Piyyuttim (also: Piyyutim or Piyutim) - What are piyyutim, piyutim? Piyyutim or Piyutim is the Hebrew word for religious liturgical poems in Judaism. Piyutim or Piyyutim are usually sung, recited, or chanted in synagogue services and are written in Hebrew or Aramaic. Piyuttim or Piyutim have been composed since the time when the Mishnah of the Talmud was compiled and written down, about 10 B.C.E. until 200 C.E. or 220 C.E. There are many Rosh Hashanah liturgical poems or piyyutim or piyutim that are recited during the morning prayer services ("Shacharit" or "Shaharit" in Hebrew) on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and the second day of Rosh Hashanah. These piyutim or piyyutim are inserted into the Amidah of the morning service, the Amidah being the central focus of the prayer service, originally consisting of a series of 18 blessings but later on increased to 19 blessings. "Amidah" means "standing" in Hebrew, as the series of 19 blessings are recited while standing at attention before G-d. Most Machzorim or Mahzorim ("holiday prayer books" in Hebrew) will contain the following list of piyutim or piyyutim.

  • Yareiti ("I Am In Awe" in Hebrew): Source: Yekutiel ben Moses (or Jekuthiel ben Moses) of Speyer (Germany), in the 11th century C.E. Recited on the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • Melekh Amon [literally "King Tutor" in Hebrew, meaning "G-d (or the Torah, which is the word of G-d) is a (or my) tutor"]: Source: Simeon bar Isaac ha-Gadol ben Abun of Mainz or Mayence (Germany), 950 C.E. - circa 1015 C.E. or circa 950 C.E. - 1030 C.E., the greatest Ashkenazi (German-Jewish) liturgical poet in the Middle Ages. Recited on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • Atiti Le‑Hanenakh ("I Have Come To Implore" in Hebrew): Source: Simeon bar Isaac of Mainz or Mayence (Germany). Recited on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • Ata Hu Eloheinu ("You Are Our G-d" in Hebrew): Source: Eleazar Ben Kallir or Kalir (circa 570 C.E. - circa 630 C.E.) of Tiberias, Israel, the preeminent liturgical poet of the Gaonic era. This is a piyut that begins a series of piyut that are inserted into and which lead to the third blessing in the Amidah, known as the "Kedushah" ("Kedushah" means both "holiness" and "separation", as in being different, separate and holy by doing things differently even in those areas which we are similar to other nations). The following piyut are what follows "Ata Hu Eloheinu" before the "Kedushah" is recited.
  • Tair Ve‑Tari'a ("Rouse Yourself And Sound The Shofar" in Hebrew): Source: Eleazar Ben Kallir or Kalir of Tiberias, Israel. Recited on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • U‑Vekhen Va‑Adonai Pakad Et Sarah ("And The L-rd Visited Sarah" in Hebrew): Source: Rabbi Simeon of Mainz or Mayence (Germany). Recited on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, this liturgical poem is recited instead of Tair Ve‑Tari'a.
  • Eten Le‑Fo'ali Tzedek ("I will Proclaim My Master's Justice" in Hebrew): Source: Rabbi Simeon of Mainz or Mayence (Germany).
  • Adirei Ayumah ("Those Mighty And Awesome" in Hebrew): Source: Eleazar Ben Kallir or Kalir of Tiberias, Israel. Recited on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • Melekh Elyon/Melekh Evyon or Melech Elyon/Melech Evyon ("Most High King" in Hebrew): Source: Rabbi Simeon of Mainz or Mayence (Germany). Recited on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to substitute a different piyut or piyyut on the theme of G-d's kingship.
  • Kol Shinanei Shahak or Kol Shinanei Shachak ("All The Hosts Of Heaven" in Hebrew). Recited on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
  • Le‑el Orekh Din ("G-d Who Arranges Judgment" in Hebrew): Source: Eleazar Ben Kallir or Kalir of Tiberias, Israel. This piyut or piyyut is the final piyut or piyyut in the series of piyut or piyyut that lead up to the "Kedushah", but it is not thematically connected to the "Kedushah" blessing that immediately follows it; rather, it stands alone as an expression of judgment, a major theme of Rosh Hashanah. The piyutim or piyyutim that have been listed up to this point in the prayer service are concerned with G-d as King; the Gaonic additions focus on the Book of Life. The poem "Le‑el Orekh Din", however, details the process of the trial and the judgment itself and thus adds a solemn note to the liturgy.
  • Hineni (this piyut introduces the Mussaf or Musaf service I.E. the "additional" service to the regular prayer service). Hineni means either "Behold" or "Here I Am" in Hebrew. It was the response of all the patriarchs and prophets of Israel to the call of G-d, and signals total dedication and commitment to Jewish life.

Other popular Rosh Hashanah piyutim or piyyutim are as follows:

  • Melech Be'Mishpat Ya'amid Eretz ("A King Establishes The Land With Judgment" in Hebrew): Source: Eleazar Ben Kallir or Kalir of Tiberias, Israel.
  • Ha'aderet Veha'emunah ("The Magnificence And The Faithfulness" in Hebrew).
  • "Imru L'Elohim" ("Praise G-d" in Hebrew). A popular piyut or piyyut that was recited by Jews who lived in Poland.
  • "Ma'aseh Elohenu" ("Made By G-d" in Hebrew; "Ma'aseh" means either "practice", "doing", or "making" in Hebrew). This was also a popular piyut or piyyut that was recited by Jews who lived in Poland.
  • V'Chol Ma'aminim ("All Believe" in Hebrew). This piyut or piyyut declares how all men share in the belief of G-d.
  • Avinu Malkeinu ("Our Father, our King" in Hebrew). The title for this piyut or piyyut is also one of the lesser used names of G-d.

The following is an important Rosh Hashanah piyut or piyyut prayer:

  • Unetaneh Tokef or Un'taneh Tokef or U'n'taneh Tokef or Unetane Tokef or U'netanneh Tokef ("Let Us Proclaim" or "We Proclaim" in Hebrew, the first part in the declaration: "Unetaneh Tokef Kedushat Ha-Yom" which means "Let Us Proclaim The Sacred Power Of This Day" or "We Proclaim The Sacred Power Of This Day" in Hebrew): Source: Rabbi Amnon of Mainz, Germany who lived in the 10th century. This Rosh Hashanah prayer is one of the most important prayers. It discusses the themes of this "Day of Judgment", saying that G-d will decide who will live and who will die, and concludes with the well-known phrase, "But penitence, prayer and charity avert the evil decree".

Customs of Rosh Hashanah
Shofar
Traditional Greetings
Shehecheyanu or Shechecheyanu Blessing
Foods
Seder
Readings From Scripture
Liturgical Poems - Piyutim
Tashlich - Tashlikh - Tashlik
Wearing White

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