The Ibn Ezra (Koheles
5) criticizes the Piyutim of the Kalir.*
He has four main complaints
against them.
1) Most of them are Chidos (riddles)
& Mosholim (parables)
2) Instead of Loshon Hakodesh
he mixes in Loshon Hatalmud
3) He invents words &
uses improper Dikduk (poetic licence)
4) They are based on
Medroshos & Agodos instead of Pshat
The Teshuvas Maharashdam (O..Ch 35) claims,
The Sephardic Paytonim
have a simpler and easier
language. Everybody can
understand the Piyut, whereas the
Ashkenazi Paytonim use
difficult words and even the
Shatz (Chazzan) doesn't
understand what he is saying.
He recommends Ashkenazim to
switch to Nusach Sefard,
which is a superior
Nusach. He claims "Al Titosh Toras
Imecha is only applicable
when there is a small Issur involved
and not for changing a
Nusach Hatefilah.
The Chasam Sofer (Hagohos
O.Ch.68) writes that "the Mahrashdam
wasn't aware of the Magen
Avraham (68) who writes. you are
not allowed to change the Nusach Hatefilah because
there are 12 gates in heaven,
one for each Shevet. Each one
has his own Minhag. The
Yerushalmi says, they are all equal
you should not change from
the Minhag of your fathers."
Had the Maharshdam been aware
of this M.A., he wouldn't
have written what he
wrote".
*R' Eliezer Hakalir
"Teshuvas Maharashdam.....recommends Ashkenazim to switch to Nusach Sefard, which is a superior Nusach"
ReplyDeleteMaharshdam was Sepharadic, so no surprise that he claimed that. That is like Rav Ovadia Yosef claiming that, and claiming that R.Yosef Karo, the mechaber, is mara deasreh in Eretz Yisroel for all. Of course Ashkenazim reject such fanciful pronouncements. From the Ashkenaz point of view nusach Ashkenaz is superior. Ashkenaz mesorah is superior, that is what gedolei Ashkenaz such as the Rosh have taught us.