Jerusalem’s culture scene boasts an eclectic mix of talent, and the a cappella group Kolture Shock, which has its roots in the NY metro area, has contributed to this mix. The group’s co-founder and musical director is 31-year-old Brooklyn native and Queens College graduate Cheryl Lieberman, who can add Kolture Shock to her list of musical accomplishments.
“In the third grade in Yeshiva of Flatbush, I sang ‘In the Jungle’ in the school play. It was the first time I sang in front of a group of people and it was at that moment I realized that I could sing,” she said. Lieberman continued to develop and showcase her musical talents, joining her school chamber choir and landing the lead role in the school play “Annie” in the seventh grade, before studying music theory in high school. After graduating from Yeshiva of Flatbush, Lieberman spent a year in Israel and then went on to major in music at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, from which she graduated with honors at the top of her major. It was there that she really solidified her musical knowledge.
Lieberman had contemplated making aliyah for a long time, and after she graduated from Queens College she decided the time was right to make the big move. She was accepted into a master’s program at Bar Ilan University studying music therapy. As she adjusted to life in a foreign country and dealt with the challenges of being the only American in her rigorous graduate program, a friend who had sung with her in the Flatbush choir and also made aliyah reached out to her.
“I missed singing and we talked about ways we could find outlets to do what we love most. So during one of my first weeks in Israel, we held auditions in my friend’s living room to start a music group. Close to 50 people showed up and we formed a core group of a cappella singers that we called ‘Kolture Shock’ (kol in Hebrew means voice). This was in 2009. We are now celebrating our eighth anniversary.”
Kolture Shock is a unique addition to the Jerusalem music scene. The group prides itself on its rich diversity and ability to fuse together music from different backgrounds. Half the group is native Israeli and the other half hails from around the world, including North America, England and Germany. Most of the group’s members consider themselves to be religiously observant, and also happen to be single.
The group’s musical repertoire consists of modern and classical tunes, with a balanced mix of Hebrew and English melodies. Its fan base consists of both native Israelis and new immigrants, proving the potency of the musical experience to unify diverse groups. Kolture Shock was even instrumental in making a “shidduch” between two of its members from different walks of life; during the group’s second year, a new Ashkenazi immigrant from New York joined the group and met a 10th-generation Sephardi Israeli. Seven years later, they have three children and Kolture Shock to thank.
Readers may have seen the video of the live rendition of Hatikvah that Kolture Shock performed on the Jerusalem light rail. The initiative was coordinated two years ago by the Israeli nonprofit organization Im Tirtzu, in order to inspire Israelis to get out and vote. The video quickly went viral and, according to Lieberman, today boasts 15 million views through YouTube and various Facebook groups. Almost three years later, she still gets stopped on the street by strangers who recognize her from the video, expressing their love for Israel.
Lieberman is proud of her accomplishments with Kolture Shock and the warm reception her group has received from Jerusalem audiences. However, it has not always been easy for her, as a religiously observant female. “I found that in New York my opportunities were limited and that I could only perform for a female audience. When I came to Israel, I was so happy to find a community that identified with observant Judaism and still appreciated my need to express myself musically. I am grateful that I found an outlet here and that I can perform.”
Kolture Shock’s next gig will be on December 21, as part of a December cultural festival in Jerusalem. Regarding the future, Lieberman remarked, “I would love to do an international tour and bring some inspiring Israeli music to the greater New York/New Jersey area and the community I was raised in. The voice is a powerful tool. I hope I can continue to use it to inspire people to follow their dreams and to show Israel in a positive light.”
By Alisa Bodner
