Take three young music students from Israel’s famed High School for Arts and Sciences.  Combine them with seven elderly blind persons.  Add one dedicated volunteer van driver. Warm gently, and you get  a beautiful harmony that stimulates the senses and stirs the emotions.  For Michal Drori, the modest young woman at Yad Sarah who created this recipe, it’s just another one of the many projects that she is involved with.

For the past six months, Michal Drori, a student of music therapy,  has served as the music coordinator for the Department of Home and Community Services at Yad Sarah. One day she received a surprise phone call from her counterpart at the very selective High School of Arts and Sciences. Could Yad Sarah use volunteer musicians who want to perform community service? Michal grabbed the opportunity and got right to work. She thought of Esther, an elderly blind woman who was once a teacher of the blind, loves music, and has a piano in her home.  But why stop there? Michal searched the Yad Sarah files and found a small social network of blind persons who enjoy music.  A phone call to Esther, and yes, she would be happy to host the group in her home. All that was left was to find a driver who could bring the group together. Someone mentioned Meir Keller. Without hesitation, he volunteered for the job.

Meir Keller is an angel from Heaven on a mission. Every Tuesday afternoon, he drives to Yad Sarah after his regular work hours to pick up one of Yad Sarah’s customized vans. He then drives around Jerusalem during the crowded rush hour to pick up six elderly, blind individuals.  When King David established the city of Jerusalem over 3000 years ago, handicap access wasn’t taken into consideration.  Jerusalem is a city of hills, steps, and narrow, winding walkways. It is difficult to navigate for even the most experienced blind persons.  So Meir has to compensate. For each individual that he picks up, he has to park the van, and patiently guide the person up and down the stairs, over the uneven pavement, and into the van.

Finally, we get to Esther’s house. The three young musicians are waiting for us: a pianist, a guitarist, and a vocalist. They’re equipped with their music sheets and lyrics. Meir arranges the chairs and distributes the refreshments.  The musicians ask for requests. Knowing that musical tastes vary, they come prepared with a little of the old, a little of the new, and some classical selections.  It starts with a bit of chatter which soon breaks into a kumsitz, with music, singing, and clapping. A little while later, Esther’s daughter, a member of a choral group, arrives and joins with the vocalist. Each musical selection is introduced to the group. There is a lively discussion about the musical selections, the artists, and the composers.  This is a group that knows their music. Though the level of participation varies, no one seems bored. It is a lively, joyous environment.

Over an hour later, the musicians begin to pack their materials. But the evening isn’t over yet.  Curious about the musicians and the visiting reporter who is busy taking pictures, a lively discussion follows. Where do you come from? What brings you here? Relationships are developed and strengthened.