Explore liturgical poems that help us transcend time and space to create meaningful High Holiday experiences. Rabbi Dorsch invites you to join him for this three-part series to guide you on a path in preparation for the upcoming High Holy Days.
A piyut (or plural – piyutim), is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyutim have been written since Temple times. Most piyutim are in Hebrew or Aramaic, and most follow some poetic scheme, such as an acrostic following the order of the Hebrew alphabet or spelling out the name of the author.
While we encourage you to participate in all three classes, each on will stand on it’s own focusing on different pieces of liturgy.
Classes will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- Tuesday, August 25th
- Tuesday, September 1st
- Tuesday, September 8th
Join us on ZOOM. Meeting ID: 897 5594 1052 | Passcode: 121150
Many piyutim are familiar to regular attendees of synagogue services. For example, the best-known piyut may be Adon Olam (“Master of the World”). Its poetic form consists of a repeated rhythmic pattern of short-long-long-long, and it is so beloved that it is often sung at the conclusion of many synagogue services, after the ritual nightly recitation of the Shema, and during the morning ritual of putting on tefillin phylacteries. Another beloved piyut is Yigdal (“May God be Hallowed”), which is based upon the Thirteen Principles of Faith set forth by Maimonides.