Thursday, January 24, 2013

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places - Japanese Hebrew Choir in Kyoto


Last week's post of a Chinese chorus singing Yiddish and Hebrew songs in Hong Kong got such a positive response that we just had to share the songs of another choir 1,500 miles across the East China Sea in Kyoto, Japan.

We don't know if the choir of Beit Shalom in Kyoto sings in Yiddish, but their Hebrew singing is beautiful. Beit Shalom (House of Peace) is the headquarters of the Japanese Christian Friends of Israel. The group is well known for its choir, the Shinome (Dawn) Chorus, which sings Israeli and Japanese songs and has traveled to Israel, Europe, and the United States. The group's main ideology centers on support for Israel and includes prayers for the coming of the Messiah. 

Rather than encourage conversion to Christianity, the group emphasizes peace between peoples. Ehud Olmert visited Beit Shalom when he was the mayor of Jerusalem. Jews and Israelis are specifically welcome to stay at Beit Shalom for up to three nights free of charge.

In this video, the Beit Shalom choir sings Lalechet Shevi Acharaich, an Israeli song by Ehud Manor made popular by the singer Ilanit, and Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold). In between these two songs they sing another, which we have not been able to identify. The first reader who correctly identifies the middle song will receive a Kindle edition (ebook) of Jewish Humor on Your Desktop: Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)  



3 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. We have a winner! The song is "Or". Here are the lyrics: http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=or.

      Here is a link to Shoshana Damari singing it on a YouTube video clip:
      http://youtu.be/7KxpbrQNJFc

      Yonina, if you want to claim your ebook, Kindle edition of Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places, please send your email address to me at akustan@gmail.com.
      Kol HaKavod for identifying this song for us!

      Delete
  2. how beautifu..........gorgeous and haunting voices.

    ReplyDelete