New Musical Project Explores 900-Year-Old Divergent Jewish Liturgical Poems on Binding of Isaac

A new musical and textual project titled "The Binding of Isaac" will premiere on September 6 at Beit HaHayal in Tel Aviv, featuring Ehud Banai, the Jerusalem Piyyut Ensemble, and Maya Blazitsman. The performance combines two 12th-century liturgical poems from North Africa and Ashkenaz with Leonard Cohen's anti-war song "Story of Isaac," creating a fusion that explores contrasting religious perspectives on the biblical Akedat Yitzchak (Binding of Isaac) narrative.

The project was inspired by a lesson given five years ago by Rabbi Ilai Ophran at the pre-military academy "Ruach HaSadeh," where he analyzed two piyyutim written around 900 years ago. One poem, "Et Shaarei Ratzon," was composed by Rabbi Yehuda ben Shmuel ibn Abbas, a Moroccan dayan, after his son converted to Islam and authored a theological critique of Judaism. This poem presents Abraham and Isaac as conflicted and hopeful for a divine miracle to prevent the sacrifice, reflecting deep ambivalence and sorrow.

In contrast, the Ashkenazi poem "Im Efes," written by Ephraim ben Rabbi Yitzchak of Regensburg, praises absolute obedience to God's command without mercy or doubt. This poem emerged amid the brutal choices faced by Ashkenazi Jews during the Crusades, where some chose martyrdom over forced conversion. The poem is recited annually during the Ten Days of Repentance in Ashkenazi tradition but holds a central place in Sephardic Selichot prayers.

The project’s editor, Mishel Waknin, who authored the "Selichot Tour" books, was deeply moved by the divergent theological and emotional interpretations of the Akedah story. He collaborated with Yair Harel, musical director of the Jerusalem Piyyut Ensemble, to merge the two poems and Leonard Cohen’s song into a single performance. Kobi Madan, who translated Cohen’s lyrics into Hebrew, will narrate the evening, providing context and background to the works.

This innovative fusion highlights the historical and cultural complexities within Jewish liturgical traditions and connects them to contemporary themes of faith, sacrifice, and protest against war.