Simcha on the Square 2006: Jewish culture in London's Trafalgar Square

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Simcha on the Square: Jewish music and culture festival in Trafalgar Square

To see photos from a more recent Simcha in the Square, see: Ideas/Album/Simcha

The pictures below were taken at the Simcha on the Square on Sunday 17th September 2006. This event celebrated Jewish music and culture in London's Trafalgar Square. Simcha is a Hebrew word meaning "joy", and also refers to the celebration of a happy occasion.

This event took place shortly before the Jewish New Year (known as Rosh Hashanah), which is in September or early October and in 2006 is on 23/24 September. About a week after the start of the new year is another Jewish festival known as Yom Kippur.

In 1290 the king Edward the First told the small Jewish community that had settled here to leave England. It was not until 1656 (in the time of Oliver Cromwell) that a decision was made to allow Jews to settle here: from this time they could own property and could openly worship in synagogues. 2006 is the 350th anniversary of this decision.

Acts at Simcha in the Square were introduced by comedians Sol Bernstein and Mark Meier, and by Laoise Davidson (the Head of Communications at the Jewish Music Institute).

Sol Bernstein:
Jewish comedian

Laoise Davidson
from the Jewish Music Institute

The Jews of Britain (book)
Author: Martin Gilbert
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Date: September 2006

Judaism: A Very Short Introduction (book)
Author: Norman Solomon
Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
Date: February 2000

NESHAMA

Neshama performs at many Jewish celebrations, including at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs (coming of age ceremonies for young men, aged 13) and Bat Mitzvahs (similar celebrations for teenage girls). The band encouraged the audience in Trafalgar Square to dance along to the music.

Danny Shine

Dancing in Trafalgar Square

THE THREE CANTORS & LONDON JEWISH MALE CHOIR

A cantor is a professional singer who leads prayer services in a synagogue. This performance was given by three cantors (Steven Leas, Jonathan Murgraff and Gedalya Alexander) and the London Jewish Male Choir, which in 2006 celebrated its 80th anniversary.

80 Years (CD album)
Artist: London Jewish Male Choir
Label: Arc
Date: July 2006

SHE'KOYOKH KLEZMER ENSEMBLE

Klezmer is a popular style of Yiddish folk music (originating in central and eastern Europe). People usually hold hands when dancing to this type of music.
She'Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble is a London-based group who perform mainly traditional melodies from Poland, Romania and the Ukraine.

The Book of Klezmer: The History, the Music, the Folklore (book)
Author: Yale Strom
Publisher: A Cappella Books
Date: August 2002

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony was led by Geraldine Auerbach, the founder of the Jewish Music Institute and one of the main organisers of this event. The Deputy Mayor of London Nicky Gavron (who is a Jew), gave a short speech.

A shofar is a ram's horn, used as a musical instrument at Jewish religious ceremonies. A group of men and boys went onto the stage and blew into their shofars to celebrate the Jewish New Year.

Geraldine Auerbach
(director/founder of the JMI)

Nicky Gavron
(Deputy Mayor of London)

A traditional welcome for the Jewish new year:
blowing the shofar

JEWISH YOUTH CHOIR

The Jewish Youth Choir is made up of Jewish children in London who are aged between 8 and 18. Their performances on the stage were conducted and arranged by Vivienne Bellos.

RIVERS OF BABYLON

Rivers of Babylon performed songs of praise in the Jewish-Babylonian (Iraqi) tradition. They were joined by guest dancer Deborah Rosenberg.

MOR KARBASI

Mor Karbasi writes and performs in the Ladino language. The last of the songs she performed on stage ("Judia") was written after she visited the site of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland: it is dedicated to the memory of the many Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust.

Mor Karbasi (vocals)

Joe Taylor (guitar)

ORANIM & NITZANIM

The Oranim and Nitzanim dance troupes performed on stage in a range of traditional costumes representing the various Jewish traditions. One of the highlights was a dance to one of the songs from the film Fiddler on the Roof.

Fiddler on the Roof (CD album)
Artist: Topol
Label: EMI
Date: October 2001

Fiddler on the Roof [1971] (DVD)
Studio: MGM Home Ent. (Europe) Ltd
Date: November 2003

JEWISH LADS & GIRLS BRIGADE

The Jewish Lads & Girls Brigade (JLGB) is a British youth organisation for young Jews. Following performances of music and marching there was some modern hip-hop dancing.

RONNIE SCOTT LEGACY BAND

Ronnie Scott was a Jewish jazz musician from East London who died in 1996. Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, opened in the 1950s, is still the leading venue for jazz in the UK. The Ronnie Scott Legacy Band was formed shortly before his death and keeps alive his style of performance - John Critchinson, on piano, played with Ronnie for many years.

John Critchinson
on piano

Pat Crumly
on saxophone and flute

Tim Wells
on double bass

Mark Fletcher
on drums

LOS DESTERRADOS

Los Desterrados perform music orginating from the Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Catholic Inquisitions in the 15th and 16th centuries. The songs are sung in their original language, known as Ladino (a old form of Spanish mixed with Hebrew influences).

Tu (CD album)
Artist: Los Desterrados
Label: Crusoe
Date: October 2006

SOPHIE SOLOMON

Sophie Solomon is a violinist who was a founder member of the band Oi Va Voi and has recently started a solo career. Her music is influenced by a wide range of styles of world music, and is performed in a lively and passionate way.

Poison Sweet Madeira (CD album)
Artist: Sophie Solomon
Label: Decca
Date: March 2006

Laughter Through Tears (CD album)
Artist: Oi Va Voi
Label: Outcaste
Date: September 2003

SOUND & LIGHT CINEMATIC DUO

The Sound and Light Cinematic Duo perform Klezmer-style music to accompany old East European films which show Yiddish life. Merlin Shepherd performed on the clarinet, and Polina Shepherd on the piano.

Merlin and Polina Shepherd performed on the stage, while ...

... an old East European film was shown on the screens

NAYEKHOVICHI

Nayekhovichi are known as a "Klezmer rock band". They flew in from Russia to give the final performance of the day.

Vanya Zhuk (lead vocalist)

Sergey Romanov (accordion)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Simcha on the Square: http://www.simcha.org.uk

This event was organised by the Jewish Music Institute (JMI): http://www.jmi.org.uk

Websites of some of the acts which performed:
She'Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble: http://www.shekoyokh.co.uk
Rivers of Babylon: http://www.riversofbabylon.com
Mor Karbasi: http://www.myspace.com/morkarbasi
Los Desterrados: http://www.losdesterrados.com
Sophie Solomon: http://www.sophiesolomon.com (and http://www.myspace.com/thisissophiesolomon)

For more information about the events of 1656: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5341424.stm

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LINKS

Simcha on the Square: Ideas/Album/Simcha
Useful links for Jewish people in the UK: Links/Israel
Events in September: Ideas/Events/September
Photos from other annual events: Ideas/Album
Trafalgar Square: Travel/Tours/London/TrafalgarSquare

Sachsenhausen concentration camp (near Berlin): Travel/Tours/Berlin/Sachsenhausen
Anne Frank's house (in Amsterdam): Travel/Tours/Netherlands/Amsterdam

Home page: Home

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