MAQAM OF THE WEEK- SHABBAT BALAQ – בלק

For Shabbat Balaq (Numbers 22:2-25:9), Maqam MAHOUR (MA’ HUR means ‘broken-hearted’ in Arabic), is applied, because Balaq is broken-hearted and chagrined after the curses are switched into blessings. Mahour is described as a higher version of Maqam Rast. Some say that Mahour is applied based on the Hebrew word “Maher” (quick) which is appropriate because it reflects Bilaam’s quickness to pursue bribes in exchange for cursing Israel. Another explanation by Alberto Attia is that Maqam ‘Mahour’, a word derived from the Zoroastrian deity ‘Mei’ (meaning ‘exchange’), is used when there is an exchange in the perasha, and in this case, the curses are changed into blessings. Regardless of everything mentioned above, the majority of the older Aleppo sources cite to apply Maqam Bayat, and Hakham Moshe Ashear indicates to apply Maqam Nahwand.