ByAnonymous, Anonymous
The Israeli army’s marching band will perform in Moscow’s Red Square this Saturday for the first time.
The Jerusalem Post reports that 45 IDF soldiers will join dozens of military orchestras from around the world at the annual Moscow Day celebration. The event , organised by the Kremlin , will take place in Red Square, the traditional parade ground of the Russian army.
The IDF band will perform “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Hava Nagila”, and the IDF anthem “Shir Hamachar”. The soldiers, led by conductor Lt.-Col Michael Ya'aran, will march in the shape of a menorah and form the word “shalom”.
The Israelis will perform with army bands from England, Scotland, France, India, Italy and Kazakhstan, as well as 15 of Russia’s own military orchestras.
The Russian Ministry of Defence invited the IDF to participate in the celebration. The IDF was not authorised to finance the trip as it was not considered a vital military mission and so Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal funded the trip, which costs tens of thousands of dollars.
The trip to Moscow required months of planning and diplomatic negotiations. Keren Hayesod has ensured that the hotel in which the soldiers a re staying had a kosher kitchen and that there is kosher food available in Red Square itself.