Three Unknown Piyyutim by David Ben Ḥasin

David Ben Ḥasin (1727–1792) is the most celebrated poet of Moroccan Jewry. His piyyutim were already popular during his lifetime, not only in his native city of Meknès, but all over Morocco, as evidenced by his frequent visits to distant Jewish communities (including Gibraltar, in southern Spain) where he was regularly invited to sing his compositions. Contemporary poets wrote songs of praise in his honor while he was still alive, as well as elegies lamenting his death. To this day, David Ben Item's piyyutim remain remarkably popular among Moroccan Jews. All anthologies of Moroccan piyyutim, whether printed or in manuscript form, include large numbers of his compositions. His popularity is such that several of his poems have served as models for many interesting imitations.