frontlines
Direct Optical®
Reviving The
Art Of Piyyut
SUP ER STOR E
Farmington Hills
248 553 8270
-
-
Canton
Barbara Lewis I Contributing Writer
734-981-1760
directopticalsuperstore.com
M
olly Mardit of Huntington
Woods is entranced by piyyut.
She became interested in this
ancient sung Hebrew liturgical poetry
during a class in Jewish mysticism at
the University of Michigan's Residential
College. (The word means both the art
form and an individual poem.)
"Music is an important part of getting
closer to God:' said Mardit, 26, who grad-
uated from U-M on May 2 with a double
major in international studies and Judaic
studies and a minor in music.
After her professor shared piyyutim
(the plural of piyyut) from his very
large collection of Jewish music, Mardit
decided to do her senior honors thesis on
the revival of piyyut in Israel and North
America.
As part of that project, Mardit, accom-
panied by an instrumental ensemble,
performed a selection of 10 piyyutim on
May 3 in the Residential College's Keene
Theatre. Between pieces, she provided
background information about piyyut
and the origin of each song.
The earliest piyyutim were written in
seventh-century Palestine as non-prayer
additions to synagogue services, and the
form spread to Europe and the Middle
East.
In the Middle Ages, Spanish Jews
composed many piyyutim, which went
to Northern Africa after the Jews were
expelled from Spain in 1492. In addition
to using piyyutim in services, people
began to sing them at home for special
occasions, such as the birth of a child,
and in concert. Many piyyutim incorpo-
rate folk melodies from their host culture,
Mardit said.
Some piyyutim, including "Yigdal" and
"Adon Olam" are familiar to anyone who
regularly attends synagogue services.
Sephardic Jewish immigrants brought
piyyut back to Israel in the 20th-century.
In the last 20 years or so, there's been
renewed interest in this art form, said
Mardit, who spent a year in Israel after
graduating from the Frankel Jewish
Academy. Kehillot sharot — singing com-
munities — in Israel and North America
are dedicated to studying and performing
piyyut.
JN CONTENTS
Above: Molly Mardit and her ensemble.
Mardit learned several of the songs
she performed from the kehillah sha-
rot at Congregation Beth Jeshurun in
Manhattan.
The annual piyyut festival in Jerusalem
will take place Sept. 8-11 this year.
For her recital, called the "Piyyut
Journey," Mardit put together a five-piece
ensemble she called Ensemble HaMalka
(the Queen's Ensemble); it included Will
Cicola on accordion and clarinet, Dilek
Engin on viola, Ben Fuhrman on mando-
lin and saz (a Middle Eastern lute), Mike
List on percussion and Tim Patterson on
string bass.
Mardit, who is also an accomplished
pianist, says she plans to look for full-
time employment while continuing to
study and perform. Eventually, she hopes
to go to graduate school to study music
performance or ethnomusicology.
For more information about piyyut,
visit www.piyut.org.il/english (note the
spelling of piyyut with one "y").
❑
JEWISHNEWS
Metro
Obituaries
Points of View
Sports
Synagogue List
Torah Portion
Columnists
Danny Raskin
Robert Sklar
8
70
47
62
50
49
Shabbat and Holiday Lights
Shabbat: Friday, May 15, 8:29 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, May 16, 9:38 p.m.
Shabbat: Friday, May 22, 8:36 p.m.
Shavuot 1: Saturday, May 23, 9:46 p.m.
Shavuot 2: Sunday, May 24, 9:47 p.m.
Holiday Ends: Monday, May 25, 9:48 p.m.
60
47
CAP
U YOUR OUT
IN OF POCKET
EXPENSE ON '
A COMPLETE '
EYEGLASS
PURCHASE
Exp 5/31/15
NO
INSURANCE
10
May 14-20, 2015 I 25 Iyar-2 Sivan 5775 I Vol. CXLVII, No. 15
Arts & Life
53
Business
51
Business Memos
51
Calendar
22
Editor's Picks
57
Here's To
51
Home/Open Door .... 25
Israel 5, 24, 47, 52
Letters
5
Lifecycles
63
Marketplace
65
HAVE
INSURANCE
Times are from Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.
OUR EVERYDAY
LOW PRICES
ON A COMPLETE
EYEGLASS
PURCHASE
• •
Exp 5/31/15
SAVE
VERYDAY -
ALWAYS
2 PAIR
SINGLE VISION PLASTIC HIGH INDEX
Our JN Mission
The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to
reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continu-
ity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity
and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competi-
tive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our
rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth.
Oeg
Cover page design: Michelle Sheridan.
The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275 520) is
-
published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical
postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes
to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, MI 48034.
1 PAIR
STANDARD
NO LINE BIFOCAL
v"7 5
Some
Restrictions
Required
May 14 • 2015
3