ABUDRAHAM, DAVID.

Abudraham of Seville’s liturgical commentary deals with all synagogue ritual. He was motivated to write the work in response to contemporary liturgical confusion, “the lengthy exile and intensive persecution have lead to a variety of customs in different kingdoms so that most ordinary folk, when they offer their prayers to God are practically clueless about their meaning and have no understanding of the sense and structure of liturgical practices.” Abudraham’s work accordingly does not only provides clear rules, but devotes much space to the reasons behind many customs, as well as commenting on the text of the prayers and the more important piyutim. The work pays close attention to the text and interpretation of all daily, Sabbath, monthly, Festival and fast-day prayers as well as providing guidance on lectionaries, the calender and an extensive treatise upon the various benedictions. The work comprises an invaluable encyclopaedia concerning the ritual customs of Spain, France, Provence and Germany. It also influenced the future direction of Sephardic liturgy by reflecting its contemporary confusion. See S.C. Reif, Judaism and Hebrew Prayer (1993) pp. 204-5.