It begins with tying the musical instruments to one of the camels. Khaled makes a sound, like a chortle, and the camel kneels. Ouds and violins are strapped on. When the camel rises, it is a Picasso of instruments.
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You cannot walk ten yards in Israel without encountering a discussion about the Israeli/Arab conflict. As you go deeper into Israel, you realize that there are not just two sides to any argument, but many. There are Arab Israelis, Arab Jews, Christian Arabs, Russian Israelis, Ethiopian Jews. Artistically, this provides for a luminous diversity.
Read MoreIf you could peel back the deep historical and political layers burying the core Abrahamic scriptures, the generative roots of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, then you might see the land where it all began. Certainly Jerusalem is a place that defies time in that way; It may seem prohibitive, with its many strata of cultural encasement, until you arrive there and see it face to face. How did this spiritual wellspring, a stony desert place, affect the world so deeply?
Read MoreOn March 13th, we gathered a distinguished group of artists from varied backgrounds at the Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theater. Each artist was asked in advance to consider ways that their artistic practice is inspired by, or in dialogue with a particular cultural tradition. They were also asked to prepare a short personal expression—a simple song learned as a child, or a folk dance—emanating from their own communal cultural roots. Although we didn’t have time to explore these responses, they gave the artists a sense of the project’s impetus. We hope to follow up on a deeper level when we return.
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