La R?zadeiraMonologue Marrane 

Marc Eliany

1997

 

Annonceur :

 

Au moins deux mille ans avant notre ?re,

un Babylonien nomm? Abraham

voyageait ? travers le Moyen-Orient,

et d?couvrit une multitude de superstitions

qui faisaient de pierre, de bois et d??tres humains,

des divinit?s

au nom desquelles

des hostilit?s se poursuivaient.

 

Pendant toute sa vie,

Abraham n’ accepta pas ces hostilit?s

et chercha des fa?ons de les arr?ter.

 

Abraham, levant ses yeux au ciel,

d?couvrit

une cr?ation immense

et infiniment harmonieuse.

 

Il se dit

qu?au-del? de la vie terrestre,

il devait y avoir

une autre fa?on de vivre,

en paix

avec soi,

avec l?un

et l?autre.

 

De ce jour-l?,

il n?arr?tait pas de pr?cher

? tous ceux qui lui tendaient l?oreille.

 

Ses premiers convertis

abandonn?rent leurs pr?occupations mat?rielles,

cass?rent leurs idoles

et s?engag?rent ? vivre en harmonie

dans un cosmos infini.

 

2

 

Ces premiers convertis

sont les anc?tres des Juifs d?aujourd?hui.

 

Jusqu?? aujourd?hui,

le D?ieu des Juifs

n?a ni corps ni forme,

mais un code de vie qui se r?sume

en un seul axiome :

? Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-m?me ?.

 

Tout le reste

n?est qu?interpr?tations.

 

Vers le d?but de notre? ?re,

un homme nomm? J?sus,

descendant d?Abraham,

observa

qu?au nom

d?une arme en main,

juive ou romaine,

la vie de l??tre humain

?tait r?duite

? la mis?re

pour le bien

de quelques-uns.

 

J?sus,

levant les yeux au ciel,

d?couvrit

une cr?ation immense

et infiniment harmonieuse.

 

Il se dit

qu?au-del? de la vie terrestre,

il devait y avoir

une autre fa?on de vivre,

en paix

avec soi,

avec l?un

et l?autre.

 

De ce jour-l?,

il n?arr?tait pas de pr?cher

? tous ceux qui lui tendaient l?oreille.

3

 

Ses premiers convertis

abandonn?rent leurs pr?occupations mat?rielles,

et s?engag?rent ? vivre en harmonie

dans un cosmos infini.

 

Ces premiers convertis

sont les anc?tres des Juifs d?aujourd?hui.

 

Jusqu?? aujourd?hui,

le D?ieu des Juifs

n?a ni corps ni forme,

mais un code de vie qui se r?sume

en un seul axiome :

? Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-m?me ?.

 

Tout le reste

n?est qu?interpr?tations.

 

Arm?s de cette vision,

les Juifs se sont dispers?s

dans tout l?univers.

 

En 1497,

sur un petit bout de terre

nomm? Portugal,

des Juifs

vivaient en paix parmi leurs voisins.

 

Ils ?taient savants

en navigations

et en toutes autres disciplines

n?cessaire pour am?liorer

la vie de leure communaut?.

 

En 1497,

un homme dont le nom Emmanuel,

signifie en h?breu

? D?ieu est avec nous ?,

d?cida que les Juifs,

sur son bout de terre nomm? Portugal

ne seraient plus Juifs

mais plut?t chr?tiens!

4

 

Les enfants ayant

moins de 14 ans

furent arrach?s

des bras de leur m?re

pour ?tre ?lev?s

dans des familles chr?tiennes.

 

Les Juifs qui refusaient

de se convertir

furent condamn?s

comme des criminels.

 

Leurs enfants,

dans un acte de cruaut?

inimaginable,

furent exil?s

sur une ?le sauvage,

sur Saint-Tom?,

o? aucun n?a pu survivre

aux reptiles qui les d?vor?rent.

 

Pendant 500 ans,

sur un petit bout de terre

nomm? Portugal,

les Juifs,

maintenant nouveaux chr?tiens,

?taient surnomm?s par leurs voisins :

? Marranes ?, ce qui veut dire ? cochons ?,

en leur langue.

 

Pendant 500 ans,

avant d?entrer ? l??glise,

les Marranes proclamaient :

 

? J?entre

dans cette maison

mais je n?adore ni bois

ni pierre.

J?adore

de tout mon coeur

seulement

le D?ieu unique

le D?ieu de l?Univers! ?

5

 

Au d?but de l?ann?e 1997,

un ?tranger arriva ? Belmonte,

au nord du Portugal.

 

Il rencontra une vieille Marrane,

la R?zadeira.

 

Un jour,

la R?zadeira

s?enferma ? l?int?rieur de sa maison

et d?versa son coeur

devant un autel de chandelles

cach? dans une petite armoire.

 

R?zadeira se lave les mains et prie

 

B?ni sois-Tu

Dieu de l?Univers

qui nous a ordonn?

de nous laver les mains

comme le faisaient nos anc?tres

en terre sainte.

 

R?zadeira

ouvre un autel cach? dans une petite armoire et allume des chandelles en priant

 

B?ni sois-Tu

Dieu de l?Univers

qui nous a ordonn?

d?allumer cette chandelle

comme le faisaient nos anc?tres

en terre sainte.

 

Que Ta lumi?re

?claire notre vie

Que Ta lumi?re

illumine notre ?me

Que Ta lumi?re

Nous d?livre de l?oppression

 

Qu?au ciel

s??l?ve cette pri?re

Amen.

? 6

 

R?zadeira commence un monologue avec le D?ieu de l?univers.

Un m?lange de confession, critique et pri?re.

 

??????????????? Adonai,

??????????????? O? sont les Juifs????????????????

??????????????? Cet ?tranger demande.

 

??????????????? Et il y en a encore qui r?pondent

??????????????? ? Je suis Juif ?,

??????????????? comme si rien n??tait arriv?

??????????????? comme s?ils avaient tout oubli?.

???????????????

??????????????? Pardonne-moi, ?ternel, si j?ai dit :

??????????????? Non, nous ne sommes pas Juifs!

 

 

Pardonne-moi

si j?ai dit le credo

si j?ai ador? les marmites de lard

si j?ai entendu des messes

si j?ai fait le signe de la croix

 

Pardonne-moi

??????????????? Si j?ai dit ? mon fr?re

??????????????? de tout nier.??????????

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? Tu sais qu?il n?est qu?un mis?rable!

??????????????? Qu?il ne donne plus de valeur ? sa vie,

??????????????? depuis que Tu nous as abandonn?

??????????????? entre les mains des princes

??????????????? qui ne valorisent que les biens terrestres.

 

Choral

 

Ceux qui ont les yeux

sur les biens terrestres

ne savent pas

que tout ce qu?ils ont

ne leur appartient pas.

 

Ceux qui ont les yeux

sur les biens terrestres

ont oubli?

veuves et orphelins.

? 7

 

Ceux qui ont les yeux

sur les biens terrestres

nous ont vendus comme esclaves

aux coins du monde.

 

Ceux qui ont les yeux

sur les biens terrestres

ne sont rien

sans bonnes actions.

 

R?zadeira continue son monologue :

 

??????????????? Adonai, D?ieu de l?univers

??????????????? Toi qui sais tout.

 

??????????????? Toi qui sais

??????????????? que nous suivons Ton chemin,

??????????????? m?me si nous sommes ?gar?s,

??????????????? Tu sais que

??????????????? nous sommes tous des Juifs.

 

??????????????? M?me s?il en est parmi nous

??????????????? qui l?ont oubli?,

??????????????? les autres nous le rappellent tous les jours.

 

M?me s?ils ont pri? avec passion,

ils n?ont jamais pu tuer

leurs visages de convertis;

ils n?ont jamais pu perdre

leur nom de Juifs!

 

??????????????? Alors, ? quoi sert de le nier?

 

??????????????? Et maintenant que j’ai ferm? la porte ? clef,

??????????????? Tu sais que je Te dis toute la v?rit?.

???????????????

??????????????? Qui est Juif

??????????????? et qui ne l?est pas?

 

??????????????? Tout le monde est Juif

??????????????? m?me ceux qui ne le savent pas.

 

??????????????? J?sus est Juif.

??????????????? Oui, J?sus est Juif,

??????????????? m?me s?ils ne le savent pas!

??? 8 ?????????????

 

 

??????????????? Toi-m?me,

??????????????? Tu as dit ? Tes proph?tes

??????????????? qu?il n?y a qu?une fin,

??????????????? tout le monde cherchera Ton salut

??????????????? sur le mont de Ton temple.

??????????????? Tout le monde n?est qu?un.

 

??????????????? Adonai,

??????????????? pardonne-moi, si je Te demande :

??????????????? ? Qu?est-ce que Tu attends? ?

 

??????????????? N?avons-nous pas assez err?

??????????????? sur les montagnes de Belmonte?

 

??????????????? Et cet ?tranger que Tu nous as envoy?,

??????????????? est-il? une autre ?preuve?

???????????????

??????????????? Il dit que ses anc?tres sont les n?tres.

??????????????? Marranes ? Lisbonne

??????????????? ou ? Cape Verte,

??????????????? Juifs ? Amsterdam

??????????????? ou Marrakech.

 

??????????????? Dans ses yeux

??????????????? j?ai vu Ta lumi?re briller.

??????????????? La lumi?re qui illumine notre chemin,

??????????????? d?j? 500 ans sombres,

??????????????? un exil

??????????????? dans un second exil

??????????????? de 2 000 ans!

???????????????

??????????????? Pardonne-moi,

??????????????? D?ieu d?Abraham,

??????????????? pardonne-moi,

??????????????? D?ieu de J?sus,

??????????????? si je Te demande pourquoi

??????????????? nous vivons toujours dans la mis?re.

??????????????? N?as-Tu pas assez de notre souffrance,

??????????????? Dieu de compassion!

???????????????

??????????????? Tu as entendu l??tranger parler

??????????????? de tout ce qu?on a oubli?.

? 9

 

Il a dit que

??????????????? Ses anc?tres

??????????????? avec l?eau du salut

??????????????? de Cohen

??????????????? ils sont devenus

??????????????? de J?sus

???????????????

 

??????????????? B?nis soient-ils;

??????????????? ? Marrakech leurs ?mes reposent.

 

Choral

 

En captivit?

J?ai suivi Ta loi c?leste

et j?ai ?t? ch?ti?.

 

J?ai entendu dire

? O? est leur secours? ?

et je ne savais plus.

 

Je donnerai

autant qu?il me sera possible

amour et louange

 

Mais montre Ta face

?claire mon ?me

Adonai Seigneur

 

Mais

Tu n?es pas venu

? mon secours

Tu m?as abandonn?.

 

R?zadeira chante :

 

Adonai

purifie-moi

 

avec l?eau de ton salut???????? Choral

10

 

Adonai

pardonne-moi

 

avec l?eau de ton salut???????? Choral

 

Adonai

gu?ris-moi

 

avec l?eau de ton salut???????? Choral

 

Choral

 

??????????????? avec l?eau de ton salut????????

??????????????? avec l?eau de ton salut

??????????????? avec l?eau de ton salut

 

donne-moi la paix.

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

??????????????? Seigneur

??????????????? ma main droite

??????????????? sur sa t?te

??????????????? je l?ai b?ni :

 

Adonay, b?nis-nous

Adonay, prot?ge-nous

Adonay, montre-nous Ta lumi?re

Adonay, donne-nous la paix

Amen

 

??????????????? Et il a dit encore :

??????????????????????????????? que son p?re est mont? au ciel

??????????????????????????????? que son ?me repose en paix!

 

R?zadeira chante :

 

Celle qui l?a cr??

a fait ce qu?elle savait

pour lui montrer

le chemin de Mo?se

m?me s?il ?tait ?gar?.

11

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l

sauve-le

de ceux qui le poursuivent

 

Si ses m?rites

ne sont pas suffisants

souviens-Toi

de ses matriarches

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l

sauve-le

des faux t?moins

 

Si ses m?rites ne sont pas suffisants

souviens-Toi

des martyrs

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l

d?livre-le

des bouchers et des flammes

m?me si ses m?rites ne Te suffisent pas.

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l

donne-lui le repos ?ternel,

et souviens-Toi!

Souviens-Toi!

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l,

rapproche-nous de J?rusalem,

donne-nous la paix sur terre.

 

??????????????? Il dit :

??????????????????????????????? De la Terre Sainte

??????????????????????????????? il est venu.

??????????????????????????????? De la Promise Terre

??????????????????????????????? il nous a apport? des nouvelles.

???????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????? Isra?l!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????? B?ni soit-il!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????? Sa m?re vit en Isra?l!

???????????????????????????????

?? 12

 

??????????????????????????????? B?nie soit-elle!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????? Sa m?re l?a envoy? chercher

??????????????????????????????? la famille de J?sus ? Belmonte!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????? Adonai, dis-moi,

??????????????????????????????? est-ce que je r?ve?

??????????????????????????????? Est-ce qu?il dit vrai?

 

R?zadeira chante :

(la main pos?e sur le coeur)

 

Adonai

au levant

 

Sur les ailes de Daniel

ma pri?re s??l?ve

 

Choral

 

paix sur terre

divine b?n?diction

 

(la main pos?e sur la bouche)

 

Adonai

au levant

 

des l?vres d?Abraham

ma pri?re s??l?ve

 

Choral

paix sur terre

divine b?n?diction

 

(la main pos?e sur la t?te)

 

Adonai

au levant

 

Au nom de Mo?se

ma pri?re s??l?ve

? 13

 

Choral

 

paix sur terre

divine b?n?diction

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

??????????????? Adonai,

??????????????? Nos fr?res sont-ils vraiment en Terre Sainte?

??????????????? Demandent-ils de nos nouvelles?

??????????????? S?inqui?tent-ils de notre sort?

???????????????

??????????????????????????????? Il dit :

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Leurs pieds sont fermes sur terre.

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Ils cultivent la terre

??????????????????????????????????????????????? et mangent ses fruits.

???????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Le jour,

??????????????????????????????????????????????? ils sont ? la recherche

??????????????????????????????????????????????? des brebis ?gar?es.

??????????????????????????????????????????????? La nuit,

??????????????????????????????????????????????? ? la garde du troupeau regroup?.

 

??????????????????????????????? Il dit :

??????????????????????????????????????????????? De leur part,

??????????????????????????????????????????????? il nous apporte

??????????????????????????????????????????????? b?n?dictions et invitations

??????????????????????????????????????????????? ? se rassembler ? J?rusalem

??????????????????????????????????????????????? sur ailes d?aigles

??????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ou dos de baleines!

 

 

R?zadeira chante :

 

Que D?ieu

nous donne

 

??????????????????????????????? Choral avant chaque verset

 

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Que D?ieu

??????????????????????????????????????????????? nous donne

 

la foi d?Abraham

la cl?mence de No?

le bonheur de Jacob

la sagesse de Mo?se

le courage de G?deon

l?esprit de J?r?mie

la repentance de David

la science de Salomon

la charit? de Tobie

la patience de Job

 

??????????????????????????????? Choral avant chaque verset

 

??????????????????????????????????????????????? Que D?ieu

??????????????????????????????????????????????? nous donne

 

afin de contempler

ses d?lices

 

afin que la loi de l?univers

se r?pande

d?ici jusqu?? J?rusalem

 

Choral et R?zadeira

 

Seigneur

D?ieu Adonai

Amen

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

Adonai

 

?a fait peut-?tre 100 ans que je Te prie

et Tu ne dis jamais rien.

?a fait peut-?tre 500 ans

que ma m?re

et la m?re de ma m?re Te prient

et Tu n?as jamais rien dit.

 

Et maintenant

Tu nous as envoy? un ?tranger

v?tu

de jeans trou?s

et les cheveux longs

comme une fille.

? 15

 

Est-ce Ta fa?on de nous dire

que notre ch?timent est fini?

 

Adonai

 

Montre-Toi dans mes r?ves,

 

donne-moi un signe,

car le sommeil m?emporte.

 

Principe de tous les principes

Poussi?re et cendre que je suis.

 

M?me si j?ai p?ch?

mes p?ch?s de captivit?

comptent pour rien.

 

Au jour du jugement,

p?se mes intentions

et Tu verras

que je ne m?rite pas

Ton ch?timent.

 

R?zadeira chante :

 

Pri?res du soir

 

Des cl?s d?Abraham

la porte ferm?e

 

Dans mon lit

je me suis couch?e

 

du manteau d?Esther

je me suis couverte

 

? Adonai

j?ai remis mon ?me

 

Dans mon r?ve

l?ange Gabriel

m?a dit

je ne craindrai rien

je ne craindrai rien.

 

Amen, Seigneur

Que cette pri?re s??l?ve

 

? l?aube, le lendemain, R?zadeira se l?ve, se lave puis r?cite :

 

Que les anges louent le Seigneur

qui m?a cr??e

 

Que les anges louent le Seigneur qui m?a donn?

 

les yeux pour voir

les mains pour toucher

les oreilles pour entendre

 

Que les anges louent le Seigneur

qui m?a gratifi?e

 

de l?intelligence pour comprendre

 

Que les anges louent le Seigneur qui m?a cr??e

 

Seigneur, D?ieu de l?Univers, Amen.

 

? la mont?e de l?aube

je me suis lev?e

chanter

les psaumes sacr?s.

 

??????????????????????????????? Choral

 

??????????????? Adonai est ma joie

??????????????? Adonai c?est ma foi

 

Avec la belle aurore

le Tr?s-Haut

s?est lev?

 

??????????????? Choral

???????????????

??????????????? Adonai est ma joie

??????????????? Adonai c?est ma foi

???????? 17

 

? la lumi?re du jour

ma pri?re

au ciel s??l?ve

 

??????????????? Choral

 

??????????????? Adonai est ma foi

??????????????? Adonai c?est ma joie

???????????????

??????????????? R?zadeira se lave les mains et pr?pare le pain du matin tout en r?citant :

 

 

Adonai

 

Merci

pour le souffle de la vie

que Tu m?as remis

ce beau matin.

Mais dis-moi pourquoi

Tu ne m?as pas envoy?

l?ange Gabriel?

 

Peut-?tre que Tu penses

que je ne le m?rite pas.

Mais Tu te trompes.

 

Dans la captivit?

j?ai suivi Ton chemin.

Sans Cohanim.

Sans L?viim.

 

Et maintenant

Tu me laisses seule,

avec cet ?tranger en jeans trou?s.

 

Et toute seule encore une fois,

je dois d?cider

si l?exil est fini

si J?rusalem est de nouveau l?.

?????? 18

 

L?offrande de la halla

(si c?est pr?s de p?que, r?citer le chant suivant)

 

R?zadeira jette au feu une boule de p?te en r?p?tant trois fois :

 

Choral

 

Adonai

Shema?

 

R?zadeira :

 

Seigneur

accepte notre offrande

m?me si nous avons p?ch?

 

Seigneur

 

B?nis sois-Tu

Toi qui sais tout

 

Choral

Adonai shema? tefilatenu

 

 

L?offrande de la halla (? P?que)

 

Choral

 

Adonai

Shema?

 

R?zadeira

 

Seigneur

accepte notre offrande

comme celle

de nos fr?res

en Terre Promise

???? 19

 

Seigneur

nourris Tes enfants errants

comme Tu as nourris

nos anc?tres

dans Ta Terre Sainte

 

Seigneur

pardonne-nous

Toi qui sais tout

 

Adonai

qu?on puisse c?l?brer notre p?que

agr?ablement

 

que notre pri?re

au ciel s??l?ve

 

Choral

 

Adonai shema? tefilatenu

 

R?zadeira ? table

 

Adonai

Cet ?tranger que Tu nous as envoy? en jeans trou?s

nous r?cite toutes Tes Pri?res dans Ta langue sainte.

Il a b?ni Ton pain avant de manger.

 

Mais nous,

nous ne savons pas.

De toute fa?on,

tout ce qu?on sait

vient de Toi.

 

R?zadeira prie :

 

Que tout ce que l?on mange

nous apporte l?abondance

 

que tout ce que l?on boit

nous apporte la sant?

??? 20

 

Que tout ce qui reste

nous apporte ta b?n?diction

 

Que cette pri?re s??l?ve

B?ni soit le Seigneur,

D?ieu de l?Univers,

Amen.

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

Adonai

L??tranger a dit que c?est une belle pri?re.

 

Si c?est une belle pri?re,

pourquoi Tu ne nous ?coutes pas?

Pourquoi Tu nous as abandonn?s dans ce double exil?

Est-ce qu?il ne Te suffisait pas

qu?on soit Juif en exil,

il fallait qu?on soit Marran en captivit??

 

Adonai

?a fait longtemps

que je Te parle.

Tu es le seul

? qui j?ose parler comme ?a.

Alors, ne Te f?che pas

si je Te dis

tant de choses franches

 

Je ne suis pas d?accord

avec Ton jugement d?exil.

Mais je Te remercie

de ne pas nous avoir condamn?s

? d?pendre des autres.

 

R?zadeira chante la pri?re d?apr?s le repas et se l?ve.

 

B?ni soit

le Seigneur Adonai

qui nous a nourri

?????? 21

 

B?ni soit

le Tr?s-Haut

qui nous ?pargne

la d?pendance

? tout moment

 

Seigneur

D?ieu de l?Univers

l?ange Gabriel

entonne Ta gloire

 

Choral

 

B?ni soit

le Seigneur

D?ieu de l?Univers

Amen

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

Adonai

 

cet ?tranger

aux cheveux longs et

aux jeans trou?s

veut tout savoir.

 

S?il est Ton messager,

pardonne-moi si j?ai des doutes.

Apr?s tout,

Tu ne nous as rien dit

et Tu ne nous donnes pas de signe

et nous avons d?j?

assez souffert

des m?disants.

 

Mais malgr? tout

m?me si ?a prend trop de temps

nous n?avons pas perdu l?espoir.

??? 22

 

Je ne lui cache rien,

juste au cas o? il serait Ton ange.

Juste au o?,

dans ma vieillesse,

Tu aurais d?cid? de me montrer Ta face

ou d??clairer mon chemin.

 

Alors, voil?,

je lui ai montr?

tout ce que j?avais appris de ma m?re

que son ?me soit b?nie.

Je lui ai montr? comment

m?me dans ce sombre exil

nous n?avons pas oubli? Tes prescriptions.

 

L?abattage rituel d?une poule :

 

B?ni sois-Tu

Seigneur, D?ieu de l?Univers

qui as cr?? les animaux

pour nous nourrir

 

B?ni sois-Tu

Seigneur, D?ieu de l?Univers

qui pardonne

? tous ceux qui prennent leurs vies

par amour de l??ternel

 

R?zadeira r?cite :

 

Adonai

 

cet ?tranger

que Tu nous as envoy? en jeans trou?s

a trouv? cette pri?re belle

aussi.

 

Il dit

que les anges pleurent

lorsqu?ils entendent nos pri?res.

 

Je l?ai m?me vu cacher plus qu?une larme.

???? 23

 

Adonai

 

Si les anges pleurent,

est-il un de Tes anges?

 

Et Toi,

D?ieu,

est-ce que Tu nous entends?

 

Adonai

 

parfois j?ai l?impression

que cet ?tranger

que Tu nous as envoy?

en jeans trou?s

aime trop nos pri?res.

 

Parfois je pense

qu?il ne va pas nous amener ? J?rusalem

et qu?il va rester ici.

 

Adonai

dis-moi, est-il possible

que J?rusalem ne soit plus l?-bas

mais ici?

Est-il possible

que J?rusalem soit l?

o? on est heureux?

 

Adonai

 

cet ?tranger que Tu nous as envoy?

et qui parle Ta langue sainte

si bien,

veut tout savoir.

 

Il m?a m?me demand?

de l?amener au cimeti?re

prier pour la grand-m?re de toutes ses grand-m?res.

 

Comment pouvais-je lui refuser

une telle pri?re.

?????? 24

 

Et en entrant au cimeti?re

j?ai r?cit? la pri?re que j?ai apprise

le jour de la mort de ma grand-m?re :

 

Adonai

d?livre ces morts!

Car comme nous,

ils ?taient des vivants

dignes du souffle de la vie.

 

Adonai

accepte leurs pri?res!

Car comme eux,

nous nous joindrons ? Toi,

sans souffle de vie!

 

Adonai

laisse-nous entrer et sortir

de cette vall?e de pleurs

avec le souffle de la vie.

 

Que cette pri?re

s??l?ve au ciel!

Amen

 

R?zadeira continue son monologue :

 

Adonai

 

nous sommes entr?s et sortis en paix

de la vall?e des pleurs o? nos morts reposent encore

perdus

entre les croix

sur lesquelles Tu as pendu

Ton fils J?sus.

 

Et l??tranger a trouv? sa grand-m?re,

Tanya de J?sus,

fille de Marrane

fille de Mathatias.

??????? 25

 

Il a pos? une pierre sur sa tombe,

et il lui a illumin? le chemin qui m?ne vers Toi

avec des chandelles de la Terre Sainte.

 

Et il lui a parl? dans Ta langue sainte,

comme si elle ?tait parmi nous,

mais il n?a pas fait de pri?re.

 

Il a dit

que ma pri?re suffisait

et que les anges

la pr?f?raient

? n?importe quelle autre pri?re.

 

Je voulais lui dire

que j?esp?rais que Toi aussi,

Adonai Seigneur,

Tu l?aimais autant.

 

J?esp?re que c?est vrai,

parce que ?a fait longtemps

que je prie

et Tu n?as jamais r?pondu,

comme si Tu ne m?avais jamais entendue.

 

Alors Tu vois,

m?me moi

qui ai suivi Ton chemin

dans ce sombre exil,

je ne sais plus.

 

Je ne savais plus

si je devais parsemer

la tombe de la sainte de J?sus

de farine blanche et pure

ou de pierre dure.

ou de pierres dures.

 

? la fin

j?ai fait ,omme j?ai toujours fait.

????????? 26

 

J?ai parsem?? de ma farine

sur les tombes de mes anc?tres,

et Tanya de J?sus parmi eux.

Et j?ai r?cit? la pri?re que je connaissais :

 

Adonai,

D?ieu d?Abraham, d?Isaac et de Jacob,

Toi qui es plein d?amour

envers Tes enfants sur terre,

sois mis?ricordieux

envers l??me de nos morts ch?ris.

 

Si leurs m?rites ne Te suffisent pas,

 

souviens-Toi, en leurs faveurs,

des vertus de nos patriarches

qui nous ont r?v?l? ta lumiere.

 

souviens-Toi, en leur faveur,

des vertus de nos martyrs

qui ont glorifi? Ton nom sur terre.

 

Sois mis?ricordieux aussi

envers nos fr?res

qui sont en Isra?l.

 

Que l??me

de ceux qui reposent en paix

dans cette vall?e de pleurs

s??l?ve au ciel.

Amen.

 

R?zadeira continue son monologue :

 

Puis, nous avons march?

le long du chemin tortueux

qui m?ne toujours

vers le village que Tu nous as destin?,

sans dire un mot,

comme si tout avait ?t? dit.

????? 27

 

Nous avons distribu?

l?aum?ne

aux pauvres rassembl?s

? la porte de l??glise

sans y entrer.

 

Nous avons visit?

la vieille Mend?s

qui est malade et

qui ne voit plus.

 

Et la vieille Mend?s

a pris la main de l??tranger

entre ses mains

et ne pouvait plus la laisser.

 

Et

elle lui a parl?

comme si elle le connaissait

depuis jadis

 

? Daniel!

Tu es revenu!

J?ai pri? D?ieu,

tant de fois.

Tous ce que je voulais,

c??tait voir ton visage.

Et tu es venu.

 

Maintenant,

je peux partir en paix .?

 

Puis la vieille Mend?s

a r?cit? la pri?re des malades ;

et l??tranger a r?cit? avec elle :

 

D?ieu d?Isra?l

le jour de mon affliction

dans Ton Tabernacle

cache-moi

?????? 27

 

Toi qui as promis la r?demption???? ?(choral)

 

la nuit de mes supplications

sous Tes ailes

prends-moi

 

Toi qui as promis la r?demption?????? (choral)

 

je chanterai tous les jours

la tendresse du Seigneur

 

car Tu as promis la r?demption??????? (choral)

 

je contemplerai toutes les nuits

ses merveilles avec joie

 

car Tu as promis la r?demption??????? (choral)

 

Que cette pri?re ???????????????????????????????? (choral)

au ciel s??l?ve

Amen

 

Puis nous nous sommes arr?t?s

? la maison de ma fille,

comme si c??tait? la destin?e.

 

Et c?est l?

que l??tranger a vu

ma petite-fille,

Tanya de J?sus,

comme si c??tait prescrit.

 

L?,

il a r?p?t? apr?s moi

la pri?re r?serv?e aux hommes

qui montent en p?lerinage

aux tombes de leurs anc?tres :

 

Adonai

 

Toi qui as b?ni Abraham,

et ses descendants

jusqu?? nos jours,

?????? 29

 

envoie Ta b?n?diction

 

sur ce pain

sur cette table

et sur tous les pr?sents ici.

 

Adonai

d?livre-nous

de tout danger.

 

Adonai

veille

sur notre ?me

aussi bien

que sur l??me de nos anc?tres.

 

Que cette pri?re

s??l?ve au ciel

Amen.

 

Et il a r?p?t? apr?s moi

tout ce que je disais

comme s?il ?tait parmi nous

depuis toujours.

 

Et pour la premi?re fois

je lui ai demand? son nom.

 

Daniel,

il a r?pondu,

tout simplement,

comme si c??tait

mon petit-fils

Daniel qui r?pondait

? ma question.

 

Et sa m?re s?appelle Esther,

comme ma m?re et mon arri?re-grand-m?re

et comme ma Santa Rainha

Esther.

??????? 30

 

Adonai

dis-moi,

est-il vrai

cet ?tranger

que Tu nous as envoy?

sans signe ni avertissement?

 

Est-il l?homme ou l?ange

qui va nous montrer

le chemin de retour vers Toi?

 

Ou est-il encore

juste l?image trompeuse

d?un mauvais ange

qui a ?chapp? ? tes pouvoirs?

 

Mais ? quoi ?a sert

toutes ces questions?

Je sais d?j? que Tu ne r?pondras pas!

 

Et cet ?tranger,

en jeans trou?s aux cheveux longs,

Daniel en chair et en os,

?tait l?,

juste en face de moi,

en train de partager

notre repas

comme l?ange Daniel

en compagnie des lions.

 

Soudain,

j?ai vu son regard

sur ma petite-fille

Tanya.

 

Et j?ai compris

que m?me si Tu ne me r?pondais pas,

mon ange de r?confort ?tait l?.

??????? 31

 

Daniel prendra Tanya

et restera parmi nous

pour nous d?livrer,

comme promis

dans Ta sainte Bible.

 

Choral chante :

 

?coutez,

enfants d?Isra?l,

Daniel annonce

notre d?livrance.

 

Comptez les jours

marchez dans ses voies

le pardon ne manquera pas.

 

le coeur humble

les yeux au ciel

 

Adonai rassemblera

Ses brebis

 

de Lisbonne

de Babylone

 

en Terre Sainte

aux pieds de Son temple

? J?rusalem

 

R?zadeira continue son monologue :

 

Adonai

 

Toi qui sais

que par exc?s de sacrifices

Ton temple ne valait plus rien.

 

Toi qui connaissais les intentions

de Titus et de Mathatias

? 32

 

Toi qui sais

qu?il ?tait prescrit

que les mains qui ont construit

Ton temple

le d?truiraient.

 

Toi qui sais

que ? judeu ?

ne veut dire qu?aider (? ad judar ?)

 

Tu sais aussi

que nous avons

march? sur Ton chemin.

 

Alors

peu importe

qui est ce Daniel

nous veillerons

sur lui

en jeans trou?s, ou

aux cheveux longs.

 

Nous partagerons

avec lui nos meilleurs fruits.

 

Adonai

nous n?oublierons pas

que c?est par les m?rites de nos m?res

que nos anc?tres

ont ?t? d?livr?s de l?oppression

de l??gypte

et d?ici

de Belmonte.

 

Adonai

D?ieu de l?Univers

D?ieu de Jacob

D?ieu de Rachel

en Ton nom

j?ai uni Tanya et Daniel.

????? 33

 

R?zadeira chante :

 

Adonai

suis-nous des yeux.

 

Sur le chemin

de nos errances

 

 

Choral ????????????????? d?livre-nous

 

D?une bouche

m?disante

 

Choral ????????????????? d?livre-nous

 

L? o? le soleil

se l?ve

 

Choral?????????????????? d?livre-nous

 

L? o? la lune

brille

 

Choral?????????????????? d?livre-moi

 

Adonai

suis-nous des yeux.

Et nous marcherons

le long de Ton chemin

en paix.

 

Choral

 

Adonai

D?ieu de l?univers

l? o? Tes brebis

errent

vois

? ce que J?rusalem

soit b?nie

 

Ottawa, mars 1997.

 

 

Autres pri?res

 

Le Mariage

 

Au nom du D?ieu

d?Abraham, d?Isaac et de Jacob

vous ?tes unis

et je vous place sous ses b?n?dictions.

 

Supplication

 

Sabaot

macolares cobrado

 

Tu sais

qu?en captivit?

loin de J?rusalem

sans Cohanim

sans sanctuaire

 

nous ne pouvons pas

accomplir nos devoirs

 

pardonne-nous

 

d?livre-nous

de l?oppression

 

comme

Isra?l d??gypte

comme

Esther de Haman.

 

Fais en sorte

que nos enfants

s?attachent

? Tes commandements

 

Adonai

The Rezadeira

 

Marc Eliany

 

1997

 

Announcer

 

Two thousand years before the common era,

a Babylonian by the name of Abraham

travelled across the Orient.

He discovered a myriad of superstitions

that made of stone, wood and? humans – gods,

and in their names wars were? waged continuously.

 

All his life,

Abraham could not tolerate conflicts

and looked for ways to stop them.

 

Abraham raised his eyes to the sky

and discovered

a boundless

and infinitely harmonious Creation.

 

He thought to himself:

“beyond this earthly existence

must lie another way of living,

at peace

with one?s self

and with one another.”

 

Since that day,

he preached tirelessly

to all those that would listen.

 

His first converts

forsook their earthly existence,

destroyed their idols

and undertook to live in harmony

in an infinite universe.

 

His first converts

are the ancestors of the Jews of our time.

 

To this day,

the G-d of the Jews

has no bodily shape or form,

but consists of? a set of rules

that can be summarized in a single axiom:

“Love your neighbor like yourself.”

 

All the rest is but a matter of interpretation.

 

At the beginning of the common era,

?Jesus,

a descendant of Abraham,

observed that with a weapon,

Jewish or Roman,

human life was reduced to misery

to the advantage of the few.

 

Jesus raised his eyes to the sky

and discovered

a boundless

and infinitely harmonious creation.

 

He thought to himself

that beyond this earthly existence

must lie another way of living,

at peace

with one?s self

and with one another.

 

Since that day,

he preached tirelessly

to all those that would listen.

 

His first converts

forsook their earthly existence,

and undertook to live in harmony

in an infinite universe.

 

His first converts

are the ancestors of the Jews of our time.

 

To this day,

the G-d of the Jews

has no bodily shape or form,

but consists of? a set of rules

that can be summarized in a single axiom:

“Love your neighbor like yourself.”

 

All the rest is but a matter of interpretation.

 

Armed with this vision,

the Jews dispersed

throughout the universe.

 

 

In 1497,

in the land of Portugal,

Jews lived peacefully

among their neighbors.

 

They knew much about navigation,

and possessed the skill that make any community thrive.

 

In 1497,

a man by the name of “Emmanuel”,

Hebrew for “G-d is in our midst,”

decided that the Jews living

in the land of Portugal,

would no longer be Jews

but would become Christians.

 

Children under the age of fourteen

were torn from their mother?s arms

to be raised by Christian families.

 

Jews who refused to convert

were condemned like criminals

and their children were exiled

on a deserted island, St. Tom?,

where reptiles? devoured them alive.

 

For 500 years,

in the land of Portugal,

Jews,

now new Christians,

were called by their neighbors

??marranos? which means ?pigs? in Portuguese.

 

For 500 years,

before entering a church,

the Marranos proclaimed these words:

 

?I enter this house of worship

but I adore neither the wood nor the stone in it.

For I adore with all my heart

the only G-d, the King of the Universe!.?

 

In early 1997,

a stranger came to Belmonte,

in northern Portugal.

 

He met an old marrano woman,

Rezadeira.

 

One day,

Rezadeira

locked herself

in her house

and poured out her heart before

an altar of candles

hidden in a small cupboard.

 

Rezadeira washes her hands and prays

 

Blessed be You

King of the Universe

who commanded us to wash our hands

as our ancestors did

in the Holy Land.

 

Rezadeira

opens an altar hidden in a small cupboard, lights the candles

and prays

 

Blessed be you

King of the Universe

who commanded us to light this candle

as our ancestors

did in the Holy Land.

 

May Your light

illuminate our lives

May Your light

illuminate our souls

May Your light

deliver us from oppression

 

May this prayer

reach You in the Heavens

Amen.

 

Rezadeira begins a monologue with God (Adonay)

A combination of confession, criticism and prayer.

 

??????????????? Adonay,

??????????????? ?Where are the Jews???????

??????????????? asks this stranger.

 

??????????????? And still some reply

??????????????? ? I am a Jew,?

??????????????? as if nothing had happened,

??????????????? as if all had been forgotten.

???????????????

??????????????? Forgive me, Lord, if I have said:

??????????????? ?No, we are not Jews!?

 

??????????????? Forgive me

??????????????? if I recited ?Our Father in Heaven?

??????????????? if I ate impure beasts

??????????????? if I attended mass

??????????????? if I crossed myself.

 

??????????????? Forgive me

??????????????? For telling my brother

??????????????? to reject everything.???????????

??

??????????????? You know

??????????????? that he is a nobody, and

??????????????? that he value not his life

??????????????? since You have forsaken us and abandoned us

??????????????? ?to the Princes that only cherish earthly belongings.

 

Choral

 

Those that seek

only earthly belongings

know not

that what they own

does not belong to them.

 

Those that seek

only earthly belongings

forgot their duty

to? widows and orphans.

 

Those that seek

only earthly belongings

sold us as slaves

throughout four corners of the world.

 

Those that seek

only earthly belongings

are nothing

without good deeds.

 

Rezadeira continues her monologue

 

??????????????? Adonay, G-d of the universe,

??????????????? knower of all things

 

??????????????? You know

??????????????? that we follow Your path

??????????????? even if we are lost;

??????????????? You know

??????????????? that in our heart we remain still Jews,

??????????????? even if some of? us

??????????????? have forgotten it,

??????????????? the others remind us daily.

 

 

Even if we prayed fervently

we could never erase

our “reputation” as convert;

we never lost our “prominence” as Jews.

Useless is our own denial.

 

But now that the door is shut,

You know

that I am telling the truth.

 

Who is Jew

and who is not?

We are all Jews,

even those that don?t know it.

Jesus is a Jew.

Yes, Jesus is a Jew,

even if they don?t know it!

 

You Yourself

have told

Your prophets

that there is but one end;

all will seek Your salvation

on? Your Temple Mount,

for All are One.

 

Adonay,

forgive me for asking

what are You waiting for?

 

Have we not wandered enough

atop the mountains of Belmonte?

And this stranger that You sent,

is it another test of Yours?

 

He says that his ancestors are our ancestors.

Marranos in Lisbon

or Cap Verde,

Jews in Amsterdam

or Marrakech.

 

In his eyes

I saw Your light shining;

The light that illuminates our way,

already 500 dark years,

an exile within another 2000-year exile!

 

Forgive me

G-d of Abraham,

God of Jesus,

if I ask You why

we still live in misery.

Haven?t You seen enough of our suffering,

?God of mercy?

 

You heard the stranger

talk of all that we have forgotten.

 

He said that

??????????????? with holy water,

??????????????? his ancestors,

??????????????? from Cohen,

??????????????? they became

??????????????? Jesus.

 

??????????????? Blessed be they!

??????????????? Their souls rest in Marrakech.

 

Choral

 

In bondage

I followed Your commandments

yet I was chastised.

 

I heard others say

?From whence comes their salvation??

and I wondered.

 

I submitted to you

with all the Love and devotion I could spare,

but You did not come,

You have forsaken me.

 

Adonay,

show Your face,

illuminate my soul!

 

Rezadeira sings:

 

Adonay

purify me

 

with your water of salvation??????????????? Choral

 

Adonay

forgive me

 

with your water of salvation??????????????? Choral

 

Adonay

cure me

 

with your water of salvation??????????????? Choral

 

Choral

 

??????????????? with your water of salvation???????????????

??????????????? with your water of salvation

??????????????? with your water of salvation

 

give me peace.

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

??????????????? Adonay,

??????????????? with my right hand

??????????????? on his head,

??????????????? I blessed him:

 

Adonay, bless us

Adonay, protect us

Adonay, show us Your light

Adonay, grant us peace

Amen

 

??????????????? And he said:

??????????????? ??????????????? that his father rests in Heaven!

??????????????? ??????????????? May his soul be in peace!

 

 

Rezadeira sings:

 

The one from whence he came

did what she could

to show him

the way of Moses

even though he was lost.

 

God of Israel

save him

from his pursuers

 

If he is not worthy enough,

remember

his ancestors

 

God of Israel

save him

from false witnesses

 

If he is not worthy enough

remember

the martyrs

 

God of Israel

save him

from stake

and flames

even if his merits

do not satisfy You.

 

God of Israel

grant him

eternal peace

and remember

remember!

 

God of Israel

bring us closer to Jerusalem

give us peace on earth.

 

 

??????????????? He said:

??????????????? ??????????????? From the Holy Land

??????????????? ??????????????? he came

??????????????? ??????????????? From the Promised Land

??????????????? ??????????????? he? brought? news.

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? Israel!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? May he be blessed.

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? His mother lives in Israel!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? May his mother be blessed.

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? His mother sent him

??????????????? ??????????????? to find? the Jesus? family? in Belmonte!

???????????????????????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? Adonay, tell me,

??????????????? ??????????????? am I dreaming?

??????????????? ??????????????? Is he telling the truth?

 

Rezadeira sings:

(her hand upon her heart)

 

Adonay

at dawn

 

On Daniel?s wings

my prayers rise

 

Choral

 

Peace on earth

Celestial blessings

 

(her hand on her lips)

 

Adonay

at dawn

 

from Abraham?s lips

my prayers climb

 

 

Choral

Peace on earth

Celestial blessings

 

(her hand on her head)

 

Adonay

at dawn

 

In Moses? name

my prayers mount

 

 

Choral

 

Peace on earth

Celestial blessings

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

??????????????? Adonay,

??????????????? Do our brothers truly dwell in the Holy Land?

??????????????? Do they think of us?

??????????????? Is our fate, their worry?

???????????????

??????????????? ??????????????? He says:

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? Their life is firmly grounded.

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? They cultivate the land

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? and eat from its fruits.

???????????????

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? By day,

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? they search for

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? the lost sheep.

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? By night,

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? they guard the gathered flock.

 

??????????????? ??????????????? He says:

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? From their mouths,

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? he brings us

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? blessings and invitations

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? to gather in Jerusalem

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? riding on eagle?s wings

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? or on whales backs!

 

 

Rezadeira sings:

 

May God

grant us

 

??????????????? ??????????????? Choral before each verse

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? May God

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? grant us

 

Abraham?s faith

Noah?s clemency

Jacob?s happiness

Moses?s wisdom

Gideon?s courage

Jeremiah?s spirit

David?s repentance

Solomon?s knowledge

Tobie?s charity

Job?s patience

 

??????????????? ??????????????? Choral before each verse

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? May God

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? grant us

 

so that we may gaze

upon the Lord?s delights

 

so that the Law of the universe

extends from here to Jerusalem

 

Choral and Rezadeira

 

Lord

God Adonay

Amen

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

Adonay

 

I have prayed to You for at least 100 years

and not a word did I hear from You.

 

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? 14

 

For 500 years

my mother

and the mother of my mother have prayed to You

and not a word did they hear from You.

 

And now

You have sent us this stranger

wearing torn jeans

and long hair

like that of a young girl.

 

Is this Your way of telling us

that our penance has ended?

 

Adonay

Come into my dreams,

give me a sign,

as I am drifting into sleep.

 

Principle of principles

Dust and ashes I am,

if I have sinned,

my sins in bondage

are of no meaning.

 

On Judgment Day,

weigh my intent

and You will see

that I do not deserve

Your penalty.

 

Rezadeira sings:

 

Evening prayers

 

With Abraham?s keys

the door was locked

 

In my bed

I lay down

 

with Esther?s coat

I shielded myself

 

 

To Adonay

I entrusted my soul

 

In my dreams

the Archangel Gabriel

said:

fear not.

 

Adonay,

Amen,

May this prayer reach You.

 

At dawn, the next morning, Rezadeira rises, washes herself and recites:

 

May the angels praise the Creator who has made me

 

May the angels praise the Creator

who gave me

??????????????? ??????????????? eyes to see

??????????????? ??????????????? hands to touch

??????????????? ??????????????? ears to hear

 

May the angels praise the Creator

who granted me understanding

 

May the angels praise the Creator who made me

 

Adonay, King of the Universe, Amen.

 

Rezadeira sings:

 

With dawn

I rose to sing

holy psalms

 

??????????????? ??????????????? Choral

 

??????????????? Adonay is my joy

??????????????? Adonay is my faith

 

With the beauty of the dawn

the Almighty rose

 

 

??????????????? Choral

???????????????

??????????????? Adonay is my joy

??????????????? Adonay is my faith

 

With the light of day

my prayer

rises to the Heavens

 

??????????????? Choral

 

??????????????? Adonay is my joy

??????????????? Adonay is my faith

???????????????

??????????????? Rezadeira washes her hands and prepares the morning bread and recited the following:

 

 

Adonay

 

Blessed be You who returned

the soul to my body,

on this beautiful morning;

but tell me why have You not sent me

the Archangel Gabriel?

 

Maybe You think

I do not deserve it.

But You are wrong.

 

In bondage

I followed in Your path,

Without Cohanim,

Without Leviim.

And now

You leave me alone,

with a stranger wearing torn jeans.

 

(musical emphasis on italics below)

 

And alone once again,

I must decide

if the exile has ended,

if Jerusalem is once again within our reach.

 

Offering of the halla

(If Pessach is near, sing the following)

 

Rezadeira throws a ball of dough into the fire and repeats three times:

 

Choral

 

Adonay

Shema?

 

Rezadeira:

 

Lord

accept our sacrifice

even though we have sinned

 

Lord

 

Blessed be You

who Knows all

 

Choral

Adonay shema? tefilatenu

 

Offering of the halla (for Passover)

 

Choral

 

Adonay

Shema?

 

Rezadeira

 

Adonay

accept our sacrifice

as You did for our brothers

in the Promised Land

 

Adoany

feed Your wandering flock

as You fed

our ancestors

in the Holy Land

 

Adonay

forgive us

Knower of all

 

Adonay

may we celebrate Passover

in peace

 

May our prayer

rise to the Heavens

 

Choral

 

 

Adonay shema? tefilatenu

 

Rezadeira at the table

 

Adonay

This stranger that You have sent us wearing torn jeans

recites Your blessings in Your holy language.

He blessed Your bread

in a way we do not know;

but what we know

comes from You.

 

Rezadeira prays:

 

May all that we eat

bring us abundance

 

May all that we drink

bring us health

 

May all that is left

bring us Your blessing

 

May this prayer rise to the Heavens

Blessed be the King of the Universe

Amen

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

Adonay,

the stranger thinks

ours is a beautiful prayer.

 

 

If it is so beautiful,

why do You not hear us?

Why have You abandoned us in this double exile?

Did it not suffice

that we be Jews in exile,

we also had to be marranos in bondage?

 

Adonay

I have been talking

to You for years.

You are the only one

with whom I dare speak my mind;

So, do not be cross,

if I share with You,

my most sincere thoughts.

 

I do not agree

with Your judgment of exile;

but, I thank You,

for not condemning us

to depend on others.

 

Rezadeira sings the prayers following meals and rises.

 

Blessed be Adonay

who nourishes us

 

Blessed be the Almighty

who preserves us

from dependence

at all times

 

 

God of the Universe

Gabriel

sings Your glory

 

Choral

 

Blessed be

the King of the Universe

Amen

 

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

Adonay,

 

This stranger

with the long hair

and the torn jeans

wants to know everything.

 

If he is Your messenger,

forgive me for having doubts.

After all,

You have told us nothing

and You give us no sign,

and we have already suffered enough from slanderers.

 

But even so,

we did not loose hope.

So, I hide nothing from him,

in case he might be Your angel.

 

Just in case that,

in my old age,

You decide to show me Your face

or light my way,

I taught him

all that I learned from my mother,

may she rest in peace,

I showed him how,

even in this dark exile,

we have not forgotten Your commandments.

 

The ritual slaughtering of a chicken

 

Blessed be

the King of the Universe

who created animals

for our nourishment.

 

Blessed be

the King of the Universe

who forgives

those who take life for nourishment

for the love of the Almighty

 

 

Rezadeira recites:

 

Adonay,

 

this stranger

that You have sent us wearing torn jeans

finds this prayer beautiful too.

 

He said

that angels cry

when they hear us pray.

And, I saw him hide more than one tear away.

 

Adonay,

If angels cry,

may he be one of Your angels?

 

And You,

God,

do You hear us?

 

Adonay,

sometimes I feel

that this stranger

that You sent us

with torn jeans

likes our prayers too much.

 

Sometimes I think

that he will not lead us to Jerusalem

but stay here.

 

(music to highlight the italics below)

 

Adonay

tell me, is it possible

that Jerusalem is no longer there

but here?

Is it possible

that Jerusalem is

where one’s? happiness is found?

 

 

Adonay,

this stranger that You sent us

and who speaks Your holy language so well,

wants to know everything.

 

He bid me to take him to the cemetery

to pray for the grandmother of all his grandmothers.

 

How could I deny him

such a prayer?

 

When I entered the cemetery,

I recited the prayer that I learned

the day my grandmother died:

 

Adonay,

deliver these souls,

as they were living beings,

like us,

deserving of the wind of life.

 

Adonay,

accept their prayers,

for we shall join You as they have:

lifeless!

 

Adonay,

let us enter and leave,

this valley of tears,

with life within us.

 

May this prayer

rise to the Heavens

Amen

 

Rezadeira continues her monologue:

 

Adonay,

We came and went in peace

from the valley of tears,

where our dead still rest,

lost,

between the crosses

on which You hung

Your son Jesus.

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? 23

 

And the stranger found his grandmother,

Tanya of Jesus,

daughter of Marrano,

daughter of Mathatias.

He placed a stone on her tomb,

and lit her path to You

with candles from the Holy Land.

 

He spoke to her in Your holy language,

as if she was still among us,

but he did not say a prayer.

 

He said

that my prayer was enough

and that angels

preferred it

to any other prayer.

 

I wanted to tell him

that I hoped You liked it as much.

 

I hope you do,

because I have been praying for a long time

and You never answered me,

as if You had never heard me.

 

So You see,

even I,

who has walked in Your path,

in this dark exile,

I am lost of understanding.

 

I did not know

if I had to strew

the tomb of? the saint grandma’ Jesus

with white and pure flour

or plain hard stones.

 

In the end

I did as I always did.

 

I strew flour

on my ancestors? tomb,

and Tanya Jesus

was among them.

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? 24

 

I recited the prayer I had learned:

 

Adonay,

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

You who cares for all Your children on earth,

have mercy

on the souls of our dearly departed.

 

If they are not worthy enough,

 

Remember,

for their sake,

the virtues

of our ancestors

who revealed Your light to us.

 

Remember,

for their sake,

the virtues

of our martyrs

who praised Your name on earth.

 

Have mercy

on our brothers

in the Land of? Israel.

 

May the souls

of those who rest in peace

in this valley of tears

rise to the Heavens

Amen.

 

Rezadeira continues her monologue:

 

Then, we walked

along the winding path

that always leads

to the village that You had destined for us,

without saying a word,

as if everything had already been said.

 

 

We gave

charity

to the poor gathered

on the footstep of the church

without entering it.

 

We visited

old Mendes,

who is sick

and who cannot see anymore.

 

And the old Mendes

took the stranger?s hand

between her hands

and could not let go of it.

 

And she spoke to him,

as if she knew him from a long time ago:

 

? Daniel!

You have returned!

I prayed God so often.

All I wanted was to see Your face again.

And You came.

 

Now,

I can go in peace .?

 

Then the old Mendes

recited the prayer for the ill

and the stranger recited it with her:

 

God of Israel,

 

On the day of my affliction

hide me

in Your Tabernacle,

 

You who has promised redemption.???? (choral)

 

On the night of my supplications

take me

under Your wings,

 

You who has promised redemption.?????????? (choral)

 

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? 26

 

I will praise all the days of my life

Your sweetness,

 

because You have promised redemption??????????? (choral)

 

Every night, with great joy,

I will gaze upon Your marvels,

 

because You have promised redemption.?????????? (choral)

 

May this prayer?? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????? (choral)

rise to the Heavens

Amen

 

Then we stopped

at my daughter?s house,

as if destiny had ordered it.

 

And this is where

the stranger

saw my grandchild,

Tanya Jesus,

as if it was written.

 

There,

he repeated after me

the prayer reserved for those

who make a pilgrimage

to the grave of their ancestors:

 

Adonay,

 

You who have blessed Abraham

and his descendants

to this day,

 

bring Your blessings

 

to this bread

to this table

and to all those sitting here.

 

 

Adonay

deliver us

from danger.

 

Adonay

guard our soul

and the souls

of our ancestors.

 

May this prayer

rise to the Heavens

Amen.

 

And he repeated after me

all that I said

as if he had always been in our midst.

And for the first time,

I asked his name.

 

?Daniel,?

he simply answered,

as if my

own grandson

Daniel was answering

my question.

 

And his mother?s name is Esther,

like my mother and my great grandmother,

and like my Santa Rainha

Esther.

 

(musical higlight build up)

 

Adonay

tell me,

is he real

this stranger

that You sent us

without a sign or warning?

 

Is he the man or? the angel

who will lead us

back to You?

 

 

Or is he

the misleading image

of an evil angel

who escaped Your powers?

 

But what is the point

to all these questions?

I know that You will not answer me!

 

And this stranger,

with jeans and long hair,

Daniel, in flesh and blood,

was there,

right in front of me,

sharing our meal

like the angel Daniel

in the lions? den.

 

Suddenly,

I caught him looking

at my grandchild,

Tanya.

 

And I understood

that even if You don?t answer me,

my comforting angel was here.

 

Daniel will take Tanya

and stay in our midst

to deliver us,

as it is promised

in Your Holy Bible.

 

Choral sings

 

Hear,

Oh! Children of Israel,

Daniel is heralding

our delivery.

 

Count the days

walk in his path

forgiveness is nigh.

 

 

With a humble heart

looking up to the sky

 

Adonay will gather

his flock

 

from Lisbon

from Babylon

 

in the Holy Land

at the foot of His temple

in Jerusalem

 

Rezadeira continues her monologue:

 

Adonay,

 

You who knows

that because of excess of sacrifices

Your temple lost its worth.

 

You who knows

what Titus and Mathatias

intended.

 

You who knows

that it was written

that the hands who built

Your temple

would turn it into rubbles.

 

You who knows

that judeu

only means “help” (ad judar).

 

You also know

that we have

walked in Your path.

 

 

So

no matter

who is this Daniel;

we will look

after him,

with torn jeans

or long hair.

 

We will share

with him

the best of our fruits.

 

We will not forget

that thanks to our mother?s good deeds

our ancestorswere delivered

from bondage in Egypt

and from here,? from Belmonte.

 

Adonay

God of the Universe

God of Jacob

God of Rachel

in Your name

I have united Tanya and Daniel.

 

Rezadeira sings

 

Adonay

follow us with Your gaze.

 

On the way

of our wandering

 

 

Choral ? ??????????????? deliver us

 

From slander

 

Choral ? ??????????????? deliver us

 

Where the sun rises

 

Choral?? ??????????????? deliver us

 

Where the moon shines

 

Choral?? ??????????????? deliver me! deliver me! deliver me!

 

Adonay

follow us with Your gaze.

And we will walk

in Your path

in peace.

 

Choral

 

Adonay,

God of the Universe,

Bless Jerusalem

Where Your flock strays.

 

Ottawa, mars 1997.

 

 

 

Other prayers

 

Wedding prayer

 

In the name of the God

of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Your are now wed

and I recommend You unto Him.

 

Supplication

 

Sabaot

macolares cobrado

 

You know

that in bondage

far from Jerusalem

with no Cohanim

with no sanctuary

 

we cannot

carry out our duties

 

forgive us

 

deliver us

from hardship

 

as You did

for Israel in Egypt

as You did

for Esther from Haman

 

May our children

abide by Your commandments

 

Adonay,

in my thought

 

Adonay,

on my lips

 

Adonay,

in my heart

 

whispers in the dark

 

no priests

no books

 

only faint words

in the dark

Between Lisbon and Marakesh:
The ‘Inhabitants’ versus ‘Expelled’ Controversy
Or the case for oral history in education

Marc Eliany ? All Rights Reserved

Abstract
A rift between Spanish-Portuguese Jewish refugees and the old Jewish ‘inhabitants’ of Morocco in relation to ritual slaughters practices has been used to suggest that the two populations did not mix. However, a massive flow of Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal into Morocco and their assimilation into the ‘inhabitants’ population, with some exceptions, lend credence to the argument that the rift has been exaggerated and that the assimilation has been downplayed.

Historical background

It is quite well established that the origins of the Iberian Jewry was in North Africa and that people went back and forth between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Most celebrated is HaRambam’s travel to Fez to further his education, after studying with Rabbis of Moroccan origin in Spain (Hirschberg, 1965).

There are also occasional references to Morocco and North Africa as centers of refuge for the Spanish-Portuguese Jewry after the 1492 expulsion from Spain and the 1497 forced and massive conversion in Portugal (Hirschberg, 1965, Chouraqui, 1985, Zafrani 1983).

Occasionally, a rift between Spanish-Portuguese Jewish refugees and the old Jewish ‘inhabitants’ of Morocco in relation to ritual slaughtering practices has been used to indicate that the two populations did not mix. This, I would say, was a research bias due to excessive reliance on rabbinic documentation that reported the rift above and the lack of other empirical observations of everyday life in Morocco.

A good review of historical facts does point to a massive on land flow of Jewish refugees from Spain into Portugal around 1492 mainly due to lack of sufficient maritime means of transportation, impoverishment (and abuse) of the Jewish population around the time of the decree of expulsion, limiting the ability to buy a way out, in addition to constraints on massive immigration to neighboring countries, including North Africa (Hirschberg, 1965, Chouraqui, 1985, Zafrani 1983).

Similar circumstances limited the ability of Jews to leave Portugal in 1497, leading to their massive conversion and the establishment of a significant New Christian population in Portugal.

But life was not easy for the New Christians in Iberia and many sought refuge elsewhere. The tales of Spanish-Portuguese Jewish centers in places such as Amsterdam, Livorno, Sarajevo and Kushta to mention only a few, are well known. But less known is the tale of the massive immigration of Spanish-Portuguese Jews to Morocco.

Many Spanish-Portuguese Jews found refuge in Morocco for the following reasons:
1. Morocco was close and relatively easy to reach by sea at a modest cost;
2. Local Jews assisted their friends and relatives to settle in Morocco;
3. Internal conditions led Arab leaders to sponsor Spanish-Portuguese Jews to settle across the land including remote Southern areas;
4. Spanish-Portuguese New Christians used Spanish and Portuguese ports on Moroccan land, i.e., Mogador, to establish contacts with the so-called Jewish ‘inhabitants’ of Morocco and settle amongst them;
5. After settling in Morocco, Spanish-Portuguese New Christians returned to
Judaism and assisted their relations to leave Iberia in order to settle in Morocco (Roth 1932, Hirschberg, 1965, Chouraqui, 1985, Zafrani 1983, Fernandes 1980).

The case for assimilation

The question that remains is what happened to all the Spanish-Portuguese New Christians who settled in Morocco. Contrary to widely held opinions, I suggest that most assimilated in the local Jewish population and only a minority kept a distinct identity. The following case study provides some evidence.

According to established oral traditions, Cohanim played an important role in the development of trade and commerce in and around Marrakech since a very ancient time. Leading Cohanim families, among others, participated in the Moors’ conquest of Spain and settled there. But family and commercial ties were maintained overtime, even during turbulent times.

Around the time of the expulsion from Spain and following the forced conversion of the Portuguese Jewry, Arab and Berber leaders sought skilled Jewish refugees to fortify Southern Morocco after a period of decline.

According to the same oral sources (1), several families of Cohanim adopted distinct New Christians names such as DeJesus and DeDieu. The Khesus (read Jesus) family, for example, had expertise in silver and gold embroidery and worked for the Glaoui family (governor of Marrakech and Southern Morocco around the independence of Morocco) from generation to generation and could trace their background to one of the New Christian families who were Cohanim before the conversion.

According to the same sources (1), the families could not re-adopt the Cohen status and name because of the ‘conversion sin.’ Some families maintained the ‘Khesus’ and ‘Dadia’ (3) names (Arabic distortions of Jesus and DeDieu) to remember the conversion disaster. Other families adopted Hebrew names such as ‘Ben Zikhri’ or ‘Ben Shoshan’ to denote their Cohanim ancestry.

It is interesting to note that most of the families above, with the exception of one (Ben Shoshan) (3) did no longer speak Spanish or Portuguese and one could not distinguish them from local Jewish ‘inhabitants.’ Among their elders, vestiges of memories were held that relatives lived ‘across the sea’ (read in Portugal, Spain, Cape Verde and Manchester) but their mention was taboo, probably because the foreign branches lived as Christians (i.e., Corcos and BenSaud as Protestants in Manchester and elsewhere in England as well as DeJesus as Catholics in Lisbon and Cape Verde) (4).

Members of some of the families above were known to live as Jews in Morocco but maintained a Christian lifestyle elsewhere until recent years. In one case, a relative of the Khesus of Marrakech, who lived as a Jew and Cohen in Mogador and who maintained commercial ties with the DeJesus of Lisbon, married in the early 1900’s a woman of DeJesus family. This Cohen-Dejesus family settled later in Cape Verde and some of its descendents live in Lisbon, Portugal as well as Ottawa, Canada. Most members of these families remember their origins but live a secular lifestyle, wearing Jewish symbols such as the Star of David discreetly.

Empirical observations and fiction

My play ‘Rezadeira’ is a fictional creation based on historical readings as well as first hand anthropological research (Da Silva and Benaim-Ouaknine 1996), including interviews with some of the family members mentioned above. In the citation below, taken from the play ‘Rezadeira,’ a young man arrives to Belmont?, in Northern Portugal in search of the DeJesus family and asks a passer-by: where are the Jews? An old woman, who denies she was Jewish, retired into her basement, lights a candle and begins a monologue/confession. The reply of the choir is an adaptation of a New Christians prayer chanted during secret ritual (Eliany 1992):

“Adonay,
“Where are the Jews?”
asks this stranger.

And still some reply
” I am a Jew,”
as if nothing had happened,
as if all had been forgotten.

Forgive me, Lord, if I have said:
“No, we are not Jews!”

Forgive me
if I recited “Our Father in Heaven”
if I ate impure beasts
if I attended mass
if I crossed myself.

Forgive me
For telling my brother
to reject everything.

You know
that he is a nobody, and
that he value not his life
since You have forsaken us and abandoned us
to the Princes that only cherish earthly belongings.

Choral

Those that seek
only earthly belongings
know not
that what they own
does not belong to them.

Those that seek
only earthly belongings
forgot their duty
to widows and orphans.

Those that seek
only earthly belongings
sold us as slaves
throughout four corners of the world.

Those that seek
only earthly belongings
are nothing
without good deeds.

Rezadeira continues her monologue

Adonay, G-d of the universe,
knower of all things

You know
that we follow Your path
even if we are lost;
You know
that in our heart we remain still Jews,
even if some of us
have forgotten it,
the others remind us daily.

(For The full version of the play, Please see Rezadeira, Eliany 1992).
Conclusion

In depth research and systematic documentation of Jewish life in Morocco improved in recent years but there is little doubt that the area remains a virgin land, full of blind spots and unknowns. This paper is an illustration how the rift between Spanish-Portuguese Jewish refugees and the old Jewish ‘inhabitants’ of Morocco in relation to ritual slaughtering practices has been used to convey that the two populations did not mix.

However, our case studies do indicate that Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal in Morocco assimilated into the ‘inhabitants’ population to a point that only vague recollections of the distant past in Iberia remained alive, with few exceptions, lending credence to the argument that the rift has been exaggerated and that the assimilation has been downplayed.

Finally, the play Rezadeira, is a fictional testimony conveying a reality, which however distant, does provide an indication that most Spanish/Portuguese refugees who settled in Morocco assimilated into the ‘inhabitant’ Jewish population and hardly remembered their passage through Iberia, with some noted exception.
Sources and notes:
Chouraki, Andre 1985 Histoire des Juifs en Afrique du Nord, Hachette
Da Silva A. and Benaim-Ouaknine E. 1996 La Memoire au Feminin, Editions Images, Montreal
Eliany, M. 1992 Rezadeira, www.virtualpublications.ca and www.artengine.ca/eliany/
Fernandez, L. S. 1980 Judios Espanles en la Edad Media, Ediciones Rialp, Madrid. (Gallimard, 1983 in French)
Hirschberg, H.Z. 1965 A history of the Jews in North Africa From Antiquity to our Time, Bialik Institute, Jerusalem (Hebrew)
Roth C. 1932 A History of the Marranos, Irene Roth (Liana Levi 1992, 2^nd Edition)
Zafrani Haim, 1983 Mille Ans de Vie Juive au Maroc, Histoire et Culture, Religion et Magie, G.P. Maisonneuve et Larose, Paris

Interviews
1. Esther Eliany, formely Khesus, interviews in Kiriat Shemona, Israel, recalling oral traditions in Marakesh.
2. Yehuda Dadia (Gu Arieh), interviews in Beth Shean, Israel, recalling oral traditions in Marakesh.
3. David Shoshan, interviews in Casablanca, recalling family relations and oral traditions in Beni Melal, Morocco.
4. Daniel and Theresa DeJesus, interviews in Ottawa, Canada, recalling family relations in Portugal and Cape Verde.

Notes
Translation to Spanish and Portuguese, performances and lectures will be most welcome.
Please communicate with Marc Eliany at: virtualpublications@hotmail.com