Shabbat Sav - צו

2013- On Shabbat HaGadol (Shabbat prior to Passover), Maqam RAHAWI-NAWAH is applied according to ALL sources, because the Haggadah is similarly conducted in Maqam Rahaw. The ancient Passover pizmon "Emounim Irkhou Shebah" (page 359), also in Maqam Rahaw, is traditionally transposed to "Semehim Bessetam." Most cantors will mix Maqam Nahwand with Rahawi-Nawah. PIZMON SEFER TORAH: "Mi Yemallel" (page 361). MISHMARA: Tractate Menahot (Sephardic Pizmonim Project, www.pizmonim.com).

2011- For Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat prior to Purim, Maqam Sigah is applied. The Talmud says (TB Shabbat 88a) that during Matan Torah, Israel accepted the Torah by force (like a mountain that would fall on them if they didn't accept it). However, in the days of Mordechai, the Jewish people returned and accepted the Torah on their own free-will and not by force. In remembrance of the fact that they returned to the Torah, we pray in Maqam Sigah, the maqam that is the same as the reading of the Ta'amim of the Torah. It so happens that "Sigah" and "Mordechai Hayehudi" have the same "Gematria" (numerical value) of 314 (Information from Sefer "Vaya'ateq Misham," a publication of Congregation Sha'ar Binyamin, Mexico). In addition to this, most pizmonim for Purim are located in the Maqam Sigah section of the pizmonim book, pages 459-467 (Sephardic Pizmonim Project, www.pizmonim.com).