Purim is almost here

And this edition is special, because today it is not Friday but Purim starts later today. Let’s enjoy these Sephardic couplets for Purim in two versions: Leo Azose’s (Seattle) and rabbi Moses Nahon’s (Gibraltar).

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Purim sameach!

– And, as usual, find the music pieces below – ? 

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About the hazzanim

As stated above, in this occasion we will listen to two different recordings, by:

• Rabbi Moses Nahon, based in Gibraltar and former Rabbi in Los Angeles and Montreal. He will come back in a near future to MBS, as there are many things to talk about the Jews from Gibraltar. According to Encyclopedia of Judaism, the surname Nahon comes from a family or rabbis and community leaders of Portuguese origin, settled mainly in Morocco but also in Lisbon, Gibraltar and Livorno (Italy).
• Leo Azose, born in the island of Marmara, in Turkey, in 1898, moved to the USA in 1911 and settled in Seattle. He was founder and later rabbi of the Sephardic Bikur Holim congregation, that is still active. He died in 1990. The University of Washington included Azose in their Oral History Collection. You can learn about Azose’s biography in deep detail explained by himself in audio as well as written. The story is really thrilling. I specially enjoyed the explanation of their life in Turkey and the emigration to the USA. This part illustrates how the laws of inmigrations evolved at the USA, what happened when the migrants reached the Ellis Island and how the family got to find their place in the new world.

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Click here to listen to Rabbi Moses Nahon ?

And click this cover below ? to listen to Leo Azose ?:

As you see, the video is much longer than the piece. I have put the link specifically to the moment when they sing this Coplas de Purim, but the whole video is very nice, so I encourage you to watch it complete.

In the video there are several cantors from the Bikur Holim congregation: Leo Azose, BenSion Maimon, Samuel Benaroya and Solomon Maimon. I deduced from the video that this part of the Coplas de Purim is sung by Azose. If you still want more music, check this outstanding recording with the voice of Samuel Benaroya.

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About the song Coplas de Purim

The song talks about a part of the story of Esther, her uncle Mordechai, the king Ahasuerus and the evil Haman. It is a very popular story. There are many films so even the people less familiary with the sacred texts may have learnt about it.

? This is a painting of the Queen Esther, by the English painter Edwin Long (public domain, taken from here). Her bravery saved the Jewish people and, because of this, tonight it is Purim.

In case you were not familiar with it, you can check this short video for a quick overview. Tonight it is the moment for reading the Megillat Esther at the synagogues.

About our song, the two versions are not exactly the same, so I will put in this color the parts that are sung by both, in this the ones that are only in the recording of rabbi Nahon and in this, the ones that are only sung by Azose. The lyrics sang by Nahon are written as in the version disseminated by him. There is a quite similar version, written with and older kind of transcription, in this document from the University of Haifa on pages 12 and 13.

The translation in English is done by me (Araceli Tzigane). It may be not perfect but it has been a hard work and I haven’t found any other at the Internet. I think it is worth of it. You can share it but please, credit me and link Music Before Shabbat.

LADINO Empezar quiero contar, hechos del Dio alto, de lo que quiero mentar, nada yo no falto, con rezo y canto, y con gran placer por que Hamán el Mamzer nos quiso matarnos, también atemarmos él. En Shabbat, Shabbat, en Shabbat Shabbat lo encolgaron Alhad lo enteraron, él. Oid lo que acontencio, en tiempos de avante, Y lo que se recreció, es cosa de encante, Con un rey gigante, el Ajashverosh **, Cantaré con alta voz y con alegría, esta maravilla, él. En Shabbat, Shabbat, en Shabbat Shabbat lo encolgaron Alhad lo enteraron, él. Basteció a comandar, en muchas comarcas, ciento por tierra andar, Kaf Zayin con barcas, y las que eran flacas, las enforteció, también las enalteció, emperador fuerte, fue con grande esfuerte. Gozar quiso él su bien, en aquellos días, mando y apaño también, a sus compañías, y de muchas vías, mando a traer, a mostrar el su haber, y la su riqueza, con mucha grandeza. Diole la su intención, hacer un convite, Siendo así su intención, no hay quien se lo quite y su apetite, y su voluntad, venid vos y ajuntad, principales míos, condes y gentíos. Hizo mandar a traer, de adentro sus cortes, Joyas que eran de Israel, y sus sacerdotes, mil modos de sortes, del Cohen Gadol, cuando tenía valor, él se los ponía, y al Dio servía. Los amigos que manden, dones y presentes, y a los que poco pueden, pobres y parientes, poned bien en mente, y apiadad, y mucha moneda dad, y haced membración, de esta ocasión. Y melden la Meguila, con ajuntamiento, y Arbit y Tefila, con gran sentimiento, mas de veces ciento, y sin cantidad, Loores venid y dad, al que creó el mundo, El cielo y el hondo.

ENGLISH To begin with I want to tell, facts of the high God, of what I want to mention, nothing I do not lack, with prayer and song, and with great pleasure because Haman the Mamzer* wanted to kill us, he also wanted to destroy us. On Shabbat, Shabbat, on Shabbat, Shabbat Shabbat they hanged him, they buried him on Sunday. Hear what happened, in the old time, And what was happened, it is a thing of enchantment, With a marvelous king, the Ajashverosh, I will sing with loud voice and with joy, this wonder, he. On Shabbat, Shabbat, on Shabbat, Shabbat Shabbat they hanged him, they buried him on Sunday. He ordered to bring from many counties, a hundred walking by land, twentyseven with boats, and those that were weak, he strengthened them, he also uplifted them. Strong emperor, It was with great effort. He wanted to enjoy his good in those days, He also ordered and gathered his friends, and from many places he ordered to bring them, to show his wealth, and his riches, with much grandeur. He wanted to hold a banquet, Being thus his wish and his appetite and his will, there is none to take it away from him. Come you and join us, my important people, Counts and crowds. He ordered to bring to his palace Jewels that were from Israel, and its priests, a thousand kinds of things, from the High Priest, and he used all what was valuable and to the God he served. The friends should send gifts and presents, and to those who can do little, the poor and relatives, keep them in mind, and have mercy, and give them much money, and remember this occasion. And read the Meguila, together, and the Arbit and the Tefila, with great feeling, more than a hundred times, Come and give praise to him who created the world, the sky and the deep.

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Shabbat Shalom.