Akdamus or Akdamut Milin ("In Introduction to the Words," i.e., to the Ten Commandments) is a prominent piyyut ("liturgical poem") written in Aramaic recited annually on the Jewish holiday of Shavuos by Ashkenazi Jews. Rabbi Meir bar Yitzchak penned it (the Nehorai of Orléans), who was a cantor in Worms, Germany (died ca. 1095).
Akdamus consists of praise for God, His Torah, and His people. During the Torah reading, Akdamut is read in almost all Ashkenazi synagogues on the first day of Shavuos. The original practice was for it to be recited after the reading of the first verse (Exodus 19:1). Still, in the past few centuries, the practice has developed in many congregations that the poem is read after the Kohen has been called to the Torah reading, but before he recites the blessing.
The entire poem is 90 verses long. The first 44 verses of Akdamus are arranged as a double alphabetic acrostic, two lines for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, followed by 46 verses with the initial letters spelling out the words, "Meir, son of Rabbi Isaac, may he grow in Torah and good deeds. Amen. Be strong and have courage."
The language of Akdamus is terse and intricate and is replete with references to Torah and Talmud. Each line has ten syllables and concludes with the syllable "ta" (תא), which is spelled with the last letter (taw) and first letter (aleph) of the Hebrew alphabet. The encoded message from the author is that a Jew never stops learning the Torah — when one finishes it, he begins again. This message was appropriately chosen for Shavuos since this holiday commemorates the Jews accepting the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Some Siddurim provide a running translation from the now arcane Aramaic into Hebrew or English.
In summary, the poem begins with the greatness of God, which exceeds all ability to describe it (verses 1–14), and then the myriads of various kinds of angels created by Him and attending Him (15–26). The various angels praise God according to their categories; some praise Him unceasingly, some at recurring times, and some only once (27–42). The nations of the earth seek to acquire Israel to add to their greatness, but Israel replies that its loyalty is only to God, which is the source of Israel's attributes and strength (43–74). In the future, Leviason will be brought, slaughtered, and prepared by God as a banquet for the righteous in opulent furnishings (75–84). The narration concludes with a benediction and wishes the hearer the privilege of attending this banquet. It assures the audience that this will be so if they only listen to the words of the Torah (85–90).