Join Shonaleigh for a two day Tellers, Tales, Tradition event.
Listen to an extended version of ‘The Cloth of Hope and Sorrow’, with space to talk and and discuss themes raised by the story.
—
In a remote castle a Makhshef, a sorcerer and bringer of chaos, lived alone. It had not always been so.
Once upon a time he had an imprisoned girl, and a city to torment, and all power and mayhem and evil was his. And then one day, he was tricked.
The woman had taken the silver threads of the moon and sewed images into a blue cloth, taking everything embroidered to a place of safety.
One by one, all who he threatened disappeared until finally she had embroidered herself into the cloth and he was all alone.
One chill night he came upon a dove, frozen and still at the edge of the road. Out of curiosity and boredom, the Makshef picked it up, curious, and took it back to his empty palace.
“I am the Dove of Heaven,” said the bird, “and you have saved me. What can I give you in return?”
The Makhshef felt something strange. His face was wet. “What is this?” he asked.
“Tears,” replied the Dove.
“I want a soul,” whispered the Makhshef.
“You can only have a soul if you wander seven years in each direction. And you must find a woman who can stitch the cloth.”
—
The Cycle of Menasseh, to which the Cloth of Hope and Sorrow belongs, originated around 1600 in the region of Apeldoorn. This cycle contains hundreds of stories belonging to Jewish heritage in the Netherlands that have not been told in the Netherlands for many years.
The venue is in Veldhoven, Netherlands, details sent on booking.
Provisional timetable:
- 10am Gather at the venue
- 10.30-1pm Storytelling
- 1pm Lunch
- 2-3pm Storytelling
- 3-6pm Break / Free time
- 6pm Dinner
- 7.30-9.30pm Storytelling
Bookings and enquiries to: [email protected]