[HANASHIR:13173] Re: Yidid Nefesh

[Gail Greenberg <Greenberg...>]

Ellen...

The song Yedid Nefesh is based on a poem written in the 16th century.  Here
are snippets of what I have learned about it...

1533-1600 ELEAZAR BEN MOSES AZIKRI (Safed, Eretz Israel) 

The mystical poem was composed by Rabbi Eliezer Askari, who was one of the
kabalistic disciples of Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Joseph Karo.  Azikri
divided his waking ours into two-thirds writing and one-third silent
contemplation. His Sefer Hareidim arranged the commandments according to
time and the limbs of the body.

The acrostic of the four stanzas of Yedid Nefesh contains the four-letter
name for G-d. Yedid Nefesh is recited frequently within Chasidic circles of
worshipers 

Hope this helps!

Gail Greenberg, Community Program Coordinator

Jewish Experiences for Families
6735 Telegraph Road Suite 370
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
(248) 645-7860
greenberg (at) ajedetroit(dot)org


-----Original Message-----
From: elerner1 [mailto:elerner1 (at) rochester(dot)rr(dot)com]
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 12:32 AM
Subject: [HANASHIR:13171] Re: Yidid Nefesh


does anyone know the history of this song? where the text comes from, why it
is sung usually on erev Shabbat?

thanks. ellen


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