HISTORY OF THE HALEVI CHORAL SOCIETY
The Halevi Choral Society is a professional music ensemble devoted exclusively to the performance of the Jewish choral repertoire. It is our belief that the music of the Jewish people expresses the life and times of our people throughout their vast history. It is our mission to perform this music, which expresses the diversity, culture, and traditions of the Jewish people, at the highest artistic level, in order to foster an understanding and appreciation of Jewish music as an art form and as an historical record.
In these times of questioning religious beliefs and emerging diversity between Jewish groups, it is precisely the cultural and art forms of our traditional heritage which will unite our people beyond all intellectual arguments and philosophical discussions. Jewish music as an expression of our history cannot be denied and the preservation of our peoplehood resides in the respect for and the preservation of our cultural heritage.
Halevi was founded in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick. It flourished for 36 years under Reznick's direction, constantly nurturing and keeping alive the great musical traditions of the Jewish people on the highest artistic level. Neil Levin, Hazzan Chaim Najman, Herman Goodman, and Arnold Miller also served as directors. In 1984, under the leadership of Cantor David Politzer, Halevi became a totally professional ensemble under the direction of Judith H. Karzen.
Throughout its long and active history, Halevi has commissioned works from important Jewish composers, presented many premieres of new compositions, participated in the Chicago World's Fair, city-wide celebrations and concerts, given performances at Orchestra Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Harold Washington Library, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall with the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, at Centre East with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall with the Chicago Philharmonia Orchestra, and has sung at the 1996 Democratic National Convention, and in numerous area synagogues throughout the Mid-West.
Besides its live concerts each year, Halevi has reached many more listeners through its recordings, radio airplay, television appearances and special events. We strive to serve the entire Jewish community whose diversity encompasses individuals from many varied national and cultural backgrounds. Halevi has constantly strived to reach outside the Jewish community to a wider ethnic audience through special events, discounted tickets to community groups, and Board involvement.
The music presented by the Halevi Choral Society is representative of the entire Jewish people. As they dispersed throughout the world, their language, traditions, and music were influenced by the cultures around them. The traditional music of the Jews is based on ancient chants and melodies dating from the roots of Judaism--dating as far back as 5700 years ago--and served as the origin of the music of the Christian Church and all of Western civilization.
Not only were these original chants and melodies sung in different languages and dialects, but they also absorbed the musical and stylistic differences from the countries in which the Jews lived. There are Ashkenazic (Eastern European), Sephardic (Mediterranean), Ladino (Spanish), Yiddish (Eastern and Western European), and modern Israeli traditions. When these compositions are performed, an effort is made to present them in the style authentic to their origins.
The traditional melodies and chants of the Jewish liturgy have been performed by cantors and choirs for many generations, both in this country and in the lands from which our people emigrated to these shores. Halevi is dedicated to keeping this cherished musical tradition from disappearing.
•Founded in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick.
Affiliated with the Chicago Board of Jewish Education
•Yearly performances at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall
•Participation in all-city events
•Synagogue Concerts
•Radio and Television appearances
•Outstanding cantors and instrumentalists as guest soloists
•1933 “Romance of a People” Chicago World’s Fair
•1958 Zimriya Festval In Israel
In these times of questioning religious beliefs and emerging diversity between Jewish groups, it is precisely the cultural and art forms of our traditional heritage which will unite our people beyond all intellectual arguments and philosophical discussions. Jewish music as an expression of our history cannot be denied and the preservation of our peoplehood resides in the respect for and the preservation of our cultural heritage.
Halevi was founded in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick. It flourished for 36 years under Reznick's direction, constantly nurturing and keeping alive the great musical traditions of the Jewish people on the highest artistic level. Neil Levin, Hazzan Chaim Najman, Herman Goodman, and Arnold Miller also served as directors. In 1984, under the leadership of Cantor David Politzer, Halevi became a totally professional ensemble under the direction of Judith H. Karzen.
Throughout its long and active history, Halevi has commissioned works from important Jewish composers, presented many premieres of new compositions, participated in the Chicago World's Fair, city-wide celebrations and concerts, given performances at Orchestra Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Harold Washington Library, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall with the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, at Centre East with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall with the Chicago Philharmonia Orchestra, and has sung at the 1996 Democratic National Convention, and in numerous area synagogues throughout the Mid-West.
Besides its live concerts each year, Halevi has reached many more listeners through its recordings, radio airplay, television appearances and special events. We strive to serve the entire Jewish community whose diversity encompasses individuals from many varied national and cultural backgrounds. Halevi has constantly strived to reach outside the Jewish community to a wider ethnic audience through special events, discounted tickets to community groups, and Board involvement.
The music presented by the Halevi Choral Society is representative of the entire Jewish people. As they dispersed throughout the world, their language, traditions, and music were influenced by the cultures around them. The traditional music of the Jews is based on ancient chants and melodies dating from the roots of Judaism--dating as far back as 5700 years ago--and served as the origin of the music of the Christian Church and all of Western civilization.
Not only were these original chants and melodies sung in different languages and dialects, but they also absorbed the musical and stylistic differences from the countries in which the Jews lived. There are Ashkenazic (Eastern European), Sephardic (Mediterranean), Ladino (Spanish), Yiddish (Eastern and Western European), and modern Israeli traditions. When these compositions are performed, an effort is made to present them in the style authentic to their origins.
The traditional melodies and chants of the Jewish liturgy have been performed by cantors and choirs for many generations, both in this country and in the lands from which our people emigrated to these shores. Halevi is dedicated to keeping this cherished musical tradition from disappearing.
•Founded in 1926 by Harry Coopersmith and Hyman Reznick.
Affiliated with the Chicago Board of Jewish Education
•Yearly performances at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall
•Participation in all-city events
•Synagogue Concerts
•Radio and Television appearances
•Outstanding cantors and instrumentalists as guest soloists
•1933 “Romance of a People” Chicago World’s Fair
•1958 Zimriya Festval In Israel
