Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra to open season in front of Danish prince
Concert will commemorate 70 years since the rescue of the Danish Jews during the Holocaust
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra was set to open its 2013-14 season at the Jerusalem Theater Wednesday night with a performance commemorating 70 years since the Danish people rescued thousands of Jews from the Nazis.
Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Israeli Education Minister Shai Piron and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein were scheduled to be in attendance at the concert, according to a press release.
In October 1943, Adolf Hitler ordered the arrest and deportation of all Danish Jews. However, the Danish resistance movement, with financing from wealthy Danish citizens, led an effort to ferry over 7,000 Danish Jews across the sea to nearby Sweden where they would be safe.
Frederick is making his first visit to Israel to commemorate the event.
Musical director Frederic Chaslin will lead the orchestra.
Chaslin’s mother survived the Holocaust with the help of a family of fishermen who hid her from the Nazis for five years. She named her son Frederic after the son of Danish King Christian X, who helped finance the escape of Danish Jews.