David ben Aaron ben Ḥassin (Hebrew: דוד בן אהרן בן חסין, Arabic: دايفيد بن حسان, in French sources David Hassine)[1] (1727–1792) is considered to have been one of the greatest Jewish Moroccan poets[2] and one of the best-known figures of Jewish liturgic poetry. His piyyutim (poems) were spread through the Sephardic world.[3] He travelled to various communities in Morocco and also to Gibraltar, where his poems were well received.[4]
He is the author of Tehila le David (Song of David), a collection of liturgic poems and elegies which have inspired many Moroccan singers, and of Mekoman chel zebahim ("Place of Sacrifices"), a versification of the slaughter rituals practiced in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.[5] Some of his poems include his name in acrostic.[6]Moses Edrehi (1855) records that he saw a manuscript of Song of David that was sent from Meknes to the leaders of the Moroccan Jewish community in London for publication.[7]
He was also the author of several Bible commentaries.[citation needed]
References
^Hassine-Mamane, Lysette. Le Piyyut de David Hassine.
^Haïm Zafrani, Deux mille ans de vie juive au Maroc: histoire et culture, religion et magie, Eddif (1998) page 236
^Cahiers d'études juives. Vol. 1–3. Presses Paris Sorbonne. 1986. p. 51. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
^Elbaz, André E.; Elbaz, Ephraim (April 1995). "Three Unknown Piyyutim by David Ben Hasin". AJS Review. 20 (1): 87–98. doi:10.1017/S0364009400006310.
^Marcel Bénabou (1939-) Jacob, Ménahem et Mimoun. Une épopée familiale 1995 Un autre, le prolifique et malicieux David Hassine - mon préféré, car il était de Meknès -, avait poussé plus loin encore l'exploit : entre bien d'autres productions, il avait entrepris de mettre en vers les règles - assez austères - de "
^Saul I. Aranov A descriptive catalogue of the Bension collection of Sephardic Manuscripts (9780888640161): 1979 Page 168 "This Piyyut was composed by David ibn Hasin whose name appears in the acrostic as "Ani David ben Hasin."
^Moses Edrehi, published by his son Issac Edrehi History of the Capital of Asia and the Turks (1855), page 87 "One is a very valuable work on poetry; the title of the work is The Song of David; and it belongs to the high learned Haham, Rabbi David Ben Hasin. It was sent from the town of Mecnass, and was directed to those gentlemen who were the principal governors and heads of the congregation of Israelites of that kingdom who are established in London,..."
