Harmonizing in the Holy Land

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus of the Jerusalem International YMCA, founded in 2012 by director Micah Hendler, is an ensemble of high school students from East and West Jerusalem who are working towards attaining high levels of both collaborative musicianship and empathy for one another. Through music and dialogue, these Palestinian and Israeli students learn skills of communication and trust. Such interactions enable the singers to form friendships with, and an understanding of, those from the other side of their city, and empower them, both individually and collectively, to become forces for peace within their communities. Filmed and edited by Emily Cohen