Name of Document: Report of the Inauguration of Rabbi Ben-Zion Hai Uzziel with the participation of Ezra Aharon’s children’s choir
Date of Document: June 28, 1939
Source: “Rabbi Ben-Zion Hai Uziel was inaugurated in Jerusalem as Head of the Rabbis of the Land of Israel and as ‘Rishon Le-Tzyion’,” Hatsofeh, June 28, 1939, p. 1 and 4.
Annotations:
On June 28, 1939, Hatsofeh, a daily associated with the national religious political circles, reported on its front page in utmost detail about the inauguration of the Rishon Le-Tziyon, the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of the Land of Israel, R. Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel (1880-1953) and one of the most influential Sephardic Zionist-leaning rabbinical figures of the first half of the twentieth century who in 1948 became the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of the newly established State of Israel. Hereby is a summary of this article with emphasis on the information about the participation of Ezra Aharon and his children’s choir in this event.
The event lasted for an entire day. In included prayers, processions and speeches that started in the morning in Tel Aviv, proceeded in a motorcade to Motza at the entrance to Jerusalem and ended in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. In the afternoon, after a prayer at the Western (‘Wailing’) Wall, the entourage of rabbis and leading personalities of the Jewish community in Palestine proceeded to the Raban Yokhanan ben Zakai Synagogue, the main sanctuary of the Jewish quarter and the site that had previously hosted coronations of the Hakham Bashi, the chief Rabbi of the Holy Land under the Ottoman Empire.
In the overcrowded synagogue the actual “coronation” (hakhtarah) of the new Chief Rabbi took place in the late afternoon. On the raised platform, where the main distinguished personalities were seated, stood the ‘Qol Zimrah’ Choir, consisting of “children of the Agricultural Orphanage and the Boy’s School under the direction of Ezra Aharon.”
As this climactic ceremony opened, the choir performed ‘Be-shuv Adonai et shivat Tziyon’ (Psalm 126). After the ritual in which the new Chief Rabbi was invested with all the regalia, the choir, joined by the congregation, sang ‘Rishon Le-tziyon hinneh hinnam’ (Isaiah 41: 27, “A harbinger unto Zion will I give: ‘Behold, behold them’, and to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings.”), verses that are usually recited by Sephardic and Oriental Jews at the opening of the Havdalah ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath but in this case played on the opening words of the Biblical verse, Rishon Le-Tzyion, that coincide with the title bestowed into the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of the Holy Land and later on, the State of Israel.
The event closed with cantor Moshe Vital, then a relatively newcomer from Turkey and eventually a partner of Ezra Aharon in some recordings, singing the traditional Hebrew prayer in praise of the King of England, and the choir singing ‘Adon ‘olam.’ We cannot ascertain which melodies were used for the performance of these texts, especially for ‘Rishon Le-Tziyon’ whose traditional Iraqi and Sephardic tunes are extremely melismatic and recited by a soloist. One tune though we do know with certainty: as the crowd was about to disperse the choir led the congregation in the singing of ‘Hatikvah,’ at that time the anthem of the Zionist movement. The performance of this patriotic song aligns with the general collusion of national and religious themes dominating this event.
The presence of Azuri in one of the most notable public events of those days, rubbing shoulders with the who’s and who of the religious and secular Jewish establishment, is remarkable. This report also reinforces Azuri’s role in educational frameworks as teacher and conductor of children’s choirs, an aspect of his musical activities during the British Mandate that is not emphasized enough.
Page 1
Page 4
Relevant passages from page 1
At the Synagogue
Rabbi Uzziel raised to the stage together with his colleague the Chief [Ashkenazi] Rabbi of the Land of Israel, Rabbi Itzhak Halevy Herzog, Rabbi Amiel, Rabbi Meir Berlin, Rabbi Hezkiyah Shabtai, Rabbi Abraham Abu-Khazir, Rabbi Yossef Mordecah Halevy and M[enachem] Ussishkin, Rabbi Reuben Katz from Petah Tiqvah. The ‘Qol Zimrah’ choir (consisting of students from the Agricultural Orphanage and the Boy’s School) conducted by Ezra Aharon opened with the song ‘Be-shuv Adonai et shivat Tziyon’ [Psalm 126]. The chairman of the Sephardic Community in Jerusalem, Mr. David Abulafia, opened by blessing Rabbi Uzziel on the glorious initiation of his tenure as head of the rabbis in the Land of Israel in our eternal capital. He also recalled the Rishon Letziyon rabbis who passed away and especially Rabbi Yaacov Meir may his memory be blessed.
Rabbi Yossef M. Halevy [head of the Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem] who conducted the ceremony, blessed those present and spoke about Rabbi Uzziel’s personality, about his family’s pedigree, and about the new responsibilities that he is about to assume. He spoke about the situation of the Sephardic community, that demands reinforcement and stressed its important role in reinstating the knowledge of Torah and the splendor of the rabbinate and that peace and unity will prevail.
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The Inauguration (lit. “Coronation”)
With huge enthusiasm and to a thunderous handclapping, Rabbi Yossef Halevy handed Rabbi Uzziel the title of “Rishon Letziyon” and dressed him with the mantle of the chief rabbis, embroidered in gold, and wore on his head the special turban, blue-white. On the mantle a blue-white ribbon was laid and on it was written “Rishon Letziyon.” On his neck they put on the badge of honor (a golden neckless and the two tablets of the covenant) of the Sephardic communities. During the ceremony the audience stood and the choir sang ‘Rishon le-tziyon hinneh hinnam ul’yerushalayim mevasser eten’ [Isaiah 41: 27]. Upon the end of the address of Rabbi Halevy, Mr. A.[braham] Elmalih handled the official letter of appointment in the name of the National Committee’s Directory.
Relevant passage from page 4
החזן משה וויטאל אמר את תפילת "הנותן תשועה" להוד מלכותו מלך בריטניה הגדולה, הרב בן־ציון חזן אמר תפילת "מי שברך". המקהלה שרה "אדון עולם" ו"התקוה". בזה נגמר הטכס והקהל התפזר.
Hazzan Moshe Vital said the prayer “Hanoten teshu’ah” on behalf of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Rabbi Ben-Zion Hazzan said the prayer “Mi sheberakh”. The choir sang “Adon Olam” and “Hatikvah.” With that the ceremony ended and the audience dispersed.
