Widow's Mite

It's hard to believe we have only two more Saturdays in Jerusalem!  I am taking home some treasures with me and one is a widow's mite that I wear on a necklace.  For those of you who might not know what that is, here is a photo. 

The Widow's Mite is the most fascinating of the New Testament coins. The "mite" or "pruta" was the smallest of the bronze coins in Jewish currency. These coins were frequently mentioned in the New Testament in Mark 12:41-44.

The Jews were instructed to give to the Temple and to the poor as part of their service to God. The story goes that Jesus was sitting at the Temple with His disciples near the treasury where people were donating their offerings. He watched as the rich were contributing large sums of money but were unhappy about it. Then, along came a widow with only two small coins in her hand which she put into the treasury box. However, the disciples with Jesus weren't very impressed. 

The smallest denomination of coins were the "mites."  The widow put her coins into the box
and Jesus then called His disciples.  This was something Jesus felt was worthy of comment and something to teach His disciples as He pointed out she had given more than any other that day.

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”  Mark 12:43-44

Those who made big donations were certainly noticed by others but Jesus recognized the humble gift of a poor widow because it was all she had. How did the woman think she would buy dinner that night? She trusted in God to provide for her. Jesus recognized that the sacrifices of the poor meant more to God than the donations of the rich. 

"And He sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto him His disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they are casting into the treasury: for they did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Therefore, the small "pruta coins," which were to become famous for thousands of years, were struck in Jerusalem from the time of the earliest Maccabees and by their successor, King Herod the Great.

This story is also recorded in Luke 21:1-4 1 :
"And He looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: 4 for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had." 

The widow obeyed God's command, knowing that He would fulfill His promise to care for her in return. I especially love this story.  As short as it is, it is to the point! 

Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

Keren Hanan, Concert Pianist

One of the great pleasures Garth and I have with our responsibilities at the Jerusalem Center is to host the Sunday evening concerts. It gives us the opportunity to meet world-acclaimed musicians face-to-face who come from Europe, the U.S. and Israel. The concerts, scheduled more than one year in advance, are outstanding and considering that tickets are free, anyone who doesn't attend is missing a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an evening of music with the "best of the best." 

Keren Hanan, Greek-Israeli and internationally acclaimed concert pianist and artist, has given recitals and performed with leading orchestras throughout the world. 

As a chamber musician, Karen has taken part in the Sunday Chamber Music Series of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the New Chamber Music Series of the Israeli Philharmonic and the Pharos Festival in Cyprus. (Eastern Mediterranean). 

As a Steinway artist, she collaborates with well-known cellist Steven Isserlis.  Keren has given recitals in New York, Boston, Rome, London, Budapest, Vietnam and China. At the age of 15, she appeared as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. (One of Keren's paintings is on display on the wall behind the piano.)

In the last few years, she performed with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (New York), the Belgrade Philharmonic (Serbia) and with conductor Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In May 2007, Keren performed with the Dohnanyi Orchestra in a special event for the State of Israel at the Palace of Arts (Budapest). In 2008, she played and conducted a string orchestra in Budapest.

We have been looking forward to Keren's concert all summer and each time she comes to the Jerusalem Center, she drops in to see me when I am at the organ for a tour or in my office. It's been such a privilege to become personally acquainted with her. She is beautiful in every way, warm and personable and has an inner light that shines from within.   

This past Sunday evening, she gave a phenomenal concert and we have been riding high ever since. Her skill of the piano is impeccable and the emotion she expresses on the ivories takes the listener to a higher dimension. As I listened, my heart was filled with joy and her sensitivity of the music  was absolutely magical! 

When you meet this beautiful young woman, she radiates a warmth that cannot be denied. She is extremely approachable and humble about her genius musical ability, not to mention so many accomplishments, and always made me feel completely comfortable to be around her.  

Every week Garth welcomes the audience and introduces each musician.  He also makes sure we have a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers for each concert and sets up the Green Room. 

Keren has been playing piano since the age of eight. She began studying with Hanna Shalgi and continued her studies with the renowned Pnina Salzman, Israeli classical pianist and teacher of piano pedagogue.  

Keren's mother listened intently as her daughter performed and I could imagine how proud she was as she sat in the audience. I am sure Keren would agree that much of her success was partly due to her mother's continual loving support. Whenever I see a successful musician, I know there was someone standing close behind who gave them strength and encouragement.  Being a concert pianist is a sacrifice, not to mention life-long focus and dedication to reach the highest level of achievement. 

The backdrop and lights of the Old City was spectacular!  The audience was comprised of many of Keren's piano students, friends and Israelis. 

Keren opened the concert with Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor.  Her beautiful gown was sewn by a talented seamstress, her mother. 

In her teenage years, Keren was the recipient of various national awards and received many scholarships from the American-Israel Foundation. At the age of 17, she moved to Boston and continued her studies at the New England Conservatory, then to Tel Aviv (Israel) and subsequently in Italy. She studied under reknown teachers such as:  What Kyang Byun; Prof. Aire Vardi; Franco Scala and Antonio Ballista.

Her performance of Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, by Chopin, was spectacular!

The audience was enthralled with her wonderful performance.

After a brilliant performance of Liszt's Sposalizio and Rachmaninoff's Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, the audience cheered and clapped for an encore and many gave her a standing ovation.  What a concert and what a special gift to everyone who attended . . . an even greater appreciate for musicians like her who dedicate their lives to share their God-given talents with so many. We left with a feeling of joy that would sustain us all week. 

Currently, Keren resides in Israel but lived in Budapest from 2004 to 2014 where she studied with the legendary piano teacher, 

Ference Rados, who has taught some the world's most prominent pianists. 

Keren is not only a famous pianist but also an established artist and has had exhibitions across the globe. Her renowned work has reached private collections in New York, London and Budapest. 

  
Keren expresses the deep emotions evoked by various musical pieces as she visualizes and expresses the sensations and tenor captured by music.  

Her concept of “Music in Colors” was introduced in various occasions

 including two TEDx talks she gave in Budapest and Thessaloniki.

In 2012, she was chosen to represent Hungary at Art Market Budapest. In May 2013, she opened the 1st Art Macao with concert and lecture while displaying her paintings.

After a brilliant performance, Karen took her guests to the Art Exhibit so they could see her wonderful paintings.  

A huge full of love from her mother.

Keren with one of her piano students.
What a lucky girl!          

Everyone was eager to express feelings of gratitude for such a magnificent performance!

Keren's work is held in private collections in New York, London, 
Tel Aviv, Bologna, Vienna and Budapest.

Through the use of color, texture and movement, Keren gives us a glimpse into the underlying essence and structure of a musical composition. She is emotionally attached to each artwork she creates and states: 

"When I paint inspired by a musical piece, it is like a choreography, working with space and time, expressing emotions, the dynamism of a thought, conveying the energy and inner forces that come from the music into a visible medium, a meta communication of a behavior".

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream."

Vincent van Gogh

Her talent as a concert pianist allows her to envision and transpose her

 feelings and insight, capturing music in a certain visual form.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” 

Edgar Degas 

   “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Pablo Picasso

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."  Thomas Merton, "No Man is an Island"

Keren is emotionally attached to each artwork she creates, often providing descriptions of mood, tone, and senses that are translated between both the music and the paintings.

“When I paint inspired by a musical piece, it is like a choreography, working with space and time, expressing emotions, the dynamism of a thought, conveying the inner forces that come from the music, an energy, into a visible medium, a meta-communication of a behavior.”  Keren Hanan

Neomi Weinstein (Curator and Director of Concerts) was thrilled 

with Karen's musical and artistic achievements. 

                                                   

“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.” Pablo Picasso

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” Albert Einstein

#1:  Venus (Oil on canvas)   #2:  Evolving Takeoff (Oil on canvas)  #3: De Produndis (Oil on canvas)

Neomi (Director over concerts at JC) and Keren

Kathleen and Keren

What an honor to know Keren Hanan. I will always remember our association and sincerely hope our paths will cross in the future.

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”  Leonardo da Vinci

For information: kerenhanan@yahoo.it