Zemiroth Israel [religious poetry]

NAJARA, ISRAEL

Giovanni di Gara

Venice

1599-1600

Three parts subtitled Olath Tamid, Olath Shabbath and Olath Chodesh. Appended: Meimei Israel. Separate title page for each part. Hebrew text with instructions in Judeo-Italian. On verso of title "Olat Shabbat" inscription of former owner in Spanish: "Este libro es del S. Jacob Lunbroso que el Dio guarde en Ragusa, Junio 1632."

Vinograd, Venice 872; Habermann, di Gara 188; Mehlman 1282; not in Adams

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