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

NAJARA, ISRAEL BEN MOSHE

Giovanni di Gara

Venice

1600

FIRST EDITION. Title within typographical border

Vinograd, Venice 901; Habermann, di Gara, 198a, 188

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