Transcription
Michalis: Agadá, Lail Pesah, 5696 - there is no other like this
Michalis: Printed Franco-Spanish according to the usage of our sivdá, complete and whole for the entire night, so the piyyut of Had-Gadiá, and songs and praises that Solomon the prophet king of Israel said.
Michalis: Edited by Josef Koenka, Calle Rey Constantino, number 11, ex, Calle Venizelos, Salonica, 1936. Printing house, Acuarone, Ermou, 19.
Michalis: Excellent, we can do the Seder Lail Pesach, in Ladino.
Michalis: [music] Kaddech Ourhats, Karpas Yahats, Maguid Rohtsa, Motsi Matsa
Michalis: [music] Maror Koreh, Choulhan Oreh, Tsafoun Bareh, Alel Nirtsa
Michalis: Kaddech, they fill the wine glasses and say kiddush.
Ms. Lina: "Sabre marana" Here is the Kiddush and the ceremony begins
Michalis: Did you sing the steps of the Seder like this? Yes, but we'll say it
Ms. Lina: This bread of affliction that our Fathers ate in the Land of Egypt, whoever is hungry let him come and eat. Whoever is in need let him come and celebrate Passover. This year here, next year in the Land of Israel. This year servants, next year free people in the Land of Israel.
Ms. Lina: This was the rhythm that the Sephardic Jews followed in Thessaloniki, two songs that I really continue to say and we used to say them with my husband and with my children, with my brother, all the family here that we do them every year. And I think we are also the only ones who still follow them or who still have this rhythm
Ms. Lina: We'll say a little about the 10 plagues that my father always used to say
Ms. Lina: And with signs is the staff, as the verse says: And the staff you shall take in your hand, with which you will perform the signs. And with wonders is the blood, as the verse says: And I will show wonders in the heavens and on earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. With strong power two, and with outstretched arm two, and with great fear two, and with signs two, and with wonders two.
Ms. Lina: These are the 10 plagues that the Holy One, blessed be His name, unleashed upon the Egyptians: Blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and death of the firstborn. These ten wounds that the Holy Blessed One struck upon the Egyptians in Egypt. And these are they: blood, frog, louse, mixture, pestilence, scab, hail, locust, darkness, plague of the firstborn
Ms. Lina: And that other one that I'll tell you a bit about
Ms. Lina: About the miracles that God performed for us
Ms. Lina: How many great goods the Creator has done for us: If He had taken us out of Egypt and not executed justice upon them? It would have been enough for us. If He had executed justice upon them, and not upon their gods? It would have been enough for us. If He had acted upon their gods and not killed their firstborn? It would have been enough for us. If He had killed their firstborn and not given us their wealth? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us their wealth and not split the sea for us? It would have been enough for us. If He had split the sea for us, and not made us pass through it on dry land? It would have been enough for us. If He had made us pass through it on dry land, and not drowned our oppressors in it? It would have been enough for us. If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and not provided for our needs in the desert for forty years? It would have been enough for us. If He had provided for our needs in the desert for forty years, and not fed us the manna? It would have been enough for us. If He had fed us the manna, and not given us the Sabbath? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us the Sabbath, and not brought us before Mount Sinai? It would have been enough for us. If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and not given us the Law? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us the Law and not made us enter the Land of Israel? It would have been enough for us. If He had made us enter the Land of Israel, and not built us the house of the Sanctuary? It would have been enough for us.
Ms. Lina: How much more so, doubled and redoubled goodness, has the Creator done for us. He took us out of Egypt, executed justice upon them, acted upon their gods, killed their firstborn, gave us their wealth, split the sea for us, made us pass through it on dry land, drowned our oppressors in it, provided for our needs in the desert for forty years, fed us the manna, gave us the Sabbath, brought us before Mount Sinai, gave us the Law, made us enter the Land of Israel and built us the house of choice to forgive all our sins.
Michalis: You sang this only in Ladino
Ms. Lina: And the last song I'll tell you is one that I also sing with my son
Ms. Lina: Praise the Lord
Ms. Lina: Praise the Lord, praise servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be blessed, from now and forever. From where the sun rises to where it sets. Praised be the name of the Lord. High above all peoples is the Lord. Above the heavens His glory. Who is like the Lord our God. He who is most high in dwelling. He who looks down to see in the heavens and on earth. He raises the poor from dust, from dungheaps He lifts the needy, to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people, He makes the barren woman of the house a joyful mother of children, Praise the Lord.
Ms. Lina: "Adonay" is, of course, the Lord
Ms. Lina: A LITTLE GOAT THAT MY FATHER BOUGHT FOR TWO ZUZ
Ms. Lina: A little goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the cat came and ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the dog came and bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the stick came and beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the fire came and burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the water came and extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the ox came and drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the slaughterer came and slaughtered the ox that drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the Angel of Death came and slaughtered the slaughterer who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz.
Ms. Lina: Sleep, sleep, dear little son
Ms. Lina: Sleep, sleep without anxiety and pain, close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. From the cradle you will leave, to school you will enter, And oh my dear little son, to study you will learn. Sleep, sleep, dear little son, Sleep, sleep without anxiety and pain, Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. From the cradle you will leave, A little doctor you will become, Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure
Ms. Lina: Farewell Beloved
Ms. Lina: Your mother when she gave birth to you, And brought you to the world, A heart she did not give you. To love a second time. A heart she did not give you. To love a second time. Farewell, Farewell Beloved, I don't want life, You have embittered it for me. Beautiful you are in quality, but you have no honesty, even if you give me millions, my people don't want you. Go, find another love, open other doors, Wait for another ardor, For to me you are dead
Ms. Lina: The Mermaid
Ms. Lina: In the sea there is a tower, in the tower there is a window. There rests the dove, who calls to the sailors. Give me your hand, dove, to climb to your nest. They told me you sleep alone. I come to sleep with you. If the sea were of milk, the little boats of cinnamon, I would stain myself entirely, to save my flag. If the sea were of milk, I would become a vendor, to sell my sorrows with little words of love. This mermaid is crazy, she wants me to love her, let her beloved love her, who has the obligation.
Michalis: Victoria, who is she? She is one of the founding members of B'nai B'rith who had gone to Thessaloniki on World Bible Day, on the so-called Friends' Day, May 31, 1971.
Michalis: Have you been involved with B'nai B'rith? Yes, yes, and with WIZO? Yes, very actively. This is my father's prayer book, every morning
Ms. Lina: Tefillah Boker. Every morning at 5:30 in the morning he always had it next to him and read it
Ms. Lina: This says. Thessaloniki was always written
Ms. Lina: Our family children's Haggadah. Like this, 1956. What Mrs. Lina sang to us earlier is from the Haggadah. This contains, this is only Hebrew text. But there is also, when was this edition? 1955
Ms. Lina: Here you will find another edition but with French.
Michalis: I think it said at the beginning that it's by Léon Blum. Did you notice it here? It must be.
Ms. Lina: It says "traduit à Léon Blum" - it has been translated into French
Ms. Lina: And this here. This is what I was telling you about Yannitsá. That these books are old and normally they should be buried.
Ms. Lina: But at this moment it's a Siddur. Haim, it says here first
Michalis: Sustiel. Here it is.
Ms. Lina: Which are in Hebrew. Yes, it's the afternoon prayer for the three major pilgrimage festivals. Below it says "Rule of the evening prayer of Sukkot for the first and second day." So it's the rule, let's say, of the evening prayer for the festival of Sukkot, the first and second day.
This interview captures the rare and valuable testimony of Mrs. Lina, one of the last bearers of the Sephardic Jewish tradition in Thessaloniki. Through songs and texts in Ladino, it focuses on the Passover Haggadah, featuring the Seder steps, the ten plagues, and the song "Dayenu." It also includes lullabies, love songs, and the tale of "Had Gadya." The interview is complemented by historical prayer books and Haggadot from Thessaloniki (1930–1950), highlighting the importance of preserving a culture nearly lost after the Holocaust.
Lina Herrera
Transcription
Michalis: Agadá, Lail Pesah, 5696 - there is no other like this
Michalis: Printed Franco-Spanish according to the usage of our sivdá, complete and whole for the entire night, so the piyyut of Had-Gadiá, and songs and praises that Solomon the prophet king of Israel said.
Michalis: Edited by Josef Koenka, Calle Rey Constantino, number 11, ex, Calle Venizelos, Salonica, 1936. Printing house, Acuarone, Ermou, 19.
Michalis: Excellent, we can do the Seder Lail Pesach, in Ladino.
Michalis: [music] Kaddech Ourhats, Karpas Yahats, Maguid Rohtsa, Motsi Matsa
Michalis: [music] Maror Koreh, Choulhan Oreh, Tsafoun Bareh, Alel Nirtsa
Michalis: Kaddech, they fill the wine glasses and say kiddush.
Ms. Lina: "Sabre marana" Here is the Kiddush and the ceremony begins
Michalis: Did you sing the steps of the Seder like this? Yes, but we'll say it
Ms. Lina: This bread of affliction that our Fathers ate in the Land of Egypt, whoever is hungry let him come and eat. Whoever is in need let him come and celebrate Passover. This year here, next year in the Land of Israel. This year servants, next year free people in the Land of Israel.
Ms. Lina: This was the rhythm that the Sephardic Jews followed in Thessaloniki, two songs that I really continue to say and we used to say them with my husband and with my children, with my brother, all the family here that we do them every year. And I think we are also the only ones who still follow them or who still have this rhythm
Ms. Lina: We'll say a little about the 10 plagues that my father always used to say
Ms. Lina: And with signs is the staff, as the verse says: And the staff you shall take in your hand, with which you will perform the signs. And with wonders is the blood, as the verse says: And I will show wonders in the heavens and on earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. With strong power two, and with outstretched arm two, and with great fear two, and with signs two, and with wonders two.
Ms. Lina: These are the 10 plagues that the Holy One, blessed be His name, unleashed upon the Egyptians: Blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and death of the firstborn. These ten wounds that the Holy Blessed One struck upon the Egyptians in Egypt. And these are they: blood, frog, louse, mixture, pestilence, scab, hail, locust, darkness, plague of the firstborn
Ms. Lina: And that other one that I'll tell you a bit about
Ms. Lina: About the miracles that God performed for us
Ms. Lina: How many great goods the Creator has done for us: If He had taken us out of Egypt and not executed justice upon them? It would have been enough for us. If He had executed justice upon them, and not upon their gods? It would have been enough for us. If He had acted upon their gods and not killed their firstborn? It would have been enough for us. If He had killed their firstborn and not given us their wealth? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us their wealth and not split the sea for us? It would have been enough for us. If He had split the sea for us, and not made us pass through it on dry land? It would have been enough for us. If He had made us pass through it on dry land, and not drowned our oppressors in it? It would have been enough for us. If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and not provided for our needs in the desert for forty years? It would have been enough for us. If He had provided for our needs in the desert for forty years, and not fed us the manna? It would have been enough for us. If He had fed us the manna, and not given us the Sabbath? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us the Sabbath, and not brought us before Mount Sinai? It would have been enough for us. If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and not given us the Law? It would have been enough for us. If He had given us the Law and not made us enter the Land of Israel? It would have been enough for us. If He had made us enter the Land of Israel, and not built us the house of the Sanctuary? It would have been enough for us.
Ms. Lina: How much more so, doubled and redoubled goodness, has the Creator done for us. He took us out of Egypt, executed justice upon them, acted upon their gods, killed their firstborn, gave us their wealth, split the sea for us, made us pass through it on dry land, drowned our oppressors in it, provided for our needs in the desert for forty years, fed us the manna, gave us the Sabbath, brought us before Mount Sinai, gave us the Law, made us enter the Land of Israel and built us the house of choice to forgive all our sins.
Michalis: You sang this only in Ladino
Ms. Lina: And the last song I'll tell you is one that I also sing with my son
Ms. Lina: Praise the Lord
Ms. Lina: Praise the Lord, praise servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be blessed, from now and forever. From where the sun rises to where it sets. Praised be the name of the Lord. High above all peoples is the Lord. Above the heavens His glory. Who is like the Lord our God. He who is most high in dwelling. He who looks down to see in the heavens and on earth. He raises the poor from dust, from dungheaps He lifts the needy, to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people, He makes the barren woman of the house a joyful mother of children, Praise the Lord.
Ms. Lina: "Adonay" is, of course, the Lord
Ms. Lina: A LITTLE GOAT THAT MY FATHER BOUGHT FOR TWO ZUZ
Ms. Lina: A little goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the cat came and ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the dog came and bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the stick came and beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the fire came and burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the water came and extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the ox came and drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the slaughterer came and slaughtered the ox that drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz. And the Angel of Death came and slaughtered the slaughterer who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that extinguished the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuz.
Ms. Lina: Sleep, sleep, dear little son
Ms. Lina: Sleep, sleep without anxiety and pain, close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. From the cradle you will leave, to school you will enter, And oh my dear little son, to study you will learn. Sleep, sleep, dear little son, Sleep, sleep without anxiety and pain, Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure. From the cradle you will leave, A little doctor you will become, Close your bright little eyes, sleep with pleasure
Ms. Lina: Farewell Beloved
Ms. Lina: Your mother when she gave birth to you, And brought you to the world, A heart she did not give you. To love a second time. A heart she did not give you. To love a second time. Farewell, Farewell Beloved, I don't want life, You have embittered it for me. Beautiful you are in quality, but you have no honesty, even if you give me millions, my people don't want you. Go, find another love, open other doors, Wait for another ardor, For to me you are dead
Ms. Lina: The Mermaid
Ms. Lina: In the sea there is a tower, in the tower there is a window. There rests the dove, who calls to the sailors. Give me your hand, dove, to climb to your nest. They told me you sleep alone. I come to sleep with you. If the sea were of milk, the little boats of cinnamon, I would stain myself entirely, to save my flag. If the sea were of milk, I would become a vendor, to sell my sorrows with little words of love. This mermaid is crazy, she wants me to love her, let her beloved love her, who has the obligation.
Michalis: Victoria, who is she? She is one of the founding members of B'nai B'rith who had gone to Thessaloniki on World Bible Day, on the so-called Friends' Day, May 31, 1971.
Michalis: Have you been involved with B'nai B'rith? Yes, yes, and with WIZO? Yes, very actively. This is my father's prayer book, every morning
Ms. Lina: Tefillah Boker. Every morning at 5:30 in the morning he always had it next to him and read it
Ms. Lina: This says. Thessaloniki was always written
Ms. Lina: Our family children's Haggadah. Like this, 1956. What Mrs. Lina sang to us earlier is from the Haggadah. This contains, this is only Hebrew text. But there is also, when was this edition? 1955
Ms. Lina: Here you will find another edition but with French.
Michalis: I think it said at the beginning that it's by Léon Blum. Did you notice it here? It must be.
Ms. Lina: It says "traduit à Léon Blum" - it has been translated into French
Ms. Lina: And this here. This is what I was telling you about Yannitsá. That these books are old and normally they should be buried.
Ms. Lina: But at this moment it's a Siddur. Haim, it says here first
Michalis: Sustiel. Here it is.
Ms. Lina: Which are in Hebrew. Yes, it's the afternoon prayer for the three major pilgrimage festivals. Below it says "Rule of the evening prayer of Sukkot for the first and second day." So it's the rule, let's say, of the evening prayer for the festival of Sukkot, the first and second day.