In this episode, Yosef Goldman talks with Sarah Bunin Benor about the rich influence of Arabic music on his Sephardic Jewish heritage, showing how these sounds bridge cultures and generations from Yemen to New York. Yosef discusses the challenge of blending Sephardic and Mizrahi prayer styles into Ashkenazi services, highlighting the importance of educating communities about this rich diversity.

Heritage Words - conversations about the words we inherit and the meaning they bring to our lives - is produced by the HUC Jewish Language Project and HUC Connect.

Host and executive producer: Sarah Bunin Benor

Producers and editors: Kyle Elbaz Fingerhut, Avishay Artsy

Video editor: Annabel Noar

Editorial consultants: Annabel Noar, Hannah Pressman

Special thanks to Yosef Goldman for permission to use a sample of “Ya'alah Ya'alah” from the Kedmah album Simu Lev, courtesy of Rising Song Records.

Theme music: Maurice El Medioni’s French and Algerian Judeo-Arabic album “Cafe Oran,” featuring the Klezmatics’ David Krakauer and Frank London, courtesy of Piranha Records.