Life is Belief & Struggle - Ahmed Shawqi

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Kol Hakavod Evgeny Kissin or International Renown Pianist Takes a Stand.

I read constantly of the strides being made every day in the BDS movement against Israel. It just seems like the list only continues to grow, and grow.  There seems to be no shortage of those whose biggest heart's desire is to flagellate the Israel state into oblivion.

But every once and awhile someone comes along and takes a very public stand, and I stand humbled and in awe. It may be an act lighting just one candle against the gathering of night, but oh, what a light it gives.

Internationally renown pianist Evgeny Kissin recently took Israeli citizenship and issued this statement via Tom Gross carries a copy of Kissin's statement,
“I am a Jew, Israel is a Jewish state – and since long ago I have felt that Israel, although I do not live there, is the only state in the world with which I can fully identify myself, whose case, problems, tragedies and very destiny I perceive to be mine.

“If I, as a human being and artist represent anything in the world, it is my Jewish people, and therefore Israel is the only state on our planet which I want to represent with my art and all my public activities, no matter where I live.

“When Israel’s enemies try to disrupt concerts of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra or the Jerusalem Quartet, I want them to come and make troubles at my concerts, too: because Israel’s case is my case, Israel’s enemies are my enemies, and I do not want to be spared of the troubles which Israeli musicians encounter when they represent the Jewish State beyond its borders.

“I have always deeply despised chauvinism and have never regarded my people to be superior to other peoples; I feel truly blessed that my profession is probably the most international one in the world, that I play music created by great composers of different countries, that I travel all over the world and share my beloved music with people of different countries and nationalities – but I want all the people who appreciate my art to know that I am a Jew, that I belong to the People of Israel. That’s why now I feel a natural desire to travel around the world with an Israeli passport.”

Best case for aliyah I have heard for a while.