2. Yitbārek ‘Egzi’abǝḥer…Nǝgru Lǝ’egzi’abǝḥer

A prayer for Friday night, as the Sabbath begins. The melody remains the same from one Sabbath to another, but the text is open to change. The same piece may be sung also after the Sabbath meal. The text partly draws on Psalm 107 but also includes composed passages. It praises God, the Patriarchs and their good deeds towards humankind, the poor and those who suffer, in that order. The text ends by reaffirming God’s power and sovereignty.

The piece is performed antiphonally: the choir repeats very precisely each of the soloist’s enunciations (soloist: A / choir: A). A single melodic formulation, first enunciated by the opening soloist, is repeated throughout the piece.