Piyyut Ensemble performs elegies that aim to mourn and heal

Piyyutim, ancient liturgical poems used in religious Jewish prayers, have long been welcomed in modernity as a form of expression and song in Israeli music.

Now, these beseeching poems will be performed in a concert that harkens back to their original intention, as a kind of Jewish soul music.

“Tears of My Heart” will be performed by the Piyyut Ensemble, whose members call themselves the “Metallica of piyyut,” for their ability to take the liturgical poems, some more than 500 years old, and turn them into living music once again.

The performance will take place on August 8 at Jerusalem’s Confederation House, under the management of Effie Benaya.

The ensemble, made up of 19 musicians of different ages and backgrounds, will focus in the performance on kinnot, Hebrew elegies traditionally sung or recited during the Tisha B’Av fast.

Tisha B’Av will be marked on the evening of August 11 and on August 12, and the three weeks prior to the fast day are considered a period of mourning.

This year, the ensemble wants to echo the cries of those bereaved in the last nine months, while attempting to help heal the wounds sustained since the Hamas attack of October 7.

The Piyyut Ensemble, managed by Yair Harel and Avraham Cohen, echoes the traditions of North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Its musicians, who range the gamut of Jewish observance, specialize in deep research of the liturgical poems they perform, aiming to fit each piyyut to their audiences, while maintaining a connection to the sounds and meaning of the music.

They’re joined by other performers, including Raymonde Abecassis, Victoria Hanna, Neta Elkayam, Livnat Ben Hamo and Riff Cohen.

Tickets are NIS 80 and NIS 70 for students, seniors and Yerushalmi card holders.