Liturgy
 
The prayers are chanted and danced as they were in Ethiopia. The language is Ge`ez, the ancient Ethiopian language, and not the modern Ethiopian language used today. In the prayers are words that are familiar from Hebrew prayers like “Kados Kados” in Ge`ez and  Kadosh Kadosh in Hebrew (meaning holly holly), or “Amlake Israel” in Ge`ez and “Melech  Israel” in Hebrew (meaning king of Israel).  The prayers  celebrate Hashem and express the longing of a people in exile to return to their home in Jerusalem. Kess Yirmiyahu Pikada from Nazareth taught the prayers to the dance troupe.


photo:  Irene Fertik

Prayers “Kados Kados” and “Halleluja” –
Holy, Holy, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
God of gods, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
God of Abraham, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
God of Isaac, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
God of Jacob, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
God of Israel, Who exists eternally, Halleluja
……
Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja
And the Lord spoke to Moses, Halleluja,
Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja
And He said to Moses on Mount Sinai
And He said to Moses in the midst of the fire
 Write a parchment, Halleluja…
Translated from Ge`ez  by Margaret Hayun