Friday, December 17, 1965
JEWISH  WESTERN BULLETIN
Page Nine
GRANDIOSE SETTING AT ANCIENT CAESAREA ON THE MEDITERRANEAN, HOME OF PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
RECONSTRUCTED ROMAN HIPPODROME AT CAESAREA, the Mediterranean, was one of tbe sites for Israel's Fifth Festival of the performingr arts last summer.
The Festival, also held in Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv, feat-
ured international artists and groups including the New York City Ballet, Music from Marlboro and a presentation by an all-negro cast of James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner". Following the Festival, which ran 'for almost five weeks, the Third Inter-
JEWRY: ROUND THE WORLD
Only 26 Jews left in China
NEW YORK —Chinese Jewry is almost extinct. From 25,000 twenty years ago, the number of persons registered with the Council of the Jewish Community in Shanghai is 26 today.
These facts have been reported to World Jewish Congress in New York by P. I. Yudalevich, chairman of the Council, who notes that the tiny community consists of 20 persons in Shanghai and six in Harbin.
The Community Coimcil is primarily concerned with provid-
ing welfare facilities for needy members, arranging Jewish education for the remaining children, and caring for the community cemeteries. In addition, the Coimcil is occupied with requests from former members of the community who require documentation of confinement during World War II to substantiate compensation claims.
The information concerning the remains of China Jewry was sent to the WJC's Institute of Jewish Affairs.
Chanuka Greetings to the Entire Jewish Community from the Executive and Members of the
national Harp Contest, with contestants from 15 countries, took place, beginning on Sept. 2 with a gala concert in Jerusalem.
Both festival activities were truly international in scope and appeal, attracting artists from all over the world and designed to attract visitors from abroad.
Beginning on July 26 with a grand opening in Jerusalem, the Festival featured the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Rinat Israel Chamber Choir, Kol Israel Radio Chamber Choir and Haifa Chamber Choir.
A "first" was the world premiere of Boskovitch's suite, "Ornaments for Flute and Orchestra". Also included in the opening was a performance of Bloch's "Sacred Service". Almost five weeks later, the Festival closed in Tel Aviv with "Music from Marlboro", featuring 35 artists from the Marlboro Festival in Vermont and presented by the United States Department of State.
IsraeFs Festival is a travelling one. Performances are held in the major cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa as well as at a reconstructed Roman hippodrome atCaesarea. Along with the Marlboro group, under the artistic direction of Rudolf Serkin, other first appearances in Israel were given by the New York City Ballet and an all-negro cast from the United States in a presentation of James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner^.
Other international performers included Thomas Schippers, David Bar-Illan and Sergiu Celibi-dache. Israel was represented by Gary Bertini, Raffaele Arie, Uri
Teoplitz, and pantomimist, Samy Molcho. In previous years such performers as Pablo Cassals, Isaac Stern, Sir John Gielgud, Van Cliburn, Agnes Moorehead and Igor Stravinsky have appeared in the Festival along with such groups as the Mexican Folk Ballet, the P i r a i k o n Greek Theatre, I Musici and Amadeus ensembles,   and    the Juilliard
Quartet.
A few days after the Festival ended the Harp Contest began in Jerusalem with 44 entrants from
the United States, Canada, West Germany, Holland, France, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.
The Harpfest was held in three stages with a finale gala concert on Sept. 13. The popularity of the Harp Contest has been indicated by the fact that 44 contestants in such an event are equivalent to 800 contestants in a violin competition; in every orchestra there are 30 violinists for every two harp players.
Chanuka Greetings
May I, on behalf of the Executive, Board of Directors, Staff and Members of the Jewish Community Centre, wish each and every person in our community a Most Joyous Chanuka.
A. J.>\CKSON,
President, \'ancoii\-er Jewish Community Centre.
ALEC JACKSON