From Georgia with love

Tuesday night in wartime Jerusalem. A crowd of local Jerusalemites, emigres from Georgia and other FSU countries, native Israelis and Ukrainian refugees, religious Jews in kippot and headscarves and secular Jerusalem hipsters and students, the uber cool set and the plain ordinary, all packed in to a standing room only small cave-like underground bar in the city centre to hear a performance by Trio Mandili, three young women who's sumptuous voices have brought Georgian folks songs to a wider international audience.

At a time when Israel is being increasingly isolated around the world, when the hate at the Eurovision song contest made the word Israel seem like a curse, visits from overseas performers feel like both a taste of a normal life and a warm embrace.

It was a magical evening that felt a little like travelling abroad to some farway country for a brief vacation from our painful reality. The eclectic crowd mirrored the eclectic decor of the place. Above the stage hung an upside down bicycle and novy god tree adorned with cats. Behind the bar was a vintage record player and a shelf stacked with records while to one side of the stage was a small bookcase packed with volumes in a variety of languages on subjects ranging from poetry to history and art.

Surrealist style original artwork alternated on the walls and shelves with random vintage objects and folk handcraft chatchkes while a tv screen over the bar played vintage east European cartoons.

In one corner hung Ukrainian and Israeli flags. Nearby was an old Jerusalem bus stop with the name of the club over the destination sign. In another curtains printed in east European folk patterns hanging under the eves on an old style village house, a small book filled room with an accordion on the chair just visible.

It was standing room only in the crowded little bar but the mood was enthusiastic and people smiled at their neighbours, even if there wasn't always a common language between them. The concerned soundman brought out a couple of stools for a pregnant women and an elderly couple, concerned that they at least shouldn't stand for the entire concert.

Trio Mandili gave a vibrant, vivacious performance, their rich harmonies and warm voices carrying the audience away from the painful here and now.

The lead singer offered bright English commentary and explanations of the Georgian language and culture laced with humour and a few Georgian folk dance moves. Their joy was infectious.

In November 2023 as Israelis were reeling from the trauma of the horrors of the October 7 Hamas invasion a small light in the darkness was this beautiful recording of the traditional Hebrew hymn "Adon Olam" to the popular tune of the late much beloved song writer, Uzi Hitman. It was recorded by a Georgian folk group, Trio Mandili, and it touched the hearts of every Israeli and Jew who saw the You Tube video, a surprise comforting hug from a strangers in distant country.

This week Trio Mandili came to Israel for a series of concerts in several Israeli cities to lift people's spirits and spread some love.

Tonight, the eve of Yom Yerushalayim, they performed in Jerusalem and we were delighted to be in the audience, truly a balm for spirit and soul.

After a lively set of folks tunes from around Georgia they concluded with their spirited cover of Adon Olam and then they invited the audience to join them in singing a moving acapella rendition of Hatikva, The Hope, Israel's national anthem. There was not a dry eye in the house.