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- By My Spirit
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A Universal Spiritual Gathering
Toledo - Jerusalem, May 1992
A dramatic moment in history was made on March 31, 1992, when His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain formally addressed the world leaders of Jewish communities as a gesture of reconciliation.
He repealed the edict of Expulsion of the Jews which had remained on the law books for 500 years!
This historic event was followed by the Universal Spiritual Gathering, one of the central events in the re-encounter of the Spanish and Jewish peoples in commemorating the 500 year expulsion of the Jews from Spain.
This kaleidoscope of cultural and artistic events with the Spanish dignitaries and international Jewish Leaders culminated at Sunset with the 2 hour By My Spirit Concert.
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Filmed in
the presence of Queen Sophia of Spain before a gathering of
five thousand people on the hilltop fortress of Toledo, this
magical open air concert featured Zubin Mehta and the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra. Placido Domingo’s voice filled the
night with the ancient Hebrew affirmation: "Shema Yisrael!"
- Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One.
Hailed as one of the most significant spiritual events of
the decade, the pilgrimage to Toledo and Jerusalem offered
a once in a lifetime experience. People from all parts of
the world joined hands in an affirmation of humankind’s eternal
hope for peace, tolerance, and acceptance.
The Western Wall in Jerusalem was the majestic setting for
the closing ceremony, a dramatic musical production of Israeli
composer Noam Sheriff "Mechayeh Hametim", which magnified
the triumph of the Jewish spirit. The saying of "Kadish" and
the powerful blowing of shofars solemnly brought the momentous
experience of the Universal Spiritual gathering to a close.
Weeks before the event, two years in the making, the final
funding did not come through. Lili Fournier personally guaranteed
a 7 camera mobile unit. Two world events, including the Summer
Olympics in Barcelona made equipment and crews a scarce commodity.
She also had her own crew on its way overseas to film the
event for her documentary. The Spanish Government came through
at the final hour. The remarkable By My Spirit Televised Concert
special produced for the Spanish Government’s 1992 Quincentennial
celebrations, was enjoyed by millions across the European
continent and in Israel in the days following the event.
Main Broadcasters: Spain, Israel & Europe.
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