Baqashot - Themes

Themes

There is a total of 66 songs in the Syrian Baqashot book, and the collection is now regarded as closed, unlike the general body of pizmonim, where new pizmonim are still composed for special occasions. Each song is shown with its maqam, but they follow a fixed order of recitation which does not depend on the maqamat of the different songs. There are many sections within the Baqashot. The sections are separated by different Biblical verses to be chanted in a different maqam.

The songs principally consist of the praise of God, songs for Shabbat, songs of longing for the Holy Land and so on, and include some piyyutim taken from the main body of the prayer book. These songs are considered more ancient and sacred than other pizmonim (Hebrew songs). Many of the songs contain acrostics identifying the author of that specific composition.

Baqashot are full of mystical allusions and traditions. Some of the songs contain references to some of the most sacred Jewish traditions. The following are examples of thematic songs:

• Song 1 and 34: listing of the 10 "Sefirot" (attributes) in the Kabbalah.
• Song 2: refers to the return to Zion in the time of redemption.
• Song 6 and 7: a song with each stanza ending with "boqer" (morning).
• Song 9: a song with each stanza ending with "yom" (day).
• Song 14: "Yasad besodo", discusses many different Kabbalistic concepts and how God created the world with his divine instruction.
• Song 15: "Eress Varom", discusses the seven days of creation, using one stanza for each day.
• Song 23: "Ki Eshmerah Shabbat", a well known song among all Jewish communities that was written by Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra.
• Song 28: "Yom Zeh le-Yisrael", a famous song written by Isaac Luria.
• Song 33: contains allusions to each of the four "Amidah" services recited on the Sabbath.

The baqashot are interrupted after Song 34 to sing Psalm 92, the Psalm of the Sabbath, one verse at a time, using a different maqam for each verse. There are many other verses of the Psalms scattered throughout the different songs, called "petihot", to serve as markers. Unlike the baqashot themselves, these are rendered by the hazzan or by the elder people as a mawwal (non-rhythmical solo cadenza).

• Song 35: "Shalom Vassedek" is a song written by Rabbi Shlomo Laniado. Each stanza ends with "Shlomo".
• Song 38: "Esah Libi" contains allusions to each of the nineteen blessings in the daily "Amidah" prayer.
• Song 39 and 40: two songs in Aramaic by Israel Najara.
• Song 41: "Ani Asaper" discusses the laws of Sabbath (the 39 categories of "work").
• Song 43: "Mahalalah" alludes to the Seven Heavens mentioned in the Kabbalah.
• Song 46: contains references to all the composers of the Baqashot.
• Song 51: Halakhot of Shabbat.
• Song 53: a song dedicated to R. Shim'on bar Yohai, reputed author of the Zohar.
• Song 61 and 62: "Yedid Nefesh" (written by Eleazar Azikri, and also used by Ashkenazim) and "Agadelcha" (written by Abraham ibn Ezra).

The Baqashot service concludes with Adon Olam (Song 66) followed by the ancient Kaddish prayer sung in the melody of the maqam for that specific Sabbath.