Powerful Duets on Backdrop of Jerusalem’s Tower of David

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Chaim Tuito

The Sukkos holiday is usually a thrilling time in the holy city of Jerusalem. Each day is filled with attractions and some form of entertainment. For the past 2 years, the Friendship Circle of Jerusalem hosted a gala concert where children with special needs and their families attend as VIP guests.

However, this year, amidst the throes of the second wave of Covid-19 in Israel, an in-person was deemed impossible.

Aware that in lockdown, special needs youth were craving music and joy more than ever, the organization’s heads turned impossibility into opportunity and broadcast a live concert to bring happiness to special-needs youth worldwide.

Despite the unprecedented odds,the 3rd Annual Rockin’ Friendship Concert celebrating children with special needs was held on Hoshana Rabba at the medieval fortress known as the “Tower of David” in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The event was emceed by activist Moshe Gruenberg featuring a line-up of unequaled entertainers led by singers Yonatan Razel and Ohad Moshkovitz.

Moshkovitz set the tone for the evening, rousing the crowd with his magnificent voice and boundless energy. “Ohad gave it his all, and then gave even more, brightening my heart,” tweeted one of the FC youth from the US.

Accompanying them were young singer Yossi Hershtik and emerging talents from the Israel Music School, Chaim Zippel and Itay Tourgeman who wowed the crowd with their magnificent voices.

FC representatives, 21-year-old Or Chaim Osher and Tutti Sasson, 16, also played emotional, integral roles throughout the evening. Or Chaim wowed the crowd with an outstanding duet and Tutti offered her blessings for the close to 10,000 viewers, including children with special needs and their families tuning in from around the world.

As Or Chaim Osher, who is blind, was invited on stage to sing a duet of “Shabechi Yerushalayim” with Razel and the energy could be felt around the world, a surprise request was made.

Osher, who has been singing and playing music since the age of 8, seized his moment when Razel asked him to bless the singers and the virtual crowd with ‘Birkat Hakohanim’, upon discovering that he is a Kohen.

“Will you confirm that you’ll take me after lockdown to the Rishon Le’Tzion mall?” Osher requested.

Without missing a beat Ra’zel responded, “Sure, coffee’s on me. Cafe ‘hafuch’? Sugar? Whipped cream?” Or Chaim nodded to all three.

Coffee date details arranged, they then performed one of the evening’s most memorable duets. Razel then danced with him back to his seat.

Osher’s mother commented tearfully, “Tonight, my child experienced three firsts in his life – an offer for coffee with a buddy, a duet with a famed singer who made him feel the star of the evening, and third, he was deemed worthy of being able to dance; on stage. These gifts which he experienced with his inner eyes, he will never forget.”

The effervescent Tutti Sasson, a gifted emcee with Downs Syndrome, invited all viewers to recite Amen as she gave the crowd blessing after heartfelt blessing.

Hundreds of families sent clips of their elated children dancing and singing in front of computers and projectors. One parent wrote, “When I saw those singers singing – their hearts on their sleeves with such unbridled joy, I felt—if anything is going to break through heaven to bring down healing for this virus, it’s this. The love and care truly shone on this night…”

Chanie Canterman, FC Jerusalem Director and co-shlucha to the Chabad Center of Talbieh-Mamilla, was moved by the kindness the performers and musicians showed the children with special needs on stage.

“Even louder than the singing that night, was the powerful voice of friendship,” she said. “Children with unique challenges are equal among equals. The genuine, empathetic atmosphere at Jerusalem’s ‘Rockin Friendship #3  sent a strong message to its worldwide viewers; Youth with disabilities are an integral part of society who deserve warmth, respect and inclusion. Given those opportunities, they are capable of responding with tremendous love, warmth, talent, and of course surprises.”