“One song that the whole world can sing; one voice that together will bring
One hope that above everything, the whole world can sing one song.”
“One Song,” by Mitchell J. Sharoff
Nearly 300 Laguna Woods Village residents of diverse nationalities, religions, ethnic backgrounds, races, ages and vocal abilities gathered at the Performing Arts Center over three days last week to sing “One Song,” Mitchell J. Sharoff’s ode to peace, hope and friendship.
Groups within the choir branched out to sing the chorus in their native languages – Korean, Farsi, Hindi, Spanish and German – and many singers came dressed in national costumes.
“One Song – 300 Voices,” as the event was called, was put on by the Community Bridge Builders as an effort to provide hope of a more positive, unified community through music.
It was the brainchild of Rebeca Gilad, a founder of the Bridge Builders, which came to life in the aftermath of the 2022 deadly shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
Gilad was searching for a way to express the ideals of inclusivity and friendship and the absence of hate and friction. Inspired in part by the 1985 benefit anthem “We Are the World,” she thought that the Bridge Builders’ ideals could be expressed in a similarly themed song.
“In a world of turmoil and division, in a world where words have become so hurtful, we think that, as someone said, ‘When words fail, music speaks,’” she said.
Gilad said she was also motivated by the ideals that her late daughter, Lizi Gilad Silver, lived by.
“I wanted to celebrate my daughter’s life, who had been an activist for peace, human rights and animal rights since early youth,” she said.
The musical event brought high praise from participants, and for many it accomplished what was intended.
They called it uplifting, inspirational, gratifying, even healing. They came together with their neighbors, they made new friends, and they achieved a greater understanding of one…
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