Music and Jewish Mysticism in the Czech Lands, Talk by Dr. Gordon Dale

Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews in New York organizes lectures and other events that contribute to the preservation of the unique history and culture of Czech and Slovak Jews.

Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews

Elevating Melodies: Music and Jewish Mysticism in the Czech Lands and Beyond
Talk by Dr. Gordon Dale

Bohemian National Hall

The Czech lands have been home to some of Jewish mysticism’s greatest thinkers. Several of these scholars have emphasized the importance of melody in the pursuit of connecting with the Divine, and some have even composed their own sacred melodies. In this presentation we will examine the spiritual significance of music according to Jewish mysticism, and will hear melodies associated with important rabbinic figures. By contextualizing these writings amidst the religious life of Jews in the Czech lands and beyond, we will appreciate the way that these Jews elevated the importance of melody, as melody elevated their spiritual lives.Dr. Gordon Dale, the Inaugural Dr. Jack Gottlieb Scholar in Jewish Music Studies, serves as the Associate Professor of Jewish Musicology in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Dr. Dale has most recently conducted extensive research in the Hasidic communities of New York and Israel, and has lectured across the United States on topics related to Israeli popular music, and Jewish music and mysticism. His forthcoming book, The Life and Complete Works of Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker (Jewish Music Research Centre, The Hebrew University) received The Jordan Schnitzer First Book prize. Dr. Dale is currently the Co-Executive Director of The Jewish Music Forum, a project of the American Society for Jewish Music, and is a past president of the Society for Ethnomusicology’s Special Interest Group for Jewish Music. He holds a Ph.D. from The Graduate Center, CUNY, an M.A. from Tufts University, and a B.S. from Northeastern University.Suggested donation $15.The event will be filmed and accessibe later on the SHCSJ YouTube channel.The event is organized by the Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the American Society for Jewish Music, and Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association.

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