Jewish Music Institute

Introduction by Geraldine Auerbach MBE, founding Director of JMI, London, November 2019

Cultural activities can be ephemeral. But once documented, these activities stand a chance of being caught for posterity. Now that our Newsletters (1993 – 2010) as well as our Festival programmes (1984 – 2000) are not only in print, but also digitised and on the World Wide Web, everyone can follow the range and scope of Jewish music activity in London.

For this digitisation we give our heartfelt thanks to our partner, Herve Roten, the Director of Jewish Music Institute in Paris and to Jean-Gabriel Davis who managed the process.

Our Jewish music adventure in London first started as the Bnai Brith Jewish Music Festival in 1984. This became the Jewish Music Heritage Trust (JMHT) in 1989. Then in 1999 we established the Jewish Music Institute (JMI) at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

It was clear from the interest aroused by the first Jewish music festival in 1984 that there was considerable interest in Jewish music. So, we went on to present biennial festivals, make and distribute recordings as well as develop a lectureship, international conferences and teaching programmes, first at City University in Islington, and thereafter at SOAS, University of London.

A large following grew, and it seemed a logical step to keep them well informed about past, current and future events and activities related to Jewish music. So, ten years later, in the summer of 1993, the JMHT Newsletter came in to being. At first it was one typed sheet (with very erratic numbering) creeping up to two, three and four sheets. By 2000, when JMHT had become the Jewish Music Institute, these twice-yearly JMI Newsletters were posted out to an audience that eventually came to number over 8,000 people across the world.

These Newsletters captured for posterity all the activity as it happened. They came to be beautifully designed and printed with many photographs and grew from 8 to 12, then 16 to 20 pages and in full colour. In addition, in the ‘noughties’ Laoise Davidson compiled ‘Nu? Musik!’ aimed at young people and featuring news of the explosion of young musicians developing individual styles of Jewish music around the world.

The last printed Newsletter that I compiled, edited and distributed, no 18, was in the autumn of 2010. It took the form of a ‘Silver Jubilee’ issue in full colour, looking back at the last 25 years, with quotes and pictures from key people and events over the period – and looking forward to the next era.

Since my retirement as the founding Director of all this, at the end of 2011, I am delighted and gratified to see the way in which Jennifer Jankel (Chair) and Gil Karpas, together with their wonderful trustees and teams are continuing to develop and celebrate Jewish music in so many of its aspects. Their current monthly email Newsletters are a joy to read and the number of events that they create, and support, is astounding. Long may this continue.

Geraldine Auerbach MBE, London, November 2019.