He who suspended the land over nothingness

ca. 1200

About This Entry

This is a short introductory poem to the Nishmat prayer (“May the soul [breath] of every living being”). The opening phrase of the poem, referring to God, comes from Job 26:7. Like the text that it introduces, the poem speaks of the praise of God offered by “all souls,” and the closing words repeat the opening of Nishmat. This poem is metered, and Eleazar signed his first name in the acrostic. The text was preserved in the Cairo Geniza, and it can be seen on the left-hand side of the page shown here.

and fashioned the earth with wisdom—

All souls yearn to remember Him,

and every soul who remembers is gratified.

His blessed name is upon all creation,

and His arm has grown in strength and prevailed.

I recall Him and anticipate His grace;

I find Him like a tower of courage and a wall.

For, lo, my heart is replete with majestic splendor and praise

for Him whom all souls shall praise!

Source: CUL T-S NS 108.123a, fol. 1v

Translated by Karen Alkalay-Gut.