There were three holiday concerts we prepared the students to perform during the three Decembers we served in Israel. We spent many hours rehearsing for each of these and the students were as enthused to sing, dance, and play their instruments as we were to direct and accompany them. Imagine our shock when our first holiday concert in December 2013 conflicted with one of the largest snowstorms Jerusalem has ever experienced. Over two days fifteen inches of snow piled onto the roads, breaking tree branches, isolating neighborhoods, and even providing plenty of snow for the students to build an igloo on the JC terrace. Besides cutting off transportation so that only a few people could attend our special concert, a greater problem was the power failing at the Center. It was off nearly all afternoon on the day of our main performance and our anxieties grew the longer we waited for it to be restored.
Eran Hyatt waited until 6:45 pm to make the decision that the show must be cancelled. Still, the students didn’t care if only a handful of audience was there to watch, they just wanted desperately to perform and have it recorded. At 6:50 pm, as we sat in the darkened auditorium, heartbroken and discouraged, we heard a group prayer being offered by the students on the stage. Immediately as their prayer ended with the word, “Amen,” the power came on. The back-up generators, which had been off for several hours, suddenly began working again. Everyone performed the show with great enthusiasm and gratitude. At the end of the show, as the last student exited the auditorium singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” the power shut off again, but this time for only a few moments – just long enough to remind us Who had answered our prayers that evening.
Story by Jan & John Clayton who were Music and Hosting Volunteers from February 2013 – August 2014 and August 2017 – February 2019
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