Mazhir ben Abraham

Mazhir ben Abraham, known as Rabbi Mazhir the Third was a senior member of the remnant of the Palestinian Gaonate in Damascus, a cantor, and a liturgical poet.

Overview

Mazhir was the son of Abraham ben Mazhir, the Gaon in Damascus. Mazhir first appears in a poem of Isaac Ibn Ezra from 1142 dedicated to Mazhir's father that mentions his four children, including Mazhir. When Benjamin of Tudela visited Damascus in around 1168 he does not mention Mazhir, who had not yet assumed his position as the Third.
A letter from the Iraqi Gaon Samuel ben Ali from 1191 mentions "the honorable elderly Mazhir the Third". Scholars debate how to interpret the letter. According to Assaf and Fleischer the letter was written to Mazhir, who was then leading the Yeshiva but for whatever reason did not assume the title Gaon and remained as "The Third". Mann disagreed and read the letter as saying that Mazhir was serving as the Third under a nephew of his, Abraham, a son of his brother Ezra.
Mazhir was also a cantor. This is known from the fact that he signs his name in one of the acrostics of his poems as "Mazhir the cantor".
A poem in honor of Mazhir was found in the Cairo Genizah.

Poetry

Mazhir was a paytan, a liturgical poet, and a number of his compositions have survived, primarily in mahzorim of the Old Aleppo Rite. His poetry has been gathered and published with critical notes by Ezra Fleischer. Mazhir is unique among paytanim in his consistent use of enjambment in his poems.