Friday, July 18, 1980 The Jerusalem Post Page Seven

ISAAC STERN couldn't under­ Israel signs a peace treaty with all stand why Teddy Kollek suddenly its neighbours." launched into a long lecture on Amnon Weinstein, an outstanding Jerusalem. After all, the great Israeli violin maker whom Stern Jewish violinist has known and lov­ discovered and sent to Paris to ed Jerusalem since he first saw it in Happy birthday, dear Isaac study, presented the guest of honour with a wood-sculptured But the mayor's spiel — usually plaque made in the shape of a violin reserved for visiting dignitaries By JUDY SIEGEL and millionaires — was a diver­ Long-distance telephone calls sionary tactic. The main purpose Jerusalem Post Reporter began coming in and Stern joyfully was to get Isaac to the party on agreed to "accept the charges." Violinist-conductor Alexander It was six months in the making, Zakin, who accompanied Stern on (Sasha) Schneider was on the line, and the organizers, from the the piano tor 37 years, seemed to as were Eugene Ormandy, Eugene Jerusalem Music Centre, which move him most. "This man was my Isaac Stern founded with the partner, confidant, my right hand Videotaped messages from other Jerusalem and Rothschild Foun­ and my left hand." Mehta recalled friends brought more birthday dations in 1973, treated that he had attended a concert by greetings. Henry Kissinger said preparations like a military secret. that when he was a shuttling Minutes before zero hour on Mon­ In Bombay. secretary of state, Isaac and Vera day night, they flitted around the What followed was a "marriage Stern used to take him to task for centre speaking In low voices, ceremony" between Isaac Stern his negotiating stances regarding referring to "him" (meaning and the City of Jerusalem, with the Israel during dinner together. Ar­ Isaac) and "it" (meaning the sur­ Sterns' 24-year-old daughter, Shira, tur Rubinstein said Isaac would prise) as if to keep word from get­ a rabbinical student at the Hebrew have to live "33 years more to beat ting out. Union College, presiding, and me," and called him a first-class Casually dressed, the mayor took Mayor Kollek producing a violin­ violinist who "Improved from year Vera and Isaac Stern to dinner, and Among friends: Teddy Kollek, Isaac Stern... shaped ketuba, Shira, who sat next ...and Vera (Rublnger) to year" and a "wonderful, wonder- then suggested that they stop by at to her brothers Michael, 20, and the centre in Yemin Moshe. When France (playing a marathon eight Mehta, "do you know what it is to to in San Francisco when ne was io. David, 17, presented him with a President Yitzhak Navon, accom­ "I know how It feels to be 60," they reached the door, the Diaspora concerts of 15 major works) and keep a secret in Israel?" Esther Rubin, widow of the hand-embroidered violin bag from panied by his wife, Oflra, were the said Leonard Bernstein. "I'm Yeshiva Band greeted them with was congratulated and feted by "That's because there Isn't a Jerusalem. next guests on Stern's "This Is terribly moved as I talk to you. I hassidic music like klezmerim at a many of his friends. There were single cabinet minister here." jok­ remembered being in New York in Ilka, of the Ilka and Aviva duo can think only of blessings... You're Jewish wedding, and led them into more concerts and parties in Tel ed Kollek with more than a little 1943 and attending a Stern concert who played the flute at the Sterns’ Navon, a former chairman of the just beginning to understand the the wood-panelled recording studio Aviv. enjoyment. along with Jascha Heifetz, who was wedding here in 1951, brought back American-Israel Cultural Founda­ music. You learn from teaching. It where Isaac Stern has taught so But the Jerusalem party, he said, Seated on a stage in front of a enthralled by the music and memories when he performed the tion (which Stem established to keeps you young. May you stay many talented young musicians. was the best. "No greater gift could cloth backdrop pinned with flowers predicted a great future for him. cultivate young Israeli talents and young forever." I have received,” he told the 100 and the words “Happy Birthday Another friend, a colleague from A gigantic TV screen near the which Vera runs as vice-president), Fredrlc Mann, for whom the COMPLETELY ASTONISHED and friends assembled In the studio. Dear Isaac," he was escorted down the Israel Philharmonic, was in­ stage showed photos of the Stern said Stern had "brains in his heart. Mann Auditorium was named, reacting like a child hearing “Israel since 1949 has meant the memory lane. Stern had no trouble troduced by the clowning Mehta as romance, that led to a wedding here He is a devoted son of the Jewish presented Isaac with a frozen Haydn's "Surprise Symphony" tor music of sustenance for me... recognizing the voices of long-lost "Prof. Hakim Abdul Mohammed," 16 days after Isaac and Vera — people who strives only for the chocolate telephone, and a giant the first time, the cherubic, roly- Regardless of where we are, Israel friends. After all, he la known to be and disguised with a galabiya, kef- stalwart Zionist from America — cake was rolled in. poly violinist was welcomed into has created a different meaning for a master on the telephone — his fiya and sunglasses. "Will you The president recalled that Stern It's a shame that only a few dozen yet another 60th birthday party. all of us, has made each of us a favourite Instrument after the please drop your Polish accent?" Ya'acov Avlad, the Foreign dropped everything in 1967 to play of their many good friends could fit Although he won't turn 60 until different person, a larger person. violin — and he has 11 of them in his joked Mehta, as the guest "taught" Ministry's protocol chief, and MK at the Mount Scopus concert for into the studio, and that, at best, Monday, It wasn't the first party, Wc must always return to the Manhattan duplex. Stern some eardrum-shattering Mordechai Vlrshubsky, differed reunified Jerusalem, and in 1973, to only parts of the film and it won't be the last. Since he left He recognized the voice of Qenla tunes and the birthday "boy” pur­ somewhat when each recounted the cheer up wounded soldiers during on Israel TV. An edited colour film New York and headed east, he Blinder, the widow of his first violin posely produced sour notes like details of the first meeting at an the Yom Kippur War. of the birthday party will be shown spent time in England (watching "FIRST of all," said Israel Philhar­ teacher, who recalled Stern’s first Jack Benny In his prime. IPO concert — and each took credit "I hope you will play and Zubin at the Carnegie Hall and for special the Wimbledon tennis finals) and monic musical director Zubin concert of the Double Bach Concer­ THE APPEARANCE of Alexander for it. will conduct the concert when occasions. THE JERUSALEM Stern at sixty MAGAZINE Friday, July 18, 1980