Handel's Messiah for Holocaust Survivors

During the Passover holiday this year, over 250 Holocaust Survivors from across Israel came to hear a special performance of Handel's Messiah in the town of Or Akiva. The reason this particular rendition of the famous oratorio was so special was because it was being sung in Hebrew.
Handel's original musical masterpiece is sung in English and traces the story of the Messiah through the Old Testament prophecies to the New Testament fulfillment. Translating the Messiah was the idea of Irene Levy, a Jerusalemite in her 90s, who carried the vision for over 30 years. "I heard a choir here singing once from Norway, all the time they were singing it I was hearing it in Hebrew," She said.

Several of the organisers of this year's event for Holocaust Survivors commented on how moving it was to see these precious, elderly men and women who had known so much darkness and cruelty in their own lives, sitting captivated by the beautiful music as the words of hope and salvation from their own ancient scriptures could be heard in their original tongue.
"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed...", sang the choir from the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."
"When you know the meaning of the words in another language it's not the same as when hearing in your own language," said music conductor Monika Vasques. "It touches much more the heart."
As they left the auditorium and joined the waiting buses, their smiling faces and expressions of thanks said it all. The music had been balm for their souls. Here are some of the responses:
“This brought much joy into our lives for those of us that have nothing but trials since childhood.”

“I felt like this was like a fresh water experience; like going under the waters of the Jordan and coming up refreshed.”
“What you did for us was more than beseder (good), it was a Mitzvah Gdolah (Great Deed).”
Each person took away with them the program containing all the words from the performance. We pray that as they remember the music and look again at the program, the words of hope and comfort will touch even the most hardened heart and bring life and truth.
In the concluding words of Handel's Messiah:
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Amen."
If you would like to hear some clips of Handel's Messiah sung in Hebrew, check out this video from an earlier performance:
CLICK HERE The clip begins with the awesome Hallelujah Chorus!