Zemiroth Israel [religious poetry]

First appearance of Ya-h Ribon Olam (f.7r), one of the most popular Sabbath Zemiroth (table hymns), since set to innumerable melodies. Israel Najara (1555?-1625?), rabbi of Gaza, was the first poet to compose and organize his piyutim according to the Near Eastern “maqam” style of musical composition. Najara's compositions are distinguished by their deep religiosity, references to Jewish suffering, and yearning for redemption. Najara learned much from the great Jewish poets of the Spanish-Arabic period, yet also frequently employed original forms and themes. Despite the wide circulation of his poetry, particularly among Oriental communities, his occasional imitation of foreign styles and use of erotic terminology was attacked by Menachem di Lonzano and especially Chaim Vital who forbade the singing of Najara’s songs entirely. See I. Zinberg, The Jewish Center of Culture in the Ottoman Empire (1974), pp. 94-106; EJ, Vol. XII, cols. 798-9