A TASTE OF JEWISH MUSIC FROM—ANYWHERE: JAFFA (in the musical / film Kazablan) Seth Ward 22 February 2021
FOOD AND DRINK Each program in this series has featured food and drink—a recipe and a drink recommendation. These are somewhat obvious for Kazablan. This movie is often called a “Bourekas” film—a moniker for melodramatic films from the 1960s through 1970s and 80s that focused on ethnic tensions, and featured Sephardic and Mizrachi characters. Similar films portraying largely Ashkenazi communities were sometimes called “Gefilte Fish” films—also appropriate for Kazablan which features a memorable scene with this Ashkenazi favorite. Here is a recipe for Bourekas. I adopted this recipe from a number of online sources. One of these is Tori Avey’s website: https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/cheese-bourekas/.
Avey linked Bourekas to Purim. “These Cheese Bourekas are also a fun recipe option for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim is sometimes celebrated with a meatless menu in honor of Queen Esther, who became a vegetarian to keep kosher in the palace of her non-Jewish husband King Ahasuerus. Stuffed foods are traditional for Purim, as are triangle- shaped foods. These Cheese Bourekas are both triangular and meatless, making them a great choice for your Purim menu!”
Avey may have something here: Bourekas are similar in some ways to kreplach, although kreplach would normally be meat-filled, and boiled rather than baked. While I imagine most readers of this recipe are most familiar with kreplach on Erev Yom Kippur, most sources indicate that kreplach are eaten on Hoshana Rabba and Purim as well. In order to make the bourekas Pareve, I used margarine rather than butter. Similarly, I made the filling without cheese. BOUREKAS RECIPE Pastry Dough 1 cup cold unsalted margarine (about half a tub) 1 teaspoon coarse salt 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled) 3 tablespoons ice water
Combine all the ingredients except the water in a food processor. Add a little water, then pulse, continue until dough rolls up into a ball. Pack the dough into a plastic container or wrap in plastic and refrigerate for ½ hour or more. Filling 2 russet potatoes ½ to 1 cup mushrooms, carrots or other vegetables 2 large eggs Salt and pepper, spices to taste 1 large egg yolk; 2 teaspoons water 1 tbsp sesame or poppy seeds for topping (optional) Sesame seeds Nonstick cooking oil spray
Preheat oven to 350; put parchment paper on baking pan(s) Microwave potatoes until just able to be mashed; mash Add mushrooms or other vegetables to taste, 2 eggs, salt, pepper and other spices. Roll out pastry dough 12” X 12” or 12” x 8” sheets. There should be 2 if doing 12” x 12”, or 3 if 12” x 8” sheets. Cut into 4” x 4” squares – this makes about 18 such squares, place on baking pan Put filling on a corner of the dough: try to fill half the square along the diagonal Fold one corner to the other, to make a triangle. Use a fork to make indentations in two sides of each one Mix egg yolk with a little water, brush onto each boureka, top with sesame seeds Bake for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy!
Fans of the film should also consider Almonds and pistachios, baklava, gefilte fish and of course… goulash!
DRINK Arak. In the film, if you look closely, you can see glasses with a white liquid: add water to Arak and it turns white. However, you can also drink it straight or over ice.
SONG SHEETS The song sheets that follow were taken from Internet sources and from Dovi Seltzer, Oseh Ha-Manginot, ”The Melody Maker” (Kineret, 2010), which includes a biographical narrative by Seltzer, words and musical notation for many of his songs, and comments on much of the music. Sometimes there are differences between the Hebrew texts and the transliteration in the musical notation, or the wording sung on the film.
YAFO Words: Amos Ettinger. Music: Dov Seltzer
תבוא, תשים עיניים Come, and set your eyes Tavo, tasim einaim בשעון שבמגדל at the tower's clock basha'on shebamig'dal תביט על השמיים you'll look to the sky tabit al hashamaim אלף כוכבים מעל A thousand stars above elef kochavim me'al תריח את הריח Smell the fragrance tari'ach et hareiach ותביט על השקיעה and look at the sunset vetabit al ha-shki’ah ואז תרגיש בעצמות, ,and then you'll feel in your bones, ve'az tar'gish ba'atzamot תרגיש כי שוב אתה נמצא, feel that again you are, tar'gish ki shuv atah nimtza, atah אתה נמצא ביפו you are in Jaffa nimtza beyafo אתה נמצא ביפו, אתה נמצא ביפו You are in Jaffa, you are in Jaffa Atah nimtza beyafo, atah nimtza יפו, יפו, יפו, יפו יפתי Jaffa, Jaffa, Jaffa, my beautiful beyafo yafo, yafo, yafo, yafo אתה נמצא נמצא ביפו, you are in Jaffa, yafati. atah nimtza nimtza יפו, יפו, יפו .Jaffa, Jaffa, Jaffa beyafo, yafo, yafo, yafo תבוא תשים אוזניים Come, and tune your ears Tavo, tasim oznaim ותזמין מנה שלמה and order a full meal vetaz'min manah sh'lemah תשמע איך הבוזוקי Hear how the bouzouki tishma eich habuzuki tov oseh טוב עושה בנשמה does good to the soul baneshamah ניתן לך כוס ערק We'll give you a cup of arak niten lecha kos arak שיירד לך ללב That goes down straight to the heart sheyered lecha lalev ואז תרגיש בעצמות, ,and then you'll feel in your bones, ve'az tar'gish ba'atzamot תרגיש כי שוב אתה אוהב, feel that again you love, tar'gish ki shuv אתה אוהב את יפו. You are in love with Jaffa atah ohev, atah ohev et yafo you love Jaffa atah ohev et yafo. אתה אוהב את יפו You love Jaffa Atah ohev et yafo יפו, יפו, יפו, יפו יפתי Jaffa, Jaffa, Jaffa, my beautiful yafo, yafo, yafo, yafo yafati אתה אוהב, אתה אוהב את יפו You love, you love Jaffa atah ohev, atah ohev et yafo יפו, יפו, יפו .Jaffa, Jaffa, Jaffa. yafo, yafo, yafo
Some may be interested to note that the lyrics and music for this section are in Melody Maker but not in the film. Here is the score for this section:
ROSA ROSA Lyrics: Haim Hefer, Music: Dov Seltzer
This song was not in the stage musical. Seltzer writes that he composed it for Yehoram Gaon’s first solo performance; Israel Broadcasting (Kol Yisrael) “didn’t get the joke” but the public loved it and demanded Gaon sing it in his concerts. Note that Hefer wrote a third verse that was not included in the film. Interestingly, Yehoram Gaon sings about opening a store to sell “almonds and raisins” in the film, and not the pistachios of the published lyrics. כשראיתיך ילדה קטנה When I saw you as a little girl Ksheraitich yalda ktana צוחקת צחוק רחב כזה, Laughing such a wide laugh, Tsocheket tschok rachav kaze פתאום הרגשתי איך כמו סכין Suddenly I felt like a knife Pitom hirgashti eich kmo sakin אלי נכנסת פה בחזה. Eli enters here in the chest. Elai nichnas po bachazeh
מיליון פרחים שלחתי לך I sent you a million flowers Milion prachim shalachti lach ושני מיליונים מכתבים, And two million letters, Ushnei milionim michtavim אך את המשכת לצחוק ואת שיגעת But you kept laughing and you drove crazy Ach at himshacht litschok ve at shigat ברחוב את כל התושבים. All those living on the street. Bar'chov et kol hatoshavim אך אך אך Ah-Ah-Ah Akh akh akh רוזה רוזה רוזה רוזה Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa, Rosa, Rosa, Rosa את אהובה שלי You are my love At ahuva sheli כמה שירים עוד לך אחרוזה How many more poems must I compose Kama shirim od lach achrosa עד שתהיי אשתי Until you become my wife Ad sheh tihi ishti אך, רוזה רוזה, But, Rosa Rosa, Ach Rosa, Rosa את אהובה שלי. You are my love. At ahuva sheli אני סחבתי לבנים I dragged bricks Ani sachavti levenim ת'גב שברתי בשבילך, I broke my back for you, Ta’gav shavarti bishfilech בשביל לראות אותך מן הבניין To see you from the building Bishvil lir’ot otach min habinyan אשר בנו אז מול ביתך. Which was built then in front of your house. Asher banu az mul beitech
אמרת שאת רוצה לחיות You said you wanted to live Amart she'at rotza lichiot חיים טובים ומתוקים, A good and sweet life, Chaim tovim umetukim אז בשבילך פתחתי פה ברחוב So for you, I opened in the neighborhood Az bishfilech patachti bashchuna חנות שקדים ופיסטוקים A store selling almonds and pistachios..... Chanut shkedim ufistuchim
רוזה רוזה רוזה ... Rosa Rosa Rosa ... Rosa Rosa Rosa מכות הלכתי בשבילך I went through beatings for you Makot halachti bishvilekh והסתכסכתי עם החוק, And got mixed up with the law, Vehistaksakhti im hahok ואת אפילו לא חתמת לי על ערבות And you did not even sign a guarantee for me V’at afilu lo hatamt li al arvut רק כל הזמן המשכת לצחוק. Just kept laughing all the time. Rak kol hazman himshacht litzhok
תגידי מה יהיה הסוף Say what the end will be Tagidi mah yehyeh hasof אני כבר לא יכול יותר, I can go no longer, Ani kvar lo yakhol yoter את כבר בת ארבעים חמש או שש You're already forty-five or six At kfar ba arbaim hamesh o shesh ואני ת'חמישים סוגר. And I'm closing in on fifty. Va’ani ta’chamishim soger
רוזה רוזה רוזה Rosa Rosa Rosa Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
I chose this song, a great production number, largely because it is the piece my students at the University of Wyoming typically remember best, both in terms of the refrain and the critique of the gap between democracy’s promise and reality.
DEMOCRATIA Lyrics: Amos Ettinger, Music: Dov Seltzer הדמוקרטיה זה שוויון Democracy is equality HaDemocratia zeh shivyon בין עני לבעל הון Between the poor and the wealthy Bein ‘ani u-va’al hon אבל צריך עוד לברר But let’s try to clarify why-- Aval tzarikh od levarer מדוע יש שווים יותר .Some are “more equal” than others. Madua yesh shavim yoter דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia אם יש לך תלונה קשה If you have a serious complaint Im yesh lekha t’luna kasha אל תגלה זאת לאישה Do not reveal this to your wife! Al tgaleh zot la-isha אל תערער על זה החוק, Do not protest this rule, Al t’arer al zeh ha-Hok באופן דמוקרטי שתוק! !Just democratically—be silent! Be-ofen Democrati-Shtok דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia הספרדים אצלנו רוב The Sephardim are the majority here Ha-Sefardim etzlenu rov אך מי "יושב" אצלנו טוב ?But who is sitting pretty? Akh mi yoshev etzlenu tov האשכנזים וזה לא צחוק The Ashkenazim and that's no joke Ha-Ashkenazim ve-zeh lo tzhok כי הם המציאו את החוק Because they made up the law! Ki hem himtzi’u et ha-hok דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia בדמוקרטיה מה שטוב What’s good about democracy is Ba-democratia mah she-tov קלל אותה יום יום ברחוב You can curse it all day long. Kalel; otah yom-yom ba’rhov היא לא תשמע ולא תאמר It will not hear or say a thing Hi lo tishma ve-lo tomar גם אם תצעק פה עד מחר .Even if you shout until tomorrow. Gam im titz’ak poh ad machar דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia זה שבשטח פה שולט, That this area is ruled, Zeh she-bashetah poh sholet משטר וסדר בהחלט Absolutely by “law and order” Mishtar va-seder be-hechlet לכל אדם שלא מבין In case you do not understand, Le-khol adam sh-lo mevin כאן מדברת הסכין. This is where the knife speaks. Kan medabberet ha-sakin דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia הדמוקרטיה היא קידמה Democracy is progress Ha-Democratia hi kidmah אשר דורכת במקומה Which just stands in place Asher dorekhet bi-mkomah ותגלה אם רק תביט And you’ll find out if you just look Ve-tegaleh im rak tabit הולכת היא אחורנית It’s really going backwards Holekhet hi ahoranit דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia בדמוקרטיה יש מזון In a democracy there’s always food Ba-demokratiah yesh mazon תמיד למי שיש ממון For those who have money Tamid lemi sheyesh mammon באופן דמוקרטי רב In a very democratic way Be-ofen democratiy rav אפשר לגווע ברעב You can starve to death! Efshar ligvo’a be’ra’av דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia הדמוקרטיה זה משרד Democracy is an office Ha-Demokratiah zeh misrad ששם יושב פקיד נחמד Where a pleasant clerk sits Sham yoshev pakid nechmad למי שבא תמיד יאמר To whomever comes he’ll always say Le-mi she-ba tamid yomar "אולי חבוב תבוא מחר" Maybe habbub, come back tomorrow" Ulay habbub tavo machar" דמו דמו דמוקרטיה... Demo Demo Democracy... Dem Demo Democratia
Kol Ha-Kavod is probably best translated as “congratulations for this honor!” or “great job.” This song is last on the list only because it was covered recently in the Colorado Hebrew Chorale’s program on Yehoram Gaon, in the Marvelous Musical Men series.
KOL HAKAVOD Lyrics: Dan Almagor, Music: Dov Seltzer בקסבה בחצי היום In the kasbah in midday Bakasbah bachatzi hayom כשהשוק פתוח when the market is open k'shehashuk patu'ach הייתי ככה סתם הולך I'd just walk (around) hayiti kachah stam holech והחזה מתוח with a stretched chest vehachazeh matu'ach כולם אומרים איזה קנון everyone says what a cannon kulam omrim eizeh kanon עובר בסימטאות passing in the alleyways over basimta'ot עושים שלום מכל חלון greeting me from every window osim shalom mikol chalon כל הכבוד! !all the honour! kol hakavod
כולם היו יודעים אז טוב מאוד Everyone would know then very well Kulam hayu yod'im az tov me'od למי למי - יש יותר כבוד who, who, has more respect lemi lemi - yesh yoter kavod כולם היו יודעים אז טוב מאוד Everyone would know then very well kulam hayu yo'dim az tov me'od למי למי, תמיד למי - יש יותר כבוד .Who, always who, has more respect. lemi lemi, tamid lemi - yesh yoter kavod
וכשהקרב היה בוער And when the battle blazed Uch'shehakrav hayah bo'er והכיתה לא זזה and our unit did not move vehakitah lo zazah המפקד היה אומר: :the commander would say" hamefaked hayah omer "אתה ראשון יא קזה!" "!you first, Kaza!" "ata rishon ya kazah" כולם ידעו שקזבלן Everyone knew that Kazablan Kulam yad'u shekazablan ראשון תמיד לצעוד is always first to march rishon tamid litz'od ומאחור הם צעקו: :and from behind they yelled: ume'achor hem tza'aku "כל הכבוד!" "!all the honour!" "kol hakavod"
כולם היו יודעים אז טוב מאוד...... Everyone would... Kulam hayu
אחד הולך עם בחורה Someone walks with a girl Echad holech im bachurah ביפו בין ערביים in Jaffa at twilight beyafo bein arbaim אם רק ארצה אצלי תהיה if I'd only wanted she'd be by my side im rak ertzeh etzli tihyeh ישר בין הידיים straight between my arms yashar bein hayadaim אך לא אפריע לבחור but I won't bother the guy ach lo afri'a labachur שלא יתחיל לרעוד so he won't start to shake she'lo yatchil lir'od כי זה אצלי פשוט פרינציפ because it's a principle to me ki zeh etzli pashut printzip לי יש כבוד! !I have honour! li yesh kavod
כולם היו יודעים אז טוב מאוד...... Everyone would... Kulam hayu
אם בא שיכור לאיזה בר If a drunk comes to some bar Im ba shikor le'eizeh bar אני אותו מרגיע I will relax him ani oto margi'a הוא עף אצלי מן השעון he'd fly away from my watch hu af etzli min hasha'on ישר עד ג'בלייה straight to Jebelia yashar ad Jebalya אבל אחר כך הוא חוזר but afterwards he comes back aval achar kach hu chozer ובא קטן מאוד he comes very humbly hu ba katan me'od מרים כוסית ועוד אומר: :raises a glass and then says: merim kosit ve'od omer "כל הכבוד!" "!all the honour!" "kol hakavod"
כולם היו יודעים אז טוב מאוד...... Everyone would... Kulam hayu