The United Synagogue

Shabbaton Choir Experience Sderot Dangers During Solidarity Visit

PRESS RELEASE

London,
14th March 2008

SHABBATON CHOIR EXPERIENCE SDEROT DANGERS DURING SOLIDARITY VISIT

The Shabbaton Choir, in conjunction with the United Synagogue and the Office of the Chief Rabbi, visited Israel last week on their fifth �Solidarity though Song Mission.� There, they gained first-hand experience of the daily threat facing residents of Sderot when a kassam rocket landed just 400 metres away from the choristers on Thursday. Unscathed, the choir continued their tour of the town, performing a concert at the community centre, and enjoying a performance from a choir of twelve boys aged 5 to 13, who had their first opportunity in months to sing in front of a visiting group.

The all-male choir, led by musical director Stephen Levey, arrived in Israel on March 4th for the annual �Solidarity Through Song� mission, sponsored by the Ziff family and UJIA. They were joined by fellow chorister, Dr. Simon Hochhauser, President of the United Synagogue, and later in the week, by The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks together with Lady Sacks.

The choir came to Israel together with Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld, chazzan and rabbi of Western Marble Arch Synagogue, New York chazzan Shimon Craimer, chazzan of Edgware United Synagogue Jonny Turgel, and young soloist Eli Baigel, aged 12, who added an extra-special dimension to the mission.

For the first time, the choir focused its efforts in the south of the country as a gesture of solidarity with the residents of the region, who are currently under unrelenting attacks from kassam rockets. The mission included visits to schools, hospitals, care homes and soup kitchens in towns such as Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be�er Sheva.

The choir�s voices brought smiles to the faces of the children and staff of Aleh Negev, a home for mentally and physically disabled children, and the residents of the Neve Landy Emunah Children�s Village in Even Shmuel. Other highlights included a visit to the Chazon Yishaya soup kitchen in Ashkelon, a special performance in Ashdod accompanied by the Ashdod Symphony Orchestra, and a poignant visit to the Soroka Hospital in Be�er Sheva, where during the concert, injured soldiers were admitted from the recent Gaza conflict.

The Choir spent a very special Shabbat in Herzliya, where they were joined by 300 others including the Chief Rabbi, members of the expatriate British community, TRIBE gap year students and JFS students who are staying at Kibbutz Lavi. The mission concluded with the launch of the US� & TRIBE�s 60 Days for 60 Years: Israel edition in Jerusalem on 9th March and a visit to Yeshivat Hakotel.

Dr Simon Hochhauser, President of United Synagogue and choir member commented: �Our tour of the South was an experience that I don�t think any of us will forget. It continues to amaze me how song can bring a smile to the face of a person even in the most difficult or traumatic of situations. We were honoured to have been welcomed so warmly by the organisatons we visited and I hope during these trying times, they will take comfort from the support of Anglo-Jewry.�

Peter Sheldon, President of the Shabbaton Choir and immediate past President of United Synagogue, commented: �I would encourage as many people as possible to visit the south of Israel and to play their own part in making a difference. Little did we know how close to direct fire we would come, but that was just one day and people live their whole lives here. By visiting places such as Sderot and Ashkelon and by entertaining the local people, we were able to bring comfort and support to those living under the constant threat of indiscriminate attacks.�

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