The Magnificat Institute is located in the Saint Saviour’s Convent compound in the Old City near the New Gate, allowing it to accept both Palestinians and Israelis as pupils and teachers. It is here that the Choir of the Custody of the Holy Land has its twice-weekly rehearsals. Formed in 1850, today’s choir unites Institute pupils with foreign volunteers who have come to the country to aid the various NGOs or religious institutions. It frequently performs in Saint Saviour’s Magnificat Hall, but on Saturday, December 30, it was in the New City, in the YMCA on the Israeli side, that it performed, together with the Alei Gefen Chorus, directed by Eli Gefen, from Tel Aviv. Created in Tel Aviv in 1990, Alei Gefen’s level of excellence has already brought to Europe on several occasions. Both choirs share the ambition of promoting tolerance and encounter between religions and peoples. It was with joy, then, that both performers and audience were brought together in their diversity, for and by the singing. Each choir performed separately, then both together, perfectly executing their repertoire of religious songs in Arabic, Latin, Hebrew and Russian. In the spirit of Christmas and Hanukah, peace seemed possible to those who came to sing and love together.
MAB
MAB