The winter nights may be long and cold, but in this little corner of Jerusalem Jewish hearts are on fire. Welcome to the Great Synagogue Ades of the Glorious Aleppo Community, where the centuries-old custom of Shirat HaBakashot is still very much alive.
Here 1901 is alive and well even though the people are very 2012.
Each Friday night from Shabbos Bereishis until Shabbos HaGadol a small crowd gathers at three o’clock in the morning — mainly Halabim (Syrians) but also assorted Persians Tunisians and Moroccans — for the weekly minhag of Shirat HaBakashot singing supplications until dawn. They sing according to the custom out of a special book comprised of the liturgy and poetry of the great paytanim including the Ibn Ezra Rav Shlomo Ibn Gabirol Rav Elazar Ezkari Rav Yehuda HaLevi Rav Yisrael Najara and others.
When I was first told of the minhag I imagined it was kept like so many other customs out of respect for the past a sense of obligation. But upon entering the warm room I step back and wipe the last traces of sleep from my eyes: the place is bursting with energy and life.
Brilliant chandeliers and lamps cast a warm glow from the high ceiling; rather than seats there are benches that are covered with colorful fabrics. The spectacular aron kodesh stretching across the entire front wall was brought I learn by donkey from its original home in Aleppo.
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