For the past 8 years, I’ve dedicated much of my mission to spreading the beauty of Karaite music. It started with releasing Rotem Cohen’s recording of Ronnu Shamayim, arguably the most famous Karaite melody. Then I continued to work with Rotem on bringing out other traditional Karaite melodies, such as Kelil Yofi, my favorite song. Today, I want to share some of the behind the scenes discussions and work that went into producing the first Meditation Project we did.
Category Archives: Rotem Cohen
The Oral History of The First Karaite Meditation: Circle of Belief
Filed under Mantra, Meditation, Nir Nissim, Priel Nissim, Rotem Cohen
How Kelil Yofi Became My Favorite Poem
I walked into the synagogue a bit late yesterday morning. After saying Shabbat Shalom to my parents, the first thing I did was find my Uncle Joe Pessah – the former acting rabbi of the Karaite Jews of America. I said, “Are we reading Kelil Yofi today?” He said, “You’re favorite! Yes it is coming soon.” I then made my way over to the bima to get the hazzan’s attention to let him know that I’d read Kelil Yofi. It never really occurred to me that Kelil Yofi was my favorite piyyut (liturgical poem), but I think it undoubtedly is.
In reflecting on *why* it is my favorite piyyut, I realized something important about Jewish learning.
Filed under Caleb Afendopolo, Kelil Yofi, Rotem Cohen
Learning 4: An Introduction to Karaite Liturgy (New Video)
During the past six months I’ve done a few online classes. They are fun, and I look forward to doing more. I finally got around to recording the one on the Karaite liturgy. You can watch that one here. I have a few more to record.
For the Karaite liturgy video, I put up a challenge to raise money for The Karaite Press. Check it out to see whether you’ll be donating $10, $20 or $30. (Of course, feel free to donate nothing. Or more.)
Filed under Aaron ben Joseph, Karaite Prayers & Melody, Mantra, Nir Nissim, Rotem Cohen
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Omer
I usually don’t express my Karaite state of mind publicly, but I am generally worried about the survival of the movement and its philosophy. As you can imagine, we have a massive demographic disadvantage, and despite the fact that the internet is the great equalizer, we are structurally behind our Rabbanite kin in terms of infrastructure and resources. This worry of mine isn’t “new”. I’ve had these same worries since I was in my teens.
Filed under Calendar, Counting of the Omer, Rotem Cohen, Shavuot
Music Madness 1: Help Me Choose My Favorite Son
(Source unknown)
In honor of March Madness, I thought I would do a series of posts asking you to choose which Karaite songs you like best.
Today’s contest is between two different renditions of the same song. The song is Lahatany Mivhar Banay, which translates to To my Groom, the Choicest of My Sons.
Filed under poetry, Rotem Cohen, Simha Lutski
Reader Poll: Can You Detect a Crimean Karaite Melody?
I know. I know. It’s not even Shavuot and here I am talking about lamentations for the month of Av. But I can’t stop listening to these snippets I received from Hazzan Rotem Cohen. He recorded the introductory words of a well-known Karaite lamentation for me in two renditions: once with the Egyptian tune and once with the Crimean tune. Today, I want to see if you can identify which is which.
Filed under Aaron ben Joseph, Av, Mourning, Nir Nissim, Rotem Cohen, The Temple
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.
