued to our necks.//
How long, etc.
Gemini appeared divided because the blood of brothers was spilled like water,/
Cancer sought to fall to earth because we fainted from thirst.// How long,
etc....
We offered a sacrifice and it was not accepted, and Capricorn cut off the ram of
our sin offering,/ merciful women boiled their children, and Pisces averted his
eyes.// How long will there be weeping in Zion and mourning in Jerusalem!
We forgot the Sabbath with back-turning hearts, so the Almighty forgot all our
merits./ Be greatly zealous in avenging Zion, and grant the populous city [Jeru-
salem, Lamentations 1:1] of Your light!// Take pity on Zion, and build the
walls of Jerusalem!
Here the signs of the zodiac are made to mourn the downfall of Israel as
described in the book of Lamentations, in a way that mirrors the mourning
of Israel itself.^84 The signs of the zodiac are apparently supposed normally to
act as intercessors for Israel, but their intercession is effective only as long as
Israel is righteous .Thepiyyutthus retains the sense, perhaps implicit in the
(^81) See Yahalom, “Zodiac in the Early Piyyut,” pp .316–17.
(^82) For the best text, see D .Goldschmidt,Order of Elegies for Tishah Be-Av(Jerusalem: Mosad
HaravKook 1977), pp .29–30 .The translation is once again my own.
(^83) From Palms 122:2, “Jerusalem the rebuilt, as a city joined together.”
(^84) Cf .thepiyyutfor Yom Kippur published by Yahalom (“Zodiac in the Early Piyyut,” pp.
319–22), in which the signs of the zodiac are said to rejoice along with all humanity when the
high priest exits the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement.