March 19, 2024 ~ VAYIQRA + ZAKHOR. SIGAH.

Moses (Moe) A Tawil - משה אברהם טוויל

Biography

 

Moses Moe Tawil (1915-2018) was born in New York City to Yael (Shrem) and Abraham Tawil.  Moe Tawil’s communal activities began when his father passed away and Moe was 18 years old.  He was part of the group that formed Bnai Magen David (Young Magen David), of which his brother, Isaac A”H, was the first president.  Once Moe married, he joined the committee of the Magen David Yeshiva Hebrew School.

Moe and his brother, Isaac, served on the board of the Yeshivah of Flatbush and were among the leaders involved in building the main edifice on East 10th street in Brooklyn together with his brothers Harry and David and all of their families.

Moe is an active member of the board of Congregation Shaare Zion. He served as the President of the Bradley Beach Synagogue where he established the first day camp in the Sephardic community, Magen David Day Camp of Bradley Beach. He served on the board of directors of Magen David Yeshiva.  Moe was instrumental in establishing the Hallandale Beach Synagogue in Florida and was responsible for a Sephardic shul and minyan in the Concord Hotel for 35 years. He has served on the board of directors for the Deal Synagogue and was involved in the founding of the magnificent Sephardic Community Center on Ocean Parkway in Flatbush. Moe is the founder and director of the Moe Tawil Cantorial Seminary.

Moe was invited twice to Israel to establish a program to maintain the Sephardic liturgical musical tradition for Hazzanim, out of which Tiferet HaMizrach was established, a group of Hazzanim who have been coming to the United States to perform on holidays as well as at concerts.  Moe has instructed and lectured on Sephardic Liturgical music at New York University, Hofstra, and Yeshiva University, and continues to guide many of the Hazzanim in the Syrian community.

Moe Tawil passed away on February 1, 2018, at the age of 102. May his memory be blessed.

Index of Recordings

Section Pizmon Page Song CommentaryRecordings Application
Qiddush 0.05 6 קדוש לליל שבת Qiddush for Friday Night. Moe Tawil- Qiddush
Qiddush 0.15 7 קדוש ליום שבת Qidusha Rabbah for Saturday Morning. Moe Tawil- Qiddush Raba
Baqashot 10 20 ה' בוקר Shelomo Ibn Gabirol Maqam Hoseni Hoseni. Psalms 5:4. Aharon Rahamim Hares Baqashot Manuscript, 1917 M. Tawil
ה' מלך
Mossaei Shabbat 72.03 85 הבדלה All of these Habdalot recordings, courtesy of Steven M Ashear, took place in the Edmond J Safra Synagogue of South Deal (Hathaway) by Cantor Yehiel Nahari. Mahzor Aram Soba 1560 Moe Tawil- Habdala
Rast 155.03 132a אל חביב M Tawil
Sasgar 200 163 אסיר ביוקשי Raphael Tabbush Assir El 'Eshq: In 1906, Daoud Hosni was granted the first prize at the Musical Congress in Paris, for the composition of his famous hit "Assir El' Eshq" أســير العــشـق. It is a song that still thrills enthusiasts of Middle-Eastern Music. M Tawil
M Tawil 2
קדיש
Ajam 206 169 לעם חביב Maqam Sasgar Arabic: Sayed El Safti singing "Bid'i il Habib" in Maqam Geharka. Hamaoui Manuscript M Tawil
קדיש
Nahwand 289 225 מה עצמו Moses Ashear Wedding of Selim and Nizha Gindi. Photograph is courtesy of David Catton, grandson. Ashear Manuscript Photograph of Selim and Nizha Gindi M Tawil (and next song)
קדיש
Nahwand 293.2 228b אני אשיר לך M Tawil
M Tawil 2
נקדישך
Bayat 300 238 יחיד רם Raphael Tabbush First song at all Sebets. The initials at the beginning of each stanza form the acrostic 'Yosef'. Hamaoui Manuscript Tabbush Manuscript M. Tawil
פזמון
Bayat 308 242 יה אלי מהר Raphael Tabbush Title in Red Book of "Abd Al Ekhoua" is incorrect. The actual title is “min abli mah ahwah algamal.” M Tawil
נשמת
Bayat 341 261 הבו גודל Moses Ashear Bar Misvah. Ashear Manuscript Moe Tawil
שועת עניים
Bayat 389 313 צור יה אל Ezekiel Hai Albeg This pizmon (BAYAT, page 313), whose opening words translate as "Rock, Lord, God, King of the Universe, Unto You Are My Thoughts" was written in the early 1950's by Cantor Ezekiel H Albeg. It was written as a birthday dedication to Mr Charles A Serouya (d. 2005), the President of Young Magen David (YMD). "Charlie", as he was affectionately known, had a rare vibrant personality and devoted most of his life to supporting synagogue causes. The unique group that he created, Young Magen David, or "Charlie's Shul," was the first self-governing 'Youth Minyan' in the Community. The opening words of the song, "Sur Ya El," are a play on Charlie's last name "Serouya," and the acrostic of the song is "צעירי מגן דוד" (Young Magen David). The melody of this song is an instrumental piece called "Bint al-Balad" (Daughter of the Country) by Mohammad 'Abd al-Wahab. What made the composition of this pizmon extremely difficult is that the original Arabic piece, a bashraf, had no words; only a recurring melody. It was only at Gabriel A Shrem's insistence that Cantor Albeg undertook the challenge of composing beautiful Hebrew words to this catchy melody. Photograph of Charlie Serouya M. Tawil
פזמון
Mehayar-Bayat 395 321 אשיר אני בבית נאוה Moses Ashear J Gindi. M Tawil
קדיש
Saba 456 379 טובך לעולם Arabic of it HOBBAK YA SALAM sung by Saleh 'Abd El Hai. Hakham Moshe Ashear used it for Naqdishakh for Perashat Ki Tesse. M Tawil
נקדישך
Saba 458 380 יחיש מבשר This pizmon (SABA, page 380), which translates as "Our Father Will Hasten the Messenger," is an important song about praying for the redemption. This song is composed by H Raphael Tabbush (d. 1918) to the Arabic melody of "Ya'ish WeYe'Shaq Qalbi". In this song, the author asks God to answer our prayers, to forgive our transgressions, to save us from our enemies who are planning acts of violence on us, and to hasten the arrival of Eliahou the Prophet who will announce the redemption of the Jewish people. Traditionally, this song is associated with the last day of a Shalosh Regalim festival (Pesah, Shabuot, Sukkot); the time when we most yearn for the redemption and the rebuilding of the Bet HaMiqdash. H Moshe Ashear applied this melody for the Qaddish of Shabbat Naso in 1937 and 1938 (the Shabbat after the Shabuot festival). In addition, Cantor Isaac J Cabasso applies this melody to Nishmat on the last day of Pesah and Shemini Asseret. M Tawil
נשמת
Saba 492 405 יהי שלום This pizmon (SABA, page 405), whose title is translated as "May Peace Be Within Our Walls," is one of the oldest Berit Milah songs to be in continuous use. A version of this song appears in Mahzor Aram Soba of 1527, the first printed prayer book of the native Aleppo Jewish community, and a different version, with the acrostic “Yehoshua Hazaq” (יהושע חזק) appears in subsequent editions in the nineteenth century. In our Red Book, we have a combination of the two versions. In this song, we are celebrating the baby boy by saying that his birth is a sign of our good fortune and a sign of our future redemption. Blessings about this baby include that he should grow up in the shadow of the Almighty, he should be active in teaching Torah, he should have a long life, and always have his table set. When he grows up, his name will be well-known and loved by God-fearing people, and they will consider him to be a leader of their generation, like Samuel the Prophet. In the newer “Yehoshua Hazaq” version, there is no reference to the Berit Milah. Instead, the last stanza (חזק) wishes for the baby to be considered very close to God; always dwelling in His midst. To add a reference to the Berit Milah, modern editions of this song remove the final stanza of the “Yehoshua Hazaq” version, and re-implement the last stanza of the original 1527 version. This last stanza of the 1527 version, beginning with the word “HaNimol” (הנמול), further blesses the baby saying that "The circumcised in his nation will live for his father and mother, and may his God be with him and with the whole House of Israel.” Mahzor Aram Soba 1560 Shire Zimrah, Algiers, 1889 M Tawil
Saba 495 410 אתה אהובי Abraham I Antebi Ata Ahubi (SABA, page 410), translated as "You are my Beloved," is the first song heard in a young boy's life; at his Berit Milah at eight days old. Composed by the illustrious H Abraham I Antebi (1765-1858), Chief Rabbi of Aleppo, the song has the acrostic "Abraham Hazaq." Each of the 6 stanzas end with the word "Eyn," meaning eye. In the first stanza, the author thanks God for "Him giving happiness in my heart" and is comforted that "in You, I can lean." The next four stanzas refer to the Berit Milah, the covenant between God and Abraham, and allude to some of its festive rituals. The last stanza, in the original version of the song, states "Strengthen Aram Soba (Aleppo), the good city, and also the [resting] place of the master, Ezra [HaSofer], a fine pearl that the eye shall see." In later publications, in an attempt to standardize the song, this last stanza was altered to remove the references to Aleppo. This melody is applied to Naqdishakh preceding a Berit Milah as well as on Shabbat Lekh Lekha and Tazria. Attiah Manuscript Yabess Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Shire Zimrah, Algiers, 1889 M Tawil
נקדישך
Saba 496 411 מה טוב מה נעים Mordechai Abadi This pizmon (SABA, page 411), whose opening words are “How Good, How Nice Are Things In Their [Proper] Time,” is a song for the Mila; the circumcision ceremony. It is composed by the Aleppian sage, H Mordekhai Abadi (1826-1884), author of “Dibre Mordekhai.” The acrostic is “Mordekhai Hazaq Abadi,” and each of the 6 stanzas is followed by the famous chorus “Eliahou, Mebaser Hu...”. In the chorus, we recall Eliahou the Prophet as one who announces the redemption and who attends every Mila ceremony. There are references in the song to three blessings recited: "HaGefen," “Al HaMila,” and “Koret HaBerit," as well as a reference to the tradition of setting up a special chair for Eliahou, who is referred to as the “angel of the covenant.” At the song's conclusion, in the merit of Abraham (the father of the covenant), there is a prayer to rescue (like in the days of Mordekhai) all those who partake in the festive meal of this very special Misvah (one which weighs equivalent to all the other laws combined). In differing sources, this song is classified as either Maqam SABA, BAYAT or NAWAH, and in the morning prayers of a Mila, this melody can be heard for El Hahodaot. Abraham Sitehon Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923 British Library Or. 10375 M Tawil
אל ההודאות
Hijaz 594 492 רנו גילו Raphael Tabbush This pizmon (HIJAZ, page 492), composed by H Raphael Antebi Tabbush, is a song written for Purim. Unlike other Purim songs, most of which are in Maqam SIGAH, this song is classified as Maqam HIJAZ; a maqam typically reserved for sad occasions. The acrostic of this piece is "Raphael Hazaq," and consists of 5 stanzas; corresponding to the letters of the author's name. Each stanza is followed by the chorus which begins with the words "Zekher Sadiq Yarum Hodo" etc. The song opens on a happy note ("Proclaim joy and rejoice all creations"); calling onto all the creations of the world to recognize the miracle of Purim. The middle of the pizmon is about the hard times and suffering that Haman put the Jews through ("the enemy conspired to be the head"). The last stanza ends on a hopeful note; calling for the Messiah and the rebuilding of the Temple so that we can offer sacrifices again. The melody of this song is applied to either Naqdishakh on Purim or Keter on Shabbat Zakhor. Tabbush Manuscript Tawil- Qedusha
נקדישך
Hoseni 613 512 רשות לברוך שאמר M. Tawil
2102 514j אחות קטנה Abraham Hazan Maqam Rahawi Nawah "Ahot Qetana," or "Young Sister," is a poem by the 13th century rabbi H Abraham Hazan of Girona, in eastern Spain (acrostic: “Abraham Hazan Hazaq”). This piyut is sung on the eve of Rosh Hashana; at the closing of the old year. According to Gabriel A Shrem, its melody, which is in Maqam NAWAH, is also applied for Semehim on the Shabbat prior to Rosh Hashana. What relates this poem to Rosh Hashana are the words at the end of each of the first eight verses "Tikhle Shana Veqileloteha" (end the year and all its curses). The poem compares the Jewish people to a young sister; one who relies on her brothers to survive. This young sister is suffering from all types of problems. She is constantly under attack from enemies. Her possessions are looted and vandalized by foreigners. She is left with nothing; humiliated and alone. In essence, this poem is a protest to God on how He can allow such bad things to happen to the suffering Jewish nation. In the last verse, however, God responds: "Strengthen and Rejoice, for your exile is over." Echoing the words of Isaiah, there is a call for all the people to get on the paths to Zion and return from the exile. On that note, the poem concludes with the words: "Tahel Shana Ubirkhoteha" (begin the year with all it's blessings). M. Tawil
ה' מלך
2114 שיך סלאמה חג'אזי Maqam Hijaz Tawil- Qedousha
נקדישך
2116.02 דוגמאות מיום הכפורים Sample Yom Kippur Prayers Moe Tawil- 3 Kemo Shehodata
2117 כי לה' המלוכה M. Tawil
דוגמא
2129 514n לך אלי תשוקתי Abraham Ibn Ezra Opens the prayers on Yom Kippur Evening. Discusses confessions of a person and realizations that everything comes from Hashem. Ashear used this song for Semehim on Shabbat Shubah. M. Tawil
פיוט
2130 514m אלהי אל תדינני Isaac Ibn Mar Shaul Spain--10th-11th century--- The piyyut, used on Rosh Hashanah, is an alphabetical acrostic, and portrays a person confessing his sins. M. Tawil
פיוט
2131 514o ידי רשים Yehuda HaLevi M. Tawil
פיוט
2132 514o המבורך This is the last verse of the above song that the cantor sings alone. M. Tawil
פיוט
2133 514s שנאנים שאננים M. Tawil
פיוט
2134 514q אלהים אלי אתה M. Tawil
פיוט
4085.2 ויושע ה' ביום ההוא Exodus 14, 15. Moe Tawil
4086 N3 כי לה' המלוכה Moe A. Tawil: Nahwand
Moe A. Tawil: Bayat
Moe A. Tawil: Saba
Moe A. Tawil: Sigah
Moe A Tawil: Hijaz
4098 N17 ממצרים Light musical style. Moe Tawil- Mimisrayim- Ajam
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