As Tariqa Eliyahu's founder, I wish to ensure that music and movement never assume greater importance in the Tariqa than Khalwa-Hitbodedut (solitude and silent receptive contemplation) because this is clearly the foundational core-method of both the Kifaya and of Kuntres Maarat HaLev.
Nevertheless, music still has an unquestionably important role to play in our Jewish-Sufi Order because we aim to renew both (i) the traditions of the Egyptian Pietists and (ii) of the biblical prophets they sought to imitate.
Many classical Sufi sources would view both music and movement to be lower forms of contemplative activity as they are bound to the physical—when so much of the Sufic system aims to free the soul from physical attachment—but they are particularly useful starter points for beginners on The Path.
So my conclusion (in the original Foundation documents) was that we should hold Sama (Sufi Group-Audition of spiritual music) meetings occasionally ...when the group had sufficient numbers.... to make music and some movement feasable.
(I posited minimal congregational movement such as upper-body and head movements or slow group-circle dances....but not "whirling" as that is a hallmark of the Mevlevi Sufi "Sema" tradition and not ours.)
In other words: Our Tariqa's Sama meetings would be focussed on "listening/audition" and would be special musical events that might happen once a month or every few months as special occasions.
oooOooo
But Providence seems to have a slightly different plan in mind.
In the very same week that I was discussing this with Safed Group: three visitors from Amirim attended the Safed group meeting. Coincidentally,it transpired that one of them (Aharon Meir Alon) is studying Turkish music at the nearby MAQAMAT music school, an educational centre and a cultural gem of our city, founded and developed by Musa Quayyes (Moshe Tov Kreps).
In conversation with Aharon, I posited
the idea that we might search for a small acoustic group....or just a
soloist....to play classically sufi or improvised sufic-style music for just
a few minutes before each Wednesday meeting began.
This fortuitous conversation has led to an interesting development as, following a little further discussion with those at the recent meetings, we have decided to make such a short "Sama" musical activity a part of our regular meetings every week wherever possible.
So
Here is the new statement on
MUSIC IN OUR TARIQA'S MEETINGS
We will try to make the first five to fifteen minutes of our meetings a time for solo or small acoustic ensemble musicians to play.
The music should be in a style suitable for a Jewish-Sufi prayer meeting and should be performed without electronic amplification. It should be classical or freely improvised and be in a style derived from Sefardic or Mizrahi, Turkish or Persian, or other Sufic traditions in “Eastern” music.
This means that the weekly meetings will ideally consist of
* 5 to 15 mins Sama (appropriate Sufi music);
* 15 Minutes Congregational and Vocal Dhikr-Hazkarah (using the Order’s set Wird/Litany);
* 30 minutes (or more) Congregational and Silent Khalwa-Hitbodedut.
The instructions given to anyone offering to play or sing at the start of the meeting will always be:
“Using a classical or improvised Eastern sufi style.......Play for G-d as your audience...... and the Tariqa members will listen in to whatever you play for Him.... and thus may they be brought into an awareness of the Divine Presence themselves.”
As our Safed Group meetings are also open to people “of all religions and none”: some performers may prefer to use the folowing performance instruction:
“Using a classical or improvised Eastern sufi style.......Play for the group members from your innermost heart and with a deep openness to inspiration....and may those present find their own hearts opening to inspiration as they listen to you.”
oooOooo
Last week, Aharon brought some instruments to the meeting at the Safed Group’s meeting place at “Zawiyya Al-Nur” in the Old Arab Quarter of Safed ....and he kindly played for us before we began the chanting.
At that meeting, Anna Nisnevitch—a dedicated member of Tariqa Eliyahu and a founding member of its Safed group— made this short film of Aharon Meir Alon playing the Lavta:
It was the first time we were blessed to incorporate music into our weekly Dhikr-Hazkarah meetings, and I am so happy she thought to record this special moment for us to share with Tariqa Eliyahu members globally.
Aharon has said he is keen to attend our meetings and play for us again.... and he is also actively trying to encourage other musicians to join us. This is such encouraging progress.
Hearty thanks to both Aharon
and Anna for your active contributions!
Nachman Davies
Safed
March 20 2025