❤ Building Bridges Through Music in Jerusalem

An article in short stories

Audition to the IDF orchestra
Our eldest daughter Maya has an audition coming up next week to join the army’s orchestra. That is a high for us, a family of Greek Olim, descendants of Holocaust survivors who owe our existence to interfaith cooperation and solidarity. Both my father’s and my husband’s mother’s family were saved hiding as Christians in Athens. Maya has practiced music from the womb. At the time I was pregnant with her I was taking -along with my husband Elias- voice lessons with an amazing American teacher Melissa Mott. And Melissa and Maya met again this week seventeen years later to practice towards Maya’s upcoming audition. Their session had an amazing chemistry and energy to it, bringing it all full circle, from the womb to today.

Jerusalem Tolerance Week
I got an invitation by my friend Lilly Halperin to join her lecture on Tolerance and Music in the framework of the Jerusalem Tolerance Week. The event took place at one of Jerusalem’s jems, the Louis and Tillie Alpert Youth Music Center in the Hinnom Valley headed by Roni Glas. Lilly who heads the Emet Center for Tolerance promotes teaching methods and tools that counteract the phenomena of exclusion, violence and racism, to children and young adults. Lots of young kids from the city attended the event and the musical inerludes on the piano by Zeev Toren were making Lilly’s point, on how music can heal and bridge, visible on the spot.

Musical Kabbalat Shabbat at Nava Tehila
Bracha (Barbara) Goldsmith a favorite astrologer I have been following on YouTube visited Jerusalem. The minute we met in person, I sensed meeting a good old friend. And as a good old friend I offered to immerse Bracha, to a musical Shabbat celebration in Jerusalem led by Rav Ruth Gan Kagan. A former pianist in training and a sensitive soul I knew Bracha would enjoy the vibe of weaving bridges through song that Rav Ruth is a master of. Indeed, Barbara rejoiced in this musical Kabbalat Shabbat, and danced and sang and blended her energy in the interfaith, communal bridging that Rav Ruth weaves in these circles of song that connect you to source and community through song.

Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love at the Jerusalem Cinematheque
My husband Elias and I went on a date to the Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love documentary  screened at the Jerusalem Cinematheque this week. We are both fans of Cohen’s music and sing it at home with our girls. The Greek island of Hydra and its artistic scene in the 60s’ was also part of the movie’s pull as Hydra has been our family’s favorite vacation spot for short winter weekends. The film was about the relationship between the poet, singer and musician Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen, his muse with whom Cohen shared a deep connection to the end of their days. And their love story expressed in the lyrics of the So long, Marianne song has touched millions!

The Jerusalem International Oud festival 21-30 November
The Jerusalem International Oud festival under the artistic direction of Effie Benaya, Confederation House’s director is celebrating its 20th year. The ultimate bridge building event connecting musical traditions from east and west, exposing Israeli audiences to artists from Armenia, Greece, Kurdistan, and Turkey. The festival’s aim is to create a dialogue across geographical and cultural borders, particulartly between Islam and Judaism. This year the festival hosts my favorite Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti,  thanks to Bracha Cohen Greek productions in Israel. Protopsalti not only has a strong captivating voice but also an unforgettable stage presence. Together with Estoudiantina Neas Ionias Orchestra, they will take us on a journey, a feast of sounds and rhythms to Constantinople (Istanbul) and Smyrna, (Izmir) from the Rebetiko of Pireaus, to a diversity of sounds from the Mediterranean and the Balkan cultures. Artistic director is Andreas Katsigiannis. The crystal clear voice of Alkistis Protopsalti will be the grand finale event of the oud festival celebrations and will take place on Saturday November 30 at 9pm at the Sherover Theatre in Jerusalem. Tickets can be purchased through Bimot at *6226 and 02 6237000.

Jerusalem boasts a unique musical tapestry weaved by Jerusalemites from east and west uniting us all through song! We rejoice in walking on these bridges daily, traversing the bridges connecting cultures, to meet those on the other side!

From Jerusalem with love,

Yvette Nahmia-Messinas