Photo by John Chisholm
Some 900 people from the Washington area came together at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial “in one musical voice to bring hope and unity to a divided nation,” as organizers described the purpose of Sunday’s interfaith concert.
“We had so many religions represented … [and] people of all different colors and disabled people,” said Cantor Michael Shochet of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, who organized the event with fellow Cantor Rachel Rhodes.
“I looked at the choir and I was blown away at how good everyone felt at being together and using music as their voice to say we’re a part of this country,” Shochet said.
Shochet said he chose the Lincoln Memorial for the concert because of its history as a stage for demonstrations against injustice and hate.
The concert, “Sing For Hope: Interfaith Voices Uniting Our Country through Song,” featured performances by an interfaith choir of more than 300 singers, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., the CUCC Rock Spring Youth Choir of Arlington, Robbie Schaefer of Eddie From Ohio and Ariana Zuckerman.
“By coming together in song, we can heal some of our country’s wounds and move forward with a stronger sense of hope,” said Rhodes.
The concert was sponsored by dozens of local and national organizations including Temple Rodef Shalom, Temple Sinai, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Temple Micah, Adat Reyim Congregation, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Temple Shalom, Temple Emanuel, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and 6th & I Historic Synagogue.
