Zevadiah

Zevadiah was an Italian paytan (liturgical poet) about whom almost nothing is known. His poems refect early Italian practices and achieved some popularity in Italian rites, though only about ten of them survive. Zevadiah almost always followed the Palestinian, rather than Babylonian, liturgy. In addition to composing poems for the liturgy and festive occasions, Zevadiah also wrote seven penitential poems. Many of the ideas found in his poetry are based on midrashic literature. Scholars have found similarities between the writings of Zevadiah and the writings of his Italian near contemporary, Amittai ben Shefatiah.