Each piyyut is in two sections – an opening (which spells out “Isaac”) and a closing (which spells out “Jacob”).

Each piyyut uses specific terminology related to the book itself:

• The piyyut for Genesis uses imagery of creation.
• The piyyut for Exodus uses “split,” a verb form found in the Song of the Sea.
• The piyyut for Leviticus uses terminology related to the Temple and the sacrificial rite.
• The piyyut for Numbers describes God with a word that can also mean “scout.”
• The piyyut for Deuteronomy refers to God as “Rock,” a term used in Deuteronomy to great effect.

This is the intended liturgical usage for these piyyutim:

• Once the first aliyah (the kohen aliyah in traditional communities) is called up by the gabbai, then the oleh (or the baal korei as a surrogate) reads the opening four lines.
• After this, the oleh says the opening aliyah blessing and the first aliyah is read.
• Then, the oleh says the closing aliyah blessing.
• Then the closing four lines are recited by the same person who read the opening four.
• Only after that, the second aliyah is called up, and the rest of the service proceeds as normal.

These piyyutim can be used at any time the opening line of the reading is said – on the Shabbat Minḥa/Monday/Thursday prior to the reading OR on the Shabbat morning of the reading proper. Because of this, the sheets arranged including the readings use two sizes – a larger size for the shorter first reading for weekdays, and a smaller size for the full first reading on Shabbatot. They can only be read when the first verse of the book is read.

Melodically, these piyyutim could be read in a melody based on Maqam Rast – the traditional Sephardi melody for the opening of a book.