Heart, Talent, and Connection

When the Thelma Yellin Big Band returns to Washington this January, the spotlight will shine on 25 remarkable young musicians from Israel’s premier high school for the arts. The band’s visit includes a special performance on Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 pm, in Potomac, Maryland, where it will be joined by two instrumental ensembles and an a capella group from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS). The concert offers our community a chance to experience some musical brilliance and the joyful spirit these students bring.

The Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts is widely regarded as the training ground for Israel’s most promising performers. As philanthropist and WHC members Carol and Robert Burman (who helped fund and organize the trip, along with Guy Berliner and Josh Stevens) explained, “These are not just students banging away. This is the premier arts high school in Israel.” The school’s music curriculum mirrors top conservatories worldwide. “They copy a lot of the programming from the Berklee School of Music in Boston,” Robert noted, and several students have gone on to study there on scholarship.

Last year, seven students and their professor made the trip, meeting with their peers at Rockville’s Berman Hebrew Academy and CESJDS. This year, 25 will travel to the U.S. In addition to sightseeing and other activities, they’ll spend time with students from WHECTY (WHC’s teen group), sit in on some classes at CESJDS, and share music with the younger students. Carol noted that last year, “It was magical how the bands of the two schools integrated together and how the connection between Thelma Yellin, the Berman Academy, and CESJDS happened immediately.”

A Festival of Connection Through Jazz

To Carol, the magic of these encounters is rooted in more than hospitality or even shared Jewish identity. It is the music itself — specifically — that brings these young adults together so naturally.
Jews and jazz have always been closely aligned. From Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman to Avishai Cohen, Jewish musicians have helped shape the sound of the genre. Israeli jazz often blends Middle Eastern scales and Jewish melodies with American harmony, creating a fusion that feels instantly familiar on both sides of the ocean.

The genre allows for individuality within the group. An American teen might lean into blues or swing, while an Israeli musician might draw from Mediterranean rhythms. Rather than creating distance, these differences build trust, curiosity, and connection — mirroring the way Jewish identities vary across the world while remaining grounded in shared values.
While there may be a language barrier between the Israeli and American students, music is universal. Robert points out that, “The greatest thing I see is when they’re finished playing … the kids jam with each other, and that’s when they really start getting together.” He adds, “As Jewish kids, they immediately felt this bond.” The simple joy of learning each other’s musical influences creates friendships far more quickly than sitting in a classroom ever could.

Those friendships extend beyond the kids themselves. Robert and Carol insisted the kids call them “Papa and Gaga,” and when they visited Israel earlier this year, the students insisted on taking them to their favorite falafel spot and introducing them to their families. “We have no real family in Israel,” Robert said, “and now we have so many people that we now consider family.”

Why This Concert Matters

For the Burmans, supporting these young musicians is a way of honoring both their talent and their future. The students are only months away from entering the Israeli army. “These are our heroes. These are going to be the new generation of heroes,” Robert said. “They’re the future of Israel. Our life here is better because we have a strong, respected Israel. And these kids are Israel. They’re fighting for me. They’re fighting for you.”

He hopes the WHC community will fill the hall on January 8: “I’d really like to maximize the attendance. We want to give these kids love. We want to appreciate them. We want to thank them.”
Jazz may be the music that brings them together, but it is our community that will remind these young adults how deeply they are cared for, and how many friends they have here in Washington.