Romaniote Liturgy

 

Romaniote Jews practice a unique set of liturgy, including religious melodies and piyutim (Jewish religious poetry), unlike those of the Ashkenazi communities of Eastern Europe and the Sephardic Communities of the Balkans and Middle East. Each melody or song is used for a specific holiday, Shabbat, life cycle event, or community celebration. Most are sung with traditional Hebrew prayers, but some are still read in the Judeo-Greek language of the Romaniote Jews of Ioannina. In New York, our community still practices these songs in our Shabbat and Holiday services. Below you can find a selection of recordings made by our community leaders in New York and Greece, many of whom have dedicated their lives to preserving our traditions.