My heart is seeking out the Lord

Israel ben Moses Najara was born in Safed. At the age of twenty-five, he moved with his father to Damascus. There, his father became a communal scribe, a position Israel assumed upon his father’s death. Najara spent the last part of his life serving as a rabbi in Gaza. Author of the well-known Sabbath hymn “Yah ribon ‘olam” (“O Lord of the World”), Najara was a prolific poet, influenced by contemporary Arabic poetry. He also composed biblical commentaries, legal works, and letters. His Mikveh Yisra’el (The Hope of Israel) is a collection of sermons, many written for special occasions, such as funerals or weddings.