Annual Competition Brings Hundreds Together in Song On Saturday, January 26, 2019, 1,500 students gathered for the 21st Yeshiva University-Kedma Inter-Seminary Choir Competition, an annual event sponsored by Yeshiva University’s S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program in collaboration with the Israeli organization Kedma. The event raised thousands of shekels for ATARA, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that at-risk young women, who have aged-out of the foster care system in Israel, make the successful transition to adulthood. The choirs, whose membership ranged from ten to 50 singers each, performed a six-minute song-and-dance number related to the “Songs of Praise” theme while their friends and classmates cheered them on from the audience. Many of the choirs introduced original musical works about peace, Jerusalem, thankfulness, Diaspora Jewry and Messianic times. In addition to singing, participants incorporated instruments, dancing and multi-media presentations into their performances. The winners of this year’s competiton are Sharfmans in first place, Michlalah in second and Tiferet in third place. Libby Lieber, one of the choir heads from first-place Sharfmans, explained that “the choir competition was such an integral experience of our seminary year. It gave us all an opportunity to channel our talent and energy toward something that inspired us and and brought joy to all those who watched. It strengthened our bond and pride in ourselves and our seminary. We are so grateful to have been part of this event.” The S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program is the Israel arm of undergraduate admissions that work with over 40 affiliated seminaries and yeshivot in Israel and provides structure, support, guidance and programming during the students’ first year as members of the YU family. Stephanie Strauss, the director of the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program, noted that “this collaborative event is an opportunity for seminary students to express their creativity and talent through the medium of song and prayer while also raising tzedakah [charity] for underprivileged Israeli teens. In addition, the cheering and singing that goes with these performances about hope and Israel is an important demonstration of unity. This is exactly the kind of program that Yeshiva University is proud to host, one which culminates in 1,500 women raising their individual voices for a common purpose.”