Closing Event of the Biggest Khamsot Exhibition in Israel

Thursday – November 22 2018

8 p.m.-10:20 p.m.

Advance ticket price: NIS 30 –link for purchase

Ticket price on the day of the event: NIS 50

Tel: (02) 5661291 or at the museum box office

There will be a special evening event held to mark the closing of the Khamsa Khamsa Khamsa exhibition, with amulets and protection against the Evil Eye.

Program:

8 p.m - 9 p.m. – ceremonies will be held in various places in the the museum to ward off the Evil Eye, including Ratsach and Bachur ceremonies, and opening Tarot cards to reveal the Evil Eye.

The Ratsach Ceremony – Melting the Lead:

The ceremony was conducted by the womenfolk of the home whenever there was concern that the Evil Eye may have harmed one of the members of the family. The ritual involved taking two lead spheres - one with an orifice and the other with a protuberance, signifying the female and male – as harm caused by the Evil Eye was associated equally with women and men. The two spheres were placed in a spoon, and held over a flame until they melted, and the molten fluid was poured into a bowl with water and salt which was held over the head of the victim.

The Bachur Ceremony:

This is a purification ceremony designed to provide protection. The Bachur includes various cleansing ceremonies relating to a person or a house, in which various substances and minerals are used, such as: resin and fiber. The substances are meant to cleanse, whereby the main substance in the ceremony is called Bachur (Arabic, meaning incense of the seven species). The ceremony features a clay vase or vessel with coals inside, and the incense mixture is thrown inside and gives off a fragrant aroma.

9 p.m - 9:30 p.m – The exhibition curators:

Dr. Shirat-Miriam (Mimi) Shamir and Dr. Ido Noy will talk to artists Yifat Naim and Hannan Abu Hussein on the subject of khamsot, amulets and the Evil Eye.

9:45 p.m.-10:30 p.m. – Concert: Mekor Havibe

Multicultural roots music incorporating a musical collage that takes in the Arabic maqam scales, African rhythms, jazz and funk. This is a joyous show which captivates and enthralls audiences.

Mekor Havibe includes members of the Quarter to Africa and Ester Rada bands,

Yakir Sasson – vocals, saxophone, trumpet (Quarter to Africa, Ariel Zilber, Yaldei Bet Haetz, ex)

Alyassaf Bashari – vocals, oud, percussion (Quarter to Africa, Avishai Cohen, ex)

Gal Dahan – tenor saxophone, clarinet (Ester Rada, Hanan Ben Ari, Mosh Ben Ari, ex)

Yair Tsabari – vocals and drums (Pinkhasov Beat Club, Daklon etc.)