Hanukkah Charity Concert in Kfar Shmaryahu to Benefit Leket Israel
Pianist Gil Shohat and soprano Tali Ketzef will headline the Herzliya Cultural Group's annual Hanukkah benefit on December 7, with net proceeds going to Israel's national food bank.
By Amit Ricci ·
Music lovers in central Israel will have the chance to pair an evening of opera with charitable giving next month, when the Herzliya Cultural Group holds its annual Hanukkah charity concert. The event is scheduled for December 7 at the Weil Center in Kfar Shmaryahu, and net proceeds will go to Leket Israel, the country's national food bank.
Taking the stage will be pianist, composer and conductor Gil Shohat together with soprano Tali Ketzef, performing 'Viva La Diva,' a celebration of women in music. The evening will feature the premiere of one of the duo's newest programs, which sets popular operatic arias alongside favorites associated with more recent composers and singers.
Shohat's career has included leading the IDF Chamber Orchestra, while Ketzef performs with the Israeli Opera and in productions abroad.
This year's concert will be dedicated to the memory of Werner Bachmann, a founder and former chairman of the Herzliya Cultural Group. The dedication honors his contribution to the organization he helped build and lead.
The group traces its origins to a small Bible study class started roughly 15 years ago. A decade ago, it expanded into a registered nonprofit offering lectures on a wide range of subjects, geared mainly toward English speakers in Israel.
Over the years it has put on more than 500 lectures delivered by over 150 speakers, drawing more than 50,000 viewers. Past guests have included the late authors Amos Oz and AB Yehoshua, alongside politicians, journalists, ambassadors, professors, rabbis and entrepreneurs.
The group counts more than 1,000 people on its mailing list and has donated over NIS 150,000 to charitable causes.
The December concert's beneficiary, Leket Israel, rescues surplus fresh produce and cooked meals that would otherwise go to waste. It distributes the food through nonprofit partners to people in need throughout Israel, addressing both hunger and food waste and providing nutritious food regardless of recipients' religion or ethnic background.
The Weil Center is located at 4 Ha-Note'a Street in Kfar Shmaryahu. A reception will begin at 7:15 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m. Tickets cost NIS 250 and are available at eventbuzz.co.il/sfpbe.
