In Israel, a Choir Blends Diverse Voices
Few things are as awesome as the sound of women raising their voices. In Israel, a remarkable group of women have been blending and lifting their voices in song for over a decade. The members of the Rana Arab-Jewish Women’s Choir have stuck together even in periods of war and conflict, singing, creating, and celebrating music from the varied cultures in the region.
The choir aims to be a space in which Christian, Muslim, and Jewish women can meet, sing, and exchange cultural and interpersonal knowledge. And in the words of its organizers, its work is transformative: “When these amazing women take to the stage to sing and share stories together in Hebrew and Arabic, they exhibit a hopeful alternative to the usual reality of division and mistrust.”
In the coming months, the group will take its show on the road, engaging communities across Israel and collaborating with and bringing music to locals. The choir will use our grant to offset the costs of running its rehearsal space in Jaffa, Israel, including the cost of insurance, so that this incredible program has a safe and secure future. We like the sound of that.