Zemer Chai, Washington's Jewish Community Chorus, will present a concert of comfort, hope and inspiration on Thursday, June 6 at 8:00 pm. Out of the Darkness - Light will be performed at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, 7727 Persimmon Tree Lane, Bethesda.

"This is Zemer Chai's response to the painful events taking place in the world this year," says Eleanor Epstein, the founder and conductor of Zemer Chai. "We hope the music will bring comfort to all those who are grieving and inspiration for the difficult work ahead."

The concert begins with music "in darkness" with texts that speak to difficult times, such as Yeled, Yeled Li Nitan, based on a poem by the noted Israeli poet, Saul Tschernichovsky, which tells of a mother singing a child to sleep as bombs sound in the distance. The concert moves into music that speaks to the meaning and growth that can come from living through strife. "Pieces like Hamavdil, expressing the age-old hope that Elijah the prophet will soon return, bring the message that the seeds of our redemption are planted in our pain," says Epstein. "Psalm 23 brings a message of comfort and strength - though we walk in the valley of deepest darkness, we will not fear evil, for we are not alone."

The concert's theme, Out of the Darkness - Light, is drawn from a musical setting of a verse from Psalm 112, set by Felix Mendelssohn in his oratorio "Elijah," Blessed are the Men Who Fear Him, which also will be performed by the choir.

Zemer Chai has brought its uplifting Jewish music to audiences in the Washington region and venues around the world for over a quarter of a century. The choir takes pride in building bridges to those of other religions, taking part in several interfaith concerts and developing a multi-cultural following. Zemer Chai will be performing with the Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band next year. The group joined with the Concert Choir of Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington for a concert of peace last February.

Tickets are $36 for patrons (reserved section); general admission $18 in advance, $20 at the door. 301-963-1510 or e-mail info@ZemerChai.org.