The trip to Jerusalem to attend a concert given by the Collegium Chamber Choir was well timed – Sunday evening, August 29 Tu B’Av – the festival of love. Most of the group of 52 boarded the bus in Raanana at 5.30 p.m while the others were picked up in Tel Aviv and Modiin. Two hours later we arrived at the university where some of the group had never been before. We had viewed the Mount of Olives from different parts of the city such as the Jerusalem promenade and had admired this university from afar. Before the start of the concert, we were shown an exhibition of large beautiful, photographs of Israeli scenes, each clearly labeled. The French windows in this room opened onto a balcony from which we enjoyed a gorgeous view of Jerusalem.

The concert was in an auditorium which seats 600. The backdrop of the stage is comprised of large windows through which the arches along the balcony can be seen and through them, the magnificent view of the city of Jerusalem all lit up. A pianist accompanied a small choir of 25 male and female singers ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens. The accoustics in the auditorium were excellent. The singers were dressed à la orchestra style: the females all in black and the males in black trousers, white shirts and wearing ties. Unlike singers in some other Israeli choirs where the men all wear the same color tie, each male in the Collegium Chamber Choir had a different color. So apart from just listening, viewing was also pleasant.

A brief explanation of each song was given in English by choir member Orly Houminer, a mezzo-soprano who was born in the USA. The program consisted of Lieder – German songs by Felix Mendelssohn – and Hebrew songs with the lyrics of a traditional prayer “Elohai Zidki”, a Sabbath prayer “L’cha dodi”, bible words of Solomon “The Words of the Kohelet Son of David” and modern Israeli poems by the famous Natan Alterman, Chana Senesh and Alexander Pen. The music composed by Israeli composers had the harmonics of the choir arranged by the marvelous conductor, Professor Avner Itai. He is a charming, goodlooking senior citizen who has been awarded many prizes for his choral activities and education in Israel. With two of his choirs he has toured the USA, Europe and Australia, and has also conducted most of the local orchestras in Israel. He has founded two choirs, one being the Tel Aviv Collegium Chamber Choir which we heard at this concert. His harmonics for mezzo-sopranos, altos, tenors and baritones were superb.

Pianist Ruth Zori’s successful musical history was superbly reflected by her style of accompaniment. Three of the choir members also performed as soloists and were divine both to hear and to look at. They were Tanya Bertier, a mezzo-soprano who immigrated from the Ukraine in 1995, Peter Simpson, a baritone who came from England in 2006 and a third singer (mezzo-soprano) who was not named.

All the composers in this concert were Jews. Felix Mendelssohn refused to go along with his parents and give up being Jewish. He always destroyed his concert programs with the converted name, “Bartholdy” and he had the programs reprinted with his real name,

Esra trips and events are so well organized. Many of the same people participate frequently, so we have really got to know each other and enjoy seeing each other regularly.