Welcome

The Zamir Choral Foundation, created by Matthew Lazar, promotes Jewish choral music as a vehicle to inspire Jewish life, culture and continuity. Building on the success of the Zamir Chorale, the first modern Hebrew-singing chorus in North America, Mr. Lazar sought an expansive vision that went beyond the activities of any single choir - one that fostered Jewish identity across generational and denominational lines. Today, through extensive programming, education, sponsorships and special events, the Zamir Choral Foundation is at the core of an ever-growing network of Jewish choirs, singers and music which has helped create the only Foundation of its kind devoted to Jewish choral music. The Zamir Choral Foundation is creating a new world of Jewish music, musicians and culture for today and the future. 

The Zamir Choral Foundation's mission is fulfilled by:

• Unifying and training the leaders and singers of the Jewish choral movement
• Fostering Jewish commitment through Jewish choral singing
• Strengthening Jewish identity in teens through a network of high school choral ensembles
• Commissioning and premiering new Jewish choral works
• Creating dynamic, cutting-edge Jewish music programming
• Organizing Israel trips and missions for more than three decades
• Appearing in prime concert venues throughout the US and Insrael
  

The projects of the Zamir Choral Foundation are:

• The North American Jewish Choral Festival
• Hazamir: The National Jewish High School Choir
• The Jeanne R. Mandell Endowment
• The Zamir Chorale
• Zamir Choral Foundation Missions To Israel
• Special Programs, Conferences, and the National Jewish Chorale

Read this great piece from the New York Jewish Week by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik on the Foundation and HaZamir

A Rabbi’s World: Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, Forest Hills Jewish Center

Adar in a Season of Discontent…

What Music Can Do…

In addition to my work as a pulpit rabbi in Forest Hills, I wear a number of different communal hats, none more proudly than that of a vice-president of the Zamir Choral Foundation.

Most people know of the Zamir Chorale, which has been in existence since the 1960’s; I myself sang with Zamir during my college and graduate school days.  Since then, what was an intercollegiate Zionist choral group singing Jewish choral music has evolved into a foundation that spawns multiple expressions of that same musical and ideological commitment.  In addition to the Zamir Chorale, there is now an annual (wildly successful) North American Jewish Choral Festival that brings hundreds of singers together every summer, the regular commissioning of new music from the very best Jewish composers both here and in Israel, frequent “choral missions” to Israel, and, of course, concerts and recording projects.

But for my money, worthy though all these projects are, the jewel in the crown of the Zamir Choral Foundation is Hazamir- a network of high school choruses that brings Jewish teens of all (and no) denominational stripes together around their love of Jewish music and passion for Israel.  Once a year, all the Hazamir groups from around the country- and the Israeli Hazamir!- gather together for a joint concert.  If you want to believe in the Jewish future, that concert is a place that you want to me.  It is a multi-tissue event.

Recently, my very dear friend Matthew Lazar, the founder and director of the Zamir Choral Foundation, traveled to Israel and spent time rehearsing the Israeli Hazamir group.  His wonderful wife Vivian, who has, in her own right, given countless hours to the cause of Hazamir, was with him.  During those rehearsals, alumni of Israel’s Hazamir who had participated in last year’s joint concert here in the States stopped by to check in with them.  Most of them were seniors in high school last year, which means that they are now in the Israeli army, having joined just in time to participate in Operation Oferet Yetzuka in Gaza.  Some introduction to Tzahal…

One of these alumni- a young man named Nadav- told Matthew and Vivian an amazing and moving story that- if I might say so- sings to the glory of Hazamir, and its remarkable success.

While he was fighting in Gaza under circumstances that were too difficult for him to talk about, Nadav said that what kept running through his head was David Berger’s Tefilah - a stirring and beautiful setting of the official prayer for the state of Israel that has become an unofficial anthem of the international Jewish choral movement.  No concert is complete without that song being sung as an encore.  Nadav learned it, and sang it, last year.

What Nadav said was that his trip to America last year, and his experience with the other Hazamir teens, had made him realize that Israel is not alone, and that there really are Americans who feel Israel deeply in their souls, and support her.  That knowledge sustained him in battle- and that realization came to him only after meeting American teens in Hazamir and singing its repertoire that so celebrates Israel.

The story alone brings tears to my eyes, but having sung Tefilah countless times, I can appreciate it even more.  That’s what Hazamir is about at its best- the remarkable fusion of great music, passion for Israel, and social networking that expands horizons.  Nadav’s story is a great Jewish success… and a testament to the power of music.Hazamir will be in concert here in Manhattan on Sunday evening March 22, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom.  You can learn more about them, and the Zamir Choral Foundation, at www.zamirfdn.org.  If you’re looking for inspiration in difficult times, that concert is a great, great place to be.

Special thanks to The New York Jewish Week for allowing us to reprint this article (and to Rabbi Skolnik for writing it!)

www.thejewishweek.com

Read Rabbi Skolnik's blog weekly at:

http://weekly-rabbi.com/

Upcoming Events:

July 12-16, 2009

20th Annual North American Jewish Choral Festival

at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, NY

Join hundres of music lovers as you revel in the joys of Jewish choral music.  Our renowned teaching staff will enlighten, inspire and entertain you with a ful spectrum of Jewish music experiences, including:

• Daily Community Sings conducted by some of the greatest talents in Jewish music
• "Instant Ensembles" for all singing participants led by acclaimed conductors
• Evening Concerts featuring outstanding vocal ensembles, choruses and soloists
• Workshops and seminars on topics ranging from sightsinging and vocal technique to choral repertoire, spirituality through music and much, much more

This year's 20th Annual North American Jewish Choral Festival has something for everyone. 

If you love Jewish music, you've got to be there!

Download NAJCF Brochure and Registration Form

Download NAJCF Hotel Reservation Form