Bliss

David Onkinerah

16th Century

We shall live in the shade of the graceful doe and, living there, shall be sustained. We shall walk through darkness by her light, with never-ending joy. When she laughs, we will burst into song; when she frowns, we shall clothe ourselves in fear. And when she looks with radiant eyes, we shall once again be ransomed and redeemed.

Translated by

C…

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Creator Bio

David Onkinerah

16th Century

Little is known about the poet David Onkinerah. He may have been born in Istanbul, and he certainly resided in Salonika. He was a gifted poet and the youngest member of the Salonika circle of poets. Five of Onkinerah’s Hebrew sonnets have survived, one of which was composed in Damascus.

Related Guide

Early Modern Jewish Languages (1500–1750)

As Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews migrated eastward, Yiddish and Ladino emerged as distinct languages. Both languages developed literary traditions, as print became more widespread.