Name of Document: Report on a reception by the Association for Oriental Hebrew Song
Date of Document: August 15, 1937
Source: “On behalf of the Oriental Hebrew Song” (Davar, August 15, 1937, p. 6)
Annotations:
Following David Avisar’s open call of May 23, 1937 (see: “Ezra Aharon [“Azuri”]: A Documentation 1”), members of the Association for Oriental Hebrew Song hosted a series of events and receptions in an attempt to enlarge its membership and strengthen the public support for Ezra Aharon. On these occasions Azuri spoke and played the ‘ud, usually introduced by Avisar who in this case server also as translator. This event reported here was hosted by the prominent Auster family. Julia Auster of Iraqi Jewish descend was a member of the board of the Association. The presence of the Egyptian consul in Jerusalem on this occasion and his willingness to organize a reception in honor of Ezra stands out for its political significance. Also remarkable is the conversation about the diffusion of Oriental music was carried out by senior members of the Ashkenazi Jewish political and educational establishment, all of whom were immigrants from Europe.
