{"id":1305,"date":"2014-02-14T15:05:38","date_gmt":"2014-02-14T23:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2014-04-16T14:16:52","modified_gmt":"2014-04-16T21:16:52","slug":"yosef-niders-debut-violin-concert-is-in-honor-of-his-zaida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2014\/02\/14\/yosef-niders-debut-violin-concert-is-in-honor-of-his-zaida\/","title":{"rendered":"Yosef Nider’s debut violin concert is in honor of his Zaida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yosef plays for his zaida, Marvin Nider.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Six-year-old Yosef Nider has been playing the violin for two years. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m., in the gymnasium at Vancouver Hebrew Academy, he makes his concert debut. Yosef will play a recital in honor of his beloved Zaida, Marvin Nider, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2013.<\/p>\n

Concert for a Cure will raise money for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Yosef\u2019s mother, Elizabeth Nider, said the idea for the fundraiser came about organically. \u201cYosef and I were talking about tzedakah one night before bedtime and he asked me if we\u2019re only supposed to give tzedakah to people who don\u2019t have enough money for food and clothing and I said, no, we can give tzedakah to many other places, such as schools, aquariums, scientists or doctors who look for cures for diseases,\u201d Nider told the Independent<\/i>. \u201cAnd then, Yosef asked me what kind of diseases, so I gave an example of cancer and he right away said, \u2018I want to give all of my tzedakah to cancer scientists so that they can find a cure for Zaida.\u2019 I told him how that was a very nice idea and cancer scientists need lots of tzedakah because they have lots of experiments and testing to do. Then, a few days later, in the car, Yosef announced, \u2018Mommy, I want to make a fundraiser for cancer scientists.\u2019 (I\u2019m still not sure where he got the word \u2018fundraiser\u2019 from.) And when I asked him what he wants to do, he said, \u2018Have a violin concert.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, he said that he wanted to have the concert at the place where the Cavalia<\/i> show is held, but I told him it might not work because it\u2019s probably just for Cavalia<\/i>. Then I told him I\u2019d do some thinking and get back to him and finally we decided that having the concert at Vancouver Hebrew Academy would be best, because other kids could attend and perhaps get inspired to fundraise for organizations or causes that they are passionate about, as well. And here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

The relationship between a grandparent and any of their grandchildren can be close, but sometimes an eldest grandchild holds a special place in a grandparent\u2019s heart. Yosef, his two siblings, Ephraim and Sari, and their Zaida have the added benefit of living in the same city and the opportunity to develop a closeness that comes from more regular interaction.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNot to generalize but, generally, zaidas have more fun with older kids since there is more to do with them. Not to mention, Yosef and Marvin have a lot in common: they both love skiing, building, wood working and playing with Lego. They have been doing these things together for a few years and, because Yosef loves to ask questions and Marvin loves to answer them, they\u2019ve gotten to be quite a pair.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cYosef is the first grandchild, which makes him the oldest grandchild, which means that he has more exciting things to do with his Zaida,\u201d noted Nider. \u201cNot to generalize but, generally, zaidas have more fun with older kids since there is more to do with them. Not to mention, Yosef and Marvin have a lot in common: they both love skiing, building, wood working and playing with Lego. They have been doing these things together for a few years and, because Yosef loves to ask questions and Marvin loves to answer them, they\u2019ve gotten to be quite a pair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yosef takes lessons in the Suzuki method with a private teacher and he has been spending time specifically on his recital repertoire ahead of the concert later this month, said Nider. \u201cYosef practises every day except Shabbat and that hasn\u2019t actually changed; he is still practising the same amount. He is, however, practising with his violin teacher more on the songs for the concert and not learning any new pieces for now. He is also meeting with [clarinetist and community member] Connie Gitlin … and they are practising to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Families approach illness and sharing sad news with their youngest members in various ways, but Nider said she felt clear that she should share the news about her father-in-law\u2019s prognosis with her eldest son, a choice she feels fits with her family\u2019s orientation towards life. \u201cFirst and foremost, where I get all of my ideas and strength is from living a Torah-based life,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe, as Jews, have been blessed with a blueprint for life. It says right in the Torah how to deal with difficult situations … so my ideas are certainly not original by any means. I have found tremendous strength from the belief that Hashem runs the world [and] we are never in control.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that this idea has trickled down to our kids without us even realizing it; I know this because the day after we found out about Marvin\u2019s diagnosis, my husband [Jeff] was in shul with Yosef and my husband was having a hard time focusing so he had to leave. My husband told me that Yosef looked up at him and, seeing tears in his father\u2019s eyes, he said simply, \u2018Abba, everything happens for the good.\u2019 Yosef knows that there is a greater plan and that we are not usually privy to the reasons why things happen and when. Just this fact alone is essential in dealing with any kind of difficulty, whether illness or otherwise. I also can honestly say Jeff and I are extremely thankful that in Yosef\u2019s school there is no shortage of educators, from preschool to head of school, who believe these same beliefs [and] teach children these values from the get-go. So, what I teach my child at home is hugely supported at school and I have found that these two factors greatly increase Yosef\u2019s appreciation for why things happen, both good and bad, and how we can\u2019t always explain the reasons.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPersonally, I believe that explaining in simple terms what is happening is helpful in keeping children from being afraid. If they understand what cancer is, for example, then there will likely be less fear because it makes sense and it is not a secret.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAnother aspect that I have found to be effective is being open. Personally, I believe that explaining in simple terms what is happening is helpful in keeping children from being afraid. If they understand what cancer is, for example, then there will likely be less fear because it makes sense and it is not a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yosef\u2019s original fundraising goal for the B.C. Cancer Foundation \u201cwas $1,000 and he surpassed that goal in less than 24 hours of word getting out about Concert for a Cure,\u201d said Nider. At press time, Yosef had surpassed $6,500 and his new goal was $10,000. The Feb. 26 concert was sold out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible to see this level of support,\u201d Nider said. \u201cPeople who don\u2019t even know Marvin but just know Yosef have donated, and vice versa. We didn\u2019t realize it, but the creation of Concert for a Cure has become something of a small piece of joy amidst all of the daily stress and worry that is affecting our family. Marvin and Barbara (Yosef\u2019s Bubby) check the donation website often and it\u2019s giving them nachas to feel supported by friends, family and people who they don\u2019t even know but who believe in this cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Yosef is also a regular six-year-old. His favorite subjects at school are art and math. Asked what is the best (and worst!) thing about playing the violin, Yosef said that the best thing is \u201cthat people listen and that it\u2019s fun.\u201d And the worst? \u201cWhen people say \u2018encore.\u2019\u201d Sorry to say, Yosef, chances are that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019ll be hearing on the 26th \u2013 and a hearty bravo.<\/p>\n

To donate, visit donate.bccancerfoundation.com\/goto\/concertforacure<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yosef plays for his zaida, Marvin Nider. Six-year-old Yosef Nider has been playing the violin for two years. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m., in the gymnasium at Vancouver Hebrew Academy, he makes his concert debut. Yosef will play a recital in honor of his beloved Zaida, Marvin Nider, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[788],"tags":[530,528,526,531,527,529,525],"class_list":["post-1305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-b-c-cancer-foundation","tag-barbara-nider","tag-elizabeth-nider","tag-jeff-nider","tag-marvin-nider","tag-vancouver-hebrew-academy","tag-yosef-nider"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}