Let My People Grow

The program will include excerpts from the Oscar-winning films “Yentl” (USA 1983) and “Life Is Beautiful” (Italy 1997) and the award-winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof – Anatevka” (USA 1971).


The evening will be opened by Talya G. A. Solan, founder of the Yamma Ensemble, which specializes in traditional Israeli music. She will sing the impressive song “Munich 1972” from Steven Spielberg's drama “Munich” (USA  2005), which deals with the attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.


With this program item, the festival commemorates all Jewish victims of terrorist attacks worldwide – together with Agam Berger, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remained in captivity until the beginning of this year, January 30, 2025, and is participating in the opening of the Jewish Culture Days Berlin.


This will be followed by an acoustic illustration of Jewish history, with reference to the Exodus from Egypt. “When You Believe” and “Deliver Us” from the animated film “The Prince of Egypt” (USA 1998) will be performed. The Synagogal Ensemble Berlin is participating in this and other program items. The choir consists of professional singers from Berlin's opera houses. Since 2011, they have been the host vocal ensemble of the Berlin Louis Lewandowski Festival.


On two large screens to the left and right of the stage, visual elements correspond with the music; the animations were designed especially for the evening. Music and visual design enter into an artistic dialogue with Evgeny Kozlov's choreography. Solos and group choreographies refer to the themes of the musical sequences.