The qinot (dirges) in Gibraltar showcase the liturgical repertoire of a Jewish settlement situated on the edge of the Iberian Peninsula, just two centuries after the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal. This distinctive community thrived, acting as a bridge between the traditions of Western Europe and those of North Africa. In a recent study conducted by Ariel Lazarus (see below), the grandson of Hazzan Abraham Beniso, he recorded Hazzan Beniso performing the qinot of Tisha B'av (dirges for the ninth of Av). This comprehensive anthology of qinot is a testament to the intricate stylistic nuances unique to the synagogue in Gibraltar.
See also in our website the project on the liturgical music of the Gibraltar synagogues, that includes the biography of Hazzan Abraham Beniso.
