67. The Coolness of Shabbat

Rahel Kala. Recorded by Barbara Johnson, Tiveria, 2006; IV-26.

Uṟappukaḷil uṟacca yāyě tandě miticca ñaṅṅaḷ pāṟkkunnen
Dāvīd rājāvinda makaně ippoḷ viḍukayuṃ veņa

1. O Yah the Strongest of the strong, Your redemption we await.
Release the son of Raja David—send him now, we plead.
  
2. The restful coolness of Shabbat—its enjoyment and its gains—
To generations yet to come, pass this on, we plead.

3. We’re praying to the Awesome One, sitting in the highest heights.
Oh, give answer to us quickly; send redemption soon, we plead.

4. Have mercy on us, Merciful One; to our lives give happiness.
Give the joy of Shabbat coolness; grant us this, we plead.

5. Our Shabbat deeds of devotion—with holiness endow them all.
And also bless our Shabbat joy; purify our deeds, we plead. 

6. Now and always, please protect us, O our Steadfast Holy God—
And the coolness of Shabbat forever grant to us, we plead.

In Jewish Malayalam, taṇaccilāya—the key word in this song—refers to rest or relief from the sources of weekday tension. Its root in the Malayalam word for coolness illuminates its appropriate use for the day of rest in the hot and humid climate of Kerala. (See stanza 3 of song 18, “Our Food,” for a similar use of the word: “the coolness of festival days.”) In addition to evoking the relief of coolness and the pleasure of Shabbat observance, this short devotional song is notable for its poetic elaboration of the attributes of God: strength, awesomeness, mercy, truthfulness, and steadfastness.

Appearing only in two Paradesi notebooks, the song was recorded in 2006 by Rahel Kala, Ruby Daniel’s younger sister, singing from their aunt Dolly Japheth’s notebook (B-10). Above the text of this song, an old note in Ruby’s handwriting states that it was composed by their paternal grandfather, Daniel Haim. Fortunately, Rahel remembered the melody (which seems to be a variant of the tune used for song 60, “The Hanukkah Song”) and was able to help us actively with the translation.