All together now - Beit Hagefen unveils an inclusive program for its 60th anniversary

• Published date: 07 April 2024
• Author: BARRY DAVIS
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The landmark anniversaries were initially slated for December, which would have been neat timing. "It was supposed to celebrate 30 years of the Holiday of Holidays festival and our 60th anniversary," says Hila Goshen, director of culture at Beit Hagefen. That would have been the perfect juncture for a salute to two of Haifa's most noted artistic and cultural vehicles

Holiday of Holidays started out in December 1993 when Hanukkah, Christmas, and the Eid al-Fitr finale to Ramadan coincided and, despite the Muslim holiday moving around the annual calendar, the festival has continued to be held close to the civilian year's end. Naturally, the events of October 7 put a very different slant on the brighter side of life.

Still, not all is lost on the coincidental religious observance front. This month actually features Pessah, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr. Then again, as Goshen notes, Beit Hagefen is not planning on letting it all hang out, regardless over the next few weeks. "The festivities should have started in December, and then reality struck and changed all our plans. Then we decided to mark the anniversary very modestly, without street celebrations, but with a series of events some of which would have taken place anyway."

One of those was a musical theatrical production called Adaber Itcha ("I Will Talk to You").

"We started working on it over a year and a half ago together with the Revolution Orchestra," says Goshen. "It was supposed to open the festivities." The show is based on the emotive ballad of the same name which came out almost half a century ago and was popularized by venerated singer-guitarist Chava Alberstein.

Uniting through music

The full show moniker runs to Adaber Itcha, Shtei Safot, Ahava Echat - "I Shall Speak To You - Two Languages. One Love." - which is more than a nod and a wink to the fact that Haifa is the country's largest mixed Arab-Jewish town, and the urgent need for harmony between us all, now more than ever.

The repertoire takes in love songs in Hebrew and Arabic that have been translated into the corresponding language for the occasion. There will be subtitles but, no doubt, many members of the audience will recognize some of the songs and - possibly - be tempted to sing along with the original lyrics. It could make for a neat bonding overlap experience between Hebrew and Arabic speakers.

That is part and parcel of the Beit Hagefen philosophy and professional purview.

"This month there is a particular focus on presenting...