This past week, a historical event took place in Abu Dhabi. In 1945, the nascent Palestine Symphony Orchestra (now the Israel Philharmonic) performed a concert in Cairo, at the time a hub of culture and the arts. It was to be the last time they would play a concert in an Arab country for nearly 80 years- until this week. At the Emirates Palace, the Israel Philharmonic performed a concert organized by the UAE Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Israel’s first lady Michal Herzog. Under the baton of music director Lahav Shani, who was also the piano soloist, the orchestra performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto #23, and Gustav Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 1, the Titan. You can live the historical magic, and see Hatikvah played on the stage of a concert in the UAE, by viewing the concert here.
Rabbi’s Recommendation One of the most ubiquitous songs of Chanukah is the catchy Al Hanissim that we sing so often (also on Purim). Did you ever wonder who composed it, and how it became so popular? Watch this video (in Hebrew), about how a YU student named Dov Frimer (now Professor Dov Frimer, an attorney in Israel), a member of the band Shivat Tzion, composed the tune, which was then performed at a Chassidic Song Festival by Yizhar Cohen, a star of several Eurovision competitions.
MSOTW
This shul is known for several illustrious men and women who davened here, from the same family. On Shabbat, the only devices run by electricity are several air conditioners run on generator power. Name the shul, several people who davened here and, for extra points, why the shul does not employ electricity on Shabbat.
Last MSOTW
Congratulations again to Perrin White for correctly identifying the shul as the Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills, the flagship synagogue of the Persian community in Los Angeles. The Senior Rabbi, David Shofet, is the son of the former Chief Rabbi of Iran, Haham Yedidya Shofet, who lived in Los Angeles as well in his final years. Congratulations to Janice Schwarz for identifying the Aron Kodesh as a replica of the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam.
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
