Jewish Music Forum
- a project of the American Society for Jewish Music -
Wed., Oct. 30, 2024 at 7 PM
“Elevating Melodies: Music and Jewish Mysticism
in the Czech Lands and Beyond”
Dr. Gordon Dale
Co-Executive Director of the Jewish Music Forum
Bohemian Hall, 321 East 73rd Street, NYC
The Czech lands have been home to some of Jewish mysticism’s greatest thinkers. Several of these scholars have emphasized the importance of melody in the pursuit of connecting with the Divine, and some have even composed their own sacred melodies. In this presentation we will examine the spiritual significance of music according to Jewish mysticism, and will hear melodies associated with important rabbinic figures. By contextualizing these writings amidst the religious life of Jews in the Czech lands and beyond, we will appreciate the way that these Jews elevated the importance of melody, as melody elevated their spiritual lives.
Dr. Gordon Dale, the Inaugural Dr. Jack Gottlieb Scholar in Jewish Music Studies, serves as the Associate Professor of Jewish Musicology in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Dr. Dale has most recently conducted extensive research in the Hasidic communities of New York and Israel, and has lectured across the United States on topics related to Israeli popular music, and Jewish music and mysticism. |
His forthcoming book, The Life and Complete Works of Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker (Jewish Music Research Centre, The Hebrew University) received The Jordan Schnitzer First Book prize. Dr. Dale is currently the Co-Executive Director of The Jewish Music Forum, a project of the American Society for Jewish Music, and is a past president of the Society for Ethnomusicology’s Special Interest Group for Jewish Music. He holds a Ph.D. from The Graduate Center, CUNY, an M.A. from Tufts University, and a B.S. from Northeastern University.
The Jewish Music Forum is a project of the American Society for Jewish Music, with the support of YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the Center for Jewish History.
Founded in 2004, the Jewish Music Forum is now in its 21st Season - 2024-25.
All programs of the Jewish Music Forum are free and open to the public.
For more information please visit
http://www.jewishmusic-asjm.org
Founded in 2004, the Jewish Music Forum is now in its 21st Season - 2024-25.
All programs of the Jewish Music Forum are free and open to the public.
For more information please visit
http://www.jewishmusic-asjm.org
Copyright © 2024 by the American Society for Jewish Music
Site last updated September 26, 2024
Site last updated September 26, 2024