Editing Hymn (section)

===Judaism===
{{Further|Piyyut|Psalms}}The [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word ''[[Zemirot]]'' means literally 'songs' or 'hymns' but is used to refer to two specific repertories: The first, according to the Sephardic tradition, refers to the preliminary section of psalms and biblical verses recited during the ''[[Shacharit]]'' (morning) prayers: the [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazic]] terminology refers to these Psalms as ''Psukeydezimra''. The second repertory is well defined in Neil Levin's Overview of his ''Z'mirot Anthology.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zemirot |url=https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/node/21679 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=jewish-music.huji.ac.il}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=In Ashkenazic tradition the term refers to ''z'mirot shel Shabbat'' (Sabbath hymns) translated variously as table songs, domestic songs and home songs. These are a specific set of religious poems in Hebrew or Aramaic written mostly between the 10th and 17th centuries, which are sung during and directly after Sabbath meals. The musical versions are numerous and heterogeneous reflecting a wealth of different styles and geographic origins, and comprising an ever expanding body of folk material.|source=<ref>Levin, Neil (1997). Z'mirot Anthology. Hal Leonard Corp. ISBN 0933676050.</ref>}}
Over many centuries the Jews of Spain and Portugal–the original [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardim]]– developed their own form of religious worship. Their services were enhanced by the addition of poetry for special occasions such as the major festivals (''[[Three Pilgrimage Festivals|Shalosh r’galim]]'') and the ''[[High Holy Days|Yamim nora’im]]'' (High Holidays). Most of these poetic insertions are rhymed, metrical hymns (''[[piyyut]]im'') and were the products of great literary figures during the [[Golden age of Jews in Spain|Golden Age of the Jews]] in Spain (c. 950–1150). Among these were Solomon ibn Gabriol, Judah Halevi and the two Ibn Ezras—Abraham and Moshe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kanter |first=Maxine R. |title=Non-Ashkenazic traditions - Leitmotifs in Sephardic High Holiday Liturgy |url=https://www.cantors.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/JSM-2013.pdf |journal=Journal of Synagogue Music |volume=38 |pages=34}}</ref>

One of the main features of devotional music and hymns in Judaism, especially when utilized in synagogue ritual on the [[Sabbath]] and other holy days, is that it is almost entirely vocal. Though today, accompanying instruments such as the organ might be utilized in worship, the emphasis on congregational song and the art of the [[Hazzan]] has always been, and still is, paramount.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Denburg |first=Moshe |year=1997 |title=An Overview of Jewish Music |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/an-overview-of-jewish-music |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref>

The one salient exception to this is an instrument called the [[Shofar]], a ram's horn which is sounded on the High Holidays (the [[Rosh Hashanah|Jewish New Year]] and [[Yom Kippur|Day of Atonement]] - Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, respectively), as a special call to prayer and [[Repentance in Judaism|repentance]].<ref name=":5" />