Intended for professional musicians who wish to expand their familiarity with Jewish prayer, piyyut, traditions, and intentions.
Music and prayer are two universal languages that express the depths of the soul and spirit. Both connect us to each other, to nature, and to something greater than ourselves. What is it about music that enables a meaningful prayer experience? What is the place of sacred and profane in synagogue music? And what is the role of the piyyutim?
Music and prayer are two universal languages that express the depths of the soul and spirit. Both connect us to each other, to nature, and to something greater than ourselves. What is it about music that enables a meaningful prayer experience? What is the place of sacred and profane in synagogue music? And what is the role of the piyyutim?
We invite you to join us on a fascinating journey into the world of Jewish prayer. Together we will explore the deep connection between music and prayer, discover the secrets of ancient and new melodies, and learn how music plays a central role in the prayer experience. As part of the study, we will delve into the foundations, sounds, history, and traditions of prayer, while observing its development throughout the generations: from piyyutim to Hasidic niggun, and from traditional prayer to contemporary Israeli prayer.
During the Beit Midrash, we will dedicate time to playing together, exploring possibilities for composing old and new prayers inspired by the meetings, and at the end of the program, we will invite you to record the new compositions we created together.
Among the lecturers:
Additional details:
The meetings will open and close with shared music, and traditional and new prayers will be taught. The pieces composed in the Beit Midrash will be produced as part of a new prayer album by an Israeli prayer house.
when?
11 meetings on Thursdays 10:30-12:30, starting 20.3.25
where?
The new cultural center on Da Vinci Street in Tel Aviv.
The cost is 300 NIS per participant with the possibility of subsidizing subject to a personal interview.
For further details please contact the prayer house team: Esteban Gottfried or Rabbi Dror by email: office@btfila.org1
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Opening – On All These – Israeli Prayer, Sources of Inspiration and Inspiration, – Israeli poetry and singing as part of the prayer order. Discussion of external sources that entered the prayer and an introduction to the order of an Israeli prayer house.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
The world of poetry –Piyut traditions in the various denominations and their role in prayer. Introduction to types of piyut, makams, and the singing of requests.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Artist Workshop – My musical prayer
Thursday, April 10, 2025
One prayer has many faces –The prayer book as a reflection of the values and beliefs of its editors. A study of a variety of prayer books as reflections of the various streams of Judaism. Gender and prayer.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Man as a praying creature – On the different languages of prayer and their effect on the soul and emotions. An introduction to the thought of Abraham Yehoshua Heschel and Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Thursday 8 May 2025
The Development of Jewish Prayer –Study of the prayer book, familiarization with its structure, characteristics, and significant anchors.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
The Hasidic Nigun
On the Hasidic Nigun as music used to worship God and connect man to his soul and the divine spark within him. The meeting will include a practical workshop and a Nigun circle.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Master's Workshop – Let every soul praise the Lord – Praying through musical instruments
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Towards Shabbat, let's go and let's go
On the acceptance of Shabbat and the Kabbalists in Safed who composed it, and on the special hymns: "Yedid Nefesh," "Lecha Dodi," "Ana Boq" and the Psalms.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Closing Session – Prayer Jam – Recording prayer songs written by the participants of the Beit Midrash