Dror Yikra - He Will Proclaim Freedom

The first two stanzas (in Hebrew) of the popular Shabbat song 'Dror Yikra.' The text is superimposed on a starry background which also features a fractal image. 'Dror Yikra' is a prayer, an appeal, for God to save us from our enemies and grant us peace. A parable compares Israel to a sorek, a grapevine. As he who plants a vine and expects it to flourish, so God expects Israel, to follow the path of righteousness. Israel’s enemies are also compared to grapes in a winepress, just as grapes are trod upon in a winepress so should God crush the enemies of Israel. Transliteration of the Hebrew text: Dror Yikra l'ven im bat V'yintsorchem k'mo vavat. Na'im shimchem velo yushbat. Sh'vu venuchu b'yom Shabbat. D'rosh navi v'ulami Va'ot yesha ase imi Neta sorek b'toch karmi She'e shav'at b'nei ami. Translation: He will proclaim freedom for all his children And will keep you as the apple of his eye Pleasant is your name and will not be destroyed Sit and rest on the Sabbath day. Seek my sanctuary and my home. Give me a sign of deliverance. Plant a vine in my vineyard. Look to my people, hear their laments. Many popular singers have recorded the song. Many of the versions, in genres from acoustic guitar to techno pop are extremely good at expressing the prayer's powerful emotional content. Dror Yikra was written by Rebenu Adonim HaLevy ben Levrat (920-990), "Dunash." The authors name is signed in the song by beginning each of four lines with a different letter of his name. He was born in Baghdad where he lived most of his life and was most famous for his research on the Hebrew language and grammar. He was educated in Pas, Morocco and lived for a time in Cordova, Spain along with Reb Hasdai ibn Shafrout and his friend Reb Menahem ben Sruk and was therefore enumerated among the great scholars of Spain. He was the disciple (and a possible relative) of HaRav Sadia Gaon and composed the hymn 'Doresh Chachmot' in honor of HaRav Sadia Gaon. Rashi and Ibn Ezra both quote Dunash in their commentary on the Torah.