I met Cantor Anita Hochman when she was about to retire, and I was invited to perform at the celebration of her 36 years serving Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ. At the start of this project, I asked if she knew anyone who could do a translation into Hebrew; she reached out to several friends, but all the cantors were working 12-14 hour days trying to help their congregations get through the early days of the pandemic. So Anita, Fran, Ilana, and Robin began meeting via Zoom every Monday evening, trying to find ways to celebrate the joy of anticipation, confident in the belief that better times would, indeed, come again.
Translator Fran Avni is Israeli and part-time Canadian who worked out of Montreal who believes in harmony in all things, including this piece. Co-translator Ilana Axel is an American-Israeli musician who serves as a cantor in the Chicago area, and is also an independent rabbi, serving unaffiliated people everywhere possible. Audio & video engineer Robin Anne Joseph is the sort of Jill-Of-All-Trades we see a lot in my profession; someone who can do anything and everything well enough to earn a living, while remaining true to their creative spirit. Singer, songwriter, musician, actor, director, playwright – and now, with lockdown, audio and video engineer also celebrating her 40th year as cantor in the upstate New York area. Last but far from least, Cantor Emerita Anita Hochman recently retired from her full time position in Cherry Hill, NJ, but remains involved in projects that involve the “gathering of voices” to express love, hope, justice, equality, and empowerment.
At Anita’s “retirement party”, I was privileged to share the stage with a dozen cantors who’d come in for the occasion, and sang a gorgeous version of “Over the Rainbow” with me. A stellar moment, to be sure.
Fran Avni: vocals, arrangement, translation; Ilana Axel: creative team, translation; Anita Hochman: creative team, coordinator; Robin Joseph: audio & video Engineer. For more information about this version, check out www.bettertimeswillcome.com/, where you'll also find hundreds of free downloads from mp3s to coloring pages! Feel free to make your own version, because music is for everyone!
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