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Slichot (Toronto/Israel)Cross-cultural, Interactive, Meditation, Poetry, Prayer, Ritual

Slichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. This participatory/experiential event will explore the mysteries of the Slichot service through the fusion of music, chanting, liturgy, poetry, meditation and prayer. This Slichot experience uses the traditional service and liturgy as a jumping off point but blends cross-cultural influences in a particularly artistic manner, elevating the experience through unique musical fusion and active audience participation. Presented acoustically and “in the round” without a stage, Ashkenaz’s unique re-imagination of this honoured ritual will eliminate the distinction between the audience and the facilitators, making all present crucial participants. Ashkenaz’s first-ever Slichot program will unite Jews of all persuasions and also share with people of all faiths a unique and beautiful Jewish ritual. The service will be lead by the award-winning singer and prayer-leader Aviva Chernick, of the Juno-nominated group Jaffa Road. She will be joined by an ensemble made up of some of Canada's top world music performers, including Jaffa Road bandleader and music therapist Aaron Lightstone on guitar, oud and saz, Indian Tabla virtuoso Gurpreet "the tabla guy" Channa on tabla and percussion, multi-instrumentalist Josh Engel on guitar and mandolin; nay/bansuri/ saxophone virtuoso, Ernie Tollar, and Israeli oud and violin master Yair Dalal. This unique ensemble will create beautiful, engaging, and organic musical textures that bring together, and are firmly rooted in the musical/spiritual traditions of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Judasim, as well as India, the Arab world, and Sufism.

Performer Schedule