Happy New Year from AFIPO

Shana Tova! As we look to the beginning of a new year, all of us at the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic extend our best wishes to you and your loved ones.

This past year, the Israel Philharmonic has shown the true power of music as a way to celebrate our culture, to connect with those near and far, and to find a path towards healing. Please take a few minutes to watch this message from the musicians of the IPO about their hopes for the new year.

Thank you for being a part of our musical community—our support of the IPO is made possible by your unwavering dedication and generosity. We will continue to share the incredible work and beautiful music of the Israel Philharmonic with you.

Warmest wishes for a peaceful and sweet new year.

“One year after the events of October 7th, when all our lives changed, we are opening a new season. The Orchestra has accompanied our lives all along but like everyone, nothing prepared us for the events of this past year. After a period of shock and fear, we began to ask ourselves: how do we continue from here? But after having returned to perform, we were so glad that we did. The halls filled with our loyal audience, and even in the harshest times we managed to escape together—even if briefly—to a world of normalcy and beauty. Reality hasn’t left us for one moment, it has become a part of the music we perform, as a sad and painful way to deal with what we underwent. We understood that music can truly help us cope, heal, and this is no cliché. And now it is obvious that we cannot continue without it. On the verge of a new year, we hope and pray for the return of the hostages, and that peace and calm on all fronts will be restored. We hope that the coming season will be a part of a process of renewal and convalescence, uniting us around music, which gives us inspiration, consolation, and hope.”