Oregonians to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday

By Anne Koppel Conway

Israel is turning 60 in 2008 and Oregonians will be joining the celebration in all sorts of ways, said Priscilla Kostiner, chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Israel Series. Through the Series, the federation will be sponsoring multi-pronged public programs with varying focuses.

A great way to start out the Series is with Yarden, “a wonderful classical trio” from Israel, Kostiner said. The young Sabras, each 20 years old, are studying at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv and have played together for a year. They also serve together in the Israel Defense Forces as musicians in the army’s Excellent Musicians unit.

The concert will be held April 1 at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center.

In 2006, Yarden cellist Noa Ayali toured Europe and the United States with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra led by Maestro Daniel Barenboim. The orchestra, formed as a humanitarian effort, brings young musicians from Israel and all Arab countries together where they are linked by the universal language of music. At the same time, they can freely and openly express themselves while hearing what others have to say.
   
Yarden’s Nitzan Vigdorovich has been playing the violin since age 6. With a full scholarship, she attended the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Mich., and has won the Israel-American Cultural Foundation scholarships each year since 2003.
   
Yarden’s pianist Raviv Leibzirer won second place in the Tel Hai International Piano Master Classes competition in 2005. He later played as a soloist with the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Letzion, one of Israel’s leading orchestras.
   
Other programs for the evolving Israel Series will focus on six decades of Israel’s achievements in technology, medicine, agriculture, economics and architecture.
   
Another series thrust will be the Israeli society and the role it played in in-gathering of exiles. Talks will include the challenges immigrants face and the roles played by Diaspora Jews.
   
In addition, the federation is planning a town hall style event where people can share their personal reflections and memories of Israel and what it means to them.
   
From April 30 to May 14, the federation is planning a community mission to Israel.
   
Since events are being planned all over the state, the federation plans to develop a list of local and statewide activities.
   
“We want to get an idea of who’s planning what—lectures, concerts, movies, missions to Israel—so we can build a calendar,” Kostiner said, so hopefully no one will have to choose between a lecture and a concert.
   
To list 60th birthday events, contact Laurie Rogoway, JFGP campaign director, at 503-245-6473 or laurie@jewishportland.org.