Ayom Tzivah Et 'Amo (Kurd)

Maqam: Kurd

This is a piyyut for the Sabbath, for which we know only the author’s first name, Elazar. The title of the piyyut gives the instruction to sing it according to the melody of another piyyut in the maḥzor. Although the maḥzor indicates that this piyyut is a seliḥa for the Sabbath of the Biblical portion Shoftim, only one sentence suggests the topic of seliha (repentance)- im ta’asu zot ashreikhem ve-yimḥal Elohim pish’eihem - “If you do so, you will be praised, and God will forgive your transgressions.” The poet weaves into the piyyut fragments of biblical verses and references from the book of Isaiah that are recited (in the Sephardic and Eastern rites) before the Sabbath morning qiddush.