A Moroccan Star Chants the Haggadah

Sami Elmaghrebi was a symbol of Morocco itself. In the 40s, he was one of King Mohammed V’s favorite singers, and in 1955, started his own record label in Paris. He was a master of Arab-Andalusian styles, and composed his own pieces, one of which was Omri Ma Nansach Ya Mama ("I Will Never Forget You, Mother"), a song of longing that became very popular among immigrants from Morocco to Israel.

In the 1960’s, he moved to Montreal, where he stayed the rest of his life, but travelled around the world to perform. (He stated that he left because of an intrigue with the king's sister; the truth is hard to know for certain.) There are videos of him on Israeli TV; he also was a cantor who blended different styles, from his own Moroccan to elements of Central European. 

I discovered him thanks to a gift by Simon Rutberg, the man behind Hatikvah Records. I was given his Haggadah album, where he chants the entirety of the Haggadah. This was actually his very first album, first re-released on his label in 1963. It’s an enchanting listen. While there are other albums of Moroccan Haggadah chanting, Elmaghrebi’s voice is so stunning, and his children’s French narration of the ceremonies so endearing, that it has a special quality.

This morning, I moved heaven and earth to find a digital copy so I could share it with you. There appear to be no extent streaming copies of this album, despite the wide availability of his other (more popular) music. The National Library of Israel seemed to carry it but it was impossible to play. Buying digital copies was also impossible as an American. Long story short, the work in this piece has more to do with the upload you see in front of you than this actual article.

Elmaghrebi spent some of his career going back and forth from Casablanca to Paris. Der Nister recently had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a French cantor and musician, Hannah Helene, who stopped by on the recommendation of our mutual good friend Rabbi Josh Weiner out in Paris. 

She told us that she's coming out with a new Jewish music album, of which she released one song as a preview: Ha Neshama Lach. Ha Neshama Lach is a classic part of the High Holidays — “The soul is Yours.’’ But Helene, singing it along to David Konopnicki’s soulful electric guitar, makes it fresh and alive.

We hope to see her here at Der Nister again soon.

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