“The Secret of Many Voices”: Blended Prayers in Israel from a Historic Perspective

Abstract

This article examines the historical development and contemporary expressions of blended Ashkenazi and Sephardi prayer services. It traces efforts to integrate diverse Jewish liturgical traditions beginning in 19th-century Europe, continuing through the formative years of the State of Israel in the 20th century, and extending to present-day practices, drawing on historical sources, interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork.

Historically, efforts to incorporate Sephardi melodies into Ashkenazi synagogues in late nineteenth-century Europe, often driven by reformist ideologies or aspirations for a "national" style, were largely unsuccessful. Later, in Israel in the 1950s, senior officials in the state religious establishment advocated for a unified national liturgy as part of the melting pot policy. However, new immigrants generally preferred to maintain their distinct traditional nussach (liturgical practice), which offered a sense of continuity and familiarity in their new reality. While intentional top-down blending failed, blended prayer practices emerged organically within multiethnic transit camps – and later in new neighborhoods – driven by necessity. These informal pragmatic attempts often reflected underlying power dynamics and tended to favor the dominant Ashkenazi nussach.

Since the late 2010s, purposefully blended synagogues have grown increasingly popular in Israel, particularly in Jerusalem. These communities, often composed of younger, religiously liberal individuals and mixed Ashkenazi-Sephardi families, are characterized by a shared desire for more meaningful and relevant prayer services. Blending strategies range from alternating prayer leaders according to their tradition to sophisticated musical synthesis. Notably, communities like Kehilat Zion employ musical curation techniques, such as utilizing shared modes (maqam), to create a seamless, unified "Israeli" liturgical soundscape. This soundscape draws on a range of Jewish musical and textual traditions, including Ashkenazi and Middle Eastern practices as well as contemporary Israeli songs.

This development reflects broader shifts in Israeli society, including the mainstreaming of Mizrahi music and the piyyut revival, both of which have fostered increased appreciation for multi-ethnic Jewish traditions. These blended practices are increasingly regarded as expressions of modern "Israeliness". The article concludes by considering whether these contemporary blending efforts might signal the emergence of a distinct "Israeli nussach" which would be a synthesis of diaspora traditions.