MORDECAI ASTRUC:

By: Cyrus Adler, A. Peiginsky

French liturgical poet; lived at Carpentras about the end of the seventeenth century. He was the author of several liturgical poems printed in "Seder ha-Tamid," a collection of prayers used at Carpentras, Isle, Avignon, and Cavaillon (Avignon, 1760). His prayer of thanks-giving beginning" Ish hayah be-tam lebabo" is well known for the occasion which gave rise to it. In 1682 a Jew of Carpentras was murdered, and the populace attacked the Jews' quarters, serious rioting being prevented only by the prompt interference of the authorities. The community thereupon constituted the day on which the disturbance occurred (the 9th of Nisan) a feast-day in memory of the rescue, and Mordecai's poem was read in the synagogue.

A. A. Pe.