Jerusalem Sing Anew
With Opera Shalem
Welcome to Opera Shalem Website. We are inviting you to become part of our journey by supporting the future of opera in Israel.
Shalem = Whole
Aliyah and Artistic Excellence
Jerusalem lacks the consistent, high-caliber opera programming that defines world-class cultural capitals. While the city hosts occasional performances, this void deprives residents and visitors of transformative artistic experiences and diminishes Jerusalem's standing internationally.
Unlike European cities with ensemble opera houses, Israel operates without permanent companies where artists receive stable employment and develop collectively. This forces talented Israeli performers to piece together freelance work or seek opportunities abroad, creating a fractured artistic community rather than a flourishing operatic tradition.
Israel possesses extraordinary vocal and musical talent that deserves to flourish on home soil. Opera Shalem envisions a future where gifted performers can pursue artistic excellence without compromising their Israeli identity or religious observance—where aliyah becomes a pathway to artistic fulfillment rather than career sacrifice.
By establishing a professional ensemble, Opera Shalem will cultivate Israel's operatic talent while raising musical performance standards nationwide. Uniquely in Israel, we'll embrace the full spectrum of "Musiktheater": opera, operetta, and musical theater, creating a distinctly Israeli voice in this rich artistic tradition.
How would you like to support Opera Shalem?
Help Us Raise $250K by October 20th to Launch Jerusalem's Opera House
Your founding support will hire our core team and fund the composition of our opening piece - a powerful new work about the Binding of Isaac by composer Orian Shukrun.
Our Story
Samuel Berlad, an opera singer and Jewish cantor, made aliyah in 2012 hoping to build both a life and artistic career in Israel. Like many musicians, he found freelance work, but the lack of long-term opportunities made growth increasingly difficult.
As the pandemic wound down in April 2022, he accepted a full-time soloist position in Halberstadt, Germany. It provided stability, but life as a Jewish artist abroad brought constant challenges. In Halberstadt, antisemitism was an ever-present reality. The decision that promised security left him feeling unmoored.
This crystallized an impossible choice: Artists shouldn't have to choose between career and identity, between artistic excellence and Jewish life. Opera Shalem was born from that realization and the belief that things can be different.
We're building an opera company in Jerusalem that puts people first, where artists can be rooted, not just hired. Where creative teams build lasting relationships, and singers, musicians, and backstage crew belong to a shared ensemble.
We also believe sustainability matters, both for the environment and for the people who make opera happen. We're creating an organization as committed to fair employment and long-term careers as it is to green technology and ethical practices.
Opera Shalem isn't just about what we perform. It's about how we live and work as artists. It's about coming home and creating a place where others can too.
