This chapter discusses the developments in the study of ancient piyyut. It explains that piyyut is a Jewish liturgical poetry composed to replace or serve as an alternative to prayers in the synagogue, mainly on Sabbaths and festivals and special occasions such as circumcisions and weddings. Piyyut scholarship primarily developed in Germany, and continued later in Jerusalem and then to a lesser extent in New York. Some of the most notable piyyut scholars include Leopold Zunz, Menahem Zulay and Wolf Heidenheim. This chapter suggests that future studies of ancient piyyut will have to pay much...

This chapter discusses the developments in the study of ancient piyyut. It explains that piyyut is a Jewish liturgical poetry composed to replace or serve as an alternative to prayers in the synagogue, mainly on Sabbaths and festivals and special occasions such as circumcisions and weddings. Piyyut scholarship primarily developed in Germany, and continued later in Jerusalem and then to a lesser extent in New York. Some of the most notable piyyut scholars include Leopold Zunz, Menahem Zulay and Wolf Heidenheim. This chapter suggests that future studies of ancient piyyut will have to pay much attention to a proper designation of appropriate criteria for the discussion of Jewish hymnography amidst a wide range of adjacent disciplines.