Al naharot Bavel - Gadiel Cohen, Firenze
Title
Al naharot Bavel - Gadiel Cohen, Firenze
Creator
EF
Biblical source: book
Biblical source: verses
137 (complete)
Community
Ritual
Place in liturgical year
Place in day liturgy
Text source, form or category
Place of original recording
Date of original recording
Informant
Informant biographical notes
Gadiel Cohen was born in Florence in 1930, the son of Fernanda and Eugenio Cohen.
He spent his childhood in the Great Synagogue of Florence, where his father served as the synagogue’s shamash and cantor. Gadiel, his parents, and his two siblings, Leah and Reuven, lived within the synagogue complex, in a small apartment situated on the floor above the prayer hall.
His parents and sister recalled that, even as a young child, Gadiel would sing, in his distinctive, full voice of rare beauty, the songs and operatic music he loved, as well as the synagogue prayers according to the beautiful Florentine musical tradition in which he had been immersed from birth.
With the rise of Fascism and the persecution of the Jews, Gadiel was hidden in a Christian religious orphanage for the duration of the war. In later years, he spoke of the indoctrination he endured there in an attempt to persuade him to convert to Christianity.
In 1949, he immigrated to Israel with his parents and siblings and became one of the earliest members of Kibbutz Regavim.
In 1957, he joined Kibbutz Ma‘agan Michael, where he made his home and, together with his wife, Cecilia, raised their family.
Despite the distance and the many years that had passed since he left Italy, the Great Synagogue of Florence continued to resonate deeply within him. Its melodies, blessings, and prayers accompanied him until his final days and remained an inseparable part of the music of his life.
Gadiel died in 2019, at the age of eighty-nine, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
He spent his childhood in the Great Synagogue of Florence, where his father served as the synagogue’s shamash and cantor. Gadiel, his parents, and his two siblings, Leah and Reuven, lived within the synagogue complex, in a small apartment situated on the floor above the prayer hall.
His parents and sister recalled that, even as a young child, Gadiel would sing, in his distinctive, full voice of rare beauty, the songs and operatic music he loved, as well as the synagogue prayers according to the beautiful Florentine musical tradition in which he had been immersed from birth.
With the rise of Fascism and the persecution of the Jews, Gadiel was hidden in a Christian religious orphanage for the duration of the war. In later years, he spoke of the indoctrination he endured there in an attempt to persuade him to convert to Christianity.
In 1949, he immigrated to Israel with his parents and siblings and became one of the earliest members of Kibbutz Regavim.
In 1957, he joined Kibbutz Ma‘agan Michael, where he made his home and, together with his wife, Cecilia, raised their family.
Despite the distance and the many years that had passed since he left Italy, the Great Synagogue of Florence continued to resonate deeply within him. Its melodies, blessings, and prayers accompanied him until his final days and remained an inseparable part of the music of his life.
Gadiel died in 2019, at the age of eighty-nine, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Notes on recording
Recordings made available by Yoel Cohen, special thanks to Massimo Torrefranca
Geolocation
Item Relations
| This Item | Is Part Of | Item: Firenze Tempio Maggiore |
| This Item | is a version of the melody in | Item: Al Naharot Bavel for Tish'a be-Av, rav Belgrado, Firenze |
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Citation
EF, “Al naharot Bavel - Gadiel Cohen, Firenze,” Thesaurus of Jewish-Italian Liturgical Music, accessed August 9, 2026, https://www.jewishitalianmusic.org/thesaurus/items/show/4049.
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