Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 9/2/2003

May You Answer Us!

This more inclusive version of one of the traditional High Holy Day prayers can be sung to one of the traditional melodies. Shanah tovah!

Hu Yaanenu /Hi Taanenu
An Inclusive Version

You Who answered Sara in the palace — May You answer us;
You Who answered Avraham at knife-point — May You answer us;
You Who answered Rivka in her outcry — May You answer us;
You Who answered Yaakov at the river — May You answer us.
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hu yaanenu v'yom korenu, hi taanenu.

You Who answered Hagar in the desert — May You answer us;
You Who answered Ruth in the gleaning — May You answer us;
You Who answered Avimelech at the well-spring — May You answer us;
You Who answered Noach with the Rainbow — May You answer us.
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hi taanenu v'yom korenu, hu yaanenu.

You Who answered Miriam at the seashore — May You answer us;
You Who answered Moshe at Mount Sinai — May You answer us;
You Who answered Eliyahu at Mount Horeb — May You answer us;
You Who answered Chana when she whispered — May You answer us.
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hu yaanenu v'yom korenu, hi taanenu.

You Who answered Shifra and Puah — May You answer us;
You Who answered Yehonatan and David — May You answer us;
You Who answered Mordechai and Esther — May You answer us;
You Who answered B'ruriah and Me'ir — May You answer us.
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hi taanenu v'yom korenu, hu yaanenu.

You Who answered Nachman of Bratzlav — May You answer us;
You Who answered Henrietta Szold — May You answer us;
You Who answered Rosa Parks in Montgomery — May You answer us;
You Who answered King and Heschel — May You answer us;
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hi taanenu v'yom korenu, hu yaanenu.

You Who answered ............<Add three of your own>
You Who answer in every generation — May You answer us.
May You answer us, may You answer us,
May You answer us!
Hi taanenu v'yom korenu, hu yaanenu.

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