HaZamir Cleveland in its 10th Year at @akiva in Beachwood FIVE GOOD REASONS WHY IS W hen Michele Sass and her family moved to Cleveland ten years ago, she was disappointed to learn that there was no “HaZamir Cleveland.” Her daughter, Paula, had enjoyed singing with HaZamir North Jersey, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir, and she had to leave the powerful experience behind. Not to be deterred, Michele was determined to secure funding and support for a new chapter here in Cleveland, of which her daughter and other Jewish Cleveland area teens could be part. When Sass met with Amnon Ophir, the executive director of @ Akiva, it was clear that she found HaZamir Cleveland’s new birthplace and home in Beachwood. Now, ten years later, HaZamir Cleveland is one of the largest chapters in the Midwest and, in many ways, the impetus for exciting new developments on the regional and international level. HaZamir Cleveland is not simply a local choir but rather one of an international Jewish network of 26 chapters across the U.S. and Israel, with high-level choral singing at its core. Here in Beachwood, a select group of 8-12th-grade teens have been dedicating two hours of each Sunday to @akiva, tackling challenging Jewish choral music with their conductor, Cantor Richard Lawrence of Temple Emanu El. The experience culminated in New York on March 22, when they joined with nearly 350 other singers from across the U.S. and Israel for a festival and breathtaking gala performance at Lincoln Center, honoring long-time HaZamir supporter, Dr. Ruth Westheimer. On the regional level, HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir has invested in growing the midwest region and Cleveland is at the forefront of this effort. Having recently hired Sandy Laserson as the midwest coordinator for HaZamir Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Columbus, the organization plans to grow and strengthen the current chapters while starting new ones in the Midwest. Last year, with the help and vision of long-time HaZamir supporter Fran Gordon, the Jewish Community Federation established a partner chapter in Israel, HaZamir Beit Shean. This was the first time that a U.S. HaZamir chapter had a partnership chapter to host, learn from and sing with. After three fun-filled days of Cleveland exploration, education and music, HaZamir Cleveland and HaZamir Beit Shean headed off together to New York for the annual HaZamir festival and gala performance, which included 350 HaZamir singers from all 26 HaZamir chapters and was held in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. It’s hard to believe that only ten years ago HaZamir Cleveland was nothing more than an item on a new Cleveland teen’s wish list. Today it is a flagship midwest chapter and an innovative catalyst for growth in the Midwest and even in Israel. HaZamir: The International Jewish High School choir is a program of the Zamir Choral Foundation, Matthew Lazar, founder and director. HaZamir Cleveland is grateful to the Daniel and Ethel Hamburger Music Fund, with Harold and Sandy Levine, trustees; and the Gretel B. Bloch Charitable Trust, Sandford and Eppie Shore, trustees. The Cari Flox Scholarship Fund @akiva, named in memory of the late Cari Flox, beloved HaZamir volunteer, ensures that no student is kept from participating in @akiva programs due to financial need. For audition information, please contact Sandy Laserson, HaZamir Cleveland manager and HaZamir midwest coordinator at slaserson@zamirchoralfoundation.org. WORTH THE TRIP 1. Fifteen years of experience being 100% dedicated to caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia 2. Serving beginning, middle and latter stages of the disease all in one location 3. Ten hours of daily engaging, successoriented dementia programs and activities 4. Homelike setting with furnished private rooms 5. Secured, spacious grounds with walking paths and gathering areas for socializing Call (440) 543-6766 today to receive your free dementia resource kit. TM 8100 East Washington Street Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 (440) 543-6766 ChagrinFalls@arden-courts.com Memory Care Community May 2015 n Beachwood Buzz 37 9454_ChagrinFalls_3.605x9.875_1.indd 1 4/9/15 2:06 PM