Category Archives: Mordecai Ben Nisan

The Turkish Two-Step (?) In Karaite Poetry

Country Two-Step
(Source Unknown)

“The first step is the two-step,” sang the incomparable country musician Tracy Byrd. But Country music has nothing on the Turkish Two-Step (as I have dubbed it) and its apparent incorporation into Karaite poetry.

As I was reviewing some poetry for an upcoming birkon, I noticed that many poems printed in Karaite siddurim repeated the first two syllables of the chorus. As I was investigating why, I recalled the time I totally choked on singing the Karaite melody of Ki Eshmera Shabbat.

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Filed under ibn Ezra, Mordecai Ben Nisan, Riikka Tuori

Why is this Karaite Writing about the Shofar on “Rosh Hashana”?

Look at those blue fringes

A beautiful book for the feasts of the Seventh Month, produced by the Karaite community in Israel.

I really wanted to hate this song. And I really wanted to be frustrated at the Israeli Karaites who published it. These are not ideal qualities; I know. But once I took a deep breath, I realized that the song is absolutely beautiful; the Karaite sage who wrote about a shofar in a song about Yom Teruah (“Rosh Hashanah”) is a great poet; and I am a better person because of it.

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Filed under Mordecai Ben Nisan, poetry, Rosh Hashanah, Shofar, terua, Yom Teruah

Behind that Cups Video is a Hallelujah and a Song of Defiance

Cups . . . the gift that keeps giving

By now, most of you have seen the Rotem Cohen Cups video that the Karaite Jews of America has posted on its Facebook page and website. Today, I share with you some of the background of the video and let you know that a lot more is coming your way.

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Filed under Israel Maghribi, Miriam Kefeli, Mordecai Ben Nisan, Nir Nissim, Priel Nissim, Riikka Tuori, Rotem Cohen, Royal Attire, Solomon ben Aaron, Yisrael HaMa'aravi, Yovel Musa