Before the Spanish Expulsion in 1492, when Sephardic Jews brought their prayer texts and customs to the Middle East, the Syrian Jews of Aleppo practiced a unique prayer rite rooted in the earliest traditions of ancient Israel and Babylonia. This ancient rite was preserved in the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba, a collection of manuscripts and rare books from the 15th and 16th centuries, compiled to safeguard Aleppo’s original liturgy from the Spanish influence that eventually reshaped it. Over time, the two traditions merged to form the Aleppo prayer text we know today.
Join us as we revive these ancient prayers for Shabbat — for the first time in centuries in their original form as preserved in the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba — and glimpse into the liturgical world of our Levantine ancestors. This immersive service will include historical insights into the elements that distinguish the ancient Aleppo rite from its modern counterpart, now featured in our newly published Zemirot HaMizraḥ Siddur for Shabbat Evening.
In celebration of this revival, we will be treated to a private tour of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Rare Book Room, where we will view an original 1527 copy of the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba alongside other rare Aleppian manuscripts and books — many being displayed publicly for the first time, and for one night only. Participants will also have access to the exhibition Sacred Words: Revealing the Earliest Hebrew Book, featuring treasures such as the world’s oldest Hebrew book (the Afghan Liturgical Quire), the earliest surviving Haggadah, and Saadia Gaon’s 9th-century prayerbook, considered by many to be the earliest comprehensive codification of Jewish prayer.
Following the Rare Book Room private tour and the historical service, a Mediterranean Shabbat dinner will be served (with vegan and gluten-free options).
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience a lost tradition come to life and reconnect with our ancient liturgical heritage!
Friday, May 30, 6:00pm - 10:00pm
The Jewish Theological Seminary
3080 Broadway (at W 122nd Street), New York, NY 10027
Tickets below include the option to add a discounted copy of the newly published Zemirot HaMizraḥ Siddur for Shabbat Evening (due to retail at $29.95 but available at the event for $25).
