David ha-Nasi, a scion of the house of the
Babylonian Exilarchs who also travelled to the region of Palestine, was active at the beginning of the
11th century. Many of his piyyutim, particularly various
types of Selihot, were found in the Cairo Genizah. The book contains a
critical edition of all of these piyyutim, accompanied by an extensive
commentary and an introduction that investigates the payyetan and his
compositions. The piyyutim of David ha-Nasi are examined from the point
of view of their place within the history of Hebrew piyyut throughout
the generations, and also from that of their surprising relationship to groups
of hasidim contemporary with the author who were influenced by Arab Sufi
sects
