ベイト・シャロム合唱団コンサート 2006年5月19日在ヒューストン日本国総領事 加茂佳彦
It is my great pleasure to be a co-sponsor of this concert along with the United Orthodox Synagogues, Holocaust Museum and Chevra Kadisha of Hosuton. I wish to thank Mr. Joseph Secan for contacting us at the Japanese consulate and soliciting our involvement in this event.
Beit Shalom Japan, that is to say, Japan Christian Friends of Israel was founded by Father Otsuki in 1946. Since its establishment, it has grown to a 10,000 member congregation and has been instrumental for building friendships between Japanese and Jewish peoples.
Shinonome Chorus, or should I say, the Choir of Dawn is its music wing and has been very active and acclaimed for its high standard performance. This is their 7th visit to the US and they toured Europe and Israel as well. The singers are drawn from all over Japan to make a signature choir of Beit Shalom Japan. Tonight, they will sing Japanese folk songs as well as Hebrew liturgical music and many more. I look forward to hearing Japanese folk songs sung in Hebrew.
HolocaustMuseum and the Japanese consulate had two joint exhibitions last year, you may recall. One exhibition, titled ‘Unlikely Liberators’, featured the Japanese American troops who liberated the Jews from the camp in Dachau, Germany during WWII. The other exhibition, titled ‘the Righteous Gentile’, featured a Japanese consul who saved many Jews by issuing transit visas through Japan to North America in Lithuania in 1942.They were very touching stories and our collaboration scored a great deal of success. I think tonight’s concert will serve a wonderful follow up of our collaboration by reminding us another righteous gentile, Father Otsuki.
Please enjoy the show.