Creator Bio
Solomon Suleiman al-Sanjari
Second Half of the 9th Century
Solomon Suleiman al-Sanjari was a prolific and seemingly popular liturgical poet who lived in Iraq or, perhaps more likely, Palestine. His poetry drew on earlier midrashic collections, as well as the Palestinian Aramaic translation of the Pentateuch known as Targum Neofti. He was forgotten until the mid-twentieth century, when his poetry was discovered in the Cairo Geniza, and scholars began to recognize his novel and infuential contributions.
Content by Solomon Suleiman al-Sanjari
Primary Source
I shall gird myself with might
I shall gird myself with might
In front of the one who is girded with might [=God]
Girded with the glory
Of the fames of fre [=angels]
Terrible and dreadful [=God]
…
Primary Source
Two Ofanim
Angels approaching host by host
Fiery contingents at every opening
Arise and beseech the Lord of hosts
To show me the land oozing milk and honey!
Fly of as one to pray and beseech
United to sweeten…