kehilot sharot piyut venigun

Kehilot Sharot - Singing Communities - was established in 2002 with the vision to share the hidden treasures of the world of piyyut with the general public in Israel, and to add the voice of piyyut to evolving Israeli culture. As pioneers and leader Background Over many centuries, Jewish communities the world over developed a wealth of textual and musical compositions. Piyyut (para-liturgical hymn) is a unique art form that integrates music and poetry; it evokes Jewish thought and emotions, and was a central aspect in spiritual and community life in the Diaspora. A basic component of social and cultural events relating to Hebrew calendar year’s events and festivals as well as to the individual’s life-cycle, piyyut was part of every community member’s life and faithfully served cultural, social, aesthetic and spiritual functions over the ages. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, these living traditions continued to serve their respective communities but did not succeed in breaking through into modern Israeli culture. There was no expression in the emerging cultural sphere - poetic or musical - of the immense variety of classic and popular musical traditions from all over the world that the incoming of exiles had brought together. What can now be done? This unique art form, a living musical workshop, in essence, should not be relegated to merely being a paradise for musicologists or researchers of medieval poetry. Piyyut has the potential of being an easily accessible portal to Jewish art and culture for all Israelis. As a unified force of words and music, it has a proven ability to provide new publics in Israel with access to the world of Jewish texts and melody thus far limited to the privileged few. In-depth and quality teaching of the scores of piyyut traditions to heterogeneous groups can make a significant and positive contribution to an open and transformative dialogue between the different cultures shaping society in Israel today. Who are we? Kehilot Sharot - Singing Communities - was established in 2002 with the vision to share the hidden treasures of the world of piyyut with the general public in Israel, and to add the voice of piyyut to evolving Israeli culture. As pioneers and leaders in this new renaissance, we have introduced the piyyut experience to diverse publics and helped create the new place piyyut is taking on the contemporary cultural scene. Kehilot Sharot has a central role in this transformation through its programs: Establishing 12 Singing Communities - from Haifa, Beit shean, Herzelia, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, through to Rehovot, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva and Yeruham - for a highly diversified public, where the artistic, musical and cultural aspects of a broad range of piyyut traditions are taught; Consolidation of a new piyyut canon that includes traditions from Andalusia to Babylon, from Central Asia to Europe; Development of a teaching model in which a traditional paytan¬-musician is joined by a group facilitator who also covers theoretical material; Establishing the Piyyut Choir with 25 members from our Singing Communities whose repertoire represents the musical traditions of the People of Israel through a truly multi-cultural introduction to Jewish poetry and song; Developing piyyut study as an accessible key to Jewish culture, through widespread participation in senior leadership training programs for JCC's, universities, Beit Midrash study group facilitators, and more; Initiating and producing public events and conferences, in collaboration with academic institutions, research institutes and cultural institutions that combine piyyut study with actual singing and performing; Training piyyut teachers in the theoretical and practical aspects of piyyut , its music and poetry.