Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Shlomoh ben Yehudah ha-Bavli
This is the ofan piyyuṭ for Shabbat Bereshit by Shlomo haBavli, with English rhyming acrostic translation and a new rhyming acrostic translation in English. Less commonly recited in Minhag Polin, It is found in Sefer haMinhagim of R. Isaac Tyrnau.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Unknown
An anonymous piyyuṭ, inserted into Nishmat Kol Ḥai, which, in the old Worms rite (as well as, according to some commentators, the Mainz rite), was recited on Shabbat Bereshit and day 1 of Shavuot. It describes God being clad in the ten midrashic divine garments at creation, the giving of the Torah, and the defeat of enemies.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
Yah Hatsel Yonah is a traditional piyyut for Ḥanukkah, of unknown origin (although it spells out the name Yehuda as an acrostic). Beloved in Iraqi Jewish circles, it discusses the hope that Israel, likened to a dove, will be able to celebrate Ḥanukkah during a time of true redemption. Included is a relatively literal (but de-gendered) translation, as well as a poetic singable one.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Unknown
A series of fourteen short couplets describing the fourteen traditional stages of the Haggadah, written in Judeo-Italian and first published in the famous 1609 Venice Haggadah of Isaac Gershon. The Italian used in the Venice Haggadah lacks a lot of the most divergent aspects of the Judeo-Italian languages, sticking to a more mainline Tuscan grammatical norm, but there are enough obsolete, poetic, or dialectal forms that several footnotes have been included to explain them. Also included is an original English-language rhyming translation!
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Unknown
A series of ten short couplets describing the ten plagues afflicting the Egyptians in Egypt, written in Judeo-Italian and first published in the famous 1609 Venice Haggadah of Isaac Gershon. The Italian used in the Venice Haggadah lacks a lot of the most divergent aspects of the Judeo-Italian languages, sticking to a more mainline Tuscan grammatical norm, but there are enough obsolete, poetic, or dialectal forms that several footnotes have been included to explain them. Also included is an original English-language rhyming translation!
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Yoav ben Yeḥiel of Rome
This rəshut, or introductory piyyuṭ, is recited in the Italian rite before Nishmat Kol Ḥai on (the first day) of Rosh haShanah. It was written by the fourteenth-century payṭan R. Yoav ben Yeḥiel of Rome. Also included is a rhyming acrostic translation.
Contributed by: Mordekhai ben Yitsḥaq ha-Levi, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
A complete poetic translation (all six verses) of Maoz Tsur. As far as the editor knows this is the first translation of Maoz Tsur to both (a) cover all the verses relatively accurately and (b) preserve the strict ABAB-BBCCB rhyme scheme of the original. (Reb Zalman’s comes close but it goes ABAB-CCDDC instead). If it sounds violent, that’s because it *is* violent. Ḥanukkah is a holiday about actively fighting against assimilation and abuse. A lot of Maoz Tsur translations are censored, but it’s a powerful, loud, and even nationalist statement.
Contributed by: Mordekhai ben Yitsḥaq ha-Levi, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
This is a complete poetic rhyming translation of Maoz Tsur with all six of its stanzas including a seventh, final stanza written by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer specifically for Yom ha-Atsmau’ut.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Menaḥem ben Jacob of Worms
This is the Minhag Ashkenaz (western Germany, codified in Frankfurt) Maȝaravot for the seventh day of Pesaḥ, by Rabbi Menaḥem ben Jacob of Worms.
Contributed by: Yaaqov ben Meir, Yonatan ben Uziel, the Mesorah (TaNaKh), Ḥabaquq haNavi, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
The haftarah for the second day of Shavuot, Ḥabakkuk 2:20-3:19, interspersed with a cantillated text of the Targum Yonatan ben Uzziel. Since Targum Yonatan is a bit more drash-heavy than Targum Onkelos, it is translated separately as well. The haftarah reading includes the piyyut Yetsiv Pitgam, with an acrostic rhyming translation of the poem, with the second-to-last verse restored to its rightful place, as well as a concluding paragraph for the meturgeman to recite, as found in the Maḥzor Vitry.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Avraham ibn Ezra
“Yom Nilḥamu Vi” is the reshut offered before the Barkhu preceding the Shaḥarit blessings before the Shema. It is the eighth reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Avraham ibn Ezra
“Nishmat Emunim” is the third reshut offered before Nishmat at the outset of the Zemirot (preceding Shaḥarit). It is the fifth reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
“Avnei Y’qar” is a succint piyyut for Ḥanukkah, traditionally attributed to R. Abraham ibn Ezra, and particularly beloved by the Yemenites. Interestingly, it doesn’t mention the miracle of the oil whatsoever, focusing on the degradation of the land under Greek occupation as well as the Hasmonean victory itself. Included is a poetic acrostic translation into English.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Yehudah ben Shmuel haLevi
Originally written by Yehuda haLevi for the seventh day of Pesaḥ, Yom le-Yabasha — a celebration of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and the establishment of the covenant as signified by the circumcision and tsitsit — it quickly became a beloved piyyut on that occasion and more.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Yehudah ben Shmuel haLevi
“Halanofelim Tequmah” is the second reshut offered before Nishmat at the outset of Shaḥarit (concluding the Zemirot). It is the fourth reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Yehudah ben Shmuel haLevi
An original rhyming translation of the ahavah piyyut for Shabbat ‘Éqev, a poem by Yehuda haLevi that discusses the halakhot of making and wearing tefillin in honor of the fact that tefillin are mentioned in the parashah.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Mosheh ben Yaaqov ibn Ezra
“Nilah l’Heilil” is the fourth reshut offered before Nishmat at the outset of the Zemirot (preceding Shaḥarit). It is the sixth reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Yitsḥak ben Yehudah Ibn Ghayyāth HaLevi
“Heikhal [Hashem]” is the reshut offered before the Qaddish preceding Barkhu and the Shaḥarit blessings before the Shema. It is the seventh reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.
Contributed by: Shlomo ibn Gabirol, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)
This is a variation of the qinah for Tishah b’Av, “Shomron Qol Titein” in its Ashkenazi nusaḥ. Isaac Gantwerk Mayer first shared this translation via his Facebook page on Tishah b’Av, 2022.
Contributed by: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Haḇiḇ ben Yitsḥaq Toledano
“Qol Ohalah” is the reshut offered before the Torah service following Shaḥarit. It is the ninth reshut among the reshuyot in the Old Sefaradi Tiqun for Shabbat Ḥazon — the final shabbat before 9 Av.

