October 30, 2025 ~ Shabbat LEKH LEKHA. SABA.
1952-
Isaac was raised as a toddler in Ramat Gan, Israel, by parents who had travelled to Palestine as chalutzim in 1945 from the Indian subcontinent. His mother, Ruby, was the 4 th generation born in Calcutta to a family that had arrived there from Baghdad in 1820, and whose ancestor was Hakham Rav Saleh Yosef Musleah, Nasi of Baghdad (d.1785). His father, Elias, was born in Rangoon, Burma, to a family that hailed from Baghdad with the family name Gazal, derived from their being as fleet as gazelles in delivering bread to peoples' homes.
After emigrating with his family to Sydney, Australia in 1957, Isaac was then sent to the USA in 1972. There he gained a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, as well as a Bachelor of Hebrew Literature, a Master of Arts, and ordained a Rabbi in 1980, at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Thereafter Isaac returned to Australia to pursue his medical studies at The University of Sydney. He practices today as a solo general medical practitioner.
Isaac's wife Anna was born in Moscow to Jewish Ukrainian parents who then left Russia in 1972, and raised their daughter in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Isaac and Anna have a son named Hillel.
Whereas Isaac's rabbinical studies were greatly influenced by his uncle Rabbi Dr Ezekiel N. Musleah, and his teacher Professor (Hakham) Jose Faur, the foundation of his religious instruction was imparted by his parents, steeped in the observances and customs of their Baghdadi antecedents.
| Section | Pizmon | Page | Song | Commentary | Recordings | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qiddush | קדוש | 3 | אשת חיל | Last Chapter of Proverbs. Said prior to Qiddush to honor the women of the household. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Qiddush | 0.2 | 7a | צור משלו אכלנו | Pizmon for Birkat HaMazon. Each blessing of Birkat Hamazon is alluded to. Maqam Hijaz. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Baqashot | 2 | 9 | למענך ולא לנו | Maqam Bayat This song discusses redemption. Bayat. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Baqashot | 15 | 24 | ארץ ורום |  Abraham Ibn Ezra Maqam Saba Saba. Discusses the seven days. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Baqashot | 23 | 30 | כי אשמרה שבת |  Abraham Ibn Ezra Maqam Saba Saba. A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai Dr Isaac S Mordecai - Elul Melody |
שמחים |
| Baqashot | 26 | 34 | אליו מי הקשה | Abraham Ibn Ezra Maqam Sigah Sigah. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Baqashot | 28 | 35 | יום זה לישראל | Isaac Luria Maqam Mehayar-Bayat Mehayar-Bayat. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
שמחים |
| Baqashot | 29 | 37 | יודוך רעיוני | Israel Najara Maqam Rahawi Nawah Rahawi Nawah. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai Dr Isaac S Mordecai - Elul Melody |
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| Baqashot | 40 | 47 | יה רבון עלם | Israel Najara Maqam Rast Rast. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Baqashot | 61 | 69 | ידיד נפש | Elazar Azkari Maqam Sigah 16th century. He defines this piyut as “a supplication for union and the desire of love”. Sigah. A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
ממצרים |
| Baqashot | 62 | 70 | אגדלך אלהי | Abraham Ibn Ezra Discussing the relationship between man and the Creator. There are many emotions here including the mortality of man. There is more than one melody to this song; According to H. Kaire, it could be in Sigah (melody: Adon Yahid Yasad), Nahwand (Atah El Kabir), other popular Nahwand tune, or Mehayar Bayat (Mamlekhot Ha'ares). Attiah Manuscript Yabess Manuscript Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
קדיש |
| Baqashot | 66 | 73 | אדון עולם אשר מלך | Maqam Nahwand God's power over the world. Nahwand. A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
כתר |
| Mossaei Shabbat | 67 | 76 | במוצאי יום מנוחה | Yaakob Manoi Very old pizmon. Found in Mahzor Vitry. Its composer is Ya'acob Manoi, whose name is spelled in the acrostic beginning with the second stanza. It begins with a plea that God gather Israel together from exile during the coming week. It asks that He redeem Israel from its current state of degradation and bring it to the Temple. Closes with a prayer for Elijah the prophet, traditionally the herald of the Messiah. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
ראו בנים |
| Mossaei Shabbat | 68 | 77 | חדש ששוני | Talks about Eliyahu HaNabi. The song is accrostic. Asks for fulfillment of national aspirations and asks for Eliyahu to announce the redemption. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai- Winter Melody Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
ראו בנים |
| Mossaei Shabbat | 69 | 78 | אגיל ואשמח | Elazar According to tradition, Eliyahu will be the one to announce the Messiah, and it has been promised to Israel that the announcement won't come on a Friday night/Shabbat. Therefore, it is a custom to start and ask/wait for the Messiah starting Saturday night from the moment that Shabbat is over. A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Mossaei Shabbat | 70 | 78 | משביח שאון ימים | "Mashbiah Sheon Yamim" is an allusion to Psalm 65:8. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Mossaei Shabbat | 72 | 81 | אל אליהו | Abraham Ibn Ezra There are many different melodies to this song. Eliyahu, who will be the announcer of the redemption will hopefully come on a Saturday night right after Shabbat and in zechut (merit) that we have observed the Shabbat. The pizmon ends in prayer. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Mossaei Shabbat | הבדלה | 86 | ויתן לך | Verses from the Tanakh of blessings (for the new week). |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Mossaei Shabbat | 74 | 90 | אמר ה' ליעקב | Follows the Alef Bet. Nearly every verse is a Biblical allusion. The general theme is that Israel, based on Biblical assurances, should have no fear that it will be doomed. First seen in Aram Soba Mahzor in 1527. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Mahour | 179 | 149 | ידך תנחני | ישראל Yadekha Tanheni is a composition written by the legendary poet and Sephardic rabbi H Israel ben Moshe Najara (1555-1625). Based on the words in Psalms 139:10, the pizmon opens with the words "Your hand will guide me, O Living God, my maker." Throughout his life as a refugee (from Safed, to Damascus, and then to Gaza) filled with personal tragedy (loss of his wife and daughter at an early age), Najara manages to keep his faith in the Almighty and relies on Him for support. Still questions are asked of God, "Where is David? Where is Ben Yishai?" - referencing the Messiah and a promised redemption. In the prayers, H Moshe Ashear uses the MAHOUR melody of this pizmon on Shabbat Toledot for Semehim. This relates to the narrative of this perasha, because we are introduced to Jacob, also named Israel; an individual who also had a very difficult life but nevertheless relies on God for support. Hamaoui Manuscript Attiah Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
ה' מלך |
| Ajam | 221.01 | 176a | סוכה ולולב | Sukkot. There are many melodies to this pizmon; including Maqam Ajam and Saba. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Ajam | 232 | 181 | צורי גואלי יה | ישראל בר משה Written by R Israel Najara. Attiah Manuscript Yabess Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
נקדישך |
| Hoseni | 426 | 349 | האל העירה וראה | Hamaoui Manuscript Attiah Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
פזמון |
| Rahawi Nawah | 436 | 359 | אמונים ערכו שבח | אהרן כהן Emunim (RAHAW, page 359), or "The Faithful," is an important Sephardic hymn for Pesah; specifically for the Leil HaSeder. It can be found in Mahzor Aram Soba (1527), making it one of our oldest pizmonim still in active transmission. It has the acrostic of "Aharon Kohen." Each of the 7 stanzas end with the words "Va'amartem Zebah Pesah..." (ואמרתם זבח פסח); referring to the commandment mentioned in Exodus 12:27 to offer the Qorban Pesah to God. Other Missvot relating to Pesah are also referred to, such as, eating Massa and Maror, drinking the four cups of wine, and retelling of the story of the exodus from Egypt (ending with receiving the Torah). The last verse ends "Your doings are wondrous; Your miracles are powerful; all those who seek refuge in You will say 'It is good to take refuge in the Lord' (Psalm 118:8)." The hymn is traditionally sung at the Seder in the Magid portion, and the melody of this hymn is applied to the prayers for Semehim of Shabbat Hagadol, and Naqdishakh of Ereb Pesah. Mahzor Aram Soba 1527 Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Yabess Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
שמחים |
| Rahawi Nawah | 437 | 360 | מלך המפואר | משה חזק Rahawi. Rosh Hashana, but also may be used for Pesah. Attiah Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Yabess Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
שמחים |
| Rahawi Nawah | 448 | 370 | מפי אל מפי אל | א״ב Maqam Girkah The pizmon “Mipi El” (RAHAWI-NAWAH, page 370), or “From the Mouth of God,” is commonly used for the Haqafot of Simhat Torah. The author is unknown, and renditions of this song are found in 19th century Aleppo manuscripts. The theme of "Mipi El" is the greatness of the Torah, and praise is given to four subjects; (1) God (author of the Torah), (2) Moses "Ben Amram" (who received the Torah), (3) the Torah itself, and (4) the nation of Israel (who receives the Torah from Moses). The song uses the Hebrew alphabet to provide adjectives for the four subjects above. In one version of the song, the long version, there are four adjectives of each letter to provide praise for the four subjects above (for a total of 22 stanzas). In the short version, however, there is only one adjective per letter (for a total of 6 stanzas). The use of the word “Ein” (translated as: 'there is none') in the song is based on the verse from the Prayer of Hanna in 1 Samuel 2:2 which says “Ein Qadosh KaHashem, Ki Ein Biltekha, v’Ein Sur Kelohenu.” In addition to Simhat Torah, the melody of this song is also used in association with Shabbat Vayesse due to the words “Yebarekh Et Yisrael” (He will bless Israel). Hamaoui Manuscript Attiah Manuscript Yabess Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
אל ההודאות |
| Saba | 492 | 405 | יהי שלום בחילנו | This pizmon (SABA, page 405), whose title is translated as "May Peace Be Within Our Walls," is one of the oldest Berit Milah songs to be in continuous use. A version of this song appears in Mahzor Aram Soba of 1527, the first printed prayer book of the native Aleppo Jewish community, and a different version, with the acrostic “Yehoshua Hazaq” (יהושע חזק) appears in subsequent editions in the nineteenth century. In our Red Book, we have a combination of the two versions. In this song, we are celebrating the baby boy by saying that his birth is a sign of our good fortune and a sign of our future redemption. Blessings about this baby include that he should grow up in the shadow of the Almighty, he should be active in teaching Torah, he should have a long life, and always have his table set. When he grows up, his name will be well-known and loved by God-fearing people, and they will consider him to be a leader of their generation, like Samuel the Prophet. In the newer “Yehoshua Hazaq” version, there is no reference to the Berit Milah. Instead, the last stanza (חזק) wishes for the baby to be considered very close to God; always dwelling in His midst. To add a reference to the Berit Milah, modern editions of this song remove the final stanza of the “Yehoshua Hazaq” version, and re-implement the last stanza of the original 1527 version. This last stanza of the 1527 version, beginning with the word “HaNimol” (הנמול), further blesses the baby saying that "The circumcised in his nation will live for his father and mother, and may his God be with him and with the whole House of Israel.” Mahzor Aram Soba 1560 Shire Zimrah, Algiers, 1889 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Saba | 504 | 418 | איש אלהים קדוש הוא | Ben Ish Hai Lag LaOmer. For R' Shimon Bar Yochai. Written by the "Ben Ish Hai" of Babel in the 19th century. Song is an acrostic (Aleph Bet) and has many allusions to the life of R' Shimon. Abraham Sitehon Manuscript |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
כתר |
| 559.01 | 466a | שימני ראש | Purim. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Berakhot | ברכות | 531 | ברכת קידושין ואירוסין | Maqam Ajam Wedding Ceremony. Mahzor Aram Soba 1527 |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai - אירוסין Dr Isaac S Mordecai - נשואין |
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| Haqafot | 626 | 541 | אדיר לא ינום | Haqafa #1 in honour of Abraham. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Haqafot | 627 | 542 | הללו עבדי יי | Haqafa #2 in honour of Isaac. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Haqafot | 628 | 543 | שמחו נא שמחו נא | Haqafa #3 in honour of Jacob. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Haqafot | 629.5 | 545 | אב גד הו |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Haqafot | 632 | 550 | אלי אלי למה | Haqafa #7 in honour of David. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| Haqafot | 634 | 552 | תזכו לשנים רבות | Conclusion of Haqafot. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| 717 | 374b | יום יום אודה לאל אשר בחר בנו | יצחק Maqam Rahawi Nawah A song in honor of the Ten Commandments and Matan Torah. Previously had different melodies in Maqamat Rast, Rahawi-Nawah, Iraq, and Hoseni. Attiah Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| 1677 | 429c | אזכיר חסדי אל | אברהם Maqam Saba AZKEER HASDEI EL - This pizmon, whose title is translated as "I Will Remember the Kindness of God," is a song in honor of Purim. It is composed by H Abraham Solomon Hayoun (שלמה בר חיון אברהם ,(and his name is spelled out as an acrostic in the song's 18 rhyming stanzas. The number 18, or Hai, means life, and this song is a representation of all the miracles that took place in the Book of Esther that kept the Jewish nation alive. The opening verse says that the author, H Hayoun, will remember the kindness of the faithful God, a God that has mercy on his people in the way that a father has mercy on his child. The repeating chorus of the song echoes the words used after completing Megillat Esther: "Cursed be Haman, Blessed be Mordekhai, Cursed be Zeresh, and Blessed be Esther." The song concludes that for all of the aforementioned reasons, the festival of Purim will be observed for generations to come, and I, the author, will always praise God, because He is always the Savior in times of great trouble. In regards to singing this song on Purim, it has become popular across many communities in the Middle East, such as those in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. H Moshe Ashear documents very precisely (in four years of his notes) that the melody of this pizmon (which is in Maqam SABA) should be applied to Semehim Besetam on the week prior to Shabbat Zakhor (which is about two weeks before Purim). Yabess Manuscript Sassoon Manuscript #647 Attiah Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
שמחים | |
| 2128 | 514l | חון תחון על בניך | Binyanim Hazak--- Opens the prayers for the Second night of Rosh Hashana--- closes the Selihot prayers--- |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
פיוט | |
| 2129 | 514n | לך אלי תשוקתי | Abraham Ibn Ezra Opens the prayers on Yom Kippur Evening. Discusses confessions of a person and realizations that everything comes from Hashem. Ashear used this song for Semehim on Shabbat Shubah. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
פיוט | |
| 3498.3 | P1 | אתה הראת לדעת |
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| 4026 | 374a | מלך גואל ומושיע | Maqam Rahawi Nawah Month of Nissan. |
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| Pentateuch | 4081 | P442 | סדר שמות הטעמים | Names of the Ta'amim. |
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| 5743 | הנרות הללו |
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| 5967 | אל רחום שמך |
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| 5968 | אדון הסליחות |
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| 5969 | אלהי קדם |
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| 5970 | אלהי עוז תהילתי |
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| 5971 | שוכני בתי חומר |
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| 5972 | אמת אתה חתננו |
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| 5973 | שמע קולי |
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| 5974 | מציל עני |
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| 5975 | הללי הללי | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5976 | חננו יה חננו | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5977 | יה שמע | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5978 | יום שמחה לישראל | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5979 | מי ומי | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5980 | שיר לאילת אהבים | Hoshana Raba. |
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| 5981 | שירה נרננה | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5982 | תורת אמת נתן | Simhat Torah. |
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| 5983 | כמה מעלות | Pesah. |
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| 5984 | אתה גאלת | Pesah. |
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| 5985 | נכון לבו | A pizmon for Pesah. |
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| 5986 | מה נשתנה | Pesah. |
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| 5987 | ברוך המקום ברוך הוא | Pesah. |
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| 5988 | הנה מקום הנה נחלה | A piyyut that is traditionally chanted at funeral services when the body is first lowered into the ground. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| 5989 | ברוך בא בשם די | On Shabbat between Rosh Hodesh Elul and Yom Kippur. Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai |
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| 5990 | יום השבת אין כמוהו | Shabbat. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai Dr Isaac S Mordecai- Elul Melody |
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| 5991 | דרור יקרא | Shabbat. |
Dr Isaac S Mordecai Dr Isaac S Mordecai- Elul Melody |
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| 5992 | עת דודים כלה | Sukkot. Associated with Sukkot tradition. |
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| 5993 | אין די באר | Sukkot. Associated with Sukkot tradition. |
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| 5994 | שער הרחמים | Rosh Hodesh. Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
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| 5995 | צור רם על כל רמים | Sukkot. Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
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| 5996 | חודש ישועה | Rosh Hodesh. Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
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| 5997 | זה אלי | Hoshana Raba. Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
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| 5998 | אשיר לאל אשר שבת | Shabbat. |
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| 5999 | אשריכם | Hoshana Raba.Associated with Iraqi tradition. |
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