By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — Lt. Col. Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor of the Israel Defense Force, will once again be in San Diego to share his remarkable talent with our community. The concert will be presented by Friends of the Israel Defense Force on Tuesday evening, October 28, at 7 p.m., at the Balboa Theatre. It promises to be even more memorable than the one held last year for an overflow audience at Sherwood Hall.
The golden-voiced cantor will be accompanied by an 8-member choir of IDF soldiers. In addition, there will be a 30-piece orchestra of musicians from the Thornton School, USC, under the direction of Israeli Music Director, Ofir Sobol.
As in last year’s event, there will be additional soloists, Cantor Netanel Baram, of Young Israel Synagogue, Beverly Hills, and Jonathan Valverde, Director of Latinos for Israel. With selections in Hebrew, Yiddish and English, the program will alternate between liturgical favorites such as Max Janowski’s “Avinu Malkeinu,” Israeli songs in a medley about Jerusalem, the Yiddish “Mamale,” and “This Is The Moment,” from Jekyll & Hyde.
Profits from the concert will go to IDF ‘s “Day After” Campaign to include help for wounded soldiers , bereaved families, lone soldiers and soldiers’ families who are needy.
This will be the only fundraising event sponsored by the Friends of the IDF this year. Tickets, at $54, $72, $108 and VIP $500 are available at fidf.org/sandiego or by phoning: 858-926-3210.
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Wingard is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com