Festival Sovev Kineret

Several weeks ago I went, with Pnina Gershoni, to a festival of Israeli music held at the bottom tip of the Kineret (Sea of Galilee.) Attendance was open only to members of Mila, the Israeli society of choirs, choral groups, and a professional organization for conductors. I had been hearing about festivals like this one, but had no idea what it would be like. For about $250 we got 2 nights at a very nice kibbutz guest house, breakfast and dinner for 2 days, and entrance to the festival events. The first night we were treated to a concert by HaKol Over Chabibi, an amazing singing group backed by an incredibly talented band that could have stood on its own. Before the concert we found Aliza, and a whisper went through the crowd "There's sachlab!!" and a general rush to get some. It's a thinnish hot pudding made from milk and powdered vanilla orchid root. Sprinkle the top with grated coconut and chopped peanuts, and eat with a spoon. It was good, but I'll have to have more to understand why everyone was so excited!

The next day there were sessions where different choirs performed (all "amateurs" performing Israeli music arranged by their conductors.) Some ok, some not so much. You could see the influence the conductor had over the quality of the singing and the arrangements. (Pnina, Aliza and I thought Galron should have been there--we would have blown them all away!) (If we do say so ourselves!)

A presentation about Rachel Shapiro and Leah Goldberg (2 extremely prolific poets whose work has become the "Israeli songbook") featuring Dafna Zahavi (David's daughter) and Gabi Argov (Sasha's daughter-in-law and pianist for Koleinu when we were here) and another concert in the evening.

Basically it was an intensive 2 days of music! I knew about 30% of the songs, had at least heard another 30%--not bad for a newcomer, I think!

After the fest Pnina and I, Aliza and her husband Tzvika, and Avi Faintoch (Director of Mila and of Galron) and his daughter Gal had a little tour on the way home. First we climbed and climbed this huge mountain, bare of trees, until we got to the top--Kochav HaYarden, the ruins of a Crusader fortress with a view of the whole valley, clear across to Jordan! It's a national park, where they run a bird sanctuary especially devoted to griffin vultures. I got a very good picture of a pair.

Then to Beit Shean, a settlement first occupied in the 5th millenium B.C.E. Later it was a seat of government for the Egyptians, and was where the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed after the battle at Mt. Gilboa. Throughout the centuries it was conquered and destroyed by invaders. Its citizens changed with the ages, too, going from Jewish to Egyptian, Assyrian and back to Jewish. When the Romans took over, pagans, Jews, and Samaritans lived together, and great public buildings went up, including an immense amphitheater. The whole place was mostly destroyed by a huge earthquake in 749 C.E.

They have been excavating since the 1920s--it truly is an amazing place.

Then lunch in an Arab village near Mt. Tabor--at least 20 different salads, wonderful breads, a leg of veal that had been boned and then stuffed with savory rice; a pie stuffed with kabobs and vegetables; thin, tiny lamb chops; the best falafel I have had yet. Needless to say I didn't need dinner that night!