Between Convention and Innovation: A Study of Thematic and Literary Features of Three Sedarim for Wayyosha of the tenth and eleventh centuries

This article is based on the edition and study of three lengthy compositions for the Seventh Day of Passover (Wayyosha – Exod. 14:30). These compositions are outstanding in length and show parallel characteristics in structure and content. Recent publications of these three Sedarim offer introductions to structural characteristics and describe ways of inserting all the opening words from Canticles, Exodus 15 and Judges 5. Now that we have these poems at our disposal, we address questions about the place and time of their emergence and use. We analyse these compositions within one context, and discover interesting fusions of motifs and themes, which are at times taken from rabbinic sources or otherwise invented by the composers themselves. Three text samples from the same two stanzas demonstrate the various levels of connection. We believe that local or regional custom was involved in writing this poetry within a restricted period of time.