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The 19th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival and March’s Sephardi Ideas Monthly are Dedicated in Honor of the Ike, Molly, and Steven Elias Foundation ~ Martin Elias
14 March 2016
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For the month of March, Sephardi Ideas Monthly continues its exploration of piyyut─Sephardi liturgical poetry and (soul) music─with Ben Shalev’s article, “With God’s Help,” a look at Etti Ankri’s interpretations of Yehuda Halevi’s piyyutim and their relation to her own re-engagement with the Jewish tradition.
 “Millions” (Hebrew/English lyrics) is one of Etti Ankri’s popular, pre-2005 songs (Photo courtesy of Etti Ankri) |
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Etti Ankri
Etti Ankri is a famous Israeli pop singer, songwriter, and guitar player. Born in 1963 to a Tunisian-Jewish family, her first recording in 1990 catapulted her to the top of the Israeli charts, a place where she stayed thanks to her simultaneously vulnerable and playful sound. Sometime around 2005, Ankri began to deeply engage the Jewish tradition, and in time she took upon herself an observant lifestyle. 2005 is also around the time that Israel’s piyyut revival started taking off: the “Invitation to Piyyut” website went live and piyyut festivals began to be held around the country. Ankri’s newfound devotion accordingly found expression in her reinterpretation of classic Andalusian piyyutim, “BeShirei Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi” (“The Songs of Rabbi Yehuda Halevi”). In his article, Shalev praises Ankri’s album as “a beautiful work.” Ankri succeeds in composing “folksy, Sephardic-sounding melodies [that] actually suit a poet who lived in Spain 1,000 years ago.” |
“Millions” (Hebrew/English lyrics) is one of Etti Ankri’s popular, pre-2005 songs (Photo courtesy of Etti Ankri)
Etti Ankri is a famous Israeli pop singer, songwriter, and guitar player. Born in 1963 to a Tunisian-Jewish family, her first recording in 1990 catapulted her to the top of the Israeli charts, a place where she stayed thanks to her simultaneously vulnerable and playful sound. Sometime around 2005, Ankri began to deeply engage the Jewish tradition, and in time she took upon herself an observant lifestyle.
2005 is also around the time that Israel’s piyyut revival started taking off: the “Invitation to Piyyut” website went live and piyyut festivals began to be held around the country. Ankri’s newfound devotion accordingly found expression in her reinterpretation of classic Andalusian piyyutim, “BeShirei Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi” (“The Songs of Rabbi Yehuda Halevi”).
In his article, Shalev praises Ankri’s album as “a beautiful work.” Ankri succeeds in composing “folksy, Sephardic-sounding melodies [that] actually suit a poet who lived in Spain 1,000 years ago.”
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Ankri’s music requires a little patience, too: “The melodies do indeed have a solid folk basis, and at first they really do sound too simple. But something fascinating happens in almost all of them: Two or three minutes into the song, when it seems the circular melody will remain trapped in its simple progression, it suddenly soars, opening impressively, moving even those who do not understand the nuances of the medieval text or pray in Ankri’s synagogue.”
Going a little deeper, Shalev also features lengthy exchanges with Ankri about her reanimated faith and its relationship to her art. In one revealing passage, Ankri frames the problem of artistic inspiration in traditional categories: “The chapters in the Book of Psalms start two ways… There are chapters that start with the words ‘A psalm of David,’ and there are chapters that start with ‘For David a psalm.’ The commentators say… that ‘a psalm of David’ means that the inspiration came to him, while ‘for David a psalm’ means there was no inspiration, but effort. The same thing happens at a performance… Sometimes you feel that the inspiration is upon you and you fly, and there are performances when there is no connection and it’s awful. But I carry on, because I’m putting my heart into this effort.” |
Going a little deeper, Shalev also features lengthy exchanges with Ankri about her reanimated faith and its relationship to her art. In one revealing passage, Ankri frames the problem of artistic inspiration in traditional categories: “The chapters in the Book of Psalms start two ways… There are chapters that start with the words ‘A psalm of David,’ and there are chapters that start with ‘For David a psalm.’ The commentators say… that ‘a psalm of David’ means that the inspiration came to him, while ‘for David a psalm’ means there was no inspiration, but effort. The same thing happens at a performance… Sometimes you feel that the inspiration is upon you and you fly, and there are performances when there is no connection and it’s awful. But I carry on, because I’m putting my heart into this effort.”
 Click here to listen to Etti Ankri offering a contemporary interpretation of Yehuda Halevi’s “Yedidi, HaShachachta” (“Have You Forgotten, My Beloved?”) (Photo courtesy of University of Virginia) |
Click here to listen to Etti Ankri offering a contemporary interpretation of Yehuda Halevi’s “Yedidi, HaShachachta” (“Have You Forgotten, My Beloved?”) (Photo courtesy of University of Virginia)
| Last month’s Sephardi Ideas Monthly interview with trumpet player Itamar Borochov demonstrated that sometimes musicians are drawn to piyyutim out of spiritual affinities and a respect for tradition, but not because of any desire to become more observant. Ankri’s music reflects a different dimension of the piyyut revival: sometimes artists engage with piyyutim out of a distinctly religious passion. |
| One of the striking aspects of Israel’s piyyut revival is that people at all levels of observance (or non-observance) are coming together to engage, through piyyut, the Jewish tradition. Etti Ankri’s wonderful interpretations of Yehuda HaLevi are the creations of someone on the more observant side of the spectrum, but piyyut, in the tradition of Classic Sephardic Judaism, is open to everyone to enjoy. |
March 10-17
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York City
This year’s NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) will feature poignant stories and intriguing documentaries from Argentina, Australia, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, and Morocco, as well as exciting programs (Sephardim in America, Bollywood Night, Moroccan Day, Arabic Movie Night, and “Iraqi Music, History &… Kubba” for Closing Night). Watch the NYSJFF trailer here.
Monday (14 March): ASF’s Young Leadership Board, headed by Lauren Gibli, is hosting an After Party for the Festival’s NY première of Midnight Orchestra, a Moroccan film starring French comedic superstar Gad Elmaleh.
Passes and Tickets
Festival Pass: $50 (includes all the films)
Single Screening: $15
Midnight Orchestra: $25 (includes After Party)
Order here or by phone (1.800.838.3006)
Shirat Baqashot ve-Piyyutim
Mondays, starting March 21st at 7:30PM
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York City
According to the nusach of the Moroccan Jews
Presented by the hazzan and payytan, R’ Amar
The American Sephardi Federation is pleased to announce a new class exploring the Baqashot (‘Songs of Seeking’ in Edwin Seroussi’s wonderful translation), a musical tradition whose roots are in Andalusian Spain. R’ Amar, a student of R’ David Buzaglo, considered the greatest Hebrew liturgical poet of the 20th century, will guide students through the theory and practice of the Baqashot:
1). Their purpose, when and how they are used in the liturgy–how they are attached to weekly parshiyot (Shabbat Torah readings)
2). The musical maqamim (Arabic melodic mode) used in the singing of the Baqashot
3). The great composers of this traditional art form
Students will be instructed in the chanting of each of the baqashot according to the weekly parshiyot and maqam.
Please click here to RSVP for the sessions
Cost: $20 for four classes
THE POMEGRANATE CARD
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($54 tax-deductible)
Contact us by email or phone (917.606.8266) to sponsor future issues of the Sephardi World Weekly in honor or memory of loved ones.
on display now through March 2016
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Contact us by email or phone (917-606-8266) to learn about opportunities to underwrite our newly designated office spaces and publications in honor or memory of loved ones.
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Copyright © 2015 American Sephardi Federation, All rights reserved. Thank you for opting (on our websites, at an event, or by email) to receive American Sephardi Federation Programming Updates and Publications. We apologize if this message was sent in error. The American Sephardi Federation is a proud partner of the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, NY., 10011). American Sephardi Federation | http://www.Sephardi.House | info@Sephardi.House | (212) 548-4486
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Copyright © 2015 American Sephardi Federation, All rights reserved.
Thank you for opting (on our websites, at an event, or by email) to receive American Sephardi Federation Programming Updates and Publications. We apologize if this message was sent in error.
The American Sephardi Federation is a proud partner of the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, NY., 10011).
American Sephardi Federation | http://www.Sephardi.House | info@Sephardi.House | (212) 548-4486
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