With frequent pro-Palestinian demonstrations on London streets, he thought: “Let's have our own Jewish pride concert – Am Yisrael Chai. The Jewish people never lose hope. It was that hope, that tikvah, that we were trying to bring to the community.”
Jonny Turgel performsBlake Ezra Photography
They were happy when the audience response surpassed all expectations. “We all left inspired,” Rabbi Akiva says. “For the first time since October 7, I felt Am Yisrael Chai in such a deep and profound way. You could really see the Jewish people have a supernatural strength that, if tapped into, is just unstoppable. And that's what we felt when they were singing and feeling connected.”
At first, Flumendorf wondered if the show might be too joyful, given the fact that the community was still in mourning, but then he felt that it was time to move on. “Enough with the crying – let's not forget that, but let’s stand for our pride. That's why it was so uplifting.”
Sam Stein, who as the organiser of their first show, feels like the George Martin of this four-piece, agrees. “Everyone in our community was very downcast. We wanted an outlet in which we could come together and express ourselves, and the boys did that for us, and that was the start of it.”
The musicians come from different musical genres: Both Turgel and Rabbi Akiva are renowned for their emotive singing, Markovich is known as the “rock star violinist”, while Flumendorf’s origins are in jazz.
“We've got the rabbi, the chazan, the rockstar in Fiddler on the Roof, and the music maestro. And this is the perfect team to bring that story to people,” says Rabbi Akiva, who says that the four members’ understanding of the crowd and Israel is key to uplifting the community. “We're proud Jews ourselves. We're outwardly Jewish, practising Jews, and it's really inspiring for people to see us up there.”
Bar Markovich (Credit: courtesy)[Missing Credit]
While they jested that chazans were sometimes pitched against each other in a sort of battle of egos, they said that this show wasn’t about the spotlight or technical prowess. It was about “the feeling that people go away with” after an event like this, said Turgel.
While Rabbi Akiva and Turgel harmonised, the other two added some context and meaning to what they were doing for anyone who might not understand the songs sung in Hebrew.
The show raised money for Beit Halochem, which provides rehabilitative services and life-long care for veterans and their families. The charity made a video thanking the group for their support, and the next show will raise more funds.
[Missing Credit]Asaf Flumendorf
“We wanted to remember those brave soldiers who are still fighting, and the soldiers who unfortunately have been injured fighting and are now suffering,” says Rabbi Akiva. “It was really important for us to raise awareness about those heroes who gave so much of themselves to protect their Jewish brothers and sisters. For those soldiers to see Jews from the UK, singing and dancing and being proud to be Jewish, that's what they're fighting for.”
Rabbi Akiva Rosenblatt (Credit: courtesy)[Missing Credit]
The band is calling their next show, on September 5, an “upgrade” on their previous one. Turgel says: “We're trying to make people feel Am Yisrael Chai through our music. It's not a chazanut concert. It's not sit back and watch and maybe you'll enjoy it. It's an experience you'll never forget. And it's a therapy – now's the time we all need uplifting again.”
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