Welcoming Yoni Battat Back to MVHC: Shabbat by the Sea

We are thrilled to welcome Yoni Battat, musician, prayer leader, and composer, back to MVHC for the second consecutive year. Through his work bringing participatory music to synagogues around the country, Yoni has witnessed, again and again, how communal singing can powerfully transform a community and foster spiritual connection. Yoni will lead a Shabbat by the Sea service on State Beach, where he will guide us through prayer and reflection through music with his oud (Middle-Eastern lute) and his voice. He will also be hosting a workshop earlier that week for members of our community who want to learn more about the music he makes and the traditions he honors. If this is your first time meeting Yoni, here is a little more about him and his story.

Yoni is based in Boston, where he is an active member of the Temple Beth Zion (TBZ). There, he serves as the Artist in Residence, while his wife is the assistant rabbi; Jewish music and prayer run deep in their home. Yoni’s musical journey is driven by his personal Iraqi-Jewish ancestry. Yoni’s grandparents were born in Baghdad, and he was close to them growing up. However, he felt a disconnect between his family culture and the predominantly Ashkenazi community he grew up in.. This gap between his identities sparked something in him to begin his music journey. Yoni shared that he started learning, composing, and bringing Arabic music into Jewish prayer spaces and experiences “as a way to honor my ancestry” and reconnect with what felt missing.

Yoni shared that one of the reasons he enjoys coming to MVHC is our community. He calls the Hebrew Center an “intellectual, heart-centered, and spiritual” group, sharing that he likes how willing our community is to try new things. The shared space that we create on the vineyard allows Yoni’s compositions, oud, voice, to resonate deeply amongst us. This Shabbat experience will be filled with tradition, soul, and thanksgiving.

Yoni reminds us that the Jewish Identity is not a monolith. Our history, traditions, and heritage span across continents and languages. Yoni’s work sheds light on parts of Jewish heritage that may be underrepresented, allowing us to connect with our roots. Blending music, meditation, and prayer Yoni will create a welcoming environment and allow people to dive into music and his message. No musical experience is required for his workshop or the Shabbat service. Even if this music feels unfamiliar to you, his goal is to create a welcoming space for all. We would love for you to join in the experience with us at the Hebrew Center!

Jewish Middle Eastern Music Workshop
Wednesday, July 23rd at 7:00 pm

Join Yoni for this musical workshop where we will dive deeper and learn the songs we will be singing in Shabbat this week.

Shabbat By the Sea with Guest Artist Yoni Battat
Friday, July 25th at 6:00 pm

Through a blend of original and traditional music pieces, he brings life to his Iraqi-Jewish identity. Yoni invites the MVHC community to open their hearts and minds to the expansiveness of Jewish expression, to find new meaning around their own fragmented identities, and to find unity in the past and future through music during this special Shabbat.

Whether this is your first time attending one of Yoni’s services or returning, we hope that you make him feel welcome. As well as being curious to learn and explore this service.

Are you interested in keeping up with Yoni’s work or his performances? Here are some options for you:

• Sign up for his newsletter, where he shares updates on new projects and performances
• Follow him on Instagram: @yonibattat

Stream his albums, Simu Lev, Fragments, and more wherever you stream music!