SAN DIEGO — Ten years ago, Ana Galicot, the dynamic leader of the Mexican-Jewish Community in Mexico City, Tijuana and San Diego, recruited Elisheva Edelson to form a choir at Ohr Shalom Synagogue. To mark that anniversary, the choir, under Elisheva’s direction, presented a concert Monday evening, September 15, in Ohr Shalom’s Social Hall to honor their beloved founder.
Sitting in a wheelchair in the front row beside her remarkable husband, Jose “Pepe” Galicot, Ana (better known as Janshe), sang along with each of the selections. The music reflected many periods of her life as a Jewish organizer, Zionist leader and innovative educator.
During the program, Elisheva told about Ana’s life.
Ana Raquel Levine was born in 1939 in Mexico City, the daughter of Lithuanian immigrant parents. At home, they spoke Yiddish. She attended a Jewish Day School and began tutoring Hebrew. When Golda Meir visited Mexico, Ana met her. Golda recognized Ana’s leadership ability and encouraged her potential. After University, Ana went to Israel to study at the Machon Madrichei Chutz LeAretz (Institute for Diaspora Leadership) in Jerusalem on full scholarship. Returning to Mexico City, she led Hanoar Hatzioni (Zionist Youth) for ten years.
When she and her husband moved to Tijuana, they helped establish a vibrant Jewish Community and she served as principal for a Jewish School. She also was a leader in WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization).
When they moved to San Diego, they spearheaded the formation of the Ken Community. She continues as the matriarch of a large family and a strong force in the Mexican-Jewish community and beyond.
Elisheva cleverly bookended the prepared program with the songs Or and Shalom, to reflect the name of the synagogue choir.
She sang the solo for the second selection, the beautiful V’Ulai (Perhaps), based on the poem by the poet, Rachel. The choir came in for the chorus, V’Ulai, lo hayu hadvarim meolam, V’Ulai (Perhaps, these things never happened, perhaps). All the lyrics were projected in their original Hebrew, in transliteration and in translation, so the audience was able to sing along and understand the meaning of each selection.
V’Ulai brought tears to my eyes because it was my father’s favorite. He used to sing it, accompanying himself on a pushbutton accordion. Although he sang many songs about Israel, taught and spoke fluent Hebrew, he never set foot in the Promised Land. However, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have all visited the Jewish State and when we do, we remember him.
Next came the familiar love song, Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses) followed by Naomi Shemer’s melodic, Chorchat Ha’ekalyptus (The Eucalyptus Grove).
Ana’s favorite Ladino song followed, Cuando el rey Nimrod (When King Nimrod), then came Elisheva singing a Yiddish song composed during the Holocaust, Friling (Spring), with lyrics by the Vilna Ghetto poet, Shmerke Kaczerginski. The lyrics express his longing for his murdered wife.
Eli, Eli (My God, My God), with words by the heroic Chana Senesh, was sung in both Hebrew and English.
Next was a song of hope, Ehud Manor’s B’Shana Haba’ah (In the Year to Come). Then came Naomi Shemer’s Al Kol Eileh (For All of These), one of Israel’s most popular songs, whose lyrics speak about the honey and the sting, the bitter and the sweet.
Ehud Manor’s Habayitah (Going Home) reflected the hope for peace and the return home of the soldiers.
Oseh Shalom (Make Peace) was sung in beautiful harmony. Two encores followed, ending with L’Olam, Amen (To the World, Amen).
The Ohr Shalom Choir, at this performance represented by seven men and seven women, sang more selections in harmony and with more contrasting dynamics than when they began a decade ago. Their understanding of the words and their strong commitment shines through in their singing.
Eli Meltzer, a member of the Ohr Shalom Choir and a retired pediatric allergist, told how music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other activity.
He spoke about what choir singing meant to the members and what an inspiring and patient director Elisheva is. Under her direction, they have learned not only to sing together but to form a loving community.
The evening ended with a delicious spread of refreshments. Many gathered around Elisheva and the Ohr Shalom Choir Members to thank them for their beautiful music, and many grouped around Ana Galicot to congratulate her for her years of service, leadership and inspiration.
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Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.