By Nate Feldman
On Sunday afternoon, I watched a livestream
performance of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a group of Palestinian and Israeli
singers, as well as individuals from other backgrounds, from East and West
Jerusalem, at an event in Boston, Massachusetts. The event was a joint collaboration between
the Emmanuel Church and the Central Reform Temple in Boston.
The group of singers is currently touring the United
States and Canada as a part of “A Different Song” Tour. The purpose of the tour, and of the
organization as a whole, is to, as they put it, sing “for peace, justice,
inclusion and equality.” The singers
were accompanied by the Acapella group of Northeastern University.
In spite of the ongoing war between Israel and the
Palestinians in Gaza since October 7 of last year in which tens of thousands
have been killed, the singers have continued meeting and performing with one
another. Members of the choir mentioned
how their friendship and care for each other have helped them through difficult
times.
The songs at the event, sung in English, Arabic, and
Hebrew, focused on themes, such as love, togetherness, and ending conflict.
If you are interested in learning more about the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, visit their website at: www.jerusalemyouthchorus.org.
