Sansan l’Yair is a collection of prayers to be recited on various occasions, like in the wake of tragedy, under the chuppah, or during pregnancy and childbirth. It is part of Avodat HaKodesh (“Work that is Holy”), a compilation of seven short works of law, custom, and ethics written in the late 18th century by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azoulai (known as the “Chida” for his acronym). Avodat HaKodesh incorporates talmudic, rabbinic, and kabbalistic teachings, translating them into practical instructions for a proper and holy life. The first Hebrew book to be printed in Jerusalem, it has since been published in more than a hundred editions.