After the Meal: Vay’hi Baḥatzi Halay'loh

"and it came to pass at midnight." All read the third line of each stanza in unison. Unto God let praise be brought For the wonders He hath wrought— At the solemn hour of midnight. All the earth was sunk in night When God said "Let there be light!" Thus the day was formed from midnight. So was primal man redeemed When the light of reason gleamed Through the darkness of the midnight. To the Patriarch, God revealed The true faith, so long concealed By the darkness of the midnight. But this truth was long obscured By the slavery endured In the black Egyptian midnight. Till the messengers of light Sent by God, dispelled the night, And it came to pass at midnight. p. 116 Then the people God had freed Pledged themselves His law to heed, And it came to pass at midnight. When they wandered from the path Of the Lord, His righteous wrath Hurled them into darkest midnight. But the prophets’ burning word By repentant sinners heard Called them back from darkest midnight. God a second time decreed That His people should be freed From the blackness of the midnight. Songs of praise to God ascend, Festive lights their glory lend To illuminate the midnight. Soon the night of exile falls And within the Ghetto walls Israel groans in dreary midnight. Anxiously with God they plead,

Who still trust His help in need, In the darkest hour of midnight. And He hears their piteous cry. "Wait! be strong, My help is nigh, Soon ‘twill pass—the long-drawn midnight. "Tenderly I cherished you For a service great and true; When ‘tis past—the long-drawn midnight." p. 117 O, Thou Guardian of the Right, Lead us onward to the light From the darkness of the midnight. Father, let the day appear When all men Thy name revere And Thy light dispels the midnight. When no longer shall the foe From th’ oppressed wring cries of woe In the darkness of the midnight. But Thy love all hearts shall sway; And Thy light drive gloom away, And to midday change the midnight. p. 118 p. 119 p. 120 p. 121 Click to enlarge RELIGIOUS LIBERTY