Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Samuel Kaye

About an Oud. 

Years ago, while serving in South Dakota, I helped a family grieve the death of their daughter in a car accident, sitting with them through the night as they said farewell. Around a year later, at her celebration of life and unveiling in New York City, her Rabbi led us in a meaningful Havdalah ceremony where he accompanied himself on a strange and beautiful instrument. It looked like a Lute, a medieval guitar, but it sounded like Israel.  

That instrument is called an Oud. Those of you who come to our Friday night Shabbat tefilla when Aaron Lightstone is playing have heard the pluck, twang, and distinct sound of it.  

The combination of that music, and the memory of this young girl whom I had never known in life but who touched my very soul in death, awoke something in me- and I decided to learn to play. 

As luck would have it, the very next summer I was blessed to come here- to Toronto- to serve at Holy Blossom Temple as the Rabbinic Intern. In between shadowing Rabbi Splansky and Cantor Maissner, teaching classes, and exploring this great city, I made my way out to Mississauga where I had found an Oudist who would take students. His name was Mr. Radwan, a Syrian refugee and former member of the Syrian National Symphony, who had come to Canada seeking a better life for himself and his family. He taught me the basics of the Oud, including my special request, the Havdalah melody by Debbie Friedman that had so inspired me.  

Why do I mention this story now?  Because, like everyone else in Toronto, I’m dying for tickets to a show that I can’t go to.  

Next week is the 25th annual Jerusalem Oud Festival. The Jerusalem Oud festival is one of the largest events left which still brings together Mizrachi Jews, Sephardim, Arab-Israelis, Palestinians and musicians from around the world in a celebration of shared musical culture. To quote Effie Benaya, who manages the Oud Festival “I believe in music. I believe in its power to heal the heart – of the individual and of society as a whole. I believe that music carries comfort and hope, especially in bloody and unbearably difficult days like ours.”  

This year the festival will celebrate the life of Tunisian Jewish Diva, Habiba Msika, feature performances of the Psalms from the Israeli hip-hop band Hadag Nachash, and beloved Israeli rock group Nikmat haTraktor will ditch their electric guitars for classic Middle Eastern instruments and lead piyyutim, sacred poetry, late into the night.  

The Oud I purchased from Mr. Radwan has followed me from Toronto, back to Cincinnati, to Atlanta, and now is home in Toronto again. Sadly, I admit it’s been several years now since I took it out of its special case. It needs tuning and new strings, but Aaron Lightstone keeps telling me that he will give me lessons. I know that Mr. Radwan still lives down the tracks on the Go Train, tracking him down would be easy if only I could find the time.  

Perhaps now is the time to find time.  

Here is a taste of the Oud Festival, if it touches your soul- the way it touches mine- don’t hesitate to let me know.