# Azharot

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***Azharot*** (Hebrew: אזהרות, "exhortations") are didactic liturgical poems on, or versifications of, the [613 commandments](/source/613_commandments) in rabbinical enumeration. The first known example are *Ata hinchlata* and *Azharat Reishit*, recited to this day in some Ashkenazic and Italian communities, and dating back to early Geonic times.[1] Other versions appear in the 10th century [Siddur of Saadia Gaon](/source/Siddur_of_Saadia_Gaon), as well as by two Spanish authors of the Middle Ages: [Isaac ben Reuben Albargeloni](/source/Isaac_ben_Reuben_Albargeloni) and [Solomon ibn Gabirol](/source/Solomon_ibn_Gabirol) and the French author [Elijah ben Menahem HaZaken](/source/Elijah_ben_Menahem_HaZaken).[2][3]

## Etymology

The name of the poetical form derives from the first word of one of its earliest examples, Hebrew: אזהרות ראשית לעמך נתת.[4] Two attempts to ascribe special meaning to that choice of term have been suggested:[5]

1. Chazal sometimes refer to biblical prohibitions as *azharot*.
1. The [numerological](/source/Gematria) sum of a condensed form of the word (אזהרת, instead of אזהרות) equals the number of commandments

## Liturgical customs

In the Ashkenazic and Italian rites, Azharot are recited in the [mussaf](/source/Mussaf) service. This was the Sephardic practice in the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) as well, but due to Halakhic concerns they were moved to other places in the liturgy.[6] As such, most Sephardic communities have moved them to the [mincha](/source/Mincha) or [arvit](/source/Arvit) service, or to the [Sabbath](/source/Sabbath) prior to Shavuot. Some Sephardic diaspora communities chant the Positive Commandments of the *azharot* on the first day of [Shavuot](/source/Shavuot), and the Negative Commandments on the second day.[7] Sephardic/Eastern communities recite the *azharot* of Ibn Gebirol, while North African communities of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya may recite (either instead of or addition to Ibn Gebirol) the *azharot* of Barceloni.[7]

## Poems

- Hebrew: אזהרות ראשית לעמך נתת - Recited during Musaf of the second day of Shavuot in the Ashkenazic rite, and on the first day in the Italian rite.[4]
- Hebrew: אתה הנחלת תורה לעמך - Referred to variously as "*Azharot of the Rabbis of the Academy*" or "*Azharot of Elijah* or *Azharot Elijah the Tishbite*". Its authorship is disputed, but its origin seems to have been in the academies of [Pumbedita](/source/Pumbedita).[4] - Recited during Musaf of the first day of Shavuot in the Ashkenazic rite, and in an abbreviated form on the second day in the Italian rite.
- Hebrew: אנכי אש אכלה - Written by [Saadia Gaon](/source/Saadia_Gaon)
- Hebrew: אחגור חיל לרומם הבורא (lit. "I will gird me with strength to extol the Creator") - According to [Isaac b. Todros](/source/Isaac_b._Todros), to be found in the [siddur](/source/Siddur) of [Amram Gaon](/source/Amram_Gaon), but scholarship[4] suggests possibly actually written by [Isaac Gikatilla](/source/Isaac_Gikatilla).
- Hebrew: אוכלה אלקיך אש - By [Ibn Gabirol](/source/Ibn_Gabirol) (edited by Sachs-Halberstamm, "Ḳobeẓ 'al-Yad," 1893)
- Hebrew: איזה מקום בינה (lit. "Where is the abode of understanding?") - By Isaac b. Reuben Albargeloni
- Hebrew: אמת יהגה חכי (lit. "Truth shall my mouth indite") - By Elijah ha-Zaḳen b. Menahem of Mans, first published by Luzzatto in "Literaturblatt des Orients," 1850, part 16
- Hebrew: ריש לדברות אנכי - By Eliezer b. Nathan, for the evening service of the second day of Shavuot
- Hebrew: אני בינה שוכנת אמונה (lit. "I, Understanding, dwell on high") - By Isaac Petit b. Mordecai Kimḥi
- Hebrew: ארוממך ה' מלכי (lit. "I will extol Thee, O Lord, my King") - By Krespia ha-Naḳdan
- Hebrew: אברך לא-ל נורא (lit. "I will bless the God Tremendous") - By Elijah ha-Kohen Tchelebi
- "Pour forth Thy mercy" - Written by Menahem Tamar
- Hebrew: מה' מאוד נעלה אשאלה - [Menahem Egozi](/source/Menahem_Egozi)
- Hebrew: אדנ-י בם - By Elijah Adeni (of Aden) (Amsterdam ed., 1688) - By Joshua Benveniste - By Joseph b. Solomon Yaḥya

## Reception

### Criticisms

[Abraham ibn Ezra](/source/Abraham_ibn_Ezra) (*Yesod Moreh*, gate 2, end) compared *azharot* to counting medicinal herbs enumerated in medical works without knowing anything of their virtues.[4] [Maimonides](/source/Maimonides) claims in the introduction to *[Sefer HaMitzvot](/source/Sefer_HaMitzvot)*, his own prose enumeration of the commandments, that he was motivated to compose that work because of errors in the *azharot*. Deference to Maimonides' criticism led major rabbis (18th-century [Chaim Yosef David Azulai](/source/Chaim_Yosef_David_Azulai); 20th-century Rabbi [Ovadia Yosef](/source/Ovadia_Yosef) ) to prefer reading Maimonides' prose list to the poetic *azharot*. In 1971, Rabbi [Yosef Qafih](/source/Yosef_Qafih) composed *azharot* based upon Maimonides' list.[7]

### Commentaries

While the original intent of the *azharot* may have been educational, its terse and cryptic poetic form led to a need for its content to be explained. Commentaries include:[4][7]

- *Netiv Mitsvotekha* (Livorno, 1841), by Rabbi Saul ibn Musa ha-Kohen of Jerba (1772–1848)
- "Mahzor Shelom Yerushalayim for Shavuot" (New York, 1994) by Rabbi Shimon Hai Alouf and Rabbi Ezra Labaton (pages 279–287).
- Rabbi David Bitton (1979) on *Ibn Gabirol's Azharot* (Missvot 'Aseh)
- Yonah Frankel, *Shavuot Machzor*, pages 615–651

## See also

- [Piyyut](/source/Piyyut)
- [Pizmonim](/source/Pizmonim)

## References

1. Yonah Frankel, Shavuot Machzor, page 36 of the introduction.

1. Elbaz, Andre E & Hazan, Ephraim (April 1995). ["Three Unknown Piyyutim by David Ben Hasin"](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=4503112). *[AJS Review](/source/AJS_Review)*. **20** (1): 87–98. Cambridge Univ Press. [doi:10.1017/S0364009400006310](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0364009400006310). Retrieved October 13, 2015. "... Among North African and other Oriental Jews, the most popular azharot are two eleventh-century works from Spain, *Shemor libbi ma 'ane,* composed by Shelomo Ibn Gabirol, and *'Ei ze meqom bina,* by Yishaq Ben Reuben Al-Bargeloni"

1. Davidson, Israel (1924). *Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol*. Schiff Library of Jewish Classics. Translated by Zangwill, Israel. Philadelphia: JPS. p. 247. ISBN 0-8276-0060-7. LCCN 73-2210., at page xx

1. Gottheil, Richard & Brody, H. (1906). ["Azharot"](http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2215-azharot). *Jewish Encyclopedia*. Retrieved October 13, 2015.

1. unsourced information on Hebrew Wikipedia page, retrieved October 13, 2015

1. Yona Fraenkel, Shavuot Machzor, [Page 14 of introduction](https://tablet.otzar.org/pages/?&restore=1&t=1645544466608&pagenum=11&book=602835).

1. ["Azharot"](http://www.pizmonim.org/section.php?maqam=Azharot). *Sephardic Pizmonim Project*. Retrieved October 13, 2015.

## External links

- [pdf of Azharot of Solomon Ibn Gabirol in Hebrew](https://web.archive.org/web/20111114124841/http://hebrewbooks.org/33526)
- [AZHAROT, AZHARAH](http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0002_0_01751.html) in the [Jewish Virtual Library](/source/Jewish_Virtual_Library) (written by [Abraham Meir Habermann](/source/Abraham_Meir_Habermann) in the [Encyclopaedia Judaica](/source/Encyclopaedia_Judaica)).
- [Azharot](http://www.pizmonim.org/section.php?maqam=Azharot) page at the [Sephardic Pizmonin Project](http://www.pizmonim.org)

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