Merkel with Prime Minister Olmert
Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO
Tales of philanthropists in Berlin
Chancellor Angela Merkel endorses new scholarship fund for young Israeli musicians
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the establishment of a new German scholarship fund for young Israel musicians.
The scholarship fund will be financed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and will be named after Bronislaw Huberman, conducted and founder of the Israeli Philharmonic. Merkel officially lent her endorsement to the scholarship fund.
The initial idea for this scholarship fund was raised by former Israeli Ambassador to Germany Shimon Stein. Stein and his friends, including many leading German dignitaries, already raised 200,000 euros ($292,659) for the fund, which will serve to sustain it for the next 15 years.
The Bronislaw Huberman Scholarship Fund will allow young Israeli musicians, selected bi-annually, to study in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Academy, and hone their burgeoning skills with one of the world’s leading orchestra ensembles.
Huberman had himself played with, and even conducted, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra but left the orchestra as the Nazis rose to power.
An ardent Zionist, he helped establish the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, rounding up Jewish musicians from all across the world whom were displaced and persecuted by the Nazi regime.
Dr. Merkel officially endorsed and launched the news scholarship fund as part of Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations. The German chancellor has noted that she would like to see enhanced cultural collaboration between the two countries.
