Vanessa Paloma at Stern College
Hungry for lost worlds, part 2: worlds, lost and found
History is always slipping away from us, but there are times
that this erosion or evaporation speeds up in such a way that the absence is
felt so much more keenly. The upheavals that effected the Jewish world in the twentieth
century transformed deeply rooted, vibrant communities into museums, or at best
shadows of their former selves. Instead of bustling “Jewish streets” there
remain a few stragglers, holding on to the keys of the synagogue, washing the
tombstones in the “Beit HaChaim” and welcoming intrepid visitors from the new
frontiers and centers of Jewish life into their homes.
Culture and society obviously are always in flux. However,
the changes, no matter how radical, are in conversation with what is being
challenged and transformed. The pain of radical displacement comes from the
loss of whole structures of life—languages, musical traditions, rhythms of
daily life and festive moments. Often these do not travel well, and this is certainly
true in our age of dizzying, often brutal change.
Last week I had the honor of having Vanessa Paloma come to
my class at Stern College at Yeshiva University. Paloma has dedicated her formidable
gifts as a musician and scholar to recover and uncover the power and richness
of the Hispano-Moroccan Jewish musical tradition. Not only has she been
lovingly collecting examples of this millennial musical tradition and immersing
herself in its wider social and religious world, she is a faithful yet innovative
interpreter of this music.
She began by situating this musical tradition within the
layered and complex history of Moroccan Jewry, focusing in on the role of
women. Using photographs from Tangiers at the turn of the century we analyzed
the deep religious symbolism inherent in the “trajes de berberisca” worn at
special events, especially surrounding weddings. The rays of the sun stitched
in gold, the orbs of the moon embroidered around the collar, the doves facing
each other on the bac of the neck or on the breast. She pointed out how the
“berberisca” dress is wrapped around the woman in a way reminiscent of how a
Torah scroll is dressed. In the next slide we saw a group of young ladies in
up-to-date European fashions who were students at the local “Alliance” high
school. It was a revelation to the students that these debonair teenagers would
also suit up in their traditional dresses to celebrate their friend’s weddings
or other religious occasions— were they orthodox? Secular modern-orthodox? Our hopelessly
rigid (and empty) categories are in appropriate to this culturl setting—it is
one in which tradition, modernity, being of the society and apart, are all
organically connected, even as they are in tension.
This is not to say that the Moroccan Jewish society was not
highly aware of its minority and in many instances marginal status: there are
deep anxieties running throughout the music, the stories parents tell their
children and the marriage practices.
Girls are married off very young in order to avoid intermarriage or
worse.
After her stimualting presentation I was left thinking of
the contemporary political and socio-cultural landscape. I ask myself: Will the
Muslim world, or for that matter most of Europe be a place of vibrant Jewish
life once again? Will the revolutions of the “Arab spring” eventually bring a
more open and cosmopolitan Islamic culture and society that can tolerate and
celebrate difference? Or will the decades of absolutism insure that the
strongest voices will be that of the extremists?
I am pained to say that I personally doubt that the Arab
world will find its way toward multiculturalism any time soon. This despite
their deep and rich heritage of doing just that!!! I also know that history –as
it unfolds- is full of surprises.
In the mean time we need people working hard to capture
those moments from the past that can light our way forward. For that reason we
are so fortunate to have dedicated scholars and artists like Vanessa Paloma,
people who not only have a keen eye and sharp ears for the details that make a
great story but also a warm and open heart that can let her subjects speak for themselves,
and reveal their treasures. I look forward to hearing more of her discoveries
in the years to come.
for more on Vanessa Paloma see her website:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanessa-Paloma/127993854399
