Women’s Middle Eastern Jewish ensemble to perform

Iranian-descended singer Galeet Dardashti and her all-female Middle Eastern Jewish ensemble, Divahn, will be the featured artists at Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Emeth’s (HPCT-CAE) annual Shirainu Jewish Music Concert on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m.

The New York City-based group has gained an international following with its fresh and fiery renditions of traditional and original Sephardi/Mizrahi Jewish songs: lush string arrangements, eclectic Indian, Middle Eastern and Latin percussion, and vocals spanning Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian, Arabic, and Aramaic. Divahn, a word common to Hebrew, Persian, and Arabic, means a collection of songs or poetry. Through its music, Divahn underscores common ground between Middle Eastern cultures and religions.

Divahn musicians include Galeet Dardashti (lead vocals, guitar, percussion), Megan Gould (violin, vocals), Sejal Kukadia (tabla, vocals), Elizabeth Pupo-Walker (cajon, congas, vocals), and Jessie Mann (cello, vocals). Learn more about Galeet Dardashti and Divahn by visiting their websites: galeetdardashti.com and divahn.com.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the temple office at 732-545-6482 or on-line at hpct-cae.org/events/concerts. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students.

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The Shirainu Jewish Music Concert is held each year in memory of Norman Shiffman. Dardashti will also be the guest Scholar-in-Residence at the temple’s Dr. Julius & Ethel Mintz Shabbaton, Nov. 16 – 17.