Atanu leḥalot panekha

This is one of the oldest selihot melodies in the Sephardi ritual set to an ancient poem that dates back to the post-Talmudic period. The short poem consists of three stanzas in an aaba rhyming scheme, whereas the last two lines of each stanza are identical and thus they function as a refrain (selah lanu u-shlah lanu yeshu'a ve-rahamim mi-me'onekha, "forgive us and send us redemption and mercy from Your abode"). The melodies to which this text is performed in all Sephardi communities share a common, ancient kernel as was demonstrated by Avenary (1986). The Amsterdam version, like all the related Western Sephardi ones, is characterized by a repetitive structure in which the same melody is used for the verses of each stanza and for the refrain sung by the congregation.