You Can't Describe God. So Why Does Anim Zemirot Try? | 10@9 | 2026.07.31

You can't describe God. Judaism insists on that. So why does Anim Zemirot spend an entire poem trying? Written about a thousand years ago and still sung in many synagogues at the end of Shabbat morning services, Anim Zemirot wrestles with one of the deepest questions in Jewish thought: How can finite human beings speak meaningfully about the Infinite? Its vivid images and metaphors are not literal descriptions of God, but attempts to bring us closer to a reality that ultimately lies beyond words. This is what we do when the most important realities in life are bigger than language. In this video we explore the poetry, theology, and profound yearning of Anim Zemirot. Sometimes love speaks even when it knows language will never be enough. I also share my favorite performance of this remarkable Piyut by Ishay Ribo and Motty Steinmetz. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.