Within the Secret of Many Voices – Piyut, Tefilla and Jewish Music Festival

As part of the our long term vision to give life to the traditional heritage, influence and promote Traditional- contemporary culture in different fields and layers of society, Invitation to Piyut and the National Library have joined forces to found a new festival: Within the Secret of Many Voices – Piyut, Tefilla and Jewish Music Festival to be held Annually in Jerusalem. 

The  goal is to promote long term artistic process that includes deep research and unique collaborations in Israeli society and Beyond, a process that creates original and meaningful various productions that meet a wide range of the Israeli Public.

There is no venue more appropriate than Jerusalem to hold the Festival. Jerusalem is the object of the prayers of all our generations, contains the widest variety of Jewish communities, and is the source of a vibrant Jewish renewal that is influencing Jewish society and culture in Israel and in the Diaspora.

• The Festival will introduce the public to the top artistes and scholars who are active in the field, Traditional and contemporary, encourage the creation of original works

•  Serve as a focal point for meetings between communities and varying trends in Israeli and Jewish society around the world, regarding the world of Piyut, prayer, and contemporary Jewish music.

• Naturally the Festival wishes to develop the interfaith dialogue that is in the nature of the Jewish liturgical heritage and develop the Festival as an international conference that will invite representatives of various Jewish communities in the Diaspora to Israel and make the Festival a major- important event in its field in the world.

Yair Harel is a world-renowned Israeli performer, artistic director, and community organizer, active in the revival and contemporary interpretation of the ancient art of Piyut (liturgical Hebrew poetry) in Israel and abroad, that has revolutionized the face of Israeli culture in the last decade.

Founding Member of the "Oman Chai" Musical Ensemble Directed By the great composer Andre Hajdu (2001), founding member in the "Singing communities" project (2002), founder and editor in chief of the Invitation to Piyut website since 2004, artistic director of the Ben Zvi Piyut Vocal Ensemble since 2006, artistic director of The Jerusalem Piyut Festival in Beit Avi chai between 2008-2017 and currently the Artistic director or "Within the secret of many voices" – Piyut, Tefilla and Music festival in the National Library.

Harel was a Shustermann artist in residence at UC Berkeley (2014) and has also taught at the Hebrew University, The Center for Eastern Classical Music in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, and The Jerusalem Academy High School for Music and Dance.