New Jersey Jewish News
Commentary
The sounds of music for the sake of Israel
May 14th, 1998, marked the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the State of Israel and the beginning of the annual UJA Benefit Concert to support the United Jewish Appeal, the fund-raising arm of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey. The featured soloist of the first concert on that momentous date in Israel’s history was Isaac Stern, of blessed memory, a great patron of the arts in the United States and in Israel. As it has ever since, the concert featured the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra playing at the marvelous New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
On Wednesday, May 3, coinciding with the fifth of Iyar, Israel Independence Day on the Jewish calendar, the UJA Benefit Concert will again celebrate Israel, with the proceeds, as always, benefiting the UJA campaign.
This alignment of organizations and Israel is not coincidental. Indeed it represents a remarkable partnership of the UJA, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the UJA Benefit Concert Foundation. That foundation was the brainchild of Ed Zinbarg and Victor Parsonnet, ardent supporters of both UJA and NJSO. (Victor is the longtime chair of the orchestra’s board.) The participants in this strategic alliance obtained philanthropic commitments from 10 benefactors to establish a perpetual concert endowment. Income from the foundation funds all of the concert costs — the NJSO players, soloists, and conductors and rental of the NJPAC hall. As a result, all ticket and journal proceeds (minus the expenses of the community receptions) go directly to the UJA Campaign.
This initiative also has provided an extraordinary annual cultural event for the Jewish community. The concerts highlight Israeli and Jewish composers, performers, and conductors, and concert attendees in addition to hearing wonderful music have a great opportunity to socialize at the dessert reception.
Benefactors who have made this creative legacy possible include my wife Beth and I, Joan and Allen Bildner, Judy and Stewart Colton, Toby and Leon Cooperman, Anita and Franklin Hannoch, Drs. Mia (of blessed memory) and Victor Parsonnet, Lore and Eric Ross, Judy and Josh Weston, Beth and Leonard Wilf, and Barbara and Edward Zinbarg.
Over the years, conductors and soloists have included Vladimir Feltsman, Joseph Kalichstein, Ruth Laredo, Zdenek Macal, Gil Shaham, Pinchas Zuckerman, and many other musical luminaries. This year’s concert will feature two emerging Israeli stars, conductor Asher Fisch and violinist Giora Schmidt; on the program will be such popular works as Rossini’s Overture to William Tell and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as well as virtuoso violin music by Fritz Kreisler.
This year’s special honorees are former governor and current Senate president Richard J. Codey and his wife Mary Jo, who have been great friends of the Jewish community and the State of Israel. During his tenure as governor, Codey facilitated the multi-million-dollar purchase of Israel Bonds by the State of New Jersey. He was also instrumental in establishing the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education and has advocated vigorously for the interests of the Jewish community of MetroWest. Mary Jo Codey has been a preeminent advocate for the rights of the mentally ill and those who have special needs. They join a long list of impressive honorees over the past years, including Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Jerry Waldor (of blessed memory), Herb Iris, Josh and Judy Weston, Lester and Judy Lieberman, and Leon and Toby Cooperman.
The net proceeds to the UJA of these benefit concerts exceed $2 million. As in prior concerts, this year’s concert has received special funding from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey to enable low-income elderly and the handicapped to attend the concert. They will be joined by hundreds of others who will enjoy a magical night of music by the cultural gem of the state, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The attendees will reacquaint themselves with old friends, will celebrate Israel’s Independence Day and, perhaps most importantly, will contribute to the vital services provided by the United Jewish Appeal.
Tickets are still available. Contact the NJSO ticket office at 973-624-3713, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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