Saying Yotzros
Fundamental Principles of the Minhag
22. There is an old minhag to say piyutim in davening of the daled parshiyos [Shekalim, Zachor, Parah, and HaChodesh], referred to today as “yotzros.” Some stanzas were composed to be said in Birchos Krias Shema [the first of them is for the bracha of Yotzer, hence the source for the general term “yotzros”] and some are designated for Chazoras HaShatz – for the first three brachos in Shacharis, and for each bracha of Mussaf of Parshas Shekalim and HaChodesh. The “krovetz” for Purim day also has a stanza for each bracha.
23. Some refer to these piyutim with the term “קרובץ ,” which stands for דיקים צ אהלי ב ישועה ו ינה ר ול ק (ב''י או''ח סי' ס''ח, רמ''א סי' קי''ב ס''ב ).
24. Great importance. The sefarim hakedoshim explain that these four Shabbosos are opportune times to receive a great spiritual light and to channel kedusha toward oneself (ליקוטי תורה להרה''מ מטשערנאביל ), particularly through saying the tefillos of the holy yotzros and piyutim [established and composed by our early Chachamim, with R’ Elazar HaKalir (who is R’ Elazar ben R’ Shimon bar Yochai [תוס' חגיגה דף י''ד ע''א, ב''ח סי' ס''ח סק''ג, אריז''ל בשער הכוונות ] or R’ Elazar ben Arach [שו''ת הרשב''א ח''א סי' תס''ט ]) at their head] said on these Shabbosos, which are full of pleas, gratitude, and love for Hashem. They were written with ruach hakodesh (קב הישר פרק פ''ו ) and arouse Hashem’s mercy and desire to save us at a special time.
25. Difficult to understand. The piyutim are built on Aggados and Midrashim and based on all sorts of rhymes and plays on words which conceal more than they reveal, making them very difficult to understand. Because of this, many are lax about saying them with the excuse that they anyway do not understand the content.
26. Prepare and learn the yotzros. Thus, it is worthwhile to set aside time before the daled parshiyos when the yotzros are said [whether during the week, on erev Shabbos, Shabbos night, or Shabbos morning before davening] to go over the meaning of the words with the aid of one of the many wonderful modern sefarim and explanations published on the yotzros. These help one understand and decipher the enigmas and secrets within the piyutim, as mentioned by the poskim (ט''ז סי' ק' סק''א, מ''ב סק''ג ). There were shul rabbanim who publicly taught the meaning of the piyutim (ווי העמודים בסוף ס' של''ה פ''י סקכ''ז הובא בא''ר סי' ה' סק''א ). Then, people will experience the beauty and wonderful sweetness of saying yotzros. The piyutim will not feel like a burden, but rather like an extra opportunity to pour forth song to Hashem at opportune times.
