Names Flashcards
Pirkoy ben Baboy
Lived in Bavel in the 700’s
Advocated stopping recitation of piyutim when there was no persecution. But regular Torah and prayer could be recited.
R’ Saadya Gaon
Introduced alternating rhyme patterns
Introduced anadiplosis-which started and ended each stanza with the same word
introduced philosophy, theology into piyut
traditionalist and innovator-he had a great influence on Hispano-Hebrew hymnists
His language was praised by Avraham Ibn Ezra, but some are hard for regular people to understand.
R’ Chasdai Ibn Shaprut
915-970 in Spain
Leader of Jews in Umayyads
Became a great physician in Cordoba, a diplomat for the caliph
When he had power, he sponsored intellectuals, including poets
Encouraged copying and importing books
Elazar HaKallir
Lived between 500-700 in Israel
The most prolific classical payatan whose works are used today. He contributed to many slichos, kinos, and hoshanos
Followed a carefully regulated stress pattern in the syllables of the piyut
Danus ben Labrat
Born in Morocco in the 900’s, studies under Saadya Gaon.
Introduced Arabic meter on how poems should sound
brought his poetry to Spain at age 30
Accepted as main poet of Ibn Shaprut
Only a few poems survived, many lost
Attacked the linguistic ideas of ibn Seruk
Avraham Ibn Ezra
1093–1167
Was the main paytan linked to the transition from the Golden Age of Hispano-Hebrew poetry to its next era
Was a friend of R’ Yehudah HaLevi
Wrote approx. 100 works of Bible commentary, science, philosophy, philology, and poetry
Highly praised the piyutim Shmuel HaNagid
Lived for many years outside of the various Spanish kingdoms
Traveled for 27 years, writing and teaching for people who supported him in North Africa, Provence, Italy, France, and England
Viewed himself as a survivor with a mission to maintain the ways of Hispano-Hebrew learning and poetry by
introducing them to other Jewish communities
Menachem ibn Saruk
Born in Tortosa, Spain, then moved to Cordoba
court poet to ibn Shaprut
composed on Messianic themes, praises of ibn Shaprut
composed in the eastern style of Bavel and Eretz Yisrael
composed a partial Hebrew dictionary (“Machberes”)
Refused to use Arabic explanation for Hebrew words
Yosef ibn Avitor
940-1025, born to old Spanish family, learned in Cordoba under R’ Moshe ben Chanoch
served as halachic authority for Spanish Jews
Infuenced in halacha and poetry by the Eastern tradition
400 poems survive
Shmuel HaNagid
993-1056, Born and raised in Cordoba, forced to flee to more southern Spain during Berber revult where he slowly worked his way up the ranks politically
Leaser of Spanish Jews politically and in Torah law-called Nagid
Prime minister of the Muslim Spanish state of Granada and military commander
wrote over 2,000 poems
Known for his poems having to do with war and success in battle
wrote the poem collections: Ben Tehillim, Ben Mishlei, Ben Koheles
Shlomo Ibn Gabirol
1021-1057, family fled Cordoba for Saragossa; his parton in Saragossa, Rav Yekutiel was executed and Ibn Gabriol headed south for Granada and met Shmmuel HaNagid
philosopher
Used bibical verses out of original contet
Yitzchak Ibn Giyat
1038-1089
Student of Shmuel HaNagid
Head of Torah acadamy in Lucena
Many liturgical works - typified by devotion, asceticism, and lamentation
Moshe ibn Ezra
1055-1138
born in Granada, fleeing when many jews were murdered in the uprising of 1066
studied under ibn Giyat
returned to Granada and help a position of distinction
His fortune was confiscated in Almoravid invation; eventually wanders in Christian northern Spain, bemoaning the loss of his old world and what he considered its higher culture
balanced and clear
bittersweet tenderness, especially in poems of exile
nearly always has refernces to Biblical verses
Yehudah HaLevi
1057-1141
Traveled from Christian Spain to Granada and met Moshe ibn Ezra
Wandered in Southern Spain due to Almoravid Extremist takeover
Settled in Castile under tolerant Alfonso VI
Settled in Toledo as physician for court circles
Left as a wandered after anti-Jewish rioting and witnessed devastation of Jewish communities by both Christian and Muslims
Author of Kuzari
Set sail for Israel in 1140
Yosef Kimchi
1105-1170
Born in Southern Spain, settled in Narbonne, Provence to flee Almohad invasion, perscution
involved in study of Hebrew grammar, and Bible commentary
Meshullam Depiera
1200-1265
Lived in northeaster, Christian Spain
innovative in poetic style
poems did not become so popular in his time, perhaps because they rejected Spanish-Arabic syle
50 poems discovered in 1920’s
His poems were abstrace, anti-secular and used rabbinic dictation
scorns grammarians-unlike previous Spanish poets
