Lasers light up Jerusalem night sky
A laser show of sound and colour lights up Jerusalem’s sky, extending over large areas of the capital city.
Jerusalem’s laser show is an ode of light and music to the city’s fabric, history and culture.
From the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, Jerusalem unfurls before us, a place like no other in the world, a city with a vast variety of cultures, at the heart of which is the hope of reaching the longed-for peace. Along the promenade of the ridge overlooking the Holy Basin, an advanced audio system was built that allows uniform and powerful sound to be distributed along its entire length to create a complete and immersive experience for the audience.
The show tells the story of the city and the shared life in it and in Israel through three different shows: a story of light, a story of peace and a story of an eternal longing for harmony. In order to control the many lasers located far from the promenade, a unique control system with remote control capability was established, which was designed in accordance with strict ecological requirements that create a spectacular effect without air pollution and damage to the environment.
The original music was composed to sensitively tell the story of the city and our history; motifs from different cultures and religions can be heard in it alongside songs that are invaluable assets to the Jewish people. The unique synergy between West and East, ancient and new, creates a rooted and contemporary show marked by worldwide music from the statement that there is a place for everyone in the Jerusalem of the future, and peace prevails in it.
Jerusalem-style prayer
The first section opens with mixed sounds from the city. A traditional violin playing “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) and Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayers are heard in the distance. This is the framework story from which the original music will grow. The melody is reminiscent of a Jewish tune, but the instruments come from different worlds: mandolin, drums, and bowed instruments. The Ladino atmosphere reminds us of many generations who lived, worked, and nurtured hopes in the tumultuous city throughout history.
The music develops and becomes rhythmic, with Arabic percussion instruments and an Arabic violin. The beloved Mediterranean fragrance recalls the need for joy, and is played by native musicians. The laser beams line up in two groups, like dancers. One group in the city and the other along the boardwalk. They play a playful game of questions and answers with each other, then burst into a dance together. The rhythm changes giving way to the clarinet and light “fountains” responding to it. The clarinet leads all the instruments into a common symphony. After the climax we return to the sounds of the city, to the shofar from the frame story, to the prayers in all languages and to the violinist standing on the slope of the forest and playing to his city and passing the Jerusalem of gold. At the end, there is an energetic and joyful party of darbukas and music.
“Jerusalem of Peace Jerusalem, Jerusalem, this is not what I saw in my dream! Jerusalem, Jerusalem, peace be upon you! Jerusalem, Jerusalem, enlighten yourself to me! ”
ירושלים של שלום
יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, לֹא זֹאת חָזִיתִי בַּחֲלוֹם!
יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, בֵּין בָּנַיִךְ הַשְׁרִי נָא שָׁלוֹם!
יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, הָאִירִי פָּנַיִךְ אֵלַי!
This is how Avigdor Hameiri translated and adapted Baruch Shapir’s Yiddish poem and called the song “above the summit of Mount Hzofim”. These lines, of personal request and call for peace, are not sung in the known version. In the second part, ‘Jerusalem of peace’, the choir sings parts of the song associated with the city. First with a hum, like a mantra, and at the end with a loud voice, with the lost and beautiful words.
The rays of light dance to the rhythm of the gentle waltz, and the longing for peace spreads with pleasant lightness throughout the city. The sounds grow to a flamenco rhythm accompanied by a violin, in music that combines Israeli motifs alongside the sounds of the East and the Ladino culture of the city.
The rays of light increase hand in hand with the music, and surround the entire city, preparing the ground for the return of the band singing with a loud voice: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, peace be upon you!
We see in the sentence “enlighten yourself to me to me” an expression of strong desire: that we will win, and Jerusalem will soon shine upon each and every one of the abductees, that will return to us safe and sound!
Minister of Tourism Haim Katz said : “Jerusalem is a major tourist destination, and in recent years, we have invested over 400 million NIS (A$166 million to improve the tourist experience in the city. The lights project and all the planned development around Armon Hanatziv and the ridge area will bring significant traffic to the city. The unique story of the capital of Israel will be presented to visitors and will connect culture, history, and technology. I invite the general public to freshen up, strengthen domestic tourism in Jerusalem and enjoy a spectacular show.”
Minister of Jerusalem city and Heritage, Meir Porush added: The project we are inaugurating now is another fine fruit of our collaboration with the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Jerusalem Municipality. When we complete the other parts of the project, this place will become a magnificent Jerusalem tourist gem.”
Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion: The new tourism project we are launching in Jerusalem is another part of the hard work we are investing in Jerusalem to welcome tourists again.
I believe that this spectacular project will become one of the leading tourist attractions in the capital and I am inviting all the people of Israel to come and enjoy Jerusalem.”
Video by Dor Pazuelo.
