Finding voice in the street

THE times are changing for the In One Voice community festival, which returns next year as a street festival in Elsternwick.

For many years until 2005, In One Voice was held in Caulfield Park and was one of the highlights of the community calendar.

After a 10-year break, it’s set for a new lease of life on March 15, 2015 as a daytime street festival in Elsternwick’s Sinclair and Selwyn streets, near Sholem Aleichem College and the Jewish Holocaust Centre.

Festival manager Judith Kirszbaum says: “By having the festival in the streets it will be a very different way of celebrating Jewish culture and arts than how it previously was done in the park.”

Kirszbaum says that about 20,000 people attended the 2005 In One Voice festival. “We are hoping that just as many will attend the 2015 festival.”

Kirszbaum says that while the festival, whch is being presented by SKIF and Kadimah, celebrates the talent and culture in the Jewish community, the aim is to include the wider community, bringing together Australians from all backgrounds.

“It is an opportunity for the Jewish community to break down stereotypes and help people understand Jewish life,” she says.

The activities will start at 10am and continue until 6pm with a variety of events including a street concert with bands, choirs, dance groups and performers from Jewish schools,  playing Hebrew, Yiddish and Israeli music.

There will also be a community expo called With One Aim that promotes Jewish community groups and activities including cultural, political, youth, sport, religious and social, as well as an art exhibition called With One Brush.

“There’s so much talent in the community that events such as the concert and With One Brush provide an opportunity to showcase it.”

Kirszbaum says that guest performers for the concert are still being finalised.

Food stalls including kosher and vegetarian food will be an important part of the festival, along with carnival rides and special attractions for kids.

“The streets will be alive on the day – if people are not listening to music they can dance or eat. It will be very engaging for all,” says Kirszbaum.

“For the many years that In One Voice was running, it was the biggest Jewish event in the southern hemisphere, but one of the main reasons why we decided to bring it back was to launch a Jewish precinct in Elsternwick,” says Kirszbaum.

“We want to create an arts and cultural area for the community with a centre for events where people can enjoy Jewish culture.

“We also want to attract the Jewish youth who may currently be disengaged with the community.”

In One Voice festival will be held on March 15, 2015 in Sinclair and Selwyn streets, Elsternwick. Enquiries: www.inonevoice.org.au.

REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO of Judith Kirszbaum, manager of the In One Voice festival. Photo by Peter Haskin