Ebony & Ivory... Living in Perfect Harmony

His name is Yaron Kohlberg, and he's a pianist from Israel. What impressed me upon first reading his bio (other than the fact that he's quite a handsome lad!) is that he's only 27, and already he has clinched numerous international awards and travelled the world, sharing his gift.

It's a gift he was born with, with both parents being musically-inclined. His mum was a performing violinist with an orchestra, while his dad played the piano, albeit not professionally. But Yoran tells us that it was a demanding Russian piano teacher around the time he was 10 that really made him recognise his talent and set him on the path of professional musician-hood.

When he yawned and asked for coffee, I knew we would bond! *LOL* When Stan was reading the Business News on-air, I ran upstairs to grab some coins and then down to the vending machine to get him some. He had arrived in Singapore from Mumbai, and prior to that, was performing in Poland.

And he's such a charming young man who spoke English proficiently and exuded an air of quiet confidence. That was how I felt about Hen Lasker too, an Israeli filmmaker I interviewed for International Women's Day last year. But I digress!

The reason Yaron is in town is because the Embassy of Israel is staging a one-night-only concert featuring two accomplished young pianists from Israel for the Singapore community. What's heartwarming is that Yaron Kohlberg is Jewish, and Bishara Harouny is Arab, and despite their religious differences, they will be playing side by side on stage, and in complete harmony.

Hmm, now doesn't that remind you of the song 'Ebony & Ivory'? *grin*

Pianist Yaron Kohlberg & Idit Abu, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Embassy of Israel join us in The Living Room.

The concert is entitled Israeli-Arab Piano Duo Concert Gala, and it's held at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts on Thu 22 April, for one night only. It promises to be a spectacular show! And joining Yoran in The Living Room to tell us more is an "old friend" I interviewed with filmmaker Hen Lasker last year, when we did an IWD special on Women in the Israeli Army. Her name is Idit Abu, and she's Deputy Chief of Missions with the Embassy of Israel here.

Well, we're all crossing our fingers now that Bishara makes it to Singapore by tomorrow. He was stuck in Berlin due to the Icelandic ash cloud that has paralysed air travel all across Europe...

Yes, every day this week, Stan & I experienced the volcanic ash cloud's impact on The Living Room. We've had at least one guest missing on our couch each day this week! That's how connected we all are these days, isn't it? The world's become a Global Village.

And so, more than ever, I feel we need to be building bridges. Lots of bridges. Everywhere. And through ways & means beyond politics. And music is one of them. Music has the ability to transcend language, culture, and religious differences. And I take my hat off to the Embassy of Israel for recognising that, and for putting forth this message of peace & hope through this concert. We wish Yaron & Bishara all the best!!!

Israeli-Arab Piano Duo Concert Gala

Thu 22 April

7.30pm - 8.30pm

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Campus 3)

FREE

Pre-register by emailing press@singapore.mfa.gov.il

The girls who carried rifles...

What's it like to be an 18-year-old girl and called to enlist in National Service? What goes on in Basic Military Training for girls in the Israeli army? Call me a curious cat, but I really wanted to know! After all, Israel is the only state in the world where girls have the compulsory obligation to serve in the army.

So when I found out that the Embassy of Israel here in Singapore was screening a documentary film (in celebration of IWD) on women in the army called Seeds of Summer - and was flying in the film's Director and Producer - I scrambled at the opportunity to host them in The Living Room for our Wonder Women series. 

The Embassy had sent me a copy of the DVD the day before, and I spent the evening curled up on the sofa watching the 63-minute documentary. All I can say is that when it was over, I was dying to meet Director Hen Lasker and Producer Elinor Kowarsky. 

Well, I did on the very afternoon the ladies touched down in Singapore from Bangkok! *grin* For some reason, I half expected beefy, tomboyish girls. I don't know why. But they were petite and pretty young ladies who were very articulate and with a delightful sense of humour! Joining them was Idit Abu, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel here. 

Hen Lasker, Elinor Kowarsky & Idit Adu share about NS for girls in Israel.

From them, I gained tremendous insight into the lives of young girls in Israel, where NS is part and parcel of life. Whether one looked forward to it or dreaded it, it is a rite of passage for all girls in Israel, a pivotal point in life where 'daddies' little girls' grow up to be independent women who learnt responsibility and contribution. 

"In high school, you think the worst thing that could happen to you is that the boy you like doesn't like you back or maybe you did badly for a test," chuckles Hen, "Being in the army taught me to see things in perspective."

"Those two years impacted me in a very deep and personal way," Hen continues. "That's why I decided to go back to my [elite combat] unit to make this film. I wanted to explore what we went through, because when you're in it, you don't pause to reflect." 

Hen shares why this documentary film is so close to her heart. 

Elinor adds, "I was in the Air Force communicating on the ground with pilots in the air. When you think about it, the responsibility is huge for a teenager because you have others' lives in your hands. And that's how we grow up."

Personally, I found Seeds of Summer moving and insightful. If you'd like to catch it, there's a screening at The Substation this Sunday 8 March, 12noon to 2.30pm, as part of the 3rd Indie Doc Fest, in celebration of International Women's Day. Hen and Elinor will be there for an open dialogue session after the film screening, if you'd like to meet them.  

And with this conversation, we conclude our Wonder Women in The Living Room series. So to all our women listeners out there, Happy International Women's Day!!!