(Jewish Group) A Brazilian, Moroccan and Israeli singer brings her unique North African sound to NYC

[Behind the Aegis]

Though she grew up in Israel, Tamar Bloch’s childhood was a mishmash of cultures. With a Moroccan mother and Brazilian father, Bloch often heard Portuguese and Arabic alongside Hebrew, and felt connected with the music from all three cultures.

It wasn’t until she was in her early 20s, however, that Bloch discovered the language and culture of “Haketia,” a Romance language once spoken by Sephardic Jews in North Africa. Haketia has elements of Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Spanish and Ladino.

“I was hooked immediately,” Bloch, 33, told the New York Jewish Week. She could only find ethnographic recordings of Haketian songs at the Israel State Archives and at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which she painstakingly transcribed and re-recorded herself — becoming the first modern artist to record an album in Haketia.

Over the last decade, Bloch — who goes by the stage name Lala Tamar; Lala is a Moroccan honorific meaning “Lady” or “Miss” — has traveled the world touring her music, working with bands and promoting the language and sound of Haketia.

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I had never heard of "Haketia". Neat!

[Beastly Boy]

1. Ive never heard of Haketia either. And I haven't heard the language itself

Last edited Wed May 10, 2023, 10:15 PM - Edit history (1)

I found a clip that platys a song in Haketia followed by one in Ladino.

I can see how a Haketia speaker can understand ladino, but I am not sure the reverse would be the case. Being versed in Romance languages, you can probably be a better judge of it.

(BTW, the spoken introduction is in Hebrew, so skip it to get to the song)