Pianist Gil plays on to help feed more hungry mouths

I am very happy and proud to report another magical musical evening with Maestro Gil Shohat at the Sharon Hotel in Herzliya Pituach. Gil played three Beethoven Sonatas – Moonlight, Pathetique and Tempest. He accompanied the music with detailed explanations, which was a real treat.

The audience consisted of 230 music lovers, the majority of whom were 'regulars' at these annual musical evenings. They were enthralled by Gil's musical expertise, his explanations of the sonatas and his wonderful sense of humor and fun.

Gil reiterated his promise made at a previous musical evening that as long as there is one hungry child in Israel, he will continue to come and host and sponsor these musical evenings. At each of the musical evenings, he has told me that he does it with complete love, and this year he added that he felt very honored!

I think that we, as an audience supporting a food charity, should feel very honored that Gil Shohat sponsors these musical evenings and has done so for the past few years. I am very grateful to him for his continuing to do so, thus enabling us to raise urgently-needed funds for the Hand In Hand Food Pantry, one of ESRA'S projects.

Before the music, we were treated to a splendid buffet with a selection of salads, cheeses, fish and quiches followed, of course, by a selection of mouth-watering desserts, hot and cold drinks and wine.

This year the musical evening was dedicated to the memory of Sir Bernard Schreier, owner of the Sharon Hotel, who had sponsored these musical evenings for the past few years. Even since his passing last June, the sponsorship has continued through the good offices of the Schreier Family.

Events such as this one, particularly with sponsorships of this kind, are good fundraisers and help swell the coffers of the Hand in Hand Food Pantry which feeds the hungry and needy of Netanya. Without the sponsors and without our wonderful supporters, we would not have been able to achieve our goal, so I give a big thank you to the supporters who attend year after year, to the sponsors who so graciously help us, to the committee of the Hand in Hand Food Pantry and, above all, to GIL SHOHAT who, despite having such a busy schedule, still agrees to come and help raise much-needed funds. Thank you, Gil, for making the evening such a success.