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Initial work by Solomon David b. Shimon of Beniste, dated, is a liturgical poem in honor of R. Shimon b. Yohai. The second by the scribe Hayyim b. Yosef Yifrah is a liturgical poem for the circumcision ceremony. The fourth, signed Shalom b. Yosef Yifrah and Moshe b. Misod Kohen, contains a map of Erez Israel and several liturgies. The final, mis-bound, is signed by the initial scribe, and contains a poem in honor of R. Mahluf b. Yosef Abuhazirah. Piyyut is a lyrical composition intended to embellish an obligatory prayer or any other religious ceremony, communal or private. In a wider sense, piyyut is the totality of compositions composed in various genres of Hebrew liturgical poetry from the first centuries of the Common Era until the beginning of the Haskalah. In ancient times, the piyyutim were intended to replace most of the set versions of prayer and to serve as substitutes. They ensured variety of the obligatory prayers, mainly on Sabbaths and festivals. In a later period, when the prayers became fixed, sections of piyyut were interspersed in certain places within the set pattern of the prayers. Naturally, most of the very extensive piyyut literature is devoted to the adornment of the major holy days. However, during the early oriental (eastern) period of the history of the piyyut, liturgical compositions were also produced in great abundance for regular Sabbaths, for simple fast days, and even for weekdays. Obligatory prayers were also embellished with special sets of piyyutim for private occasions, such as weddings, circumcisions, and mourning. |
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