Rabbi Noam HaCohen Explores Identity and Heritage in New Poetry Collection

Rabbi Noam HaCohen has released a new poetry collection titled "Reshut" (Permission), published by Etz AG. The book delves into his personal journey of identity, particularly his connection to North African Jewish heritage, and explores themes of belonging and self-acceptance.

HaCohen recounts a formative experience from his childhood in Be'er Sheva, where his weekly walks to synagogue with his father involved passing the Sephardic "Rinat Yerushalayim" synagogue on one side and the Ashkenazi "HaKipa" synagogue on the other. This intersection, he explains, represents a "crossroads of my life," symbolizing the divide between his parents' generation and his peers, and his own internal struggle with his Mizrahi identity.

His engagement with this heritage deepened about 15 years ago through the "Mimizrach Shemesh" program, a beit midrash focused on the legacy of Eastern Jewish communities. This experience, he states, brought a profound understanding and "pain" over the lack of presence of North African Jewish thought in his upbringing. He challenges the common stereotype of Sephardic culture as solely characterized by "darbukas and colorful joy," arguing for a more nuanced appreciation of its intellectual and spiritual depth.

The collection also addresses the impact of the "Simchat Torah" war, with HaCohen describing an inability to write for months following the outbreak. One poem, "When I Become a Parochet," was inspired by observing the ark curtain during holiday prayers and contemplating the transition of individuals into memorial inscriptions. Another poem, "On My Belly," vividly depicts the horrors of a battlefield, reflecting a personal struggle for survival and a connection to the concept of the High Priest.

HaCohen, a married father of six and grandfather, has previously served as a rabbi and educator in various institutions. The title "Reshut" reflects his personal journey of overcoming feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, finally granting himself permission to express his unique voice and experiences through poetry. The book's cover art combines images of the Negev desert and his grandfather's synagogue bench in Fes, Morocco, symbolizing his integration of diverse cultural influences.