The Forgotten People Fund

 A charity registered in Israel # 58-032-322-8

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Shlomo Gronich and The Sheba Choir performed, for the first time in Raanana, on Jan. 12th, 2006, for a full house at the Mishkan Municipal Arts and Music Center. Although the members of the choir are only between the ages of 13-16, they performed a wide variety of complex music with artistry and confidence. All the members of The Sheba Choir are from the Israeli Ethiopian community and they perform for the purpose of raising funds for poor and destitute families within the Ethiopian community, here in Israel. The Forgotten People Fund assists needy families in and around Netanya and is a charity with virtually no overhead as all its volunteers work from the home. Except for 1.5% for office supplies, postage and annual non-profit fees, all contributions go directly to the families.

Some of the music that Shlomo Gronich and the choir performed was typically of 'Israeli" styling while other selections in their repertoire were taken from traditional Ethiopian sources. Not surprisingly, some of the best arrangements were a fusion of both, in which a medley of three Chassidic songs were presented in a dramatic fashion, interwoven with infectious Ethiopian rhythms and tone coloring. The result became a unique style of music that was pleasing and endearing, as well as strong and proud, which echoes the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Israeli Ethiopian community. The three selections in the medley were; 'Esa Einai", 'Tzur Mishelo ' and 'Mi Piel". One musical technique that was evident here was the use of repetition of a musical phrase over and over, creating more and more intensity each time it was repeated. Combining this with the backdrop of distinctive Ethiopian rhythms, Shlomo Gronich, with his bongos, hand drums and keyboard and the voices of The Sheba Choir transported us, even for just a while, from our comfortable surroundings in Raanana, to a tiny village in Gandor, Ethiopia.

From the 4th century, the Jews of Ethiopia, Beta Yisrael, began retreating from the demands of Christianity to the hills of Gandor, where they lived secluded from the rest of the Jewish world. These Jews lived a tribal lifestyle and most did not learn to read or write. When severe violence erupted in Ethiopia in the 1980's, Beta Yisrael began their journey back to Israel through the Sudan. The trip was very dangerous and many perished along the way. In response to these hardships, the State of Israel began Operation Moses, and rescued 8,000 Jews from Ethiopia from Nov. 1984 through March, 1985. About 10,000 more came between 1985 and 1989. In 1991, in only 36 hours, over 14,000 more were rescued, by Israel, in Operation Solomon. The situation in Ethiopia had become critical and the seats were taken out of airplanes to allow the maximum possible passengers on each flight.

After the euphoria of this amazing Aliyah, the Ethiopians found themselves in out-of-the-way places with no modern day education, couldn't read or write even their own spoken language (Amharit) and new nothing about such 'modern" conveniences as stoves, refrigerators or running water in the bathroom. Their new homes became absorption centers over-night and lacked an infrastructure of social workers and other government workers to help. Thus, The Forgotten People Fund opened its arms to needy families in Netanya and the surrounding area to provide food vouchers, books and scholarships, medicine to the chronically ill and to 'outfit" newly enlisted soldiers, when necessary.

During the concert, Shlomo Gronich invited the audience to participate by learning the words to a couple of songs and singing along. One of the songs was 'Peace Will Be With Us" that included a pleasing harmony. The introduction to another song included two shofarim, one larger than the other, that Gronich blew, which were electronically echoed by the keyboard. The effect was tribal and haunting. Another highlight was 'We Are The World" sung in English for the encore. In case you've forgotten them, the words are: 'We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who'll make a better day, so let's start giving."

THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE FUND
Israel registered charity No. 58-032-322-8
Tel. 09-862 2243
Anne Silverman, chairman