THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PIYYUTIC TERM MUḤARAKH (מוחרך) / משמעות המונח הפיוטי 'מוחרך'

Muḥarakh is the name of the piyyutic composition which serves as an introduction to the prayer Nishmat Kol Ḥai, recited at the beginning of the Sabbath morning prayer service. The literary translation of this terminus indoubtedly related to 'movement', 'a mover'. However, the exact connection between the name of this piyyutic composition and its liturgical functions is most obscure. In this article, the author offers a novel explanation for Muḥarakh. This explanation is based on the prayer customs of Spanish Jews whereby the cantor makes his way towards the reader's desk upon the recital of the Nishmat prayer. The piyyut introducing the Nishmat prayer is thus called muḥarakh ('movement') by virtue of the movement of the prayer leader towards the reader's desk. This hypothesis is further enhanced by the contents of various muḥarakh compositions which lay stress on the function of the cantor as the deputy of the assembled members of the congregation in their contact with the Almighty.