The Hidden Stanza of 'Ma’oz Tzur'

The Secret Hidden from Christian Censorship

ספריית הקבלה

"מעוז צור ישועתי" is undoubtedly the liturgical poem most closely associated with Hanukkah. We sing it after lighting the candles, at ceremonies and celebrations – but most people are unaware that the original poem included an additional stanza omitted from most collections of liturgical poetry.

Sources of the Liturgical Poem

The liturgical poem was written in Germany during the Middle Ages, most likely in the 13th century. The author's name, "Mordechai", is concealed in the initial letters of its stanzas. The poem portrays Jewish history as a story of recurring deliverance: the Exodus from Egypt, the Babylonian exile, the miracle of Purim, and the miracle of Hanukkah.

The Last Stanza – The Original Version

The original final stanza dealt with the future redemption and contained forceful expressions of hope for vengeance against Israel's enemies. The original words were: "חשוף זרוע קדשך וקרב קץ הישועה, נקום נקמת דם עבדיך מאומה הרשעה."

חשוף זרוע קדשך וקרב קץ הישועה, נקום נקמת דם עבדיך מאומה הרשעה. כי ארכה לנו הישועה ואין קץ לימי הרעה, דחה אדמון בצל צלמון הקם לנו רועה

The hidden symbols

"Admon" (the red one) and "Tzalmon" (the shadow of the cross) are epithets for Rome/Edom – a code Jews used throughout the Middle Ages to refer to Christianity and the Catholic Church. The Jews of Germany and France lived under Christian rule and could not write openly.

Censorship or survival?

Was the omission the result of external Christian censorship, or perhaps "self-censorship" – a survival instinct among Jews who knew that such words could endanger them? Most likely, a combination of both.

The manuscripts in the National Library present the different versions of the hymn throughout the generations, allowing us to trace the text's development – what was preserved, what was deleted, and what was changed.