A poetic work written in the form of a hymn in Aramaic and recited to a special chant on the holiday of Shavuot, as an introduction to the Torah reading. Its main theme is the greatness of God, the importance of the Torah, and the reward of the righteous. It was composed by the poet Rabbi Meirben Yitzchak Schatz, a renowned cantor who lived in Worms and Mainz during the time of Rashi (11th century). "Akdamot" begins with a glorification of the Almighty, who created the world and the angels—His servants—and chose Israel from among all the nations. It then presents the debate between Israel, eternally persecuted and persecuted, and the nations of the world, who urge it to abandon its faith and blend in with them. Israel's response is unequivocal: even in the most difficult times, we will not cease to hope for the help of the Almighty, for the deliverance and goodness that await us in the World to Come.
According to one legend, there lived in Germany an anti-Semitic priest who sought to turn the king against the Jews and demanded that they come to debate him on religious matters. The Jews asked the king to postpone the debate so that he could bring a worthy sage who could debate the priest. Rabbi Meir ben Isaac appeared at the debate and managed to defeat the priest, thereby saving the Jews from persecution. The hymn "Akadmot" was composed in memory of this miracle.