Concerts in Israel

I realized this week that I have forgotten to share with you two free concerts we have attended over the last few weeks. One was an organ concert in Our Savior Catholic Church in the Old City. What a beautiful sanctuary with a huge pipe organ in the front of the church. We were blessed to hear an organist from the Conservatory of Music in Moscow. He played Bach and some of his own compositions and it was lovely. He was elevated above the congregation and I found it very interesting to view him through this huge crucifix that is in the center of the church by the altar. As I looked up, I felt myself moved by this very large image of Christ on the cross. Through icons and crucifixes, the Catholic Church emphasizes the Passion of Christ to a degree that I have not experienced in Protestant churches. I know that we emphasize the resurrection of the Lord and that he is no longer on the cross, but on occasion I think there is real value in contemplating all that Jesus endured on our behalf. It was a meaningful moment for me. Larry and I will be returning to another organ concert at the same church this week--all Bach. There is a special emphasis in the Old City during October on Thursday nights called the Knights of Jerusalem and the organ concert seems to be a part of this. There are actors in the streets dressed in medieval costumes with little dramas going on (all in Hebrew) and crowds come to walk the different 14 tableaux. Very interesting!

The other concert we attended was in the auditorium of the YMCA and was a premier of Esther Upham's Love Revealed performed by the Israel Chamber Orchestra with the Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers. It was absolutely lovely! Esther is a Mid-West woman born in Chicago and grew up in Indiana. She loves all things Judaica and wrote this wonderful piece that is all OT scriptures about the Messiah. I hope we will get to hear it again in the US some day. Taylor Chorale???? That night is memorable for another reason. I was fighting a cold and we found seats in the second row from the back. As the emcee introduced the program, she mentioned that it was being recorded so they requested no one cough. I was fine for about 15 minutes then I had drainage in the back of my throat so I got up to leave and go out the back but the way was blocked so there I stood in the corner with my face to the wall trying to blow my nose during the louder sections of the music. What a predicament! I finally remembered I had a cough drop in my purse and with a drink from Larry's water bottle I was finally okay and made my way back to my seat. How embarrassing! After I was seated, I heard all these other people coughing! In spite of all that, we really enjoyed this beautiful piece of music.

Larry and I have been taking my sister Dorothy and her friend (another Dorothy) around the Old City over the weekend to give them a more indepth insight into this part of Jerusalem. Is it ever crowded with tourists! We have both noticed how crowded the city seems and we heard from the Wrights that no one can get a hotel room in Jerusalem. Everything is booked. Dorothy took us to dinner at The Olive Tree Hotel last night and tour groups were coming in and some were leaving. We tried to eat in the dining room but it was reserved only for tour groups so we wound up in the huge lounge area and were served there. Tourism has really increased!

Our worship service at Christ Church yesterday was packed with people from Wales, Ireland, Seattle, WA, Denmark, Albany, CA and other places. Choruses are sung in English and Hebrew during the service. Every day seems to be an adventure for us! Dorothy leaves today to return home and we have so enjoyed her visit. What a treat. Several JUC students have family members visiting this week and we have a short-term Pastor's Group arriving today. More interesting people to meet.