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Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo

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Roman at pennsic 48 - Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo.jpg
Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo
Information
Resides: Canton of Whyt Whey
Status: Active
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
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Heraldry Needed
Award & Office Badges
Companion of the Order of the Silver BroochAward of the Golden Lyre

Introduction

Nobilis Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo plays a Roman Jewish woman living sometime between the years 0 and 300 CE. She is primarily interested in music, fiber arts, and the history of the Jewish people from Antiquity through the early-Modern period (~1650). She is from the Canton of Whyt Whey, Crown Province of Østgarđr, in the East Kingdom. She has recently relocated to the Barony of Bhakail.

She is the Minister of Arts and Sciences for the Canton of Whyt Whey, and in this capacity organizes the twice-monthly Saturday Night Solar, which is ongoing since its launch in December 2020.

She is the student of Laila al-Sanna' al-Andalusiyya, who is her vocal instructor.

Persona

The primary persona of Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo is that a Jewish person living in the Roman empire, sometime between the year 0 and 300 CE. Her family has roots in the Roman-occupied land of Israel, and like many Jews in that time and place, are multi-lingual, speaking Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. Her family are successful merchants, and some are scholars.

The secondary persona of Berakha bat Mira v'Shlomo is an Ottoman Jewish person in the mid to late 16th C, who has recently relocated to Persia to dwell with her cousins. The family has roots in the Iberian peninsula (and other parts of Europe), but like many other Jews, they moved east after the Expulsion of 1492. The family is now widespread across Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Many are merchants and artisans. With this persona, Berakha is a member of the House of the Lotus, and pursues the history and evolution of Jewish music as a member.

Preferred Pronouns

She/Her/Hers or They/Them/Theirs

Staff Positions

Officerships
  • Minister of Arts and Sciences for the Canton of Whyt Whey (November 2020 - Present)
Event Staff and Volunteering
  • Waitstaff and Coffee Barista at Kafe Merhaba, Pennsic War, 2011-2019
  • Class Instructor, Pennsic War, 2015
  • Class Instructor, Pennsic War, 2016
  • Class Instructor, Virtual Pennsic, 2020
  • Class Instructor, Royal University Midrealm, Jan. 2021 (Introduction to Hebrew Language, Hebrew Calendar)
  • Event Organizer for Whyt Whey Presents the Saturday Night Solar - an event held every fortnight, launched Dec. 2020
  • Social Media Coordinator for the First Bardic War, May 15-23 2021
  • Volunteer moderator/lobby at the Known World Virtual Heraldric and Scribal Symposium, July 9-11 2021
  • Retained for her Highness Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt at Bjorn's Retreat, August 14, 2021
  • Social Media and PR coordinator at the Virtual Known World Cooks and Bards, Sept. 10-12 2021
  • Gate volunteer and Class instructor at Gryphon's Fest, Barony of Three Rivers, Oct. 22-24 2021
  • Gate volunteer and Cardmissar (vaccine/PCR test check) and occasional kitchen hand at 100 Minutes War and East Kingdom Novice Day, Nov. 20 2021
  • Vaccine/Negative Covid-check, retainer for HRH Ryouko'jin, and post-event cleanup at Bhakail Yule, Dec. 11, 2021

Projects & Publications

Classes Offered
  • Introduction to Hebrew Grammar (taught at Pennsic 2015 and 2016; updated and revised 2020) (Video from Virtual Pennsic 2020)
  • The Evolution of the Hebrew Language (Video from Virtual Pennsic 2020)
  • Ottoman Dress in the 16th C, or How to Dress Like a Turkish Noble! (taught in SCA Powerpoint Parties in March 2020)
  • Introduction to the Hebrew Calendar (taught at Gryphon's Fest, Oct. 22-24, 2021)
Arts & Sciences
Published Works
Bardic and Performances

Berakha is the vocalist with Ishtar, a band that focuses on Balkan, Arab, Turkish, and near-Eastern music that often performs at SCA events. With Ishtar, Berakha has performed at numerous Pennsic Wars, camp parties, and bardic circles. She has also performed at events and bardic circles both solo and with friends, including with the Foxy Bard and Drunk and Disorderly.

Berakha has performed and/or hosted for the following events and projects:

  • Pennsic Wars 45, 47, and 48
  • Barleycorn (September 2019)
  • Twelfth Night (Jan. 2020)
  • Bear's Tavern (March 2020)
  • "Sing We and Chant It" Ostgardr Crown Province music video, organized by Bardic Champion and Project Coordinator, Armiger Catelin Straquhin (Summer 2020)
  • The Chalk Man Music Competition – In The Key of AEther (July 31, 2020)
  • Virtual Pirate Bardic (Aug. 3, 2020)
  • First Virtual Courtesan College Performance (Aug. 7, 2020)
  • Dance submission for Queen of Doom's A&S Entries (Feb 7,. 2021)
  • Contestant at East Kingdom Bardic Championship (April 24, 2021)
  • Activity host for the Pirate Bardic Circle at the First Bardic War (May 15, 2021)
  • Live War Point entrant for Non-European Performance at the First Bardic War (May 16, 2021)
  • Live War Point host for Battle Speech or Story at the First Bardic War (May 23, 2021)
  • Bardic circle at Bjorn's Retreat with the Foxy Bard and Twig (August 14, 2021)
  • Live performances Bhakail Yule, with Clan Straquhin and the Foxy Bard and Twig (Dec. 11, 2021)
Projects Planned and in Progress
  • Database of Roman Jewish naming conventions from the year 0 to 600
  • Expanded Class List (currently in progress):

Anti-Jewish bigotry in Medieval Europe; The Jews of Ashkenaz; A Look At Haggadot; A Look at Kashrut and Its Evolution in Period

  • Music:

Expanded Hebrew Songbook for Teaching and Performance

Introducing "SCA Appropriate" Hebrew, Aramaic, and Yiddish language songs to the SCA that are either period, or reference documented period poetry and themes

Households and Affiliated Groups

House of the Lotus

Opera dell'Est

Clan Straquhin

Guild of the Outstretched Hand

Osmanlı Mehter Takımı (Janissary Band)

Awards and Recognition

Recognized with a Token of Inspiration during Ethereal Court by Queen Margarita, June 13, 2020

Awarded a Golden Lyre at the East Kingdom Bardic Championships by the Royal Consuls, Magnus Tindal and Alberic von Rostock, April 24, 2021

Granted a Silver Brooch and Award of Arms by the Royal Consuls, Magnus Tindal and Alberic von Rostock, at Bjorn's Retreat, August 14, 2021

In Case of Court

In case of court, please notify Berakha via email at 214469@members.eastkingdom.org, or message their personal Facebook. Advanced notice is strongly preferred over surprise, and she is only available at weekend-long/multi-day events. Her persona is female, but gender-neutral language is also welcome. If relevant for any awards or scrolls, she would greatly enjoy Hebrew or Aramaic as the language of choice, but otherwise English is also well and excellent. If possible, she would prefer for any awards or scrolls to be held until in-person court can safely resume.