As time winds on and the security situation continues to hang heavily over us all, the need for tension breakers grows. The idea that culture and the arts can help to provide some respite from the seemingly interminable doom and gloom is gaining traction, as more cultural institutions and artists begin to roll out offerings for all age groups across the country.
Naturally, that includes evacuees from the South and the North, uprooted from their homes, many traumatized by horrific scenes they witnessed and loved ones lost, who are in need of some palliative fare more than anyone.
English playwright, poet, and – somehow – politician William Congreve (1670-1729) put it neatly into simple yet compelling words, in such a consumer-friendly turn of phrase: “Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Beit Avi Chai (BAC) took that notion on board some time ago and has been churning out entertainment and enlightenment of all kinds for years now, often with a Jewish traditional slant.
It prepared to jump on the current curative bandwagon very soon after news of the tragedy in the Gaza border communities erupted across the country and the world.
How is Beit Avi Chai helping?
David Rozenson, who has been at the helm of BAC for just over a decade, says it was clear from the outset that the institution should play to its strengths and focus on its singular added value. The well-kitted center on King George Avenue was not about to make do with corralling a bunch of leading lights of the domestic showbiz scene and dispatching them to various spots around the country. That, as Rozenson notes, has been done to great effect throughout all Israel’s military altercations since the founding of the state, featuring official IDF bands or stars of the national folk, pop, or rock scenes eager to help out. The name Leonard Cohen also springs to mind as a one-off overseas contribution, when the legendary Jewish Canadian troubadour came over here 50 years ago to join forces with the likes of local performers Matti Caspi and Oshik Levi in boosting the morale of Israeli troops in the Sinai during the Yom Kippur War.
The timing of the murderous Hamas attack, the ineffectual initial military and political responses, and the pall of dread that subsequently spread across the country conjure up shades of that unnerving shock wave of October 1973.
Rozenson and his staff were primed to step into the breach right after Simchat Torah. “As in all of Israel’s wars, culture is also ‘mobilized’ for the national effort,” the CEO notes. “A day after the tragedy of October 7, we immediately asked ourselves what unique role can Beit Avi Chai have as a leading cultural institution – as well as what role we don’t have – as a part of these efforts. In terms of the latter, organizing Israeli musicians to travel to the field and to hospitals to cheer soldiers, as important as it may be, is not something the BAC is needed for. So what is our focus?”
Anyone who has ever popped along to the downtown Jerusalem center over the years will know that BAC tends to keep its programmatic channels well spread, so Rozenson’s mention of a topic-centric nodal point may sound anathema to the institution’s stated raison d’être. Then again, tough times call for distilled dedicated intent and, basically, the activities and events that BAC has lined up for the near future ply a tried and proven track.
“What we are trying to focus on is that the Jewish spirit and inspiration that evolve from the Jewish cultural programs that we offer are precisely what is needed in these times,” says Rozenson. He believes that line of thought offers the requisite support and comfort and will help to keep us grounded and suitably fortified. “It encourages, provides hope, and gives context to the great Jewish/Israeli story for which we are fighting.”
That necessarily meant also addressing the needs of those most affected by the turmoil and savagery unleashed by Hamas. Rozenson says he and his team had that in their sights and aimed to lay on much-needed entertainment, elucidation, and release for all the people that were relocated to Jerusalem, in all age groups. The idea, he explains, was to proffer “assistance with, and the creation of, cultural support for the evacuees from the devastated cities in the South who are being housed in Jerusalem hotels, with an emphasis on families with children who find themselves without a framework.”
The executive director points out that BAC had the set-up tailored to fit the cultural, spiritual, and emotional bill, as well as the security regulation-compliant premises to house a multifarious roster of artists, and artistic and cultural items, for our pleasure and edification. “As the theater, where our plays for children take place, is four floors underground and fully protected – as are many other parts of the building – we are offering, free of charge, original plays, story hour, workshops for children and youth from the South and other programs.”
IT WASN’T just about facilitating some welcome downtime from the trying ongoing national state of affairs. The idea was to craft meaningful material and to feed off time-honored values and mores. It was, says Rozenson, very much a matter of tweaking existing vehicles and making the most of the gifted folk who were more than willing to help achieve the desired end result.
“Creating programs with inspirational content in this difficult time, Beit Avi Chai seeks to emphasize that the Jewish spirit will prevail and offers content that is filled with strength and hope. An example is the special Friday afternoon Kabbalot Shabbat, which takes place in the BAC courtyard, with specially chosen songs and presentations. Performing musicians include the Yagel Haroush Musical Ensemble [led by liturgical singer-kamanche player and vocalist] Shai Tsabari and [cellist-vocalist] Maya Belsitzman; speakers include educator and payyetan [liturgical singer] David Menahem, and educator and leader Tamar Elad Appelbaum.” Soviet-born, American-bred Rozenson, an ordained rabbi with a PhD in Russian literature, is also offering his own horizon-broadening services.
He says the institution aims to provide uplifting slots and, if possible, get the patrons in on the act as well. “The courtyard is full – in accordance with army regulations – and the crowd joins in song, and often in spontaneous dance as they sing together and listen to words of inspiration.”
The center also makes the most of virtual platforms to convey the cultural-current affairs viewpoint. “Another example is a Zoom series from the home of [pop and rock] radio personality Yoav Kutner, who interviews musicians, their reaction to current times, and acoustic performances of music often based on Jewish texts.” BAC regulars are no doubt familiar with Kutner’s long-running Stories in Mono series in which he interviews stars of the local pop, rock, folk, and ethnic firmament. The weekly slots continue on Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
Music, and the arts in general, will fuse with the present challenging zeitgeist with the launch of a new series called “Songs of Hope,” in which Israeli musicians and cultural personalities talk about their favorite songs of encouragement and strength. Another new initiative will include a Zoom/podcast series moderated by Prof. Liad Mudrik, a noted neuroscientist, who will speak to a range of professionals and cultural personalities about ways of dealing with the situation. And BAC’s popular podcast Mifleget Hamahshavot: Great Ideas Behind Israel Politics, with writer-philosopher Micah Goodman and religious feminist, attorney, and TV personality Efrat Shapira Rosenberg, is taping special episodes to address the situation and the underpinnings of Jewish thought.
There is more in the way of pleasurable enlightenment with an increase in what Rozenson neatly calls Jewish culture “edutainment” – a mix of educational and entertainment – and textual study in Hebrew, English, and Russian.
The weekly online Torah portion class, presented by Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, educator and popular rabbi of Jerusalem’s Kehilat Niztanim, continues. And on November 7 (6 p.m.), there will be a pertinent session called “Coping in Time of War,” with renowned Rabbi Avi Weiss. On November 12 (6 p.m.), in the Speech installment of the “Jewish Thought in Late Antiquity” series, Prof. Marc Hirshman from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will, on Zoom, explore the power of speech in rabbinic thought through the prism of neoplatonic philosophy.
There is plenty going on there for the younger crowd, too. BAC is expanding its palette of youth cultural programs, either in person or online, with writing and photography workshops, Jewish study texts sessions, and programs addressing ways to deal with the current situation.
“At the moment, we have more than 80 children, many from the South, participating in the BAC play for children, and a special pre-play program that we created for children to be able to play, participate in special sessions of Pilates, arts and crafts and story time,” says Rozenson. “It all takes place in our underground theater, it is free of charge, and is really something to see.”
Adults can gain their own handle on some seasoned texts when Prof. Galit Hasan-Rokem, who specializes in folklore at the Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies of the Hebrew University, takes an immersive look at the ways in which stories and storytelling serve as a highly developed artistic and intellectual tool. Her lecture series goes by the intriguing name of “The Familiar and Alien in Ancient Tales of the Land of Israel.” The five-parter covers such elemental topics as life and death in literature, women in the Temple, and natural childbirth.
Hopefully, at least some of the Beit Avi Chai offerings will help to reduce the anxiety level and possibly even produce a smile or two. Free parking is provided for patrons. ❖
For more information: www.bac.org.il
