ISRAELI MUSCIANS, from left, Nitzan Vigdorovich, Raviv Leibzirer and Noa Ayali perform for the Lions of Judah March 31 at the Portland home of Jeanne and Herb Newmark. On April 1, the Yarden Trio’s concert at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center launched the community’s “Portland Celebrates Israel at 60.” The May 1 Jewish Review will highlight Israel’s first 60 years and look at some Portlanders now living in Israel.
Soldier-musicians help Portlanders mark Israel’s 60th
By Deborah Moon
article created on:
“A beautiful night of celebration” featuring some of the “delightful cultural achievements of Israel” entertained and moved an audience of 150 people ranging from children to elders.
The April 1 Yarden Trio Concert at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center was the first event in a series of community activities in celebration of Israel at 60. Series chair Priscilla Kostiner said she heard from young and old that the concert was “wonderful…people loved it.”
“They are part of the military, yet they are here providing us with a beautiful concert,” said Kostiner.
The April 1 concert included selections by Franz Joseph Haydn and Johannes Brahms, as well as works based on Jewish musical folklore.
Violinist Nitzan Vigdorovich, pianist Raviv Leibzirer and cellist Noa Ayali are part of the Israel Defense Force’s special program for excellent musicians. The trio continues to study music at the Buchman-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv while they fulfill their service obligations. As part of their U.S. tour, the trio stopped in Portland, where they were hosted by Vigdorovich’s aunt Lauren Botney.
As the concert ended, an audience member asked if they would play one more song—“Hatikva,” Israel’s national anthem—a request to which they readily assented.
“It was a beautiful, moving conclusion to the concert,” said Kostiner. “People had tears in their eyes.”
“They loved playing ‘Hatikva,’” said Botney. “They were surprised there were tears in the audience. It’s part of their everyday life so they don’t see it from the American side.”
Earlier that afternoon, the trio “warmed up” by performing for Portland Jewish Academy students, where Vigdorovich’s cousins Jessica Botney and Lana Botney are in fifth and third grade, respectively.
Sponsored by the MJCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the evening concert was the first in a series of events planned in Portland this year to celebrate Israel’s first 60 years.
The community is invited to a free Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration at the MJCC May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
“I hope the numbers will grow as we continue to celebrate this whole year,” said Kostiner. “I’m thrilled there are so many missions with people going to Israel to celebrate … and the number of people who will be celebrating here.
The trio also performed during a March 31 brunch for the Lions of Judah, women who have pledged $5,000 or more to the JFGP annual campaign.