Rabbi Israel Najara

Rabbi Israel HaLevi ben Moshe Najara – the famous paytan (composer of liturgical poems, author of Shabbat and holiday hymns), a disciple of the Arizal, and the author of the Shabbat hymn "Yah Ribon Olam" Yahrzeit - 1 Tammuz Burial place - Gaza, Israel   Rabbi Israel ben Moshe Najara was born in Damascus in 1555 – in 1625 he ascended to the Heavenly Yeshiva in Gaza. He came from a family of rabbis and kabbalists who had been exiled from Spain. His grandfather settled in Constantinople after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. His father, Moshe Najara, who later moved to Tzfat, was connected in particular with Rabbi Moshe di Trani, one of the outstanding Jewish sages of Tzfat. Moshe Najara then settled in Damascus – the capital of one part of the Ottoman Empire. Jewish life there was not as intense as in Tzfat or Jerusalem, but it still flourished greatly. He later lived for a long time in Tzfat and eventually became rabbi of the Jewish community of Gaza, which was quite large at that time. He remained in this position until his death in 1625. His son took over this post, according to the testimony of the historian David Conforte, who left behind the famous book "Kore HaDorot" with very interesting information about the Sephardic sages of the 16th and 17th centuries. Israel Najara was a renowned composer of piyutim – most of them were included in Sephardic prayer collections. The most famous poem among them is "Ketubah", dedicated to the holiday of Shavuot. According to the symbolism of the Tzfat kabbalists, Najara portrays Shavuot as the marriage covenant between G-d and Israel, forged at Sinai. This poem is sung every year on Shavuot in Sephardic communities: when the Aron HaKodesh is opened and the Torah scroll is taken out, those gathered read the text of the "ketubah" – the marriage contract concluded between Israel and the Torah. Streets in Jerusalem, Holon, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and other cities are named in honor of Israel Najara. Rabbi Israel Najara was one of the beloved disciples of the Arizal, and contemporaries recalled how enthusiastically his teacher spoke of him, relating that his hymns were held in great esteem in Heaven – שירותיו חשובות בשׁמים‎. The Arizal believed that the soul of King David was reincarnated in Najara. His most famous hymn, written in Aramaic, became part of the Zemirot Shabbat – "Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya" – יה רבון עלם ועלמיא‎, which is sung during the first Shabbat meal. In it, Najara asks Ha-Shem: "Save Your flock from the mouth of the lion! Bring Your people out of exile — the people You chose from among all nations." This song, like many notable works of the kabbalists, is an acrostic: the first letters of its five stanzas spell out the name "Israel." To this day it remains part of the Shirei Shabbat of many communities. Najara became the most beloved poet among the Jews of the East, his popularity rivaling the works of the greatest Jewish poet, Yehuda HaLevi. Rabbi Israel gave voice to the Jewish soul's yearning for its Creator, Israel's standing among the nations, the persecutions it endured, Israel's love for G-d, and the inner experience of a soul in prayer, turning to its Creator. Israel Najara's most famous collection is "Zemirot Yisrael Najara" (זמירות ישראל נגארה‎), published by the author himself in Tzfat in 1587, which contained עולת תמיד‎ — 225 piyutim for weekdays, שבת עולת‎ — 54 piyutim for Shabbat, and עולת חודש‎ — 67 piyutim for holidays. According to the Chida, the second volume of the collection "Zemirot Yisrael", titled ישראל שׁארית‎, remained partly unpublished. It survives in manuscript (No. 7), now held in the library of Beit HaMidrash עץ חײם‎ of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam. Toward the end of his life, Rabbi Israel Najara became rabbi of Gaza. For 5 years Rabbi Israel Najara sat in the honored seat of the Gaza rabbinate, until his death in 1625. He was buried in Gaza, and after him his son, Rabbi Moshe Najara, took the honored seat of the rabbinate. The era of rabbis from the Najara family was one of the periods of flourishing for the Jewish community of Gaza. Streets in Jerusalem, Holon, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and other cities are named in honor of Israel Najara. The Arizal on Najara's Piyutim Once, during the third Shabbat meal, Rabbi Israel Najara sat at the table singing his songs. Rabbi Isaac Luria, who was present, noticed that thousands upon thousands of angels were descending from Heaven to listen to his singing. Suddenly he saw the angels begin to leave the place of the meal. This happened because Najara had rolled up his sleeves, leaned on the table, and removed his hat. Luria instructed his disciples Chaim Vital and Rabbi Cohen to tell Najara that his singing had attracted myriads of angels, but that his improper conduct had driven them away. Najara was horrified, and in his shame he sat up straight again and resumed singing his songs, and the angels began to return.  

Sipurei Tzadikim

The Gilgul of Achiyah HaShiloni and Israel Najara   That night Rabbi Chaim Pinto HaGadol was unable to rise to recite Tikkun Chatzot in the synagogue, as he usually did. When the shamash, who regularly joined the rabbi for Tikkun Chatzot, arrived, he was astonished to find himself alone in the synagogue. He was even more amazed when he suddenly heard a voice coming from the Aron HaKodesh: "Where is Rabbi Chaim Pinto? Why has he not come, as usual, to recite the Tikkun Chatzot prayer? Why does he not sing praises to his Creator? All the heavenly hosts are waiting for his songs and prayers." The attendant was very frightened. He gathered his courage and, trembling, asked: "Who is speaking?" "It is I," the voice answered, "Rabbi Israel Najara. Go quickly to Rabbi Chaim and tell him that he carries a spark of the neshama of the prophet Achiyah HaShiloni. He must stop tormenting himself, for his sin has already been forgiven." [The story of the Sefer HaRif can be found here: https://silatehilim.com/kivrei_tsadikim/хаим-пинто-а-гадоль-эс-сувейра/] The voice continued: "Once I gave my Creator pleasure with the songs I composed, but from the day I departed from this world, only Rabbi Chaim Pinto has mastered the depth of song." The attendant shuddered at the sound of the voice. He hurried to Rabbi Chaim's house to repeat everything he had heard. But before he could open his mouth, Rabbi Chaim said: "You heard the voice of Rabbi Israel Najara in the synagogue. Blessed are you, and blessed is your portion!"  

How Rabbi Israel Najara Inspired IDF Soldiers to Sing

The famous "paytan" (poet/singer) Rabbi Israel Najara died in Gaza, and his resting place is also located there. When the Jews left Gaza, the cemetery was forgotten, and along with it, the location of his grave. During the Sinai Campaign, when Jews captured Gaza, he was remembered, and attempts were made to find his burial place. While Gaza was in the hands of the Israeli army, an officer set out with his companions in search of ancient synagogues, the place where Samson the Mighty had lived, and other Jewish landmarks. Among other things, he was interested in the ancient cemetery and the resting place of Rabbi Israel Najara. But no one knew anything, and he could not find the place. Before leaving Gaza, as he sat at headquarters expressing regret over the unsuccessful search, an unknown soldier jumped up and said loudly: "I think I know where that place is." The officer was glad to hear these words and asked him to come along and show him the burial place of the great paytan. They went there, asked the neighbors, and finally found the remains of an ancient Jewish cemetery, and it was clear that the burial place of the great poet was there as well. The officer thanked the soldier and asked him to explain how he had known that the tzadik's grave was there. The soldier answered him: "We entered Gaza as a full company, and we were very tired. We had marched all night on foot, mortars on our shoulders, packs in our hands, walking half-asleep, walking and stretching. We were dead tired, and our eyes were already closing. When we entered Gaza, we wanted to sing to mark that we had arrived, but we could not sing. We were so exhausted we had no strength for anything. But when we reached this particular place — a 'spirit of song' suddenly rose up within us, and we began to sing aloud, easily and joyfully. We sang wonderful songs. We asked ourselves what had happened at this place, where we had suddenly found the strength to sing, and we could not explain it to ourselves. But when I heard your accounts of Rabbi Israel Najara, my heart began to pound, and it told me that the power of song had come from the power of the poet, and that surely his resting place was here — and so it turned out to be." The officer, writing down the whole story in his notebook, asked the soldier: "What is your name?" The unknown soldier smiled and said: "Are we not in the city of Samson? I will answer you as the unknown one answered Samson's father, Manoach: 'Why do you ask my name?'" The officer turned pale upon hearing this answer. For it is written in the Book of Judges at that very passage: "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wondrous?" (Judges 13:18) It was an angel of G-d who spoke with Manoach.   Yah Ribon Olam [composed as an acrostic spelling Israel – the name of Rabbi Israel Najara] Y Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya, Ovadei Gevurtach Ve'timhaya, Shefar Kadamai Lehachavaya. Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya L-rd, Master of the Universe, You are the King over the kings of kings. It is fitting for me to declare Your mighty works and wonders. Sh Shevachin Asader Tzafra Verashma, Lach Elaha Kadisha, Boreh Kol Nafsha, Irin Kadishin Uvnei Enasha, Chevat Bara Ve'of Shemaya. Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya Praises will I offer morning and evening: To You, Holy G-d, Creator of all souls: angels and sons of men, Beasts of the field and birds of the sky. R Ravrevin Ovadach Vetakifin, Machich Rama Vezakif Kefifin, Lu Yechi Gevar Shenin Alfin, Lo Ye'ul Gevurtach Bechushbanaya. Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya Great are Your deeds and mighty. You bring down the haughty and raise up the bowed. And even if a man were to live a thousand years, He could not recount the works of Your might. E Elaha Dilei Yekar Urvuta. Perok Yat Anach Mipum Aryavata, Ve'apek Yat Amach Migo Galuta Amach Di Vecharat Mikol Amaya. Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya L-rd, Whose is glory and greatness, Save Your flock from the lion's mouth, Bring Your people out of exile, The people You chose from among all nations! L Lemikdashach Tuv, Ulkodesh Kudshin, Atar Di Ve'yechedun Ruchin Venafshin, Vizamerun Lach, Shirin Verachashin Birushelem Karta Deshufraya. Yah Ribon Olam Ve'almaya, Ant Hu Malka Melech Malchaya Return to Your Sanctuary, to the Holy of Holies, To the source of joy of every soul, And they shall raise up hymns and prayers to You In Jerusalem, city of Your beauty! Today most Mekubalim enjoy listening to Rabbi Israel Najara's songs during their visits to the graves of tzadikim – it is his song, in particular, that helps create the special atmosphere for Tikunim at the resting places of tzadikim. (http://jhistory.nfurman.com/lessons8/street22.htm)