Eretz Israel, Antique Postcard Awinu Malkeinu “Palaestina-Volkslied”, 1930, published by Eliahu Bros, Tel-Aviv
In Hebrew and German
Copyright 1930 by Eliahu Bros, Tel-Aviv
Light wear, light cracks
Avinu Malkeinu (Hebrew: ???????? ??????????; "Our Father, Our King") is a Jewish prayer recited during Jewish services during the Ten Days of Repentance, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur inclusive. Since the 17th century, most Eastern Ashkenazic communities recite it also on all fast days; in the Sephardic and Western Ashkenazic tradition (as well as a very few Eastern Ashkenazic communities) it is recited only during the Ten Days of Repentance.[1]
Joseph H. Hertz (died 1946), chief rabbi of the British Empire, described it as "the oldest and most moving of all the litanies of the Jewish Year."[2] It makes use of two sobriquets for God that appear separately in the Bible; "Our Father" (Isaiah 63:16) and "Our King" (Isaiah 33:22).
One of the ten melodies composed by the Alter Rebbe. The words are from a prayer recited on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and every fast day; a shorter form of the prayer is read on the weekdays on which Supplications (Tachanun) are said. The soulful melody, matching the earnestness of the text, is divided into three parts. The first, wordless, elevates the singers to a deeply spiritual mood. The second expresses yearning for the Divine, while the third is a declaration of faith in the help of our Father and King.