Meimei Yisrael [“Waters of Israel”: Collected Poetry]

This collection of poetry composed in Najara's youth,” is a mixture of the religious and the secular. At times the poet speaks of “havayoth de-Abbaye ve-Rava” (the Talmudic disputations of Abbaye and Rava) (f. 153r.). At other times, he advocates lifting downtrodden spirits by drinking red wine in a garden setting at sunset” (f.148r.). The title “Waters of Israel” derives from the verse in II Kings 5:12