Christof Pies (center) with choir members in Barta’a and at the security fence in the area where it passes between the Palestinian village of Anin and Israeli Muslim city of Umm el Fahm.

 

Christof Pies is a German history teacher who has been involved in bringing groups of teachers, students and extended family and friends to visit our region.

Christof came to Israel and Givat Haviva the first time was in the year 2000 and visited practically every year since, even during periods when tourism hit rock bottom due to the security situation.

Christof took it upon himself to organize the visit and program of concert appearances of the ‘NO LIMITS’ choir from his town, Kastellaun and one of the events on the non-musical itinerary was a visit to the Wadi Ara region and Barta’a village with Lydia Aisenberg.

The Kastellaun group consisted around 30 youngsters between the ages of 14-23 with some 12 adults accompanying them, including representatives of the Kastellaun Rotary who helped to raise funds for the trip to Israel and the Palestinian areas.

In the region from 4-18 October, the choir and entourage gave concerts at Kibbutz Zeelim, Jerusalem, Beit Jala, Bethlehem, Kfar Saba and other places as well as touring extensively.

The Kastellaun ‘No Limits’ youth choir was founded by conductor Volker Klein in 1996.  The choir’s music program includes spiritual and secular music, songs from musicals and more.

At the end of the tour with Lydia she was presented with the ‘Festliches Weihnachtskonzert in Kastellaun’ CD produced by the choir as well as a gift from Christa Wendling with a decorative bag of lavender from her lavender labyrinth in Kastellaun.

 

  

Left:  The Kastellaun CD and right: the choir in Barta’a village

 

Toward the end of the packed concert and tour schedule in Israel Christof - somewhat exhausted but very much elated with the success of the visit – emailed to say that the tour of Barta’a and observation point visited overlooking the Palestinian village of Anin, the security fence and a large portion of the Jezreel Valley down below had helped the young people understand better some of the complications discussed during their trip.

Back home in Kastellaun Christof had little time to relax before beginning teaching once more. 

“I am busy organizing a ‘Jewish Week’ with music, lectures, films (‘Lemon Tree) and a discussion with Rev. Schihadeh about the peace process,” he emailed Lydia this week.

Rev. Schihadeh, Christof explains, is the pastor of the Lutheran Church and hotel/hostel known as ‘Abrahams Herberge’ in Beit Jala.

We look forward to Christof’s next venture to our region and wish him every success with his endeavors to bring about peace in the Middle East.

 

www.labyrinth-Kastellaun.de

 

Photos & Text: Lydia Aisenberg, October 2008