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Eleazer Kalir

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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Hebrew liturgical poet, whose hymns (piyyutim ) are found in profusion in the festival prayers of the German synagogal rite. The age in which he lived is unknown. Some (basing the view on Saadiah's Sefer ha-galuy) place him as early as the 6th century, others regard him as belonging to the 10th century. Kalir's style is powerful but involved; he may be described as a Hebrew Browning.

Some beautiful renderings of Kalir's poems may be found in the volumes of Davis & Adler's edition of the German Festival Prayers entitled Service of the Synagogue.