Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Saturday 7 December 2013

Evgeny Kissin: "When Israel's enemies try to disrupt concerts ... I want them to ... make trouble at my concerts too"

As we saw here, the young Russian-born piano virtuoso Evgeny Kissin has a proud history of staunchly and stirringly speaking up for Israel and denouncing antisemitism.

As we also saw, he became a British citizen in 2002, inspired by a remark of Sir Winston Churchill's.

Thanks to Tom Gross, a personal friend of Mr Kissin, we now know that the great pianist is about to become an Israeli citizen, for the following heartfelt and noble reasons:
“I am a Jew, Israel is a Jewish state – and since long ago I have felt that Israel, although I do not live there, is the only state in the world with which I can fully identify myself, whose case, problems, tragedies and very destiny I perceive to be mine.
 If I, as a human being and artist represent anything in the world, it is my Jewish people, and therefore Israel is the only state on our planet which I want to represent with my art and all my public activities, no matter where I live. When Israel’s enemies try to disrupt concerts of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra or the Jerusalem Quartet, I want them to come and make troubles at my concerts, too: because Israel’s case is my case, Israel’s enemies are my enemies, and I do not want to be spared of the troubles which Israeli musicians encounter when they represent the Jewish State beyond its borders.
I have always deeply despised chauvinism and have never regarded my people to be superior to other peoples; I feel truly blessed that my profession is probably the most international one in the world, that I play music created by great composers of different countries, that I travel all over the world and share my beloved music with people of different countries and nationalities – but I want all the people who appreciate my art to know that I am a Jew, that I belong to the People of Israel. That’s why now I feel a natural desire to travel around the world with an Israeli passport.”
Read more here

1 comment:

  1. Tout cela est parfaitement légitime ; je vis dans un pays où, en 2017 (!), beaucoup de Juifs s'exilent car ils ne se sentent plus en sécurité ! Je ne suis pas juive cependant je sens et je sais que ma culture européenne est invalide sans 'les Juifs', ils sont mon peuple à moi aussi. Kissin est très courageux et mettre son immense notoriété au service de sa morale sociale et politique est une superbe attitude !

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