Mordecai Astruc (מרדכי אסטרוק; fl. late 17th century) was a Jewish liturgical poet from Carpentras, France. He was the author of several piyyutim printed in Seder ha-Tamid (Avignon, 1760), a collection of prayers used in the Provençal rite practiced at Carpentras, Isle, Avignon, and Cavaillon. One of his notable works is a prayer of thanksgiving beginning "Ish hayah be-tam lebabo," well known for the circumstances that led to its creation. In 1682 a Jew of Carpentras was murdered, and a mob attacked the Jews' quarters. A riot was narrowly averted by the intervention of the authorities. In response, the community established the day on which the disturbance occurred (the 9th of Nisan) as a feast-day in memory of the rescue. This poem was selected to be recited in the synagogue on this occasion.
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Contributed by:
Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut), Unknown, Mordecai Astruc
The Seder ha-Tamid, a Provençal (Nusaḥ Comtat Venaissin) siddur published in Avignon in 1766, has liturgical additions for an amazing five different local festivals — one for Avignon, and two each for Carpentras and Cavaillon. Here’s a series of piyyutim for the ninth of Nisan in Carpentras. On 9 Nisan 5442 (17 April 1682), the gentile murderer of a Jew from Carpentras was drowned according to law. A mob began to form to attack the Jews for deigning to not be murdered. The rector of the comtat, Michele Antonio Vibò, decided to send guards to protect the Jews from the mob. This decision was celebrated by the Jews with multiple piyyuṭim and a full recitation of Hallel. Uniquely for the minor Purims analyzed in the Seder ha-Tamid so far, we know the author of one of these piyyutim, a sage and payṭan by the name of R. Mordecai Astruc! . . .
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