Shavuot 5783: ”613 Mitzvot in Rhyme: The Tradition of Azharot” with Rabbanit Victoria Sutton

Around the Calendar with Drisha

Dating back to the time of the Geonim, scholars and poets composed Azharot, poetic enumerations of the mitzvot. They were traditionally read in communities on Shavuot, a custom that continues today in some Sephardic communities. We will explore this fascinating liturgical phenomenon and their mixed reception throughout the ages. Focusing on the Azharot of Solomon ibn Gabirol, we will survey this masterful poem's structure and methodology and learn a traditional melody for these Azharot.