Abi Zimra, Isaac Mandil ben Abraham

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ABI ZIMRA, ISAAC MANDIL BEN ABRAHAM

ABI ZIMRA, ISAAC MANDIL BEN ABRAHAM (16th century), liturgical poet who lived in Algiers. His father Abraham b. Meir Abi Zimra, born in Malaga, author of some poetical compositions, came "from the bitter expulsion of 1492 to the city of Tlemcen" (Abraham Gavison, Omer ha-Shikhḥah, 1748, 134a). Abraham Gavison, who knew Isaac, called him "the great poet" (ibid., 122b). Over 60 of Isaac's piyyutim, which were strongly influenced by Arabic poetry, are to be found in various manuscripts. Until recently, various communities in North Africa recited his poems. A complete edition of poems was prepared by H.J. Schirmann, but never published.

bibliography:

Zunz, Lit Poesie, 535–6; Slouschz, in: Reshumot, 4 (1926), 25, 27; Zulay, ibid., 5 (1927), 444 ff.; Davidson, Oẓar, 4 (1933), 422.

[Abraham Meir Habermann]