March 25, 2025
Dear JYC Global Family,
The Jerusalem Youth Chorus mourns the tragic loss of life in Israel-Palestine and the senseless end to the most recent ceasefire. As violence continues to devastate communities, we grieve alongside all those suffering unimaginable pain and loss. And our chorus itself has continued to undergo attacks from conflict entrepreneurs on both sides of this war who see only their own side’s needs as legitimate. Yet, in the face of fear and tragedy, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating spaces where young people can come together in dialogue and song, resisting division and fostering connection. Through music and conversation, we provide a refuge of safety, peace, and even moments of joy, empowering young leaders to build a shared community. The pain we witness only strengthens our resolve to bring Israelis and Palestinians together to meet, connect, and share their truths. It is in these moments of human connection that we cultivate empathy and plant the seeds of hope for a future not defined by cycles of violence.
In the spirit of fostering this much-needed hope, we want to share some uplifting moments from our singers’ recent JYC experiences in Jerusalem:
We were truly honored to host over 100 singers, alumni, family, and friends at our annual Iftar dinner. In the face of the challenges of the current moment, our community of peacebuilders came together for an evening of shared meals, storytelling, and music. Our singers also celebrated Purim at a party planned by our newly established Singers’ Union, a youth-led initiative born from JYC’s dialogue model and composed of six singers—three Palestinians and three Israelis. Already, they have shown remarkable leadership, stepping up to plan activities that strengthen connections among their peers, and are actively preparing for our upcoming retreat, working alongside staff to unite the chorus beyond individual dialogue and age groups.
Deepening Dialogue, Strengthening Connections
As we prepare for our upcoming spring retreat in the north, singers in every year of our program are diving deeper into their dialogue work:
- Year 1 participants are beginning to connect their personal identities to the broader realities they navigate daily, sharing experiences of bomb threats, police stops, and harassment on their way to school—many hearing these stories from each other for the first time.
- Year 2 singers are exploring their grandparents’ histories, confronting collective traumas such as the Holocaust and displacement, and understanding how these narratives continue to shape their present.
- Year 3 singers are focused on how to balance being radically honest with one another about their differing perspectives while maintaining the deep friendships they have built through their years in JYC.
Through these conversations and the music they create together, JYC singers are strengthening their bonds, challenging their understandings, and building a community rooted in truth, empathy, and shared humanity. Their resilience, leadership, and commitment to each other define JYC—and at this critical moment, your support can make twice the impact.
| Double Your Impact: A $75,000 Matching Gift With 82% of our operational budget dedicated to programming, our expanded work with high schoolers, parents, and alumni comes with significant financial challenges. To help meet this need, JYC supporter Sally Gottesman has made an extraordinary $75,000 matching gift—doubling every dollar contributed by members of our community up to $75,000. This vital support will replace the $150,000 we expected to receive from USAID before our contract was officially terminated just weeks ago. |
Even in the darkest times, our singers continue to rise as changemakers, using the power of music and dialogue to inspire hope and unity in Jerusalem and beyond. Your gift today ensures that their voices—voices of love, understanding, and resilience—can continue to sing the way forward.
Join us. Support JYC. And together, let’s build a better future. With hope and harmony,
Micah, Amer, Jackie, and the Jerusalem Youth Chorus