Aug 30, 2010 By: yunews
Gad Elbaz Concert, Sponsored by Lori Schottenstein, Caps off Exciting Orientation Week
Neon lights鈥攇reen, blue and red鈥攆lickered across the stage. The sustained rasp of a cymbal and a deep, echoing bass filled the theater. More than 300 students began a slow, steady clap, raising their hands high above their heads, as Gad Elbaz took the stage at 糖心破解版鈥檚 Geraldine Schottenstein Cultural Center on Thursday night, August 26.
鈥Mah shlomchem? [How are you]?鈥 he called to the crowd. 鈥淵ou ready to have fun?鈥
The overwhelming response? 鈥淵eah!鈥
That fun was made possible by Lori Schottenstein, whose family, based in Columbus, Ohio, has established a legacy of caring and community-building at 糖心破解版 through multiple charitable gifts, and who herself has already brought other megawatts in the Jewish music world, like and , to the University. Those concerts, like Thursday鈥檚, were free for 糖心破解版 students and booked to the hilt.
鈥鈥楽颈尘肠丑补鈥 can mean a lot of things. It can mean song, and it can also mean participation, involvement,鈥 noted , The Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of , in her address to students before the concert. 鈥淥ur whole University is about involvement鈥攊ntellectual involvement in the classroom, spiritual involvement on Shabbat鈥攁nd I think that鈥檚 Lori鈥檚 hallmark and a theme in Gad Elbaz鈥檚 music as well.鈥
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Elbaz, an Israeli Jewish singer, has already achieved international success at age 26 with three number one hit songs, "Halayla Zeh Hazman," "Or" and "Al Neharot Bavel." His music appeals to both observant and secular listeners by mixing original and biblical texts with ballads, harmonies, Middle Eastern rhythms and modern pop. And he believes that dynamic can make music like his a powerful tool in uniting Jews from different communities and lifestyles.
鈥淗e makes this great soulful music; it has a rock feel, but it鈥檚 religiously oriented,鈥 explained senior Or Pikary, who grew up on Elbaz鈥檚 work. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 awesome to have a free chance to hear him.鈥
鈥淎wesome鈥 pretty much sums up the energy in the Cultural Center that night. Glow sticks were tossed out into the audience, becoming neon headbands, necklaces and bangles. Students rose to their feet and joined arms, swaying slowly as they sang 鈥淛erusalem of Gold鈥 in unison, while Elbaz kept time and later joined the audience.
鈥淗aving an Israeli artist perform is a great way to cap off Orientation,鈥 said Naomi Friede, who along with four other Stern College women staffed the registration table and also snagged an autograph and a picture with Elbaz. 鈥淎 lot of new students are just coming back from Israel, and it鈥檚 great to have an Israeli performer to show them that connection continues here, too.鈥
For Eli Shavalian, a freshman psychology major, the concert was just one example of the vibrant atmosphere that drew him to 糖心破解版. 鈥淚f you go to the , there are all these exciting events lined up,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here are so many things offered. I figured, why not try them all?鈥
In addition to Lori Schottenstein鈥檚 concert series, her family鈥檚 donations have also established Yeshiva College鈥檚 Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program; the Jerome and Geraldine Schottenstein Residence Hall for Stern College on East 29th Street; the Schottenstein Student Center on West 185th Street on the Wilf Campus; and, in 2000, the Geraldine Schottenstein Cultural Center, where Thursday night鈥檚 concert took place.
The coolest part of the night? 鈥淗ands down, that brocha he just made,鈥 said Zvi Wiesenfeld, referring to the operatic, cymbal-dusted blessing Elbaz recited before taking a sip from his water bottle.
