Piyyut: Liturgical Epic and Poetics of Tradition

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The work is a study of Jewish liturgical poetry (piyyuț) from late antiquity in Byzantine Palestine (in the fifth–sixth century ce) through the eleventh century in Ashkenaz (the Rhineland) and northern Egypt. This poetry is based on scriptural lectionaries composed for Sabbath and Festivals during the ritual year, and totally infused with rabbinic homiletical exegesis. The focus of analysis is on the theological contents and literary poetics of this material in its various genres over the centuries (the major ones treated being the Qedushta and Yotzer liturgies and their sub-genres); and it also traces the emergence of prosodic treatments of the given theme from the early condensed rhyming stanzas to long epic compositions, which extend from medium to monumental proportions. For coherence, the main theme chosen is the epic narrative of the Exodus event (Exodus 3–15), with special attention to particular motifs. The rendition of this narrative into diverse types of prosodic verse marks the emergence of a liturgical epic in Judaism. This liturgical poetry was recited in a synagogue as part its worship service. It was thus a public and pedagogical performance.</jats:p>