The power of the moment: The International Jewish Center’s experience of last month’s shooting

The shooting death of three people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels last month sent a shock wave through Belgium but perhaps nowhere as much as in Jewish quarters. Diana Kanter, a member of the International Jewish Centre, Brussels’ only English-speaking liberal reform Jewish community, tells us about the unique situation in which they found themselves over the next 24 hours.

Something happened on last month that drew me closer to the International Jewish Center (IJC) of Brussels. It also drew IJC closer to the Belgian Jewish community. And it all came about thanks to Yale University’s a cappella choir Magevet. 

The fatal shooting at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels on Saturday, May 24, brought with it shock, disbelief and some measure of fear.  IJC was to host the Magevet choir at our premises less than 24 hours later.

However, at nearly midnight Saturday, we were told that the security risk was too high to hold the concert there. IJC members’ ingenuity kicked in. The final Sunday School classes of the year and the ensuing concert would be held at members’ homes.

With fancy footwork and much generosity, both events were quickly moved to new locations with minimal fuss and upheaval.  The Magevet concert was transformed into a kind of IJC house party, with the choir performing in a walled garden in Ixelles.  Thirteen fresh-faced, smiling and talented youngsters transported us from the stress of the moment to the contemplation of beauty and a universal Jewishness through music.  Even a local neighbour commented later on the “other-worldliness” of Magavet’s amazing sound.

Through tears and smiles, we agreed that this had been a cathartic moment, and an important one. What we didn’t know was that this was only the first act. 

Later that evening, the choir and host families found themselves at the Jewish Museum in the historic centre of Brussels with thousands of others in a show of support for the victims. Crowds milled about on the Rue de Minimes, cameras and microphones held high, waiting for speeches.

Behind the scenes, some of us were trying to convince the organisers to let Magevet sing as a measure of their respect for the victims and for all the Jews and supporters gathered there. And the magical moment came with the shortest of introductions.

From deep within the huge crowd, behind the speaker’s podium, the choir started singing “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav”.  No-one could see them, they could only hear them. Their sweet voices rose and reverberated off the walls of the narrow streets and brought everyone to the same reflective moment.

When the last chord died away, there weren’t many dry eyes left, including among the choir.  These young men and women had never performed to such a large crowd before, let alone improvised. And some were away from the US for the very first time. Each was overwhelmed and drained by the moment.

One young choir member started sobbing uncontrollably, and several of us patted him on the back to offer support. I was one of them, sandwiched – quite by chance – between federal equal opportunities minister Joëlle Milquet and prime minister Elio Di Rupo. They offered pats, too.

Once this young man had recovered sufficiently, I told him that one of people who had comforted him was the Belgian prime minister.  

This was meant to be – for all the wrong and all the right reasons. Thanks to IJC and to Magevet.