To mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, on Sunday August 26th KKL-JNF Argentina organized a concert featuring the famous Israeli singer and musician Idan Raichel at the Coliseo Theater in Buenos Aires, before an audience of 1,800.
Lilaj festival in Argentina. Photo: KKL-JNF
The hall was filled to capacity and the expectant audience – men and women, young and old – enjoyed an excellent two-hour show that exceeded all expectations.
The event began with the screening of greetings from Danny Atar and Hernan Felman, respectively World Chairman and Vice Chairman of KKL-JNF. Both spoke about current projects and the work that the organization has done over the course of the past 117 years.
They then greeted officials and leaders of the KKL-JNF delegation active in Argentina and praised the work that they do. In his message, Atar said: “We are one people and we are all part of the tremendous efforts made by KKL-JNF.” He also referred to the need to fight against the new anti-Semitism, which disguises itself as anti-Zionism, and against those who advocate for the destruction of the State of Israel.
During his speech, Hernan Felman spoke about the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, which he described as a state of “achievements and miracles” that promotes endeavors in which we take pride.
Both Atar and Felman expressed their thanks to the volunteer leaders of KKL-JNF Argentina, which is chaired by Ulises Teitelbaum, and to the professional staff, under the leadership of Executive Director Esteban Lasry.
President of KKL Argentina Ulises Taitelbaum thanked the audience for coming to celebrate the occasion, and added, “Thirty years ago, I stood here on this same stage. I was a ten-year-old kid, and I was about to sing in Hebrew at the HaZemer Festival organized by KKL-JNF. My parents and grandparents were sitting here; today they are no longer with me, but the roots and the values of the Jewish people are still here. I imagine that many of you have a similar story, and that’s why we are here now celebrating the 70th anniversary of the State, and are about to listen to Idan’s beautiful songs, which are the teachings of a culture of integrity.”
Taitelbaum expressed special thanks to the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina, H.E. Ilan Sztulman, the Egyptian Ambassador H.E. Amin Meleika and President of KKL-JNF Uruguay Alejandro Weiz for their presence. He also thanked Jaime Jacubovich, who was awarded the Yom Yerushalayim Prize for his continuing collaboration.
Taitelbaum likewise expressed his gratitude to KKL-JNF Israel for the trust they have placed in him, and paid tribute to all the volunteers who collaborate with the organization and to KKL-JNF Argentina staff, with a special mention of the new emissary Hezi Carp.
After this formal introduction, the members of the Ensemble 21 orchestra took the stage to accompany the remarkable star of the show, along with Andres Rotmistrovsky (electric bass), Tomas Babjaczuk (drums) and singers Maya Avraham, Yahalon David and Marta Gomes. A few minutes later Idan Raichel and musical director Ezequiel Silberstein joined them on stage, and for almost two hours, Idan Raichel captivated his audience with songs in both Hebrew and English. He accompanied himself on the piano and introduced many of his songs by explaining what had inspired him to compose them.
The following day KKL-JNF Argentina continued the celebration with its traditional Li-lach Festival. Over nine hundred students from twenty-three institutions belonging to the Jewish School Network, together with fifty high-school students from the Uruguayan Jewish Integral School (Escuela Integral Hebreo Uruguaya), participated in three performances. The 35th KKL-JNF Li-Lach Festival, which was organized by KKL, took place on August 27th and 28th at the Teatro Coliseo (Coliseo Theater) in Buenos Aires. Over five thousand people attended the three performances.
Students from the following schools participated in the 35th Li-Lach Festival: Akim, Bami - Marc Chagall, Bet School, Menahem Mendel Tabacinic Educational Center – Wolfsohn School, Toratenu Education Center, Iona School, Tarbut School, Bereshit School, Arlene Fern Community School, Integral School of Uruguay, J. N. Bialik La Plata School, Martin Buber School, Scholem Aleichem School, Tel Aviv School and Community, Hamakom Sheli - Martin Buber School, Ilan School by Wolfsohn, Bet El Institute, J.N. Bialik Devoto, Maimonides, Natan Gesang International School, R. Iosef Caro Primary School, Shaarei Sion, Weisman Educational Community and Yeshurun Torah.
On Tuesday August 28th, KKL-JNF Argentina inaugurated a new area dedicated to kindergarten children, which enabled them to attend the play “Ecocuentos Reciclasicos” (“Ecotales Recyclassics”). On this occasion, nine hundred children from ten schools participated in the first pilot of this project that will grow over the years.
The final event was the Second Keren Dorot festival, at which seventeen groups of adults danced on the stage of the Coliseo Theater in a nearly two-hour-long choreographed allegorical performance to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. A thousand people flocked to the theater free of charge to attend this KKL-JNF event, which has already become a tradition. The space was designed to allow adult rikudim groups to perform one dance each, and so enable them to take part in the KKL-JNF festivals every year.
The KKL-JNF Argentina festivals in numbers:
8000 people were in attendance.
1,800 people enjoyed the performance by Idan Raichel and Ensemble 21.
900 children danced at the Li-Lach Festival.
800 children took part in “Ecocuentos Reciclasicos” (“Ecotales Recyclassics”).
320 dancers took part in the Keren Dorot Festival.
41 institutions participated in the festivals.
6 performances were all sold out.
One common goal: to continue planting the seeds of life.
Chag Sameach Israel!