Ana Elech -

R. Israel Najara
About Ana Elech
Ana 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 Text

Yah, kvodcha olam maleh, Atah hael oseh

feleh

Im lashamayim eeleh, Sham emtza orcha

yizrach

Gadol shimcha veyn lecha, tzafon vyam

maarav mizrach

Esak shamayim sham orcha, Atziya shol

hincha

Acharit gam sham yadcha, Tikacheni bli

torach

Ana elech meruchecha, Ana mipanecha

evrach
Evrach mimcha elecha, Uvtzel yadcha agil
efrach

Shachak lo ychalkelcha, Veretz lo tachilcha

Mi ymalel rav gadlecha, lu fiv kayam bkol
yitzrach
Rki-ei rum hem kisacha, veretz hadom
raglecha

Lachen eyn li manos biltcha,

Uvchemlatach avo beitcha
Vekach magen toratcha, Toreini derech
vorach

English Translation
Where 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, though
Its 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 reach
Can 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