Anim_Zemirot

Anim Zemirot

Anim Zemirot (אנעים זמירות, literally "I shall compose songs") are the first two words and de facto title of a liturgical song traditionally sung near the very end of Shabbos morning services, normally held in the synagogue. The formal title of this song is Shir Hakavod (שיר הכבוד, literally "The Song of Glory"). Anim Zemirot is recited responsively, with the first verse being read aloud by the shaliach tzibbur (שליח ציבור, literally "emissary of the group", although figuratively "leader of the prayer"), the second verse being recited by the congregation in unison, and so on. Composition of this song has been attributed to Rav Yehudah Hachassid, the 12th-century German scholar and Kabbalist.

The main body of Anim Zemirot is composed of 31 original verses, followed by two verses from Tanach: the first from Chronicles 29:11 and the second from Psalms 106:2. From the fifth to the twenty-eighth verse, the verses each begin with the successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet, except for the letter reish (ר) and tav (ת), both of which appear twice. As there are an odd number of verses within the main body, the congregation traditionally recites the last verse of the main body along with the shaliach tzibbur. The last two verses are then recited alone by the members of the congregation; the shaliach tzibbur recites the verse from Psalms aloud to indicate the completion of Anim Zemirot and allow the members of the congregation who are saying kaddish yatom (קדיש יתום, Mourners' kaddish) to begin their recitation.

The Holy Ark is opened for the recital of Anim Zemirot, befitting its formal title of "The Song of Glory." There is an account that this name originated because of an old tradition to recite the last four verses of Psalm 24 prior to reciting Anim Zemirot. According to the Levush, the recital of Anim Zemirot has been restricted so that it not become overly familiar and mundane. While most communities recite is every Shabbos and on most Jewish holidays, the Vilna Gaon was of the opinion that it should be recited only on the Jewish holidays. A small minority of congregations may even restrict its recitation even further, reciting it only on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.