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Moscow Hillel Women's Choir Debuts in United States
November 08, 2001Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend Voice of Jewish Renaissance in Former Soviet Union
 Yachad, the Moscow Hillel Women's Choir, travelled to New York, Florida and Washington, D.C., to perform their unique repertoire of Russian, English, Hebrew and Yiddish songs. Founded in 1998, the group symbolizes a new generation of Jews that is rediscovering and celebrating its Jewishness after decades of oppression. Yachad's debut trip to the United States was made possible by the generosity of Sharon Ungerleider of Springfield, Oregon.
Yachad, which is Hebrew for "together," comprises members of Moscow Hillel, one of 26 Hillel Foundations across the former Soviet Union that are providing young people with opportunities to socialize and explore their Jewishness. The singers, ages 16-34, perform in Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian and English. They represent the thousands of Hillel activists who are leading their communities and reintroducing tens of thousands of Jews to their traditions.
The group appears extensively in Moscow and throughout the FSU. It has received awards from a variety of FSU institutions, including the International Solomon University, the Russian University of Nations' Friendship, and the Festival of Modern Israeli songs. The choir is now completing its second recording.
Hillel's presence in the former Soviet Union has expanded dramatically since its inception in 1994. Hillel now serves over 10,000 Jewish university students through Hillel centers in 26 communities, as well as another 60 nascent programs in smaller, emerging communities. These students receive training throughout the year and at special leadership seminars. They attend Hillel leadership conferences in the United States and travel to Israel through the birthright israel program. Students lead High Holy Day services across the region and run Passover Seders for 25,000 Jews in cities, towns and villages. Hillel in the former Soviet Union is made possible by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation in cooperation with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
"For us, being Jewish is a gift," said Yachad director and founder Masha Samoilova. "We are pleased to share this gift through our music."
Listen to music samples:
 Shir Tishrei (Rosh HaShana; words by R. Shapiro, music by D. Amihud) (Real Media File, 3:05 minutes)
Utzu Etza Vetufar (Purim, potpourri) (Real Media File, 2:59 minutes)
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