אַבְנֵי יְקָר | Avnei Y’qar — a Ḥanukkah piyyut attributed to Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=47976

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Date: 2022-12-19

Last Updated: 2022-12-19

Categories: Ḥanukkah

Tags: 12th century C.E., 49th century A.M., acrostic, Acrostic signature, rhyming translation, Yemenite Jewry, זמירות zemirot, פיוטים piyyutim

Excerpt: "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. . . .


Content:
“Avnei Y’qar” is a succint piyyut for Ḥanukkah, traditionally attributed to R. Abraham ibn Ezra, and particularly beloved among Yemenite Jewry. Interestingly, it doesn’t mention the miracle of the oil whatsoever, focusing on the degradation of the land under Seleucid Greek occupation as well as the Hasmonean victory itself. Included is a poetic acrostic translation into English.

Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
אַבְנֵי יְקָר
עַל־הַר צְבִי הִתְפָּרְקוּ
As stones of fame,
upon the fairest hill were breached
בָּאוּ יְמֵי
שִׁלּוּם עֲדֵי הִתְחַזְּקוּ
Bad days came,
we strengthened till requital was reached.
רָמָה יְמִינָם
יוֹם יְוָנִים דָּלְקוּ
Riding high,
the day the Greeks pursued,
הֵיכָל אֲזַי
חָנְכוּ וְנֵרוֹת דָּלְקוּ,
And by the by,
they kindled lamps, the Palace renewed.
מִצּוּף יְשׁוּעוֹת
אֶל־לְבָבוֹת מָתְקוּ
Honeyed success
brought sweetness to their mind,
עַל־זֹאת לְבָרֵךְ
שֵׁם כְּבוֹדוֹ חָשְׁקוּ
And so to bless
the Moniker of Glory they assigned.

Contributor: Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
Psalterium Ibn Ezra
Title: Psalterium Ibn Ezra
Caption: Ibn Ezra reading stars. A scene of Ibn Ezra practicing Astrology with an Arabic manuscripts being held by the men that flank him to either side. Unknown Miniaturist, French (active circa 1235)