HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir

HaZamir is the International Jewish High School Choir that was created by Matthew Lazar to provide Jewish teens with a high level choral experience in a Jewish environment.  Local HaZamir chapters exist in cities across the United States and Israel.  Each HaZamir chapter meets weekly in its own city to rehearse Jewish choral music. Although each HaZamir chapter is autonomous in its own city, there is a body of music that all HaZamirs learn so that they can perform together at the HaZamir annual Festival.

HaZamir provides Jewish high school-age teens the unique opportunity to gather together, sing Jewish choral music, build community and connect culturally.  By providing a high-quality, structured program, HaZamir’s unique experience helps foster a lifelong commitment to Jewish culture and music in young people, and builds a strong foundation for future Jewish involvement among its participants.  HaZamir spans the denominations, giving young people an all-too rare trans-denominational experience, forging close bonds and transcending the boundaries that so often separate.  

In addition to local and regional performances, HaZamir sponsors regional retreats, where chapters meet, rehearse together, and grow in friendship.  The HaZamir Annual Festival brings chapters and participants from each HaZamir across the country and Israel for a two-day festival, culminating in a gala concert at a major venue in New York City.  Individuals, many of whom sing, but not in a Jewish choir or context, attend and find an entrance to a Jewish choral experience.  HaZamir alumni return and perform at the Festival, and a select group of teen singers of a higher ability perform in the HaZamir Chamber Choir.  The gala performance, in particular, brings together music, Judaism, community and spirituality in a powerful blend that can be nothing short of life-changing. 

There are now 21 HaZamir chapters across the world.  HaZamir Chapters currently operate in: Baltimore; Bergen County, NJ; Brooklyn, NY; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus; Dallas, Hartford, Houston; Long Island; Los Angeles; NYC; New Brunswick, NJ; North Jersey; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Providence; Rockland County, NY, South Jersey, Westchester; and Israel.

 In the 20 years of its existence, more than 1,000 teens have shared in the HaZamir experience.  Many have gone on to form a cappella groups, sing in adult choirs, and assume leadership roles in the Jewish community.  Clearly, HaZamir has helped reach an emotional core in young people; our belief is that participation in HaZamir lays an important foundation for continuing Jewish values later in life, as well as offering the ability to meet challenges and develop personal skills within a communal context.  Our goal is to expand the HaZamir network, to help build the next generations of Jewish adults with a deeper understanding of the values, tradition and glory of Judaism and artistic expression.