Message From The HaZamir Director
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Remember trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube? Planning our HaZamir Winter Retreat online was a lot like that. With hundreds of people participating in a 15 hour, 2-day retreat, involving rehearsals, mifgashim (encounter groups), study sessions, and social activities, there were many moving parts to manipulate. It took us a while to figure it all out but eventually our Cube was whole and complete.
Here’s what we learned. No question about it – Online retreats are more complicated to run. The technology necessary to create online connections needs trained staffers, detailed thought, hours of scheduling and finally a firm tech plan. But…if you have a passionate team like ours, willing to put in the hours, the sky’s the limit.
We also learned that virtual community is not necessarily diminished community. In many ways, Zoom allowed teens to meet peers from across the country and Israel earlier in the season and more frequently. As one of our singers said, “I thought it would be nice to see old friends on Zoom, but I never expected to make new friends.”
When our 2-day event was over, instead of being exhausted, we were exhilarated and so were our HaZamir singers. And so, we immediately started planning the next series of HaZamir events. But before we get to that, let's have a peek at Inter(net)Vis.
And remember- Stay masked - stay distanced - and stay safe!
With gratitude for all our blessings,
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HaZamir Teen Leadership Fellows |
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HaZamir Teen Leader "Shabbaton" |
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Since we couldn't hold our annual winter Teen Leadership Shabbaton in person, the TL retreat was planned, virtually, around Shabbat.
Teen Leaders received professional leadership training and were well prepared to lead activities throughout our 2-day national Winter Inter(net)Vis retreat. Our Teen Leaders are stepping up as future leaders of our community!
Kol HaKavod Teen Leaders!
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Take a Peek Behind the Curtain at Inter(net)Vis 2021! |
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Inter(net)Vis, a 2-day online retreat, gathered hundreds of HaZamir teens to rehearse, learn, and bond together. They even shared meals, online! We strengthened old friendships and built new ones.
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HaZamir Welcomes Guest Artist, Cantor Gerald Cohen |
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Composer, Cantor Gerald Cohen was our special guest at Inter(net)Vis. Gerald spoke of all that inspires him, including the hundreds of voices of HaZamir. He explained how and why he set the text of Miriam crossing the Red Sea. This new composition, Miryam Han'via, was commissioned for HaZamir by ZCF board member, Hynda Feit, in memory of her mother.
After a lively Q&A with Cantor Cohen, HaZamir teens broke into small groups to wrestle with the text.
Thank you Cantor Gerald Cohen, for sharing your deep thoughts with our HaZamir community!
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Welcome from Rabbi Gil and Elinor |
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Rabbi Gil and Elinor Bashe greeted HaZamir with words that, as always, inspired us. Lest we ignore our devoted HaZamir parents, Rabbi Gil presented an enjoyable and meaningful session called Tea and Text for them.
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During Inter(net)Vis, HaZamir teams brought their creative Ruach (spirit), musical talent, teamwork, and a splash of silliness to create team names, banners, and so much more. We can't wait for Part 2 on February 7th at 7:30pm EST.
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Greetings From Our HaZamir Teen Leaders |
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Feel the warmth of the HaZamir Family
as the Teen Leaders welcome hundreds of teens to Inter(net)Vis.
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HaZamir Dedicates Teen Leader Activities to the Memory of Maia Mingelgrin z"l
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HaZamir remembered Maia Mingelgrin on the second anniversary of her untimely passing. Maia was a unique young woman whose joyful spirit, kindness, and glowing positivism lit up our world. HaZamir was Maia's second family and her HaZaHaSharon friends, May Keret and Ran Gross, shared beautiful memories including this short video clip of Maia speaking about HaZamir. To honor Maia this year, all Teen Leader activities and our InChoir text study were dedicated in her memory.
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HaZamir Commemorates MLK Day |
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On the first night of our 2-day retreat, Mati commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr. with a beautiful presentation that ended with our singing We Shall Overcome and this masterpiece by David Burger, Martin's Dream, set to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
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Alumni Spotlight - Micah Sapir
HaZamir Cleveland Alumnus
HaZamir Jerusalem Conductor
Both as a teen in America and as an adult immigrant to Israel, I have been profoundly impacted by my participation in and work with HaZamir. Through HaZamir, I learned how studying, teaching, and performing music and text offers an opportunity to combine Jewish heritage and identity with artistic excellence. Singing with Mati in the Chamber Choir offered a novel opportunity to perform with a high-caliber ensemble. The experience changed my life.
More recently, these past years conducting HaZamir Jerusalem, whose members themselves represent a slice of the city’s religious and musical pluralism, have been central in informing my own acclimation to Israeli educational, Jewish, and musical communities.
HaZamir offers a tangible bridge between American and Israeli Judaism, and its vision of unity through diversity has been and remains central to my own personal and professional path.
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HaZa-Olympics Part 2
Sunday February 7th 7:30pm EST
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HaZamir Israel Teen Leadership Shabbaton
February 19th-21st
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HaZaPrep Purim Carnival
Saturday February 20th at 8:00pm EST
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HAPN (HaZamir Alumni Programming Network)
Purim Spiel & Carnival
February 21st
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HaZamir Israel National Kenes
February 22nd
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Condolences
The Zamir Choral Foundation and HaZamir remember Debbie Friedman, z"l, on the 10th anniversary of her passing.
HaZamir remembers Maia Mingelgrin ('17, HaZamir HaSharon) on the 2nd anniversary of her passing.
We extend condolences to Yair Wall ('21, HaZamir Bergen Cty) and his father, Adam Wall (Coordinator, HaZamir Bergen Cty) on the passing of Cantor Isaac Wall, beloved father and grandfather.
May the memories of those we have lost, forever be a blessing.
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Mazal Tov
Becca Anolick ('13, HaZamir North Jersey) on their marriage to Shai (Walker) Anolick
Jenn Sax ('13, HaZamir New Brunswick) on her engagement to Jon Schneider
Robbie Knopf ('13, HaZamir Bergen Cty) on his engagement to Nehama Schwartz
Lexi Glade ('11, HaZamir Westchester) on her engagement to David Oppenheimer
Samantha Schafler ('12, HaZamir Westchester) on her engagement to Ezra Hurvitz
Ilana Schear ('11, HaZamir Bergen Cty) on her engagement to Derek Pick
Chris Mason ('12, HaZamir Bergen Cty, Conductor, HaZamir Westchester) on his engagement to Eve Kahn
Shoshi Brickman ('17, HaZamir Brooklyn) on her engagement to Adam Smith
Madeline Lemberg ('14, HaZamir Pittsburgh) on her engagement to Anthony Tokman
We wish our alumni much joy and happiness!
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