Audios
newly added September 2009:
Religious Prayer Song
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This song is a religious prayer for the “Nehila” portion of the Yom Kippur service sung in Hebrew as well as Judeo-Spanish, “Ladino”. It is sung by Heskia and Vida Franco. Heskia learned how to chant from his father, who was a religious leader (a “haham”) at the Kahal Shalom synagogue. This was recorded in 1966 in Los Angeles.
Blowing of the Shofar
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This is a 1973 recording of a portion of the blowing of the shofar during Rosh Hashana and the prayers before it. It is from the synagogue services of the Jews who emigrated from Rhodes to Los Angeles, which was then called the Sephardic Hebrew Center. The person blowing the shofar is Morris Mizrahi (the “tokeah”), who was born in Rhodes in 1905. He attended the Kahal Grande synagogue in Rhodes as a child, and he emigrated to the United States in 1919. The sound of the shofar in a Rhodesli Sephardic synagogue is a raw spiritual sound which is louder and more pronounced than the sounds heard in most other synagogues.
Kol Nidre of the Yom Kippur Services
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This is a 1974 recording of the Kol Nidre portion of the Yom Kippur services at the Sephardic Hebrew Center synagogue in Los Angeles of the Jews who emigrated from Rhodes. This is chanted by Morris Mizrahi, born in Rhodes in 1905.
Auctioning of the Mitzvot
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This is a 1974 recording of “auctioning of the mitvot” of the religious services at the Sephardic Hebrew Center synagogue in Los Angeles of the Jews who emigrated from Rhodes. This is by Marco Cohen.
“Corazon” Ladino folk song by Jack Mayesh and Sabetai Benun Ensemble
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This song was recorded in the 1940’s in Los Angeles. Jack Mayesh singing and Sabetai Benun on the “oud”.
“Mizerlu” sung in Ladino by Jack Mayesh and Sabetai Benun on the “oud”
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This song was recorded in the 1940’s in Los Angeles. Jack Mayesh singing and Sabetai Benun on the “oud”.
Story of the April 1944 Allied bombings which struck the Jewish Quarter
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This is a first hand account (in Ladino) by Alegra Levi Rosenthal of the Allied bombings which accidententally caused destruction to the Jewish community of Rhodes.
Story of the July 1944 Deportation
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This is an interview with Diana Galante Golden, regarding the detailed account of how the Jews of Rhodes were tricked, threatened and then deported by the Germans in 1944. She was 22 years old at that time, and is a survivor of the concentration camps. (This audio sound clip was recorded in Portland, Oregon by Aron Hasson at the Achavath Achim synagogue on February 1, 1997.)
Interview with Dr. Morris Capouya
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This is an interview with Dr. Morris Capouya, who was born in Rhodes in 1913. This recording relates to his memory of life in Rhodes prior to immigrating to the United States. This interview took place in Montgomery, Alabama by Aron Hasson on September 7, 1998. (This is a 15 minute segment of a 50 minute interview.)
Ladino Recordings by Neil Sheff with Rhodeslis
“Vishita” in Ladino with the Benveniste family
This is a discussion/interview by Neil Sheff on February 23, 1982 in Los Angeles. The people talking are: Behora & Louie ‘Liachon’ Benveniste, Rae Benveniste, Rebecca Sheff, Neil Sheff and Victor Tarica. As Neil explained: “…we were just sitting around one evening, as we used to do, during a “vishita” and “echando lashon” over coffee and biskochos.” This recording is 41 minutes.
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Passover 1976
This seder service was recorded by Neil Sheff during Passover on April 15, 1976. The group consisted of Morris Levy (as the “leader”). Others present were Bill Levy, Jack Berro, Victor Levy and families at the home of Jack and Sylvia Aboulafia in Los Angeles on the first night of Passover. This recording is 33 minutes.
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“Songs and Joha Stories in Celebration of Purim”, Recorded in 1982
This was recorded on March 9, 1982 at the Los Angeles home of Neil Sheff and his mother, Becky and her husband, Victor Tarica. Also present were Boulie Benveniste, Naomi Hazan and Jack Aboulafia. This recording is 34 minutes.
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“Complas de Purim” (the Purim Poem), Recorded in 1983
This was recorded by Neil Sheff during Purim on February 27, 1983 in Los Angeles. The group consisted of Rebecca Amato Levy, Morris Levy, Selma Levy Mizrahi, Miru Alcana, Rebecca Sheff… This recording is 4 minutes.
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11 Responses to “Audios”
September 20th, 2009
shirlee peha:
I loved listening to Mr. Mizrahi blowing the shofar. It brought back so many memories of the Sephardic Hebrew Center. Listening to Jack Mayesh sing reminded me of my mother singing along with his music. The last two stories were so interesting. Thanks Aron for all you do.
September 20th, 2009
Marcia Israel Weingarten:
Thanks!!!! Listening to Morris Mizrahi sound the shofar and chant the Kol Nidre (as well as hearing the congregation respond) transported me to another time…..as if we were right there at the Sephardic Hebrew Center in L.A. hearing the service with our families and friends once again! Thanks for the warm and wonderful memories…….I look forward to sharing these with my family and friends!!! Loved hearing the auctioning of the mitzvot…would that be Sam Azose reciting the benediction and announcing who, in fact, receives the mitzvot/honor?
September 21st, 2009
Rita Azar:
Thank you. This was just wonderful ! This is so beautiful. It is a piece of our wonderful history. Thank G-d these are preserved. With Gratitude! Rita
September 21st, 2009
Ben Halfon:
This really brightened my morning. reminds me when I was in Turkey, beautiful voices. I met Jack Mayesh, and Morris Mizrahi, (blessed their memory) in 1968–they were friends of my uncle Max Halfon. Jack Mayesh also used to sing with another gentelman by the name of Isaac Sene.
September 22nd, 2009
Ron Li-Paz:
I am the chazzan for a few of Morris Mizrahi’s children and grandchildren in Los Angeles. I have heard many times about Morris’ powerful shofar blowing. It is wonderful to now hear these recordings and to get a sense of Morris in his time and in his beloved community.
September 22nd, 2009
Virginia "GinnyRachel Levy:
What wonderful testaments to the rich heritage of our Los Angeles Sephardic Rhodesli community! As the granddaughter of Victor and Rachel (Alhadeff) Levy, and second cousin to Alegra Levi (Levy) Rosenthal, I am so very proud to remember my Ladino and to smile at the sounds of the “canticas”! Happy Rosh Hashanah, everyone!
September 22nd, 2009
Marlene Halfon Grossman:
Thank you so much for sharing this on the net. I sat and listened to my Uncle Morris blowing the shofar and Jack Mayesh singing and it brought back so many wonderful memories. Thank you again for what you have done.
September 22nd, 2009
aronico chico:
You (Rhodeslis) have a great past. Make the future greater as our parents passed on their history, lets make history together for them, we will bring them great honor.
September 24th, 2009
Andrea Rachelle Goldberg:
It is a very personal family experience to be able to listen to “Alegra” (Levy’s) audio, who was, the sole survivor of her immediate family, during the World War II bombings of the Island of Rhodes. Let me explain why, it is so personal: My grandfather, Victor M. Levy, (deceased), lost his brother, on that horrific day, during the bombings, however, “Alegra” Levy, survived, my grandfather’s niece. My grandfather loved his brother and his family, so very much!
I was able to make a family trip to Rhodes, and witnessed in person, the blackened devastation of bombed out remnants of buildings and structures. Especially, awe inspiring were the expansive island “casas,” that survived the bombings, which included nearby “Alhadeff Park,” and the community Temple.
My personal thanks, on behalf of my grandfather, Victor M. Levy, in endorsing a member of his Levy family’s Sephardic heritage and survival.
December 21st, 2009
Michael Chusid:
What beautiful, heart-felt shofar blowing. The voice of the makrei, caller, is so sweet. Wonderful. I have a site at http://www.HearingShofar.com where I offer advice on shofar blowing. I am going to post your site there so people can listen and learn.
March 3rd, 2010
genia vainerman:
por favor kero saver ke son los costumbres de novia antes de kasar. gracias
i toda raba.
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