And He Wept and Pleaded to be Killed First • Prayers for the Grave of Rabbi

Today, the 25th of Sivan, marks the day of the Hillula (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Ishmael Kohen Gadol (the High Priest) zy"a (may his merit protect us), who was killed for the sanctification of Hashem's Name as one of the Asarah Harugei Malchus (Ten Martyrs). Before you are two prayers written by our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), to be recited at his holy grave located in the village of Sajur in the north.

With a heart aching and expiring, torn into infinite shreds, flowing with rivers and seas of blood, I stand here in fear and trembling, while all my bones are seized with a shudder, as I bring to my heart and mind the greatness of your self-sacrifice, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. When they took you out to be executed along with Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha Kohen Gadol (the High Priest), you requested and pleaded before those beasts in human form, the legionnaires of wicked Rome, to sever your head first before Rabbi Ishmael Kohen Gadol. You did not want to witness the death of the one who served before the Dwelling Place (Hashem), who merited to enter the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) and emerge alive with all his strength and might. Those wicked ones did not immediately agree to sever your head, for they desired to mock you, until those offspring of snakes cast lots. The lot fell upon you, the Nasi (Prince) of Israel, you who live eternally. Then they hurried to spill your blood like an ox, and then Rabbi Ishmael grabbed your head and screamed with a voice as bitter as a Shofar (ram's horn): "Where is the tongue that hurried to teach with beautiful words, and how does it now lick the dust?"

Please, Merciful and Gracious One, Sea of Mercy, how can eating and drinking be pleasant to me after standing before the Ten Martyrs? Indeed, I no longer desire any pleasures, and all my will from now on is to stop searching after "broken cisterns" (empty pursuits). Purify me from now on from all types of filth and grime with which I have defiled my soul and spirit from the day I reached maturity. I have already been ground into the finest dust, and I have been scattered to all four corners of the earth and distant seas. Like one who cleaves and breaks the earth, my bones have been scattered in the lowest depths, in abysses and darkness. I have been caught in thousands and tens of thousands of nets and snares, and darkness and the shadow of death envelop me days and nights, and I do not know where light dwells or where the joy of life is.

Please, in the merit of all these Ten Martyrs, open for me a window to true life, for "knowledge is too wondrous for me" and the paths of life are hidden from me. All day long my heart is enticed by the wisdom of the nations, who slaughtered us, burned us, and afflicted us with all kinds of harsh and bitter afflictions. All their wisdom is but a temptation to trap us in snares and pits. For we have the Torah of G-d, letters that fly even at the hour when the parchment is burned. We have the Luchos (Tablets) and the Ten Commandments engraved upon them, and they are hidden beneath the Har HaBayis (Temple Mount).

Please, Merciful and Gracious One, let us hear anew at every moment and every hour the Ten Commandments from on high, in the merit of these ten Tzaddikim (righteous ones) who live eternally.

Master of the World, Mighty over all the mighty, Victor over all the victors, please avenge the vengeance of Rabban Shimon ben Rabban Gamliel, who was the Nasi (Prince) after the Second Temple, and whose sentence went out to be executed along with Rabbi Ishmael Kohen Gadol (the High Priest). He wept and pleaded to be killed first, until he won the lot to be first. When his head was severed and Rabbi Ishmael Kohen Gadol screamed over him with a voice as bitter as a Shofar, "Where is the tongue that hurried to teach with beautiful words?" Then the Seraphim (angels) on high cried out in bitterness: "You who wrap Yourself in light as a garment, the enemy blasphemes Your great and awesome Name!" May the day come when You will pay our enemies double, and in the blink of an eye, build Jerusalem in their merit.