Yose ben Yose

Jewish author

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July 15, 2026

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Yose ben Yose was an early master of piyyut, a type of liturgical poem incorporated into Jewish liturgy. His exact dates are uncertain, but he is considered one of the early masters of this poetry, alongside Yannai and Eleazar Kalir. Piyyutim emerged in Palestine around the 4th or 5th century AD and served to convey religious sentiments and teachings, especially when other forms of religious study were forbidden. These poems also helped the common people contextualize their suffering within a religious framework. During the European Middle Ages, piyyutim became a significant form of Hebrew literature, particularly in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, where rhyme was introduced.1

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Hebrew literature
Piyyuṭim
…most outstanding poets—Phineas the Priest, Yose ben Yose, Yannai, and Eleazar ha-Kalir, or ben Kalir—lived in that order, but when or where in Palestine any of them lived is not known. The accepted datings are 3rd century and 5th–6th century ad. Many piyyuṭim are still used in the synagogue.
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…most outstanding poets—Phineas the Priest, Yose ben Yose, Yannai, and Eleazar ha-Kalir, or ben Kalir—lived in that order, but when or where in Palestine any of them lived is not known. The accepted datings are 3rd century and 5th–6th century ad. Many piyyuṭim are still used in the synagogue.
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piyyut
…masters of this poetry were Yose ben Yose, Yannai, and his pupil Eleazar Kalir, none of whose dates can be fixed with certainty.
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…masters of this poetry were Yose ben Yose, Yannai, and his pupil Eleazar Kalir, none of whose dates can be fixed with certainty.
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