(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Singer and composer Meilech Kohn, whose hits “Yeder Einer” and “VeUhavtu” are well known, reached another pinnacle during Chol Hamoed Sukkos when for the first time he held a joint performance with Avraham Fried at the annual “Sulam” concert. Kohn was complimented and invited on to the stage by Fried. “I’d like to invite to the stage a man who has taken the world by storm,” Fried announced in his singing voice.

The joint performance brought the whole audience to their feet for ten consecutive minutes of “hakofos” with Fried and Kohn taking turns counting each “hakofa.”

The concert, moderated by Menachem Toker and held for the third consecutive year, attracts hundreds of chareidi families from the United States and Europe who choose to celebrate Sukkos in Jerusalem.

The Sulam concerts, conducted by the producers of Fleishman Peles Productions, have included in past years the likes of other chassidic singers such as Mordechai Ben David, Benny Friedman, and Ohad Moskowitz. All of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Sulam organization, which is headed by Rebitzen Esther Ernster and assists hundreds of children with special needs towards rehabilitation as well as integration into regular educational systems.

“There is a double joy here,” said Rebitzen Ernster after the show. “Thanks to the joy and contribution of all the participants here in the performance, hundreds of children can rejoice after a year. The annual event is also our opportunity to express gratitude to so many people from around the world who opened their hearts to the children of the ‘Sulam.’”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/ Photo credit: Meir Lavi)