The Kalir Killer

 

One of the original Piyutim for שבת הגדול is the Piyut "אדיר דר מתוחים" *. This Piyut was supposedly written by R. Yanai. R. Yanai was one of the first Paytonim. He was the Rebbe of R. Elazar b. Hakalir. Some claim, him to be the Tanna mentioned in Bavli & Yerushalmi. An old Ksav Yad (manuscript) of R. Efraim from Bonn (Ba’alei Tosfos) was found in the 18th century. R. Efraim writes, “In the land (region) of Lombardia (Italy) this Piyut is not recited. It is said the reason for it is because R. Yanai was jealous of his Talmid R. Elazar b. Hakalir, whose Piyutim were much better than his. R.Yanai placed a scorpion in the shoe of R. E.b.Hakalir and it killed him. Hashem should forgive all who repeat this story if it isn’t true” Shadal (Luzatto) claims this story to be unbelievable, absurd, and not true. He has 3 proofs that it can’t be true. 1) In all homes on the 1st. Seder night we say Yanai's Piyut “ובכן ויהי בחצי הלילה".  2) The Shibolei Haleket quotes the R. Gershom Meor Hagolah who praises highly R. Yanai. 3) The 300 [500] year old Soncino Machzor has the Piyut in there. Today (200years ago) they do say it in Lombardia. Perhaps one more proof.אמבצי 4) Tosfos (Meseches Zevachim 95b) quotes this Piyut. Had he have been a murderer, the above would not have been said or quoted.                       תוספות ד"ה עירה לתוכו זבחים צ"ה ע:"ב   This Piyut is only found in the אוצר התפילות Siddur.to be said during Musaf. It is not found in other Siddurim.

It's Kalirly in the Yerushalmi

Kalir follows the Yerushalmi

The קרובץ לפורים is on every Bracha of the שמונה עשרה
except on the Bracha “את צמח”.

Some claim the reason for this is because all the wars were
fought by מלכות בית דוד except for מלחמת עמלק
which was fought by the grandchildren of Rochel.

Mordechai was מתקן for Shaul Hamelech's war on אגוג.
Therefore we don’t mention the נס when saying
"את צמח דוד ."

The truth is, קרובץ, were written not only for Purim.
There are קרובץ for Hoshana Rabah,17th Tamuz,
10th Teves, and 9thAv. They all have no קרובץ
on את צמח.

The real reason:

The פייטן for קרובץ was R, Elazar b Hakalir.
In his פיוטים, he generally follows the Yerushalmi
over  Bavli.

According to the Yerushalmi, (& Tosefta) the
Bracha of את צמח and וירושלים עירך, are combined
into one Bracha. (18 Brachos includes ולמלשינים)

Hence, no קרובץ for  את צמח

YERUSHALMI MATZAV