The Shireinu Choir of Long Island and Voices of Victory, the St. John’s University Gospel Choir, recently joined voices to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All profits from the concert were earmarked for two area charities.
On behalf of both choirs, representatives of the Shireinu Choir of Long Island presented checks to members of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and St. John’s Bread & Life in Brooklyn. Each donation will be used to face pressing needs in the community.
The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County is dedicated to educating students and the community about the atrocities of the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance and respect for all people. The center serves as a valuable resource for school programs, lectures, training and other educational opportunities. “We believe that by learning about the Holocaust we can work towards creating a better world,” comments Moji Pourmoradi, executive director. “The Center’s message of tolerance and acceptance is more important than ever in today’s world as we work to eradicate hate and prejudice,” she concludes.
For more than 40 years, St. John’s Bread & Life has been addressing the needs of individuals and their families living in the Bedford Stuyvesant community who face multiple challenges. Among the many services they provide are shelf stable groceries, bread, milk and fresh produce for residents locally as well as to 22 communities across Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. “Since March 2020, many New Yorkers have been faced with challenges that often strained their ability to afford food. At St. John’s Bread & Life our mission continues to meet the increasing need for emergency food in New York,” shares Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM, Executive Director.
On March 17, the Shireinu Choir of Long Island was the guest performer at the 81st Anniversary of the Liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto, an event that raised money for Beit Halochem and Magen David Adom, two charities to aid Israel during their current crisis.
The Shireinu Choir of Long Island, under the direction of Deborah Tartell, was formed in 2017 as a mixed voice choir to celebrate Jewish culture through music and song. Part of the mission of the choir is to give back to the community through performance and the raising of funds for select charities. For more information about Shireinu Choir of Long Island, visit www.shireinuchoirli.org. Their annual concert will be held on June 9, 2024, at LeFrak Concert Hall, Queens College. Ticket information is available on their website.
Voices of Victory, Nigel Gretton conductor, was established in 1988. Their unique brand of gospel music is flavored with touches of world music, classical, jazz and R&B.
—Submitted by the Shireinu Choir of Long Island
