KOL NIDRE, MELODIES FROM ASHKENAZ, SEFERAD AND MIZRAHIM. LET US TRAVEL, OJALA, AND EAT WELL IN 5782

Last night, it was Erev Yom Kippur, the beginning of the day of atonement. I had been with the Indians are hurried home before the sunset, missing the opening hours of  the Israeli Arab restaurant near my house. 

Central Synagogue has a livestreaming of their services which is a great help for those of us, stranded in different places and without the usual family support.

How do Jews keep being Jewish, when the centrality is not exactly the practice of the religion. In Melbourne, Australia I was so much part of the community that religious affirmation by attending the services at the synagogue was not absolutely necessary. But in the USA, perhaps with the influence of the strong christian church attendances, community has the synagogue as focus. Of course in Israel, just being there affirms your identity and I have celebrated sacred days there just with the family and friends without the assistance of any clergy. The Central Synagogue clergy are impressive: The Chief Rabbi is very Korean looking but was born and brought up as Jewish and has a nice jewish family, the Cantor (Chazzan) who chants the melodies is an American Jew of Turkish heritage. The architecture of the synagogue is wonderful and there is an emphasis on rituals and order. 

Last night's service, called the Kol Nidre service was very enjoyable and at the end I felt the absence of something. Oriental (middle eastern) melodies that soothes my ears. The Americans follow the european jewish traditions and tunes (with exceptions of course, I discovered there is a oriental (sefardic) chantor at a synagogue in Miami Beach. Would be nice to listen to him one day. 

I am going to briefly describe four different prayers and contrast the Occidental and Oriental melodies.

Kaddish 

Kaddish is a 13th century, Aramaic prayer said during every traditional prayer service. Kaddish means ‘sanctification’ in Aramaic and it is related to the Hebrew word Kadosh, which means ‘holy.’

Of the five variations of the Kaddish; the best known is the Mourner’s Kaddish. The prayer never mentions death or dying, but instead proclaims the greatness of God. By reciting it, mourners show that even as their faith is being tested by their loss, they are affirming God’s greatness.

Two versions here

One an Eastern European Hassidic version, this melody is familiar to most American Jews. The other is a kaddish from Morocco. 

This one from Chazzan Ari Schwarz from the Park Avenue synagogue in New York.

contrast the above with this prayer from Morocco. I liked the fact that the video had paintings of certain historical events and also of great jewish personages, such as Maimonides.

Adan Olam

This is a favourite prayer of many, attributed to Solomon Ibn Gabirol who was born in Malaga 1020 CE. You can see a building dedicated to him in Malaga with a statue in front. 

I was surprised that many of the Yemeni Israelis could sing the melody well as seen in this clip.

I like the Israeli version sung here by Sarit Hadad, who is of Azerbaijani Mountain Jewish origin. 

The versions in Australian or American synagogues are quite different. 

Avinu malkeinu

The Talmud records Rabbi Akiva (died 135 CE) reciting two verses each beginning "Our Father, Our King" in a prayer to end a drought (apparently successfully).  In a much later compilation of Talmudic notes, published circa 1515, this is expanded to five verses. It is very probable that, at first, there was no set number of verses, no sequence, nor perhaps any fixed text. Apparently an early version had the verses in alphabetic sequence, which would mean 22 verses. The prayer book of Amram Gaon (9th century) had 25 verses.  Mahzor Vitry (early 12th century) has more than 40 verses and added the explanation that the prayer accumulated additional verses that were added ad hoc on various occasions and thereafter retained.  Presently, the Sephardic tradition has 29 verses, among the Mizrahi Jews the Syrian tradition has 31 or 32 verses, but the Yemenite has only 27 verses, the Salonika as many as 53 verses, the Ashkenazic has 38 verses, the Polish tradition has 44 verses, all with different sequences. And within traditions, some verses change depending on the occasion, such as the Ten Days of Repentance, including Rosh Hashana and the bulk of Yom Kippur (when it is generally said kotvenu - "inscribe us"), or the Ne'ila Yom Kippur service (chotmenu - "seal us"), or a lesser fast day (zokhreinu - "remember us").

Here there are two examples , one in the western tradition and the other in the eastern tradition sung by a Turkish Rabbi. Rabbi Isak Maçoro.

Kol nidre considered sacred in itself has had a checkered history beginning with Gaonic period 11^th century. It is an Aramaic compilation of rules (much as the Ketubah the wedding contract of the Jews in Aramaic). But Kol Nidre appears on the eve of the sacred day of Yom Kippur and such has acquired a holy status, even if it is not a prayer.

In this video, you can see some memories of Sefarad (Spain ). In Miami Beach there is a strong Sefardi Orthodox Jewish Community with a very busy schedule at their synagogue.

I was first introduced to the turkish way of singing at the Synagogue in Rhodos, Greece where the jews are of turkish origin.

As melodies differ, so does the food. I am very fond of Israeli cuisine which now is amalgamating the various foods from the jewish communities of Levant. It bears no resemblance to the ashkenazi influenced jewish cuisine one can have in Australia or USA. 

Here is an example of Cochin Jewish food at Nevatim, Israel.

My younger brother who lives in Haifa, can cook up a storm and I am already looking forward to his cooking on my forthcoming visit.

A good example of amalgamation of cuisine is this table from a restaurant in Israel 

WISH ALL OF YOU A PEACEFUL, FRIENDLY, TRAVEL RICH, TASTY YEAR 5782