Singing Rabin's praises

Ten years after his death, Yitzhak Rabin and his life's work remain far from forgotten.

By ANNA TRUMAN
itzhak rabin 88 (photo credit: )
itzhak rabin 88
(photo credit: )
Soon after Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, composer Dubi Zeltzer wrote a five-part musical composition commemorating the prime minister's life and goal of achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East. Ten years after his death, Yitzhak Rabin and his life's work remain far from forgotten. Throughout November, ceremonies will be held around the world marking the life and death of the former prime minister. On Thursday, November 3, Zeltzer's tribute will be performed under the direction of conductor Leon Botstein by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Tel Aviv Philharmonic and the Academy Conservatory's Ankor Choir. The concert will feature a melange of symphonic and vocal performances by soloists Sharon Rostorf-Zamir, Chaya Samir, Karin Schifrin and Yotam Cohen, and will be held at 8:30 p.m. in the Jerusalem Theater's Henry Crown Hall. Zeltzer's composition is a five-part series drawn from the traditional prayers and liturgies chanted during Jewish burial ceremonies and on days of memorial, including El Male Rahamim, Hallel, the Kaddish and Oseh Shalom. According to Zeltzer, the music is not meant to evoke the sadness of losing a leader, but to hail the memory of a man whose work brought Israel closer to peace. "The composition is not just a prayer or memorial, not just a sad elegy and heart-jerker - it is a song of praise for the achievements of Yitzhak Rabin's life and for the accomplishments of the State of Israel," Zeltzer said. "It is a song of praise to the man who will forever remain a symbol of the vision he held. This is a salute to a man, to a father, to a nation, and to a beloved leader." Zeltzer wrote the music together with Dr. Shalom Razbi, a poet and expert on Jewish history and heritage. The concert is being sponsored by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and will be free of charge. The auditorium will close once capacity is reached. To make reservations in advance, call the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at 1-700-704-000.