WLG: Rabbi Schachar Orenstein

Titled, Israeli Music: Old and New, Rabbi Orenstein's presentation was divided into two parts. Through song, our feelings of grief, fear, anger were recognized in part one. As Rabbi Orenstein noted, so many songs have emerged from the numerous adversities Israel has faced. Each song has a history, relates a tale, reflects our emotions, and constitutes a prayer. Recognizing those composite features of Israeli music, one radio station in Israel has devoted its programming to call-in requests. As the individual grieves and prays, he is joined by the citizens of Israel who share his pain. The heart-wrenching first part of this session began with Bring Him Home from Les Misérables sung by two Israeli opera singers. The lyrics and music alone sufficed to render this song a tearful prayer but by showing photos of children who have been taken hostage by Hamas, the song struck the depths of our sorrow.
A traditional prayer from Tehillot titled Acheinu followed. With lyrics such as, “All who are distressed and in captivity........May God have mercy on you”, the prayer expressed the essence of our hope. Then the broad-ranged voice of 18-year-old Hannah Orenstein took us to another timeless prayer, Shma Elohai. In response to the lynching of two Israeli soldiers in 2007, cultural icon, Sarit Haddad, composed and popularized this song. Set to a new melody, its lyrics ease the heartache by reminding us that God hears the heart's cry, the soul's scream.
Once our deep sadness and prayers were expressed, Rabbi Orenstein moved us to the second part of a session that focused on dealing with the trauma of this war that struck Israel on two holy days, Simchat Torah and Shabbat. Truly encouraging was the clip we then watched in which the testimony of a young Bedouin Israeli woman whose impressive academic credentials she proclaimed are a result of Israel's mandatory education law for all children, attested to the equal rights enjoyed by all of Israel's citizens in this lone Mid-East democracy.
Katan Aleynu exemplifies tiny Israel's bold approach to adversity. Forty Israeli singers and musicians came together to boost morale when the pandemic known as Covid-19 disastrously affected the entire country. In another clip, Cantor Eyal Bitton, accompanied by professional singer, wife Michele Tredger, put a medley of songs together within the framework of Katan Aleynu.
Steered, perhaps unconsciously, by ancient Jewish wisdom, the lyrics of the framing song defiantly profess that the nation will overcome all obstacles and then tops that conviction with declarations of gratitude for all that life has given its people. This theme continues with the beloved song, Al Kol Elech, an acceptance of all that is bitter as well as all that is sweet.
All of this session's incredible songs reflect the connection between the personal and the collective as well as faith in a Divine Presence. God is central to Naomi Shemer's 1973 Yom Kippur War prayer expressed in yet another classic, Lu Yehi, or All We Pray For. Inspired by the Beatles' Let It Be, Shemer ultimately changed the lyrics except for the refrain. From the Beatles' personal plea, Shemer's lyrics imparts both a personal and a communal plea, asking that, “all we pray for, may it be”.
IDF chief cantor, Hazan Shai Abramson, sang a prayer for Israel's soldiers followed by the contemporary classic song of praise, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. This last song, Rabbi
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Orenstein informed us, written before the Six-Day War, is Israel's best-known song as a response to war.
Rabbi Orenstein's mother, who resides in the border town of Ashkelon but has recently taken refuge in California, sent the clip of the IDF's chief cantor insisting it be a part of this presentation. The clip brought to mind the uniqueness of Israel's army whose protection is prayed for by an IDF cantor. With background pictures of soldiers singing with the cantor, praying, and gun-toting, this clip was made especially for this latest of Israel's wars. We thank Geveret Orenstein for sharing this inspiring clip with us.
Lastly, and once again in a song full of hope, was Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah. This proud and potent lyrical statement shown in a clip that also shows Am Israel Hai inscribed onto Israeli flags, brought Rabbi Orenstein's presentation to an end, an end that reminded us of Jewish hope and the Jewish belief in the sanctity of life.
Gigi Bitton for the WLG

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Great session. Amazing session. You made us feel better and this is the purpose of this session. We never have enough of your meaningful and warm company. Thank you Rabbi Orenstein