Ana Elech - R. Israel Najara

About Ana ElechAna Elech is a piyut from the Iraqi tradition, written by Israel Najara (Tsfat, 16th Century), largely considered to be one of the most prolific poets. Rabbi Israel Najara based this piyut on a mizmor from tehilim, using images from this mizmor, and describing the path of a man who resembles the prophet Jonah. The protagonist attempts to flee from God in hopes that he might meet God on a different plane. To conjure this special journey, Najara uses the words of Shlomo Ibn Gabirol from the poem Keter Malchut

Hebrew TextAna elech meruchecha, Ana mipanecha evrach

Evrach mimcha elecha, Uvtzel yadcha agil efrach

Yah, kvodcha olam maleh, Atah hael oseh feleh

Im lashamayim eeleh, Sham emtza orcha yizrach

Shachak lo ychalkelcha, Veretz lo tachilcha

Mi ymalel rav gadlecha, lu fiv kayam bkol yitzrach

Rki-ei rum hem kisacha, veretz hadom raglecha

Gadol shimcha veyn lecha, tzafon vyam maarav mizrach

Esak shamayim sham orcha, Atziya shol hincha

Acharit gam sham yadcha, Tikacheni bli torach

Lachen eyn li manos biltcha, Uvchemlatach avo beitcha

Vekach magen toratcha, Toreini derech vorach

English TranslationWhere from your spirit could I go? Where flee from your face?

I'd only flee from You to You And thrive in the shade You cast.

Yah, your presence fills the world.You are a God of wonders.

If I could scale the heavens' heights,I'd find your brightest splendor.

And yet the sky's too small for You.The earth's too cramped a space.

No tongue can tell your greatness, thoughIts voice boomed like the waves.

The highest heavens are your seat.Your footstool is the earth.

Your name is great. You have no east,No west, no south, no north.

When I soar, it's to your light,And in the depths, you're there.

Across the sea, your long arm's reachCan pluck me from afar.! !There is then no escape from You.Your mercy leads me home.

I'll take your law to be my shield,And You'll show me the road.

Recording by R. Yehuda Ovadya-Patya and the Yonah Ensemble