The Lotte Tennenbaum Memorial Concert

Originally known as the "Variety Night of Stars", this community concert organised by the B'nai B'rith Israel Committee led by the late Lotte Tennenbaum, celebrated its 23rd concert in November 2003.
 
The first concert in 1980 was held in the former Inkerman Arts Centre with just four artists performing.  Lotte was assisted by Aura Levin Lipski, Joe Stupel and Andrew Kolb to choose the artistic program each year.  Every year saw different comperes and performing artists, giving of their time and talents to fundraise for Israel.  The venue moved to the Camberwell Town Hall and, for some years has been presented at the Glen Eira Arts Centre Auditorium.
 
Lotte Tennenbaum, as head of the Israel Committee, organised 19 successful concerts in succession until 1999, when she developed an incapacitating illness.  Undeterred, this courageous woman of indomitable spirit approached the organisation of the 19th concert with her usual zeal, in bed, a telephone and her faithful poodle by her side.  With meticulous attention to detail, she arranged the concert, phoning her Committee to bedside meetings or telephone conferences to ensure that all would be well on the night.  Calling on her inner reserve of strength, Lotte arrived in a wheelchair, to make an unforgettable speech in which she thanked everyone who had ever helped her over the past 19 years - there wasn't a dry eye in the audience.  Sadly she passed away prior to the 2000 concert, after giving the Melbourne Jewish Community many evenings of memorable and special entertainment.

In 2000, the new committee headed by Esther Gross changed the traditional name to "Night of Stars - 2000" and in order to honour Lotte, added "The Lotte Tennenbaum Memorial Concert" to complete it and yet add a special continuity.
 
Keeping Lotte's tradition of ensuring that the winners of the B'nai B'rith Youth Eisteddfod were showcased ion the night, the new committee framed a varied program involving the young musicians together with more mature professional artists.
 
Every year, artists give freely of their time and talents on the night to support the late Lotte's beloved projects in Israel.
 
During these troubled times, Israel needs our help more than ever and the B'nai B'rith Israel Committee, with its annual concert, attempts to make a difference to the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters who are living daily in a hostile and terrifying environment.
 
Click here to view the projects supported by the B'nai B'rith Israel Committee and the B'nai B'rith Israel Commission.