Dancing with the Torah, Bhangra-style [Video]

International Ladino singer Sarah Aroeste recently teamed up with the Jewish community of Mumbai to create Baylamos, a musical celebration of Simchat Torah. Team Be’chol Lashon spoke to Aroeste and her Indian collaborator, Ednna Samuel, on how the colorful partnership came about.

Team Be’chol Lashon: The combination of Ladino and Indian music is certainly a unique one, especially for a song about Simchat Torah. How did your collaboration come to be?

Sarah Aroeste: First of all, I’ve always loved Simchat Torah and feel like it never gets enough attention in pop culture. The holiday celebrates one of the most joyous times of year, when the cycle of Torah readings ends and the new cycle begins. What more festive way to celebrate than to dance circles around the Torah! I knew as I was writing the song that I wanted a circular melody and celebratory words to match the spirit of the holiday. (The title, Baylamos…