Ephraim Abileah
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1881
Ephraim Abileah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leo Nieświżski 1881 |
| Died | 1953 (aged 71–72) Haifa, Israel |
Ephraim Abileah (Hebrew: אפרים אביליה; 1881–1953) was a Russian-born Israeli composer. He is best known for composing the widely-used tune for the Ma Nishtana portion of the Passover Haggadah.
Ephraim Abileah was born in the Russian Empire in 1881 as Leo Nieświżski,[note 1] and was the son of a ḥazzan. He was among the founders of the Society for Jewish Folk Music in St Petersburg,[1] and was one of three representatives who successfully presented the case for the Society's legalization in November 1908. He married Miriam Mosabowski in Warsaw,[2] and the couple moved to Vienna, where he taught and composed music.[3]
In 1922, motivated by Zionist convictions, he and his brother Arie left Russia for Mandatory Palestine, travelling via Egypt.[4][5] The family settled in Haifa, where Abileah opened a music store.[3] He died there in 1953.[4]