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Arts & Entertainment

Japanese Chorus Brings Hebrew Melodies to America

Shinonome Chorus performs at University Synagogue

The Shinonome Chorus, which selects its members from choirs all over Japan, performed at the University Synagogue this week as part of the group’s American concert tour.

This unique chorus sings in Hebrew and its members are all part of the Japan Christian Friends of Israel.

“Our founder, Takeji Otsuki, suggested that we appear for Jewish audiences to express our love for Israel,” said Takeo Sato, who has conducted the chorus for 40 years. “So, we travel around among the Jewish communities to do that.”

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The chorus visited Israel for the first time in 1971, and has since enjoyed 10 successful concert tours there. This tour marks the group’s eighth visit to the United States.

“I was intrigued by a group of Japanese people singing in Hebrew, and they sing one song in Yiddish,” said Cantor Jay Frailich of the University Synagogue. “I just wanted to see that, so we arranged to bring them here.”

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The chorus sang some popular songs, Israeli folksongs and religious melodies for the Brentwood crowd.

The chorus will split the proceeds from Tuesday’s concert between the Union for Reform Judaism Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund and the University Synagogue High Holy Days Music Fund.

A lot of people still need help recovering from the earthquakes and devastating tsunami that struck Japan in March.

“They need help now more in a spiritual sense than in a material sense,” Sato said. “Especially the children. They have no homes and 400 to 500 children lost their parents.”

One of the members of the chorus, a minister, did not come on tour because he hails from an area seriously affected by the disaster.

“His church needed him," Sato said.

Audience member Nira Weiss has also seen the chorus perform in Japan.

“Their voices are amazing," she said. "The fact that they sing in Hebrew so perfectly is very heart-warming to me and, above all, their undisputed love for Israel is amazing.”

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