5 Feb - 31 Mär 2023

Yonatan Kunda ( Israel )

During his residency at ZK/U he worked on a multi-lingual poetry performance and album called “Alef Bet الف-بيت אלף-בית “ - which explored the world and words of the traditional Jewish Musar Literature (written originally in Hebrew, Arabic and Yiddish).
The project was inspired by the traditional Jewish form of study and music called “Tish” (in Yiddish literally “The table.”) In Hasidic traditions, Tish refers to the community’s meeting around a festive table—for study, meals, and music.

The project sought creative ways this ancient literature could meet diverse present day audiences, and the impact it could have on modern day religious, social and political action. An attempt to interweave ancient texts with new rhymes, rhythms and grooves – bringing together around the same table languages and oral traditions of different cultures: Torah study, Diwan, Piyut, Nigun which met Rap and Spokenword poetry.

This residency was part of an ongoing creative research into the way rap, hip-hop and spoken-word echoed the traditional forms of poetry created by and serving prayer and spiritual communities—in the Jewish tradition and around the globe.