GHAYYAT, SOLOMON B. JUDAH:

Hebrew poet of the twelfth century; possibly a grandson of Isaac Gḥayyat, the famous teacher of Lucena. Solomon was on terms of friendship with Judah ha-Levi, who dedicated to him one of the most important compositions of his "Diwan" (ed. Brody, i., No. 94). This poem, which is a rejoinder to one of Ghayyat's, not only shows the high esteem which Ha-Levi had for his friend, but also refers to Ghayyat's poetic activity and talent.

Only two poems by Ghayyat have been preserved, and these are religious ones, namely, "Shaḥoti we-Nidketi we-Libbi Zoḥel," a seliḥah for the tenth of Ṭebet, in the ritual of Carpentras, and "'Enenu Ẓofiyyah 'Anenu mi-Sheme 'Aliyyab," a "tokaḥah" for the minḥah of the Day of Atonement, in the rituals of Castile and Fez, as well as in some earlier editions of the Spanish Maḥzor.

Bibliography:
  • Zunz, Literaturgesch. p. 216;
  • Sachs, Religiöse Poesie der Juden in Spanien, p. 259.
G. H. B.
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