On the lawn of Kibbutz Ma’abarot

Directed by  Eliyahu HaCohen

53 min.

Kibbutz Ma'abarot is in the Hefer Valley, not far from Netanya. In 1976, the members of the Kibbutz, along with singers and musicians, assembled on the lawn for an evening of singing and listening that was hosted by singer and Israeli folk song expert Eliyahu HaCohen. Throughout the evening HaCohen gives explanations about each song: From the different Nigunim, whether original or inspired by, to the unlikely connections between eastern and western, Jewish and Arab melodies that are sung and demonstrated by the musicians. The songs sung are a mixture of secular and religious songs, from the aforementioned Nigunim, to songs of Sabbath (Shalom Aleichem, Be'Yom Hashabat, Lecha Dodi, Ken Ba'Kodesh Chazitaich), to Israeli standards like, Laila Ba-Gilboa, Shir Sameach, and, Hineh Lanu Nigun Yesh.

The musicians featured in this film include: singers Gali Atari, Oded Ben-Hur, Daphna Zehavi, Mali Brunstein, Uzi Meirov, the Emek Hefer Choir, and cellist Joachim Stutschewsky.