The Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) hosted a 'Concert for Ukraine' on Saturday night where over £4,000 was raised to send to charities operating in the war-torn country.

Ukrainian folk songs, Yiddish lullabies and songs of resistance all formed part of the programme co-organised by Musical Director, Rebekka Wedell and Deputy Chair, Rebecca Singerman-Knight.

The KLS Choir opened the show with the 'Song of the Partisans' – a Yiddish song of resistance inspired by the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto.

They were joined in their performances from instrumentalists on the clarinet, oboe, trumpet and accordion – getting the concert off to a rousing start.

As well as a number of beautiful liturgical pieces – Ledor Vador and Oseh Shalom which segued beautifully into the Chasidic song for peace Volt Ikh Gehot Koyekh – the Choir also performed two renditions of the Ukrainian Folk Song, Oy U Luzi Chervoona Kalyna.

The concert also featured a number of solo and ensemble pieces from KLS and guest members including Seymour Kelly performing Ukrainian dance and Louisa Michelson and Rebecca Singerman-Knight performing a Ukrainian folk melody.

Taking place on a beautiful summer evening, the choir and the audience were able to enjoy their interval drinks in the Kehillah Garden.

Members of the KLS choir enjoy the summer evening during the interval

Reflecting on KLS's Saturday night concert, Deputy Chair, Rebecca Singerman-Knight picked out two highlights from the charitable evening.

She said: "We performed an original composition by my co-organiser and KLS's Music Director, Rebekka Wedell. It's a piece called 'Nachamu' which means, in Hebrew 'Comfort Ye' - the text is taken from Isaiah and urges the listener to 'Raise your voice in strength'. It's a beautiful piece and was wonderful to perform. 

"My other highlight was the Choir singing the Ukrainian folk song Kalyna - which is a song of resistance originally written in the early twentieth century but has gained much popularity and relevance over the last few months. They sang it as an encore and the audience joined in - it was really powerful." 

During the interval raffle tickets were sold, with over £400 raised by everyone wanting to win the first prize – a beautiful Mosaic made by KLS member Sandra Webber with a musical and Ukrainian theme (see below).

In total, the concert raised over £2,000 and with the KLS already agreeing to match donations, £4,000 will be distributed to the World Jewish Relief which has a network of people working in Ukraine itself and those supporting Ukrainian refugees in Kingston.

You can watch the full concert here.