Ramallah Concert
On August 21, 2005, during the week of the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an historic concert took place in the city of Ramallah, in the Palestinian Territory given by a world-class orchestra of young Arabs and Israelis. Conducted by Daniel Barenboim, this was the first time the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, where young Arabs and Jews perform and live side by side gave a concert in one of its members' home countries. It was standing-room only in the 700-seat concert hall, and the atmosphere was electric. The program included Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. An earlier award winning documentary "Knowledge is the Beginning" follows the establishment of the orchestra by Barenboim and Palestinian author Edward Said in order to bring together young musicians from across the political divide in the Middle East. This first film will be shown on Sunday August 13, same time and place. Both events are sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace, San Diego Chapter.