Rock of Ages, let our song - Traditional Jewish song;
Marcus Jastrow & Gustav Gottheil (trans.)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 29 March 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. OUR FOUNDATION ALL-ALONG,
LET OUR SONG PRAISE YOU-lf,hi SAVE.
OUR ENEMY THEY-lf WAR AGAINST US,
BUT YOU-rt,hi OUR FORTRESS STRONG.
THEY-lf FIGHT'over time' AGAINST US,
YOU-rt PROTECT'each' OUR SOLDIER.
IF OUR STRENGTH DISSOLVE,
YOUR WORD BREAK THEIR-left SWORD.

2. NEW CANDLE LIGHT-CANDLE"each".
HOLY THEY-rt SUFFER IGNORE,
GO-AHEAD MAKE MEMORIAL PLACE CLEAN*.
THEY-rt OFFER"over time" GOD.
ENTER TEMPLE CELEBRATE.
EVERY COUNTRY THEREABOUTS,
PEOPLE SING"over time" HAPPY.
SOUND SPREAD* STRONG*.

3. MANY JEWISH PEOPLE MARTYR.
DOESN'T-MATTER (<) FREE, (>) SLAVE.
EACH"each" PLACE (2h)YOU SETTLE LIVE,
GO-AHEAD TELL-STORY.
PROPHET MAKE HAPPINESS SPREAD
WHY? TIME CLOSER-AND-CLOSER,
(2h)#ALL NATION FREE,
DICTATOR INFLUENCE DISSOLVE.


Notes: FOUNDATION - NDH [S], PO > signer, FO > DS, is held out with arm parallel to the chest and DH [S], PO > signer, strikes hand from below and then strikes elbow from below.

ALL-ALONG - (2h)[1], POs down, FOs away, fingers run up the chest somewhat slowly on DS until POs are > signer, and FOs are up. Also the tongue - shuttled from side to side.

YOU - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

FORTRESS - (2h)[S], POs down, FOs ><, strike the whole length of the forearms together like TABLE then DH is held under NDH and the arms strike again.

SWORD - (2H)[S], NDH acts as scabbard (sword holder) and DH pulls out sword.

LIGHT-CANDLE - (2h)[bX], DH strikes NDH like a match, and then DH moves up to the candle as if lighting it.

HOLY - H-CLEAN. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Holy - 1.

SUFFER - [A], PO > NDS< FO up, is dragged down over the mouth while in a wavy pattern and twisting at the wrist.

GO-AHEAD - (2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, move forward in a jerk.

MEMORIAL - (2h)[U^], POs > back, FOs up, hands move in an outward arc from front of face to over the shoulder.

THEREABOUTS - [5], PO down, FO away, circles parllel to the floor. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - approximately

SOUND - Touch ear with index finger then (2h)[S], PO down, FO away, move antisymmetrically from side to side while mouthing "pow". For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunder.

MARTYR is an [M] drawn across the throat as if it is being slit. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Martyr.

SLAVE - (2h)[S], PO down, crossed at wrists, swing from side to side. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Slave.

CLOSER-AND-CLOSER - (2h)[B^], POs > signer, FOs ><, DH moves in stops and starts > NDH.

(2h)#ALL - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs up, are held at shoulder height and move away while opening to (2h)[L].

DICTATOR - (2h)[X], POs away, FOs > respective sides, alt. move > signer and away, like CONTROL but with a smug facial expression.

Lyrics:

1. Rock of Ages, let our song
Praise Thy saving power;
Thou, amidst the raging foes,
Wast our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us,
But Thine arm availed us,
And Thy Word
Broke their sword
When our own strength failed us.

2. Kindling new the holy lamps,
Priests, approved in suffering,
Purified the nation’s shrine,
Brought to God their offering.
And His courts surrounding
Hear, in joy abounding,
Happy throngs,
Singing songs
With a mighty sounding.

3. Children of the martyr race,
Whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs
Where ye may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering
That the time is nearing
Which will see
All men free,
Tyrants disappearing.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to Rock of Ages, let our song.

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