9. Influence of Kabbalah

Question 1

R’ Avraham Abulafia

Answer 1

taught of a kinship between the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and musical sounds, seeking to use it as a way of meditation to reach prophetic levels

Question 2

What did the Arizal and his kabalah school emphasize that soon spread to Europe?

Answer 2

He emphasized receiving shaboss with song.

Question 3

What gave rise to the bakashot?

Answer 3

Zohar praises the power of singing at night in the struggle against forces of evil

Question 4

How was Bakashot done?

Answer 4

entire family would arise at midnight on Friday nights between Sukkos and Pesach and spend the last third of the night in solo and choral singing of bakashot.

Question 5

What were the melodies for the bakashot?

Answer 5

Melodies varied - some fixed piyutim, some optional, published in 1921 in Marakesh, Morocco in anthology called Shir Yedidot

Question 6

what did the bakashot evolve into later on?

Answer 6

these bakashot were also used on weekdays for a kind of religious concert with instrumental accompaniment - this would strengthen social cohesion and group identification

Question 7

Shomrim laboker

Answer 7

Special groups that would get up to sing at night