In celebration of Israel's 50th

Hillel trip takes University students, staff to Philly for festivities

PHILADELPHIA -- The lyrics of the songs were memorized, stamped indelibly into the minds of the 16,000 people who attended the once-in-a-lifetime concert.

So, when The Philadelphia Orchestra launched the rousing start of the national anthem Saturday night in the CoreStates Center, it was not surprising to hear the sold-out crowd respond with the familiar "O, say can you see."

Yet this was not the beginning of a sports event at the center, home to the city's professional basketball and hockey teams. This night was different. The crowd stood for two national anthems to celebrate a half-century anniversary.

An earful of those voices -- about 40 -- came from high in the mezzanine section. There, far removed from the famous faces on stage, but not from the music in the air, University students and staff joined the anthem chorus to kick off Hear, O Israel, a special concert commemorating 50 years of the state of Israel.

On the trip to Philadelphia, Tuvia Abramson, executive director of Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, sponsor of the trip, explained that the independent state of Israel was established May 14, 1948.

Although anniversary celebrations will go on throughout the year, Saturday's concert would be the biggest and only one of its kind, Abramson said.

"The beauty of the event tonight is we celebrate the culture and achievements of Israel," he said. "So many times we hear about the conflicts, but here we have the Jewish community coming together to celebrate 50 years of the Jewish state."

Relaxing in a window seat, Sahrye Cohen (freshman-wildlife and fisheries science) attempted to put the significance of the anniversary into words.

"This is such a huge milestone," she said. "The fact that there is this Jewish state and it has survived for 50 years. It could have been obliterated several times already, but it has survived."

Nimoy made preliminary introductions and explained that the concert would be broadcast to 15 other cities, thus proving "there is life in other parts of the universe."

Following Nimoy, the low, extended wail of 50 ram horns filled the otherwise silent arena as the ancient art of blowing the horns commemorated the anniversary.

An especially touching segment, viewed on enormous video screens above the audience, documented the life of David Arben, Philadelphia's associate concertmaster emeritus. He was the only member of his Polish family to live through World War II. He survived by playing violin for his captors.

Actor Richard Dreyfuss feigned conducting as he introduced, for the first time in history, the unification of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Crooner Tony Bennett and his swinging four-piece band got the audience snapping and tapping.

"He's got so much class," said Stacey Feuer (senior-communications disorders), referring to Bennett. "He's the epitome of class."

However, the climax of the evening did not arrive until the last performance.

At nearly 11 p.m., one woman with one acoustic guitar strode to the circular, center stage. She was introduced as Shuly Nathan, and she began a quietly stirring folk song called "Jerusalem of Gold."

The song has a special place in the hearts of Israelis, explained Abramson, because it was a hymn that uplifted and unified the spirit of the country during the war of 1967.

Slowly, as the song progressed to its chorus, the audience began to sing aloud until the entire arena was again filled with the strong voices and emotions of a people united.

"We all came together to celebrate the anniversary of a place all Jews consider their home," explained Scott Horowitz (freshman-computer engineering) after the concert. "The concert gave the audience a sense of what it is like to be in Israel and hold Israel in their hearts."