https://youtu.be/MsB_w5BcDOs# Azharot | London, Amsterdam and New YorkIn the Sephardi tradition, the Azharot - a monumental poem by Shelomo Ibn Gabirol enumerating all 613 mitsvot - is recited on the holiday of Shabu'ot. In the Diaspora, the custom is to divide the recitation over two days: the positive commandments on the first, and the negative on the second. In the Land of Israel, where Shabu'ot is observed for only one day, the entire poem is read in a single sitting.The chanting of the Azharot is typically preceded by an extended prologue of twenty strophes, attributed to David Ibn Bekuda. This poetic introduction explores various theological foundations of the Mitzvot. Each strophe concludes with the word 'Elohim' and features its own distinct internal rhyming scheme.This recording presents the first four strophes from Ibn Bekuda's introduction, showcasing the distinctive musical interpretations preserved in the Spanish and Portuguese communities of London, Amsterdam, and New York. Among these, the New York tradition offers the most elaborate rendition. In that community, the melody also serves as the setting for other key liturgical texts, such as Hallel and Yigdal, during the festival of Shabu'ot.Please like and shareחודש טוב