Vanessa Paloma at Stern College Hungry for lost worlds, part 2: worlds, lost and found

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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