Piyyut

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Piyyut

A piyyut (plural piyyutim, Hebrew

Hebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic languages of the Afro-Asiatic languages. Modern Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Classical Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jews communities around the world....
????, and [piju'tim], from Greek poietes "poet") is a Jewish

Judaism

Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts....
liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services

Jewish services

Jewish services are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
. Piyyutim have been written since Temple

Jewish temple

Jewish temple:*Jewish temple or The Jewish Temple, may refer to the original two ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the ancient Babylonians in 586 BCE, and the Second Temple was destroyed by Roman Empire in 70 CE....
times. Most piyyutim are in Hebrew

Hebrew language

Aramaic language

Aramaic is a Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. It has been the language of administration of empires and the language of divine worship....
, and most follow some poetic scheme, such as an acrostic

Acrostic

An acrostic is a poem or other writing in an alphabetic writing system, in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out another message....
following the order of the Hebrew alphabet

Hebrew alphabet

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Encyclopedia

A piyyut (plural piyyutim, Hebrew

Hebrew language

Judaism

Jewish services

Jewish temple

Hebrew language

Aramaic language

Acrostic

Hebrew alphabet

The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 letters used for writing the Hebrew language. Five of these letters have a different form when appearing as the last letter in a word....
or spelling out the name of the author.

Many piyyutim are familiar to regular attendees of synagogue services. For example, the best-known piyyut may be Adon Olam
Adon Olam

Adon Olam is one of the few strictly metrical hymns in the Jewish liturgy, the nobility of the diction of which and the smoothness of whose versification have given it unusual importance....
("Master of the World"), sometimes attributed to Solomon ibn Gabirol

Solomon ibn Gabirol

Solomon ibn Gabirol, also Solomon ben Judah was an al-Andalus Hebrew poet and Jewish philosopher. He was born in M?laga about 1021; died about 1058 in Valencia ....
in 11th century Spain

Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
. Its poetic form consists simply of rhyming iambic tetrameter, and it is so beloved that it is often sung at the conclusion of many synagogue services, after the ritual nightly saying of the Shema, and during the morning ritual of putting on tefillin

Tefillin

Tefillin, , also called phylacteries, are a pair of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with bible verses. The hand-tefillin, or shel yad, is worn by Jews wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers, while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above the forehead....
. Another well-beloved piyyut is Yigdal
Yigdal

Yigdal is a Jewish hymn which in various rituals shares with Adon 'Olam the place of honor at the opening of the morning and the close of the evening service....
("May God be Hallowed"), which is based upon the Thirteen Principles of Faith developed by Maimonides

Maimonides

Moses Maimonides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Maimon , the Rambam, and Musa ibn Maymun , was born in C?rdoba, Spain, Spain on March 30, 1135, and died in Egypt on December 13, 1204.....
.

The author of a piyyut is known as a paytan (plural paytanim).

Well-known piyyutim

What follows is a chart of some of the best-known and most-beloved piyyutim. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it tries to provide a flavor of the variety of poetic schemes and occasions for which these poems were written. Many of the piyyutim marked as being recited on Shabbat

Shabbat

Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
are songs traditionally sung as part of the home ritual observance of Shabbat

Shabbat

Name	Hebrew	Poetic scheme	Recited on
Adir Hu Adir Hu Adir Hu is a hymn sung by Jews worldwide at the Passover Seder. It switches rapidly between saying the virtues of God in an alphabet format , and expressing hope that God will "rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem speedily." Most of the virtues of God are adjectives ; however, a few are nouns....	??????? ????	Alphabetic acrostic	Passover Passover Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery....
Adon Olam Adon Olam Adon Olam is one of the few strictly metrical hymns in the Jewish liturgy, the nobility of the diction of which and the smoothness of whose versification have given it unusual importance....	?????? ??????	Iambic tetrameter Iambic tetrameter Iambic tetrameter is a meter in poetry. It refers to a line consisting of four iamb foot . The word "tetrameter" simply means that there are four feet in the line; iambic tetrameter is a line comprising four iambs....	Daily
Anim Zemirot Anim Zemirot *Anim Zemirot* is Jewish liturgical poem sung in the synagogue at the end of Shabbat morning services. Formally, it is known as Shir Hakavod , but it is often referred to as anim zemirot, after the first two words of the poem....		Double alphabetic acrostic	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... and Festivals Jewish holiday A Jewish holiday or festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as a holy or secular commemoration of an important event in Jewish history....
Akdamut Akdamut *Akdamut, or Akdamut Milin* or *Akdamus Milin* is a prominent piyyut recited annually on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot by Ashkenazi Jews....		Double alphabetic acrostic, then spells out "Meir, son of Rabbi Yitzchak, may he grow in Torah Torah The term "Torah" , or Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, refers to the entirety of Judaism's founding Halakha and ethical religious texts.... and in good deeds. Amen, and may he be strong and have courage." The author was Rabbi Meir bar Yitzchak "Shatz"	Shavuot Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan . Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day Names of God in Judaism#In English gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai....
Barukh El Elyon		Acrostic spells "Baruch Chazak", or "Blessed be he, with strength", or possibly "Baruch" is the author's name	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Berah Dodi	berach ????	Every stanza begins with the word "Berah"	Passover Passover Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery....
D'ror Yikra		Acrostic spells "Dunash," the name of author Dunash ben Labrat Dunash ben Labrat Dunash ha-Levi ben Labrat was a medieval Jewish commentator, poet, and grammarian of the Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain and a student of Rabbi Saadia Gaon.... .	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Ein Keloheinu Ein Keloheinu Ein Keloheinu means "there is none like our Names of God in Judaism" and is a well known Judaism hymn. Orthodox Judaism pronounce it as Ein Kelokeinu when referring to it outside of Jewish services, in order to avoid "10 Commandments" or otherwise violating the sanctity of reference to God....	??? ???????	First letters of first 3 stanzas spell "Amen Amen The word Amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts.... "	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... and Festivals Jewish holiday A Jewish holiday or festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as a holy or secular commemoration of an important event in Jewish history.... (Daily in the Sephardic tradition)
El Adon		Alphabetic acrostic	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... and Festivals Jewish holiday A Jewish holiday or festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as a holy or secular commemoration of an important event in Jewish history....
El Nora Alila		Refrain: "At this hour of Ne'ilah"	Ne'ilah (conclusion of Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur , also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are Atonement in Judaism and Repentance in Judaism.... )
Alei Tziyon		Iambic tetrameter; alphabetic acrostic; each stanza beings with the word alei; each line ends with the suffix -eiha (meaning "her" or "of hers", referring to Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and its List of Israeli cities in both population and area, with a population of 747,600 residents over an area of if Positions on Jerusalem East Jerusalem is included....	Tisha B'av Tisha B'Av is an annual ta'anit in Judaism, named for the ninth day of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar. The fast commemorates the destruction of the Solomon's Temple and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same date....
Geshem Geshem Geshem is one of the Hebrew words for "rain," applied mostly to the heavy rains which occur in Israel in the fall and winter. This half of the year is called in the Mishnah "yemot ha-geshamin" ....		Alphabetic acrostic; each stanza ends with standard alternating line	Sh'mini Atzeret Sukkot Sukkot , is a Hebrew Bible pilgrimage Jewish holiday that occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . The holiday lasts seven days, including Chol Hamoed....
Hakafot		Alphabetic acrostic	Simchat Torah Simchat Torah Simchat Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Bible Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret , which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei ....
Hayom T'am'tzenu		Alphabetic acrostic, each line ends "Amen Amen The word Amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts.... "	Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday commonly referred to as the "Judaism New Year." It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, as ordained in the Torah, in .... and Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur , also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are Atonement in Judaism and Repentance in Judaism....
Hoshanot		Alphabetic acrostic	Sukkot Sukkot Sukkot , is a Hebrew Bible pilgrimage Jewish holiday that occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . The holiday lasts seven days, including Chol Hamoed....
Ki Hinne Ka-Homer		Refrain: "Recall the Covenant, and do not turn towards the Evil Inclination"	Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur , also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are Atonement in Judaism and Repentance in Judaism....
Ki Lo Na'e		Alphabetic acrostic	Passover Passover Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery....
L'kha Dodi	????? ???????	Acrostic spells name of author, Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz was a kabbalist and poet perhaps best known for his composition of the song Lecha Dodi; sources differ as to when he wrote it .... .	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... evening
Mah Y'didut		Acrostic spells Menucha ("rest"); refrain	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Ma'oz Tzur Ma'oz Tzur "Ma'oz Tzur" , is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut. It is written in Hebrew language, and is usually sung on the holiday of Hanukkah, after lighting the festival lights....	???? ???	Acrostic spells name of author, "Mordechai"	Hanukkah Hanukkah File:PikiWiki Israel 146 Hanukka ?????.JpgHanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE....
M'nuha V'Simha		Acrostic spells name of author, "Moshe"	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Mipi El		Alphabetic acrostic	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... and Simchat Torah Simchat Torah Simchat Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Bible Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret , which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei ....
Shoshanat Ya'akov		Alphabetic acrostic	Purim Purim Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman 's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible Book of Esther ....
Tal		Reverse alphabetic acrostic; each stanza ends with "Tal"	Passover Passover Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery....
Tzur Mishelo		First stanza is the refrain	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Unetanneh Tokef Unetanneh Tokef *Unetanneh Tokef* or *Unesanneh Tokef* is a piyyut that has been a part of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur liturgy in rabbinical Judaism for centuries....	????? ????	Kedusha Kedusha The Kedusha is traditionally the third section of all Amidah recitations. In the silent Amidah it is a short prayer, but in the repetition, which requires a minyan, it is considerably lengthier.... of Musaf for these days	Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday commonly referred to as the "Judaism New Year." It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, as ordained in the Torah, in .... and Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur , also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are Atonement in Judaism and Repentance in Judaism....
Yah Ribon		Acrostic spells "Yisrael Israel Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area.... "	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Yedid Nefesh Yedid Nefesh Yedid Nefesh is the title of a piyyut. It is usually sung on the Jewish Sabbath....	???? ???	Acrostic spells Tetragrammaton Tetragrammaton Tetragrammaton The letters, properly read from right to left , are:\|-! Hebrew !! Letter name !! Pronunciation\|-valign=top\| ?'...	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Yom Shabbaton		Acrostic spells "Yehudah Judah (Biblical figure) Judah/Yehuda was, according to the Book of Genesis, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelites of Tribe of Judah; however some Biblical criticism view this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israelite confederation.... "	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Yom Ze L'Yisra'el		Acrostic spells "Yitzhak Isaac According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac The New Testament contains few references to Isaac. The Early Christianity views Abraham's willingness to follow God's command to Binding of Isaac as an example of faith and obedience.... "	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Yom Ze Mekhubad		Acrostic spells "Yisrael Israel Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area.... "	Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
Yigdal Yigdal Yigdal is a Jewish hymn which in various rituals shares with Adon 'Olam the place of honor at the opening of the morning and the close of the evening service....	????????	Metre	Daily

External links

- audio recordings of piyyutim, along with corresponding lyrics in Hebrew

Piyyut

Well-known piyyutim

See also

External links