Eliyahu HaNavi (piyyut)
  Israeli music |
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"Eliyahu HaNavi" (Hebrew: אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא, romanized: ʾĒliyyāhū Hannāvī, lit. 'Elijah the Prophet') is a Hebrew Jewish piyyut sung by Ashkenazi (and some Sefardi) communities on Motza'ei Shabbat.[1] The author of the piyyut is unknown.
Content
[edit]The refrain of the piyyut is an entreaty for Elijah the Prophet to return with the Messiah. This is based on an interpretation of Malachi 3:23,[2] suggesting that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah. Each verse describes and praises the prophet.
The piyyut is sung on Motza'ei Shabbat once Shabbat has ended.[1][3]
It is also sung in Ashkenazi communities during the opening of the door for Elijah during the Passover seder.
Poetic Structure
[edit]The first word of every verse is אִישׁ (a man), referring to Elijah the Prophet. The second word of each verse forms an alphabetical acrostic. A refrain is sung in between triplets of verses.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "אליהו הנביא". Invitation to Piyyut. National Library of Israel.
- ^ "Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of GOD." See Sefaria.
- ^ Tefilat Yiśraʾel hu seder tefilah le-ḵol ha-šanah (in Hebrew). Joachimsthal. 1857.