https://youtu.be/Ajub53a_hsw# Yitro - Bachodesh Hashelishi | London In the Spanish and Portuguese tradition a special chant is used for reading certain passages from the Torah. These include, amongst others, the opening 34 verses of Parashat Beresheet, the Shirat Hayam and the Aseret Hadibrot. Although these Ta'amim are, in essence, simply a highly embellished variant of their standard counterparts, when read proficiently, they redefine the parameters of the scriptural cantilation, elevating it to the level of oratorio. Eliezer Abinun, the Hazzan of the London community from 1932 until 1982, excelled in these readings. His stirring rendition of the Parasha on the first day of Shabou'ot was an incomparable experience. You could almost have been present at Ma'amad Har Sinai. I, personally, consider that his inimitable reading gave Elmer Bernstein's majestic score for the movie 'The Ten Commandments' a serious run for its money. The present recording is of the first two verses of the London variant of the Shabou'ot reading to which I have taken the the liberty of introducing harmonies in an attempt to unlock its musical depth and potential.The background image is an oil painting by Aron de Chavez dating from 1675. It depicts Moses and Aaron standing either side of the two tablets of the Law rendered in Hebrew with a Spanish translation. The painting was hung over the Hechal in the Creechurch Lane Synagogue, the first Jewish house of worship to be built in England since the expulsion in 1290.Please like and share, and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.For an mp3 of this recording please visit my website, where there are over 190 selections available for free downloading.