Book Talk: Echoes of Translation: Audibility and Relationality in Indian Jewish Women's Songs

The Bene Israel are a Jewish community from western India who, over centuries, developed a distinctive identity in relation to other Jewish and nonJewish communities, translating their sounds, words, and practices to have uniquely Marathi Jewish meanings. Schultz explores sonic, embodied translation among the Bene Israel through the metaphor of the echo: a resonant, transformative, relational phenomenon. Singing this repertoire teaches singers and listeners not only how to be Jewish, but how to be Bene Israel. It also fosters sociality, providing a medium through which women echo one another, sharing cultural expertise while securing affective ties. Co-sponsored by Jewish Studies, Middle East/ South Asia Studies, the Department of Music, and the Department of Religion, Culture, and Society.