When two Israeli students spoke at the International Peace Day conference at Pine Point School last year, Marcia Reinhard of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connection had a suggestion for Head of School Paul Geise.

She knew the award-winning Afula Youth Orchestra and Choir of Israel, would soon be touring the eastern United States and Canada so she suggested Pine Point offer to host one of the group's performances because of how the school emphasizes peace and understanding it its curriculum.

"It ties in perfectly with our efforts to promote peace among our youth," said Geise.

So last Friday afternoon, the 41-member orchestra and 20-member choir performed a free community concert at the school, playing and singing songs in English and Hebrew.

The concert was the latest event at Pine Point that focuses attention on the need for peace in the world and among people of different beliefs.

In January, four students, two from Afghanistan and two from Israel spoke to a group of Pine Point students.

The school has also brought in speakers from Christian and Muslim organizations who spoke about the importance of understanding each other's faiths. Last September about 200 middle school students from across the region gathered at Pine Point School today to listen to 40 speakers during the International Peace Day event.

"This is all part of what we do here," Geise said about the need to promote the importance of peace among young people.

"These are our leaders of tomorrow," he said.

The stop at Pine Point was among those the musicians are making as they tour Canada, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. They are sponsored by the municipality of Afula, the Israeli sister city to New London.

The group, which is appearing in the region under the sponsorship of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, also performed last week at Fitch Senior High School in Groton and Congregation Beth El in New London.

j.wojtas@theday.com