CONCERT REPORT: Tel Aviv, September 24

[oskie98]

Sirius, please, would you mind to go back to the Politics board? I guess that place is more proper for your posts. Thanks.

[sturgess66]

I have attempted to transcribe Leonard's beautiful words - there are a couple of blanks - I think he uses a Hebrew phrase and perhaps someone can fill in the blanks. I think this may have been what Dino referred to:

The missing words are Baruch Hashem. Their literary meaning is 'blessed is the name' (of the Lord), but it's a term used in the sense of 'thank god'.

Thank you!!! I'll edit my post.

[sturgess66]

I'm not sure if these more recent videos have already been posted -

From “anatni”

First We Take Manhattan – Dino is really psyched!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc6M1rLTZMw

Hallelujah (partial) – Neil Larsen is magnificent!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKXCjRlat0

If It Be Your Will –LC “Ah, beautiful. Hattie and Charley Webb, the sublime Webb Sisters, and on the Hammond B3 organ, Neil Larsen”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL8WUldoy-I

From “fragola550” – (video not great so mostly audio)

Suzanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUOonBiTpkk

Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25t-oo64U9Q

From “shegh” – a lot from the big screen

Some of Leonard’s speech – close up from the big screen so you can see his face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aS_sBT6fug

Everybody Knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voNple0oDms

Bird on The Wire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZb07Z5BFVA

Waiting for the Miracle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEjtBQoi3M8

Who By Fire – Javier Mas! And Roscoe Beck! And of course – Leonard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHYETLG3bKQ

So Long Marianne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwG0qfKQxwQ

Leonard dancing off the stage – Neil Larsen going crazy on B3!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYWPlX3CXG8

Dino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDcbdg6mj70

[naf nehoC dranoeL]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgja26eNeY

I do not know why i am posting this link, but it relates to the iraeli/Palestinian conflict one way or another.

[lizzytysh]

Dear Adamintelaviv ~

Are you the Adam we already know here... and who has now been to Tel Aviv to see Leonard perform... or are you a new Adam here? Welcome, in any case .

Cohen ended the concert with the priestly blessing in (excellent) Hebrew. Being a descendant of the holy men of Israel (literally, that is what his name, Cohen, means) he has the power and the right to do this.

This blessing is one of the most beautiful ancient poems you will ever know.

I felt most blessed.

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם:

Here is my outrageously personal translation:

May the most holy bless you and protect you
May the most holy take a shine to you and grace you
May the most holy take a good look at you give you peace

Here is something more precise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_Blessing

I am wondering if this is something he has done before. I had the feeling it was a very special moment indeed.

adamintelaviv

Reading all the various reports, I have no reason to suspect that Leonard has ever used this particular Priestly Blessing. He gives a four-faceted priestly blessing at the end of each of his concerts; however, it seems that this one was especially appropriate for and hence given to all of you.


~ Lizzy

[adamintelaviv]

Hi Lizzy. I am a new member. I live in Tel Aviv. I was in Barcelona for the birthday concert and then came home to the Tel Aviv concert. My head is still spinning and my heart singing. Could you say a bit more about how he has been ending concerts. Barcelona was also so beautiful and thoughtful, he spoke so kindly and precisely to lonely people.

In Tel Aviv he made me think of his parents' generation. A cross between Frank Sinatra and the High Priest of old. Ultimate cool no matter how you look at it.

[MarieM]

Folks, please limit the discussion here to what happened at the concert. I know many of the articles speak of the background of this concert and more importantly, the purpose of this concert. Unfortunately, any discussion of this tends to quickly turn to the larger issues. There are pages and pages devoted to those larger issues in the Politics section. This thread and section is devoted to Leonard in concert.

[sturgess66]

There is a YouTube video imbedded in the article -
"rachelsamoul" Leonard TLV 2009 - a compilation from the concert showing people arriving, some bits of songs (Lover, Lover, Lover ), some of Leonard's speech, and a lot of Hallelujah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6LL8qJtg_k

http://kefisrael.com/2009/09/25/leonard ... -tel-aviv/

Leonard, un Cohen à Tel Aviv

מה טובו אוהליך יעקב, משכנותיך ישראל Nombres 24, 5 Qu’elles sont belles, tes tentes, ô Jacob! Tes demeures, ô Israël! C’est par ses paroles que Leonard Cohen a débuté son concert à Tel Aviv dans le stade de Ramat Gan.

C’était prodigieux. j’en suis encore toute émue comme je crois les 50 000 personnes présentes.

Dance to the end of love, Love me, Chelsea Hotel, Suzanne, If it be your will, I’m your man, First we take Manhattan, The Partisan, Gypsy Wife, Everybody Knows, Take this waltz… Trois heures et cela aurait pu continuer toute la nuit.

Deux grands écrans de chaque côté de la scène avec en sous-titres la traduction des chansons en hébreu. Des jeux de lumière très élégants. Des musiciens et des chanteuses excellents.

Avec son chapeau Fedora, son costume impeccable, sa démarche souple, sa voix grave, sa diction incomparable, son anglais magnifique, sa classe, sa poésie, Leonard Cohen a subjugué un public déjà conquis.

Leonard Cohen a parlé de paix et a rendu hommage au Parents Circle, une association de familles endeuillées palestiniennes et israéliennes. Les 2 millions de dollars de recettes du concert alimenteront un Fund for Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace.

Les spectateurs attentifs pourront découvrir dans la foule l’écrivain israélien David Grossman et le caricaturiste Michel Kichka.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6LL8qJtg_k

La pemière partie était excellente mais c’est à la seconde partie après un Hallelujah à donner des frissons que le concert a changé de dimension. J’étais venue écouter un artiste que j’aime beaucoup et j’ai en fait assisté à une expérience mystique. Il m’a semblé que Leonard Cohen par sa musique reliait le monde d’en-Haut, au monde d’en-bas.

Leonard est un Cohen, un descendant des prêtres qui officiaient dans le Temple à Jérusalem.

Leonard Cohen a béni les 50 000 personnes de son public en prononçant la bénédiction des Cohanim, ברכת הכהנים la bénédiction des prêtres, les doigts joints et séparés, l’index et le majeur d’une part, l’annulaire et l’auriculaire de l’autre:

Que l’Eternel te bénisse et te préserve
Que l’Eternel t’éclaire de Sa face et te soit favorable
Que l’Eternel tourne Sa face vers toi et te donne la paix

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

D’ailleurs, La Souris de la Ville, le supplément culturel du journal HaIr a intitulé sa page de couverture:

Leonard Cohen inaugure Yom Kippour

1leo-198x300.jpg (27.92 KiB) Viewed 2673 times

Je vous recommande cet excellent article sur la tournée de concerts de 2008

Shabbat Shalom et Gmar Hatima tova

GOOGLE TRANSLATION -

Leonard A Cohen in Tel Aviv

מה טובו אוהליך יעקב, משכנותיך ישראל Number 24, 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! By his words as Leonard Cohen began his concert in Tel Aviv in Ramat Gan stadium.

It was wonderful. I am still very excited as I think the 50 000 attendees.

Dance To The End Of Love, Love Me, Chelsea Hotel, Suzanne, If it be your will, I'm Your Man, First We Take Manhattan, The Partisan, Gypsy Wife, Everybody Knows, Take this waltz ... Three hours and this would could continue all night.

Two large screens on either side of the scene with subtitles translating the songs in Hebrew. The play of light very elegant. Musicians and excellent singers.

With his fedora hat, his dress impeccable, his flexible approach, his deep voice, her unique diction, his beautiful English, his class, his poetry, Leonard Cohen has captivated an audience already conquered.

Leonard Cohen has spoken of peace and praised the Parents Circle, an association of bereaved Palestinian and Israeli. The 2 million in proceeds from the concert will feed into a Fund for Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace.

Viewers will find attentive crowd in the Israeli writer David Grossman and cartoonist Michael Kichka.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6LL8qJtg_k

Pemière The game was excellent but the second half after a Hallelujah to give chills that the concert has changed dimension. I came to listen to an artist that I like and I actually attended a mystical experience. It seemed that Leonard Cohen's music by connecting the world from on high, to the world from below.

Leonard Cohen is a descendant of the priests who officiated in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Leonard Cohen has praised the 50 000 people in his audience by saying the blessing of the Cohanim, ברכת הכהנים the blessing of the priests, the finger joints and separate the index and middle fingers of one hand, ring finger and pinkie other:

The Lord bless you and preserve
That the Lord to enlighten you and His face is favorable
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

Moreover, Mouse City, the cultural supplement of the newspaper HaIr titled its front page:

Leonard Cohen opens Yom Kippur

1leo-198x300.jpg (27.92 KiB) Viewed 2673 times

I recommend this excellent article on the concert tour of 2008

Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Hatim tova

[reneny3]

The beautiful earlier posts leave little to add, so here are a few photos instead. Enjoy!

[Bequia]

Leonard Cohen has praised the 50 000 people in his audience by saying the blessing of the Cohanim, ברכת הכהנים the blessing of the priests, the finger joints and separate the index and middle fingers of one hand, ring finger and pinkie other

My understanding, perhaps mistaken as I am just a goy, is that this symbolizes that according to the Song of Songs, God "peeks through the cracks in the wall" (i.e., watches over and protects even when hidden)....the obvious connection is to Anthem

[reneny3]

Leonard Cohen has praised the 50 000 people in his audience by saying the blessing of the Cohanim, ברכת הכהנים the blessing of the priests, the finger joints and separate the index and middle fingers of one hand, ring finger and pinkie other

My understanding, perhaps mistaken as I am just a goy, is that this symbolizes that according to the Song of Songs, God "peeks through the cracks in the wall" (i.e., watches over and protects even when hidden)....the obvious connection is to Anthem

Not so obvious, but most definitely a beautiful connection. Thanks for the insight.

[Hani]

Hi All,
My husband and I had a most soul-touching experience at the concert last night. We would like to thank the people of the LCfiles/LCforum, for it was the pre-sale that enabled us to get tickets. All the best and SHANA TOVA (it's a blessing for a good year, as the Hebrew year begins nowadays).
Hani

[Patrycja]

I am sure it would have been recorded - wouldn't the organisers have recorded it? How can we contact them to request a DVD?

It was recorded, but it isn't likely to be released... it's way too similar to "Live in London".

I can see an EP working though... a collection of recording from the entire tour, of songs missing from London (Raincoat, Partisan, Miracle, Chelsea, Lover, etc).

Still, it would be a shame to have this simply circulate the bootleg haunts without it doing some more good. Perhaps the powers that be can be enticed to have this released officially so that its proceeds can go the Parents Circle charity Leonard supported with the concert?

p.s. the footage of his speech about that charity and that of "I'm Your Man" is great! But the inclusion of the blessing gave this concert a spiritual aura that perhaps surpasses that of other shows (I know that's a very personal thing, for people can be moved by the most seemingly mundane moments, but this one clearly resonated with a purposeful bridging of soul and song).

[icecreamtruck]

So was there Subtitles to the Lyrics that LC was singing?

[reneny3]

So was there Subtitles to the Lyrics that LC was singing?

Yes there were, even though it wasn't really necessary - as most people there knew the lyrics by heart.
But it was a nice addition and no doubt it added to the unique experience.