FOR WOMEN ONLY
Bereshit, a band of Haredi women, opened their show at the Khan Theatre, Jerusalem, with the rhythmic beat of American jazz. Their arrangement of Marcus Miller's ''Blast'', with the addition of Purim verse, had the all-women's audience tapping their feet and swaying in time to this modern jazz number.
Yes, this was an all –female event: the performers, the audience, the sound person and the photographer – and that is what differentiates Bereshit from all other bands.
Bereshit comprises three orthodox Jewish women who decided on principle to perform to women only, and not to show their faces frontally in the media. They write and compose original music inspired by Jewish prayers, the Jewish calendar and the broad mosaic of Jewish culture. To quote the band, the concert takes the listener on a ''musical journey'' touching on the highs and lows of the Jewish woman's life.
At the same time, Bereshit intersperses their music with their own renditions of popular hits such as Stand By Me and No Woman, No Cry. The result is a scintillating mix between the old and the new, and always with a Jewish theme.
Keren Moshe, aged 45 and mother of seven, is the official soloist and percussionist. She grew up in Mevasseret Zion and began singing in fifth grade in a choir which represented Israel abroad. Later she took part in the IDF Central Command's musical ensemble and went on to study at the Rimon School of Music.
Rachel Bergman, the pianist, is 44 years old and mother of five. She grew up in Ramat Gan in a musical environment where concerts were held in the home. She studied classical music at the Tel Aviv Conservatory but always loved to play jazz and pop music.
Yael Elkayam, who is 47, is a guitarist and mother of four. As a teenager she learned both piano and guitar and played in a band in school and in the army. She got married at the age of 25 and music, at that stage, took a back seat. Then a few years ago she took a workshop with Etti Ankri and this opened the door to song-writing and composition.
Some time later, Yael met Keren and Racheli with their children in the local playground, and Bereshit was formed.
Keren comes from a secular background and became religiously observant at the age of 23, together with her husband, while living in New York. Yael grew up in a traditional home and became observant together with her husband after they met in India. Racheli comes from an ultra-orthodox Haredi home but, nevertheless, grew up listening to the Beatles. She often introduces Keren and Yael to songs hitherto unknown to them. Keren was always attracted to Black music while Yael, like Racheli, was deeply influenced by the Beatles, and also by Leonard Cohen.
''It is because of our varied backgrounds that we make every effort to appeal to women across the board: Haredi, national religious, traditional and secular alike,'' explains Keren. "The songs selected for each performance, apart from our original compositions, 'pop up' spontaneously. We then proceed to give each song our own stamp.''
One of the band's first shows was at Beth Hayotzer in Tel Aviv, at an event featuring an all female line-up. When discussing the date of the show, the band realized that Racheli, who was pregnant, was due to deliver close to that date. Should they make alternative arrangements? The show must go on after all! On the day Racheli had yet to show any sign of giving birth but she decided to wait until the last moment. Then contractions began; then they stopped. So she packed her hospital bag and left with her husband for the show. Tension ran high; the band performed and Racheli gave no hint of the imminent new arrival. In the event, a beautiful healthy baby came into the world the following morning. Such is the women's devotion to performing their work.
''We are no longer young girls, so we are in a very mature place to perform,'' says Yael. ''We don't dream of stardom. We simply want to bring our work to the outside world and make people happy.''