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Welcome to Israel Hour Radio’s annual AUGUST CHAGIGOT! Each week during the month of August, we’ll devote our show to a particular topic in Israeli music. And today? We celebrate the Israeli weekend (regardless of how you celebrate it) with our Chagigat Shirei Shabbat…an hour of Israeli songs about Shabbat! While some spend their Saturdays immersed in prayer and study, others spend it at the beach, in the park, or in the club. For many, it’s a combination of all of the above…with a festive Friday night dinner and quality family time at home. No matter how you spend your day, however, Shabbat in Israel is a very special time, with a feeling unlike anywhere else in the world. Shabbat Shalom! (Original Air Date: August 4, 2024)

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The Summer Olympics are taking place this week in Paris, France, with the spirit of brotherhood, unity, multiculturalism, and competitiveness on full display around the world. These are values shared by every Israeli, and we wish more than anything that our biggest conflicts with other nations were settled on the playing field rather than the battlefield. Israelis love to sing about their own country, but they also love to sing about other countries they admire around the world. So this week on Israel Hour Radio, in the spirit of multiculturalism – and in hopes for world peace – we bring you Israeli songs about countries around the world. Fasten your seatbelt, because we’re taking you on a whirlwind journey to France, England, Iceland, Brazil, the UAE, Greece, and many more exciting destinations! You don’t even need your passport! (Original Air Date: July 28, 2024)

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This week on Israel Hour Radio, it’s the return of MY ISRAELI PLAYLIST…where our listeners share their favorite Israeli songs of all time! This time, please welcome Debbie Corwin of Mahwah, NJ! Debbie first visited Israel was with her family on a two week vacation when she was 10 years old. She then spent 7 1/2 weeks in Israel with a ZOA program, ‘Summer in Moshav’, when she graduated high school. She’s been back to Israel 11 times since then, most recently this past March. Since 2011, she and her husband, Jan, have been involved with Zahal Shalom, a non-profit organization that brings 10 wounded Israeli veterans to live with host families in Northern New Jersey. They now serve on the Executive Board. The 2024 Zahal Shalom delegation just returned to Israel, and Debbie and Jan were honored to have hosted their 8th veteran.

Debbie graduated University of Delaware as a music major and had an eleven year career in the music industry in New York. She worked for Tony-award winning playwright Rupert Holmes, serving as the production coordinator, script editor, musical supervisor and orchestrations assistant for three Broadway shows written by Rupert. The highlight of her music career was working with Barbra Streisand in 1990.

She then went on to have a successful 20-year career in senior living, before working as the Director of Israel Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. While working there, she met and began working with Israeli musician, Gilad Segev. Debbie is thrilled to share her favorite Israeli music this week on Israel Hour Radio! (Original Air Date: July 21, 2024)

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OK, reality check. 2009 was FIFTEEN years ago. Yup, you heard that right. While it may seem like only yesterday to many of us, 2009 marked a significant year in history and music, leaving a lasting impact on our lives (and our Spotify playlists!). It was also the year Michael Jackson passed away, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was indicted for corruption, and Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. What were the most popular Israeli songs of 2009? Let’s take a trip in the Israeli Music Time Machine – and a walk down memory lane — to find out! What are your memories and milestones of 2009? (Original Air Date: July 7, 2024)

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In this special episode, we pay tribute to Naomi Shemer, one of Israel’s most beloved songwriters and composers, on the 20th anniversary of her passing. Often hailed as the “First Lady of Israeli Song,” Naomi Shemer’s music has left an indelible mark on Israeli culture. Join us as we celebrate her life and legacy through her timeless songs that continue to resonate with listeners of all ages. We’ll delve into her most iconic compositions, including “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (Jerusalem of Gold), “Lu Yehi” (Let It Be), “Al Kol Eleh” (Over All These), and so many more. We’ll share stories behind the music, and reflect on the profound impact she had on the Israeli music scene. Tune in to honor and remember Naomi Shemer, whose melodies and lyrics remain a cherished part of Israel’s cultural heritage. (Original Air Date: June 30, 2024)

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This week on the podcast, we turn up the volume and get ready to belt it out! We put the call out to our amazing listeners in the “Israeli Music Community” Facebook group, asking for your favorite Israeli songs to sing along to at the top of your lungs. We got some amazing responses! This week on Israel Hour Radio, get ready for a playlist packed with iconic tunes, new favorites, and hidden gems – all chosen by YOU! We’ll be singing along to the songs that make you reminisce, dance, and celebrate our beloved State of Israel. Start warming up your vocal chords, and get ready to sing along! (Original Air Date: June 23, 2024)

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If you’re going on a ten hour road trip, and can only listen to ONE Israeli artist…who’s it gonna be? Such was the question we recently asked on Israeli Music Community, our popular Israeli music discussion group on Facebook. And, wow! Did we get some great responses! With the tragic news of the day still heavy on our minds, permit us present a bit of a diversion this week. On the latest episode of Israel Hour Radio, we’re counting down the artists with the most votes in our very unscientific poll. Oh, and we’re only playing UPBEAT songs by these great artists, to help infuse some much-needed positivity into your day. Download, listen, and smile – you might just find some musical inspiration for your upcoming summer road trip! (Original Air Date: June 16, 2024)

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Remember the music of the ‘good old days’? You know, those blissful days before the world changed forever? We’re referring, of course, to the Israeli music released BEFORE October 7. Back then, Israeli songs were generally fun and light, with songs about love and relationships. Although the past several months have been chock full of powerful, inspirational songs, many Israeli artists are slowly transitioning back to the days of old, with songs that are rather, well, meaningless. And y’know…that may be just what the doctor ordered right now. This week on Israel Hour Radio, we look back at the most played songs on Israeli radio over the past week. Surprisingly, almost all of them have NOTHING to do with the war and October 7…a refreshing change of pace from what we’ve gotten used to lately. It’s time to get reacquainted with Israeli music! (Original Air Date: June 9, 2024)

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Each year, there is so much emotional Israeli music that emerges in commemoration of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Between new original songs, musical tributes at state ceremonies, and performances at other events around the country, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. This year, however, was no ordinary year. Israel’s Memorial Day was more somber than ever, and Independence Day took on a very different significance. So it only makes sense that we take a second episode to explore the meaningful music that provided the soundtrack to this very important week. You’ll hear uplifting songs celebrating our homeland, gut-wrenching songs mourning our losses, and new takes on classic songs that remind us of what we are fighting for. You’ll also hear Eden Golan (finally) sing the original ‘October Rain’ – performing this year’s Israeli Eurovision entry as it was always meant to be heard. Fasten your seatbelts for yet another emotional roller coaster ride, this week on Israel Hour Radio. (Original Air Date: May 19, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1190 – Playlist1. Avraham Tal & Lior Narkis – B’yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Prevail) | Translation | YouTube 2. Rami Kleinstein & Yagel Oshri – L’chayei Ha’am HaZeh (Cheers To This Nation) | YouTube 3. Dudu Aharon – Eretz Ha’avot (Land of the Forefathers) | YouTube 4. Lior Narkis – Yesh Kan Tov (There Is Good Here) | Translation | YouTube 5. Eden Golan – October Rain | Lyrics | YouTube 6. Lehakot HaTzva’iyot – Shir HaRe’ut (The Friendship Song) | Translation | YouTube 7. Gali Atari & Makhelat Meshi – Ein Li Eretz Acheret (I Have No Other Land) | Translation | YouTube 8. Yuval Dayan & Dafna Elyakim – Or / She’haShemesh Ta’avor Alai (Light / The Sun Should Pass Over Me) | YouTube 9. Omri Glickman & IDF Members – Giborei Al / Eretz Eretz | YouTube 10. Eden Hason – Yehalelu | Translation | YouTube 11. Li Biran, Eliana Tidhar, Avraham Tal, Gali Atari – Yom Ha’atzmaut Medley | YouTube 12. Lahakat Pikud Darom & Ilanit – Eretz Eretz (Land, Land) | Translation | YouTube

Link to the entire 2024 “Tekes Hadlakat HaMasu’ot” (Torch Lighting Ceremony)

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We recorded this episode moments before Yom HaZikaron began in Israel, not sure of what to expect in this very strange and difficult year. So much has happened since last year’s national ‘high holiday season’ in Israel. So much pain, so much fear, so much destruction, so much anxiety. How can we bear the burden of Memorial Day this year? How can we CELEBRATE Independence Day in a year like this? Well, perhaps music can help. This year, Israel’s musical community has worked hard to create songs that capture this year’s unique spirit, from sounds of pain to sounds of pride. Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut may be behind us, but this week’s songs will help you hold on to the powerful emotions you’ve undoubtedly felt all week long – and throughout the past seven months. (Original Air Date: May 12, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1189 – Playlist1. Noga Erez – Shir Lelo Shem (A Song Without a Name) | Translation | YouTube 2. Harel Skaat, Elai Botner, and IDF Orphans – Yeled Aba V’ima (Child, Father, and Mother) | Translation | YouTube 3. Shlomi Shabbat – Bo’ee Ima (Come, Mother) | YouTube 4. Meshi Kleinstein – Zeh Lo HaZman Lalechet (It’s Not Time To Go) | Translation | YouTube 5. Gilad Segev – Yeled Gibor (Hero Child) | YouTube (with English subtitles) 6. Ilai Botner & Yaldei HaChutz – Bayit Lachazor (A Home To Return To) | YouTube 7. Hatikva 6 – Giborei Al (Super Heroes) | Translation | YouTube 8. Miri Mesika – Ho Artzi Moladeti (Oh My Homeland) | Translation | YouTube 9. Leah Shabbat & Lehakat Chel Ha’avir – Rak Biglal HaRuach (Just Because of Our Spirit) | Translation | YouTube 10. Noa Kirel & Shiri Maimon – Hee Bidiyuk Kamoni (She’s Just Like Me) | YouTube 11. Avraham Tal & Lior Narkis – B’yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Prevail) | YouTube 12. Koolulam & Shlomi Shabbat – Al Kol Eileh (For All These) | Translation | YouTube

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Passover is here, and by all accounts, this year’s celebration will be a lot different than most years’. Like every year, we’ll gather around the seder table with family and friends. But this year, so many will be missing from the table. This year, we’ll save empty seats for hostages and for active soldiers, all who SHOULD be joining our seder. We’ll also see many empty seats, vacated by the souls we lost on October 7. As Israel remains under attack, our observance of Passover is marked by a strange mix of celebration, frustration, and trepidation. Have we ever experienced Pesach quite like this? As we celebrate Passover 5784 on Israel Hour Radio, sure, we’ll share the usual mix of joyous Pesach favorites. But this year, we also include new songs for 5784, with painful reminders of our loved ones who are missing from the table. (Original Air Date: April 21, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1187 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with IDF Orchestra – Al Kol Eileh (For All These) | Translation | YouTube 3. Ishay Ribo – Ani Shayach La’am (I Belong To a Nation) | Translation | YouTube 4. Various Artists – Echad Mi Yode’a (Who Knows One) | Translation | YouTube 5. Avichai Hollander & Michal Greenglick – Eliyahu (Elijah) | YouTube 6. Avtipus – HaLayla HaZeh (This Night) | YouTube 7. Y-Studs feat. Daniel Wais – V’hee She’amda (This Is That Promise) | Translation | YouTube 8. Hakol Over Habibi – Ha’ore’ach (The Guest) | Translation | YouTube 9. Shefita – Echad Mi Yode’a (Who Knows One | Translation (sort of) | YouTube 10. Itzik Eshel – Machrozet Shirei Pesach (Passover Songs Medley) | YouTube

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This week, we acknowledge a grim milestone: six months since the October 7 massacre, kidnapping of hostages, and the resulting Operation Swords of Iron. As we watch events unfold, we remain sick with worry for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world. At the same time, we stand united in the belief that the State of Israel will emerge from this conflict stronger than before. In expressing a roller coaster of emotions, the music of this conflict has been nothing short of inspiring. This week, a recap of the most significant songs of the past six months, with prayers for a brighter future. (Original Air Date: April 14, 2024)

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With Israel still very much at war, the country’s ‘new normal’ continues to permeate its music. Yes, some of the new music is very raw, very painful, and very powerful. Other songs are as seemingly as mundane as can be, as Israeli music continues to shift onto topics other than the war. Still, nearly every song you hear these days can be interpreted differently due to today’s complicated reality. Take, for example, Israel’s 2024 Eurovision entry, ‘Hurricane.’ Even though the song sounds completely ‘pareve,’ we all know it’s about Israel’s current state of affairs and the pain so many of us are feeling. You’ll hear the song this week, along with many other new releases…all guaranteed to make you think, make you cry, make you smile, and make you connect to Israel on a deeper level. (Original Air Date: March 17, 2024)

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So often – especially throughout the current situation in Israel – Israeli music speaks directly to our hearts and evokes a wide range of emotions. This week we’ll do the same…but in an overwhelmingly positive tone! Ready to smile? Hatikva 6, Moshe Peretz, Shlomi Shabbat, Lior Narkis, Mosh Ben Ari, Eden Ben Zaken, and many more will take you on a musical journey that’s sure to lift your spirits just a bit during this difficult time. As one of our listeners said, ‘I don’t want this week’s show to end!’ Tune in and let us know if you agree. (Original Air Date: March 10, 2024)

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HEROES is an illuminating and unifying experience that honors the heroic acts of October 7th. It is dedicated to those who lost their lives while saving the lives of others on that horrific day. Jewish heroes
throughout history are also honored and woven into the program.

The multimedia stage experience incorporates songs and videos with live music, together with touching documentary scenes, and high-tech video artwork, effects, and lighting. In the interest of accessibility for wide-reaching audiences, the storytelling and speaking parts will be in English.

Leading the HEROES project is Gilad Segev, an Israeli singer- songwriter and musician internationally known as Passerby. Segev’s inspiration for the project stems from his first release in 2004, “Achshav Tov,” dedicated to his brother who lost his life while serving in the IDF. The song garnered widespread recognition, becoming the most-played track on Israeli radio stations that year. Subsequently, Segev established a successful career both in Israel and abroad. Notably,

Gilad is the son of a Brigadier General who served as the governor of the Gaza Strip and held the position of the last military attaché in Iran. Additionally, he is the child of a mother who is a Holocaust survivor. As these influences played a pivotal role in Gilad’s upbringing, his personal narrative is deeply connected with recent events.

Here’s how to get tickets:

Gilad Segev – Heroes in New YorkThursday, May 9, 2024
8:00 pm
Museum of Jewish Heritage – Edmond J. Safra Hall
36 Battery Place, New York, NY

Gilad Segev – Heroes in Palo AltoSunday, May 12, 2024
8:00 pm
Oshman Family JCC
3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA

Gilad Segev – Heroes in Los AngelesMonday, May 13, 2024
7:30 pm
Adat Ari El
12020 Burbank Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

“The one who stayed” is the first song to be released as part of “Project Heroes”, a special album of songs dedicated to the heroes of the 7/10 events.

The song was penned in memory of Liron Barda, a member of the Nova party. Despite having the option to escape for her own safety, she chose to stay, providing heroic medical treatment to the wounded and caring for them until the very last moment.

Gilad expressed, “It is a tremendous privilege for me to collaborate with the families, sharing the heroic stories of their loved ones—tales that serve as beacons and sources of healing for our nation, both now and in the future. Liron Barda’s story, the heroine of Israel, exemplifies this. She is the one who stayed and will forever remain an inspiration.”

All profits derived from the distribution of this song and all future songs of the project will be a donation to the residents of Otaf and the victims of the battles.

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KoolulamOver the last several months, Israel Hour Radio has kept you up to date with the latest Israeli music, born of pain and pride during this time of war. It’s reminiscent of another time of war – the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It began 50 years (nearly to the day) before the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, and like our current conflict, Israel was taken by surprise on one of its most sacred days of the year. Israel suffered many losses during that war, and much of the music released the following year reflected that sad reality. So this week on Israel Hour Radio, we bring you the most popular Israeli music of 1974, in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. No, it’s not all sad, and not even all meaningful. In fact, some of the songs you’ll hear are just plain fun. But it will help you connect to the mood of Israel in the wake of a very difficult time in its history, and we have a feeling you’ll find yourself singing along with many of the nostalgic Israeli songs you’ll hear. (Original Air Date: March 3, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1183 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Edna Lev – Modeh Ani Lefanecha (I Am Thankful To You) | Translation | YouTube 3. Avi Toledano – Mah Chashuv Hayom (What’s Important Today) | Translation | YouTube 4. Yigal Bashan – Likrat Shabbat (To Welcome The Sabbath) | YouTube 5. Izhar Cohen – Yerushalayim Ha’acheret (The Other Jerusalem) | Translation | YouTube 6. Lehakat Chel Ha’avir – Heye Li Chaver, Heye Li Ach (Be My Friend, Be My Brother) | Translation | YouTube 7. Chava Alberstein – Balada al HaSus Im Ketem Al HaMetzach (Ballad of the Horse With a Spot On Its Forehead) | Lyrics | YouTube 8. Yigal Bashan – Café Etzel Berta (Coffee With Berta) | Translation | YouTube 9. Uzi Fuchs – Ein Lach Mah Lid’og (You Have Nothing To Worry About) | Translation | YouTube 10. Matti Caspi & Shokolad Menta Mastik – Noach (Noah) | Translation | YouTube 11. Kaveret – Yo Ya | Translation | YouTube 12. HaGeshash HaChiver & Naomi Shemer – Lu Yehi (Let It Be) | Translation | YouTube 13. Kaveret – Natati La Chayai (I Gave Her My Life) | Translation | YouTube

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KoolulamClay Aiken once said: “A song can be more than words and music … when sung with soul a song carries you to another world, to a place where no matter how much pain you feel, you are never alone.” Well, in today’s very painful world, so many in Israel and around the world have turned to singing to help ease the pain and bring people together. Ever since October 7th, the internet has been flooded with videos of communal singing, in which thousands of people filled up auditoriums, stadiums, or schoolyards to sing their hearts out. The result? A few moments of sheer joy. This week’s Israel Hour Radio brings you some of these special performances, in which you can’t help but be swept up by the enthusiasm, unity, and exuberance of these magical musical moments. Tune in, and get ready to smile. (Original Air Date: February 25, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1182 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Koolulam – Like a Prayer | YouTube 3. Koolulam – Al Kol Eileh (For All These Things) | Translation | YouTube 4. Homeland Concert – HaBayta (Home) | Translation | YouTube 5. Jewish Day Schools of New York & New Jersey – T’fila / Acheinu | YouTube 6. Modiin Schools – Peace Songs Medley | YouTube 7. Netanya – Eretz Tzvi, Lo Tenatzchu Oti, Maoz Tzur | YouTube 8. Netanya Schools – L’chayei Ha’am Hazeh (Here’s to the Life of This Nation) | YouTube 9. City of Nes Tziona – Mi Yachol Aleinu (Who Can Defeat Us) | YouTube 10. Koolulan with Rita in Tel Aviv – Bo (Come) | Translation | YouTube 11. Jewish Community of Australia – Am Yisrael Chai | Translation | YouTube

YouTube Playlist: Click Here

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It’s finally here! After weeks of waiting and plenty of controversy, Israel finally revealed its official entry to Eurovision 2024: “Hurricane” by Eden Golan.

This year, Israel wanted to share with the world the pain and anguish the country felt since the October 7 attacks. However, Israel’s original entry entitled “October Rain” was not accepted by the Eurovision Broadcasting Union, who deemed it “too political”.

After many appeals, much debate, and some creative alterations, “Hurricane” was born.

Here are the lyrics to “Hurricane” by Eden Golan. What do you think of Israel’s entry to Eurovision 2024?

Hurricane
Writer of my symphony
Play with me
Look into my eyes and see
People walk away but never say goodbye

Someone stole the moon tonight
Took my light
Everything is it black and white
Who’s the fool who told you boys don’t cry

Hours and hours, empowers
Life is no game but it’s ours
While, the time goes wild

Everyday I’m losing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride
Dancing in the storm
I got nothing to hide
Take it all and leave the world behind
Baby promise me you’ll hold me again
I’m still broken from this hurricane
This hurricane

Living in a fantasy, ecstasy
Everything is meant to be
We shall pass but love will never die

Hours and hours, empowers
Life is no game but it’s ours
While, the time goes wild

‏לא צריך מילים גדולות
רק תפילות
אפילו אם קשה לראות
תמיד אתה משאיר לי אור אחד קטן

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What does Israeli music sound like today? A mix of everything. Some of it is sad, some of it hopeful, some of it patriotic. And some…is just back to normal. This week on Israel Hour Radio, you’ll hear it all – from love songs to the country, to plain old love songs that could be recorded anytime. From painful songs about our hostages, to painful songs in memory of fallen Israeli soldiers. From classic Israeli songs heard in a whole new light, to classic Jewish texts reimagined. A meaningful mix of new Israeli music, sprinkled with a few ounces of the mundane. We’ll also remember Israeli singer Lior Farhi, who passed away suddenly on February 12, 2024. (Original Air Date: February 18, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1181 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Benaia Barabi – Bein HaNahar LaYam (Between the River and the Sea) | Translation | YouTube 3. Ron Danker – Ad SheKol Zeh Ya’avor (Until All This Passes) | Translation | YouTube 4. Harel Ska’at – Achrei HaNetzach (After Eternity) | Translation | YouTube 5. Sagiv Cohen, Natti Madani & Hostage Families – Nahafoch Kol Evan (We’ll Turn Over Every Stone) | YouTube 6. Aviva Avidan & Sagiv Cohen – Gibor Shel Milchama (Hero of War) | Lyrics | YouTube 7. Sarit Hadad – HaTmunot Sheba’album (The Photos in the Album) | Translation | YouTube 8. Lior Farchi – Shomer HaChomot (Guardian of the Walls) | Translation | YouTube 9. Keren Peles – Al Kol Eileh (For All These) | Translation | YouTube 10. Yuval Dayan – V’afilu B’hastara (Even In the Most Hidden) | Translation | YouTube 11. Ben El Tavori – Ototo (Immediately) | Translation | YouTube 12. Osher Cohen – Menagen V’shar (Plays and Sings) | Translation | YouTube 13. Meshi Kleinstein – Zeh Lo Hazman Lalechet (It’s Not Time To Go) | Translation | YouTube 14. Elai Botner with Dolly & Penn – Lehagi’a HaBayta (To Come Home) | Translation | YouTube

YouTube Playlist: Click Here

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Ask Josh Shron about his ‘happy place,’ and he’ll tell you: number one is on the beach in Tel Aviv, and number two is behind the control board at WRSU Studios in New Jersey. This week he comes to you from Happy Place 2 for the first time in six months, and you can just hear the excitement in his voice! Despite his joy, he also brings along a playlist of emotional songs about the ‘matzav’ (situation)…with new Israeli music mourning those we’ve lost, praying for those we miss, and celebrating our beloved homeland. You’ll also meet Israel’s newly-crowned representative to Eurovision 2024, and get a small taste of her impressive vocal abilities. All in all, it’s an hour of entertainment, emotion, inspiration, and so much more! (Original Air Date: February 11, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1180 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Kobi Aflalo – Malachim B’madim (Angels in Uniform) | Lyrics | YouTube 3. Gil Vein & Roni Dalumi – HaParparim Sheli (My Butterflies) | Translation | YouTube 4. Idan Raichel Project – Ad She’tachzeri Elai (Until You Return To Me) | Translation | YouTube 5. Micha Bitton – Hutar L’firsum (We’re Allowed To Publicize) | YouTube 6. Machluf & Ivri Lider – Yesh Od Chaim (There Is Still Life) | YouTube 7. Eden Hason – Tzocheket U’vocha (Laughs and Cries) | Translation | YouTube 8. Eden Ben Zaken – Dam Sheli (My Blood) | Translation | YouTube 9. Eden Golan – Rise Up | YouTube 10. Subliminal V’hatel feat. Raviv Kaner – Zeh Aleinu (It’s On Us) | Translation | YouTube 11. Ethnix – Admat Ha’ahava (Beloved Land) | Translation | YouTube 12. Eliad, Eden Yosef, Yonatan Segev – B’yom She’acharei (On the Day After) | YouTube 13. Mosh Ben Ari – Adam (Man) | Translation | YouTube 14. Gad Elbaz – Ima Yekara (Dear Mother) | YouTube

YouTube Playlist: Click Here

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We’ve focused on the victims, we’ve focused on the survivors…but how about a show dedicated to the soldiers? The men and women of the IDF are putting their lives on the line each and every day, fighting on the front lines or behind the scenes. They are all true HEROES, defending our right to exist! This week, Israel Hour Radio salutes our chayalim during this time of war, with positive, uplifting songs of strength, heroism, patriotism, and dedication. You’ll emerge from the hour with a heightened sense of pride in our men and women in green! (Original Air Date: January 28, 2024)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1179 – Playlist1. Sarit Hadad – Yachad Nenatze’ach (Together We Will Win) | Translation | YouTube 2. Yagel Oshri & Lahakat Pikud HaTzafon – Latzeit MiDica’on (To Get Out of Depression) | Translation | YouTube 3. Hatikva 6 – HaShemesh Tachazor (The Sun Will Return) | Translation | YouTube 4. Shai Abramson – Tfila L’shlom Chayalei Tzahal (Prayer for the Welfare of the Soldiers of the IDF) | YouTube 5. Yehoram Gaon – Tefilat HaDerech (Prayer for the Journey) | Lyrics | YouTube 6. Yehoram Gaon – Lo Tenatzchu Oti (You Won’t Defeat Me) | Translation | YouTube 7. Raviv Kaner – Golani Sheli (My Golani) | Translation | YouTube 8. Naomi Shemer – Al Kanfei HaKesef (On Silver Wings) | Translation | YouTube 9. Lahakat Pikud Mercaz – Shiro Shel Tzanchan (Song of the Paratrooper) | Lyrics | YouTube 10. Eliad – Kol Hazman Tzanchan (Always a Paratrooper) | Lyrics | YouTube 11. Nadav Guedj – Ein Lach Ma Lid’og (You Have Nothing To Worry About) | Translation | YouTube 12. Harel Moyal – Emtza HaLayla BaKfar (Middle of the Night in the Village) | Translation | YouTube 13. Lahakot HaTzva’iyot – Bayit Lehilachem (A Home to Fight For) | Translation | YouTube

YouTube Playlist: Click Here

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Summer is here, and the Israeli music is getting HOT! The stars are out this week, all competing to become THE ‘go-to’ song of summer 2023. Competing for the title? Artists like Hatikva 6, Stephane Legar, Omer Adam, Noa, Netta, Narkis, Nunu, and many more! These are the songs that will be ALL OVER Israel […]

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On April 19, 2023, the Israeli music world lost one of its most creative and accomplished minds, as poet and lyricist Yehonatan Geffen passed away at age 76. Yehonatan was responsible for some of the most famous Israeli songs ever written, with classic Israeli songs for adults and children alike. As Israel Radio’s Benny Dudkevitch […]

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Our listeners pick their favorite Israeli songs! This time, we’re pleased to introduce you to Breandan Ward of London, who has a very interesting Israeli music journey to share! Breandan grew up on a dairy farm in Ireland and moved to London after college where he worked in investment banking for 10 years before later […]

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Seems like just yesterday to some, but 1998 was 25 years ago. It was the year Google was founded, ‘Titanic’ was a hit in theaters, and Monica Lewinsky was a household name. But what songs were playing on Israeli radios 25 years ago? This week, we set the dials on our Israeli Music Time Machine […]

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Who runs the world? Girls, of course. As we catch up on a few podcasts that aired on the radio but not published online, here’s a great episode from March 2023 in celebration of International Women’s Day. We’re turning up the volume and spotlighting the empowering sounds of Israeli music created for women, by women. […]

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In our weeks-long celebration of Israel’s 75th, we neglected to keep you up-to-date with the amazing NEW music coming out of Israel. It’s time to correct that injustice right now! This week, Israel Hour Radio proudly presents a countdown of the top 15 songs of the week, based on the songs that received the most […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1155: New Israeli Music – May 2023 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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It’s been a few weeks since the Israeli music world was abuzz over the big announcement that Ishay Ribo would be the first Israeli singer to headline Madison Square Garden. Could Noa Kirel be next? According to Mako, Kirel’s people are looking into it. After conquering Yarkon Park and placing third in Eurovision 2023, Kirel […]

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Photo Credit: Shlomi PintoHave I mentioned how much I adore Rami Kleinstein?

Since the time I began learning about Israel’s music scene in the mid 1990s, Rami has been one of my all-time favorites. Before I knew Rami, I was a huge Billy Joel fan – so when someone suggested I look into “Israel’s Piano Man,” I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. And I was hooked.

But when I saw him perform live for the first time at in 1998 at Town Hall in New York City…whoa, I was blown away. The show was entitled “Rami and the Piano,” and that’s exactly what we saw. No band, no flashy production…just Rami and his talent.

His gorgeous piano playing was simply breathtaking, and I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that he could transform his complicated musical arrangements into incredible performances for solo piano.

I’ve seen Rami many times since with a full band, and loved every show. But in all this time, I hadn’t seen him do a repeat performance of “Rami and the Piano.” Until now.

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey presented a special community celebration in honor of Israel’s 75th birthday. The show featured the Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble, young mentalist Nevo Abutbul, and Rami Kleinstein.

After the opening acts, it was time for Rami to take the stage. Out came a grand piano, and out came Rami. He sat down at the ivories, and the magic began.

It’s amazing – Rami could easily fill the halls as a classical pianist, but instead, he sings pop music. The richness of his piano expertise, coupled with his mellow vocals, create a phenomenal concert experience that must be seen. Interestingly, most audience members seemed to be unfamiliar with Rami and his music (as there were not many singing along). However, it was clear they were as enthralled by his talents as I was.

Rami sang many of his greatest hits, as you can see in the YouTube video above. His set list included:

Karov El Libech
Tza’ir LaNetzach
Tapuchim U’tmarim
Piano Man (Billy Joel)
Notza BaRuach
Kol Ma SheTirtzi
Matanot Ktanot
Bo
Inyan Shel Zman

He also sprinkled in plenty of personal anecdotes in English, often of his time growing up in nearby West Hempstead, New York. His engaging personality and time-tested hits truly endeared him to the audience. For two songs, “Notza BaRuach” and “Matanot Ktanot,” he invited members of Keshet Chaim (who have “adopted him,” he told us, every time he visits Los Angeles) back on stage to dance as he sang.

It’s one thing to watch one of your favorite artists perform their hits. It’s another when they transform those familiar hits into something entirely new and beautiful. Rami Kleinstein is the kind of versatile musician who can create a fresh experience in nearly any environment. I remain as impressed in 2023 as I was when I saw him for the very first time.

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What’s your favorite Israeli song of all time? Last week, we brought you part one of the results from Kan Gimmel radio’s recent countdown of listeners’ favorites, and today, we’re proud to bring you part two. Each song is a classic, each instantly recognizable, and most are very singable! In honor of Israel’s 75th, enjoy this exciting countdown of the most popular Hebrew songs of all time – counting down all the way to number one! What do you think of the results? Be sure to let us know! (Original Air Date: May 21, 2023)

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Chances are you’ve been singing “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (“Jerusalem of Gold”) your whole life. But do you know the history of the iconic Israeli song?

In a nutshell, the song became a symbol of hope, resilience, and love for Jerusalem during a critical period in Israeli history. As tensions escalated before the Six Day War in 1967, Naomi Shemer composed the lyrics to convey a profound connection to the holy city, evoking the yearning and longing for its beauty and significance. Shuli Natan’s original rendition of the song struck a chord with the Israeli public, resonating deeply as they faced the imminent threat of conflict. Throughout the war, “Jerusalem of Gold” captured the spirit of unity and determination among Israelis, inspiring soldiers and civilians alike.

There are many accounts of the song’s history floating around the internet, but none told better than by the folks at the “Israel Story” podcast. The episode is a must-listen, and will completely transform the way you listen to the unofficial anthem of Jerusalem.

Now that you’re caught up on the song’s history, allow us to share some of our all-time favorite covers of “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav”. Nearly every Israeli singer out there has covered the song over the years. In honor of Yom Yerushalayim, here are some of the best and most interesting.

The Original – Shuly NatanWhen Naomi Shemer picked Shuly Natan out of obscurity to sing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, no one had a clue that the song would achieve the iconic status it now enjoys. But in the dark days before the Six Day War, Shuly rallied the people with her pure, simple rendition of the song. In fact, when she first performed the song at 1967’s Israel Song Festival, the audience loved it so much that she sang an encore. After the miraculous events of the Six Day War, the song took on even greater meaning, and the final verse was added. Though we haven’t seen any video of Shuly’s original performance, the above video was recorded in France in 1968.

The Best – Ofra HazaOpinions on the “best” version of a song can vary greatly depending on personal taste and preferences. However, Ofra Haza’s rendition of “Jerusalem of Gold” holds a special place in our hearts – and we’re not alone. Ofra Haza brought a unique and captivating vocal style to her interpretation of the song, with emotional depth and a powerful delivery. Her soulful and evocative vocals added an extra layer of intensity and passion to the already poignant lyrics. Listen to Ofra’s version, and you may never want to hear it sung by anyone else.

The Loudest – Rock On The WallsIn honor of Jerusalem Day 2022, the Jerusalem Municipality celebrated the day in a very unique musical way. More than 400 musicians gathered outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City to perform one of the most interesting versions of “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” you’ve ever heard. Led by HaYehudim, Raviv Kaner, and Guy Mazig, with the Old City as a backdrop, this hard-rocking version is surprisingly inspirational. You’ve never heard “Jerusalem of Gold” quite like this!

Jerusalem of Gold 2.0“Jerusalem of Gold” means different things to different people. For purists, Shuly Natan’s version is the one and only. But If you were to modernize “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” for a new generation, what would it sound like? Perhaps Tal Vaknin can help. Along with DJ Niv Edri, Tal offers a new take on the Israeli classic that’ll have you dancing in your chair.

The American VersionDuring the pandemic, artists discovered all kinds of new ways to satisfy their urge to create. And so, in honor of Yom Yerushalayim 2020, a group of female cantors around the world joined virtually to produce a gorgeous version of our beloved song. The song features performances by Adi Arad of Petach Tikva, Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro of Voorhees, NJ, Atalya Lavi of Tel Aviv, Cantor Aviv Weinberg of Berlin, Cantor Elizabeth Shammash of Philadelphia, Cantor Julia Cadrain of New York, Laurie Akers of Vernon Hills, IL, Cantor Lisa Peicott of Los Angeles, Cantor Lizzie Weiss of Beverly Hills, CA, Cantor Magda Fishman of Boca Raton, FL, Cantor Rachel Goldman of Los Angeles, Cantor Rebecca Garfein of New York, Cantor Roslyn Barak of San Francisco, Cantor Sara Hass of Long Beach, CA, Cantor Shira Lissek of Charlotte, NC, and Cantor Vicky Glikin, Dallas, TX.

The Newest – Israel PoliceNew for 2023, the most famous song about Jerusalem sung by those dedicated to protecting it. Israel’s Police Force presents an inspirational version of “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav”, accompanied by a video filled with beautiful scenes of Jerusalem – and beautiful voices to go along with them.

We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface. There are many, many more beautiful covers of, arguably, the most significant song in Israel’s history. Here are a few more for you to enjoy:

Itay Levy
Shiri Maimon
The IDF (new for 2023!)
Harel Moyal
Shulem
Yonina
The New York Cantors

So, what did we miss? And what’s your all time favorite version of “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav”?

The post 13 Covers of “Jerusalem of Gold” That Will Take Your Breath Away appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Sure, Hanan Ben Ari has achieved nearly every milestone in Israeli entertainment. But now, he add one more significant achievement to his resume: El Al spokesperson.

In a funny new ad for El Al, Hanan shares his El Al experiences in a parody of his hit song, “Hananya.”

Who’s excited like a child on the plane? Hananya.

Who got a few more hours to shop outside of Israel because El Al has night flights? Hananya.

Who walks around the plane to stretch his back, and then forgets where he’s sitting? Hananya.

Throughout the commercial, Hanan sings (literally) the praises of El Al, its friendly service, its tasty food options, its comfortable seats, and more. He also emphasizes the company’s tagline, “Hachi Babayit Ba’olam” (the most ‘at home’ in the world), reminding viewers of El Al’s status as the official airline of Israel.

You know how Israelis always applaud when their plane lands back in Israel? The commercial addresses that too. Be sure to watch to the end.

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Looking for a little inspiration this Yom Yerushalayim? Naturally, MyIsraeliMusic.com can help.

Jerusalem Day, also known as Yom Yerushalayim, holds great significance in Israel’s history and is celebrated annually on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This day commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Prior to the war, Jerusalem was a divided city, with the western part under Israeli control and the eastern part, including the Old City and its holy sites, under Jordanian control. However, in a swift military campaign, Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the revered Western Wall and the Temple Mount. The reunification of Jerusalem became a momentous occasion for Israelis, who saw it as a historic and religiously significant event. Jerusalem Day serves as a joyous celebration of the city’s reunification, emphasizing Jewish historical and religious connections to Jerusalem while promoting unity and pride among Israelis.

Year after year, Israeli singers continue to write love letters to Israel’s capital, breathing new life into this ancient city. We at Israel Hour Radio have devoted several shows to the music of Jerusalem over the years.

On May 22, 2020, Josh presented a special Yom Yerushalayim edition of his then daily Facebook show, “My Israeli Music Live”. During the show, he shared many inspirational songs and videos to help viewers connect with the special nature of the day.

Prefer to listen to a podcast today? In 2022, Israel Hour Radio devoted Episode #1121 to the music of Jerusalem. Listen below:

And in 2019, Mairov and Josh hosted another hour of Israeli music about the holy city:

We hope that the music and memories will help inspire you on this historic and meaningful day. Chag Sameach!

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Six words: Ishay. Ribo. At. Madison. Square. Garden.

Yes, you read that right. No, he’s not performing at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, the smaller venue next door. He’s performing at the iconic, historic, 20,789 seat MSG. Home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, and for all intents and purposes, Billy Joel.

Hard as it may be to believe, yup, it’s happening. Superstar Ishay Ribo presents a mega concert in the world’s greatest arena just days before Rosh Hashana.

This is a VERY big deal. And with Ishay’s new fan base thanks to a recent feature article in the New York Times, it’s truly going to be a night to remember.

Plus, Ishay is bringing a couple of musical friends along: special guests Amir Dadon and Akiva.

Back in 2019, Ishay released an album devoted to the Jewish High Holidays. The album’s biggest hit was “Seder Ha’avodah”, but there were plenty of other spiritual tunes to help us get into the proper frame of mind before the Jewish New Year. Ever since, his annual “Elul” concerts have been legendary, uniting Israelis from all walks of life and helping us prepare for the most spiritual season on the Jewish calendar.

Now, Ishay kicks off the 5784 High Holiday season with a special concert in the heart of New York City.

Somehow, Ishay’s music unites us all. Previous concerts in New York brought together Israelis and Americans, religious and secular. What other Israeli singer can do that?

This show will be nothing short of historic. Here’s how to get tickets:

Ishay Ribo in New York CitySunday, September 3, 2023
8 pm
Madison Square Garden
7th Ave & 32nd Street, New York, NY

What’s it like to see Ishay Ribo on stage? Well, perhaps the only place in the world better than Madison Square Garden is the Caesarea Amphitheater. Here’s Ishay Ribo performing there last year, shortly before Rosh Hashana.

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The Power of a Unicorn! Noa Kirel brought Israel to the finals of Eurovision 2023.

As expected, Noa’s explosive performance at Tuesday’s Eurovision Song Contest semi-final has propelled her to Saturday night’s Grand Final. Her impressive vocals and choreography wowed viewers across the globe.

“That dance break from Noa was insane!” one YouTube viewer commented. “Definitely one of the best acts Israel has sent in a long time!”

Said another: “The last minute is probably the most intense of any Eurovision’s songs and the level of dancing is out of this world!”

And another: “Absolutely amazing. Noa is a world class performer.”

Watch the moment Israel advanced to the finals:

כחול ולבן. הרגע שאחרי העלייה@MoalemOz @YediotAhronot pic.twitter.com/cm9GLMAj8l

— Raz Shechnik (@RazShechnik) May 9, 2023

Congratulations to Noa Kirel on her Eurovision success so far, and best of luck as she competes on the biggest stage of her career Saturday night!

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After a quick stop in New Jersey as part of the celebration of Israel’s 75th, Harel Skaat is coming back to the USA this June!

In a career spanning more nearly 20 years, Harel is one of Israel’s biggest musical stars, with one of the best voices in the business. In 2004, Harel gained national recognition after participating in the Israeli version of the popular singing competition show “Kochav Nolad” (A Star is Born), coming in second place overall. Although he didn’t win, he impressed the judges and the audience with his exceptional vocal skills and unique style.

He represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 with the powerful “Milim” (Words). Despite a 14th place finish, Harel’s talent was on full display, winning him many new fans.

If you’re a fan of Harel Skaat’s music and live on either coast of the USA, you’re in luck! Harel is scheduled to perform four shows in the United States this June. This is a rare opportunity to see one of Israel’s most celebrated artists perform live, so don’t miss out on your chance to experience his powerful voice and emotional performances firsthand.

Harel Skaat in New York City1. Sunday, June 4, 2023
11:00 am – 3:30 pm
Celebrate Israel Parade
Fifth Avenue, New York City
FREE!

BEHIND THE SONGS
In an intimate and candid conversation, singer-songwriter Harel Skat, one of Israel’s biggest stars, will talk about his career, his family, and the stories behind his biggest hits. Although this is not a concert, Harel will sing some songs along the way. This event is in Hebrew.

Saturday, June 10, 2023
8:30 pm
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th Street, New York, NY

Harel Skaat in Palo AltoSpecial Guest: Keren Peles
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
8:30 pm
Oshman Family JCC
3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA

Harel Skaat in Los AngelesThursday, June 8, 2023
8:30 pm
American Jewish University
15600 Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA

Harel Skaat in Long IslandSunday, June 11, 2023
Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater
Parking Fields 6/6A
4-6pm: Israelfest
6-8pm: Concert

What’s it like to see Harel Skaat in concert? We at MyIsraeliMusic.com just had that opportunity in New Jersey. Read our concert review here, and watch footage from the concert below!

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Could you compile a list of your favorite Israeli songs of all time? Not so easy, right? Well, in honor of Israel’s 75th, Kan Gimmel radio recently asked listeners to do just that – to vote for their favorite Israeli songs of all time. On Yom Ha’atzmaut 2023, they counted down the top 75 live on the radio, and we think you’d enjoy hearing some of the results. So this week, we’re kicking off two weeks of the greatest Israeli songs of all time, as chosen by Kan Gimmel listeners. Any predictions on what song made number one? What do you think of the results? Be sure to let us know! (Original Air Date: May 7, 2023)

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Highlights from Harel Skaat’s concert in New Jersey, April 30, 2023Ever since Harel Skaat burst onto the Israeli music scene on “Kochav Nolad” in 2005, I’ve been a big fan. So I jumped at the chance to see him in a recent appearance in New Jersey on April 30, 2023.

Harel’s concert was hosted by the Israeli-American Council (IAC), as part of their celebration of Israel’s 75th birthday.

I’ve long admired Harel’s vocal abilities. In my opinion, he has one of the best male voices in Israeli pop music today. Listening to his large repertoire on the way to the show, I was excited to hear his impressive vocal range in person. I looked forward to a fun show filled with songs I knew and loved. By and large, Harel delivered just that.

Harel Skaat on stage, April 30, 2023 (Photo: Josh Shron)Flanked only by a keyboard player and guitarist, with additional pre-recorded music played throughout, Harel belted out one hit after another. He performed nearly all of the songs I’d hoped to hear:

Mashehu Mimeni | משהו ממני
Kama Od Efshar | כמה עוד אפשר
She’ahava Nafshi | שאהבה נפשי
Kol HaTziporim | כל הציפורים
V’at | ואת
Hineni Kan | הנני כאן (the song I was most excited to hear him sing)
B’chayai | בחיי
Achshav | עכשו
La’uf | לעוף

Harel also included two surprise English songs: “Your Song” by Elton John, and “Make You Feel My Love”, originally by Bob Dylan.

Throughout the show, Harel’s voice and energy levels stayed strong, and it was a pleasure to hear him. However, the concert was extremely short. Harel remained on stage for just about an hour, ending the show after singing “La’uf”. Everyone expected him to return for an encore, but he never did. The house lights went on, and the puzzled audience began to leave the auditorium.

He also made little attempt to establish a rapport with his audience. While many in the crowd sang along with every word, there was very little dialogue between songs. I found that unusual for an Israeli artist hoping to make an impression among American Jews, many of whom may be less familiar with his work.

Harel will return to the USA for four concerts this June, in New York, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, and Long Island. He is a talented singer and definitely fun to watch on stage. But after nearly 20 years in the spotlight, I’d think that he could share a bit more material with his international audiences. I only hope he tweaks the show a bit before his return.

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Israel’s 75th is finally here, and we couldn’t be prouder of our homeland. If you’re in Israel, you can certainly look forward to a Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration unlike any other. But if you’re outside of Israel, no doubt you’re looking for way to connect to the festivities.

As usual, Israeli music comes to the rescue!

This year, Israel’s artists have been hard at work, helping create the soundtrack for Israel’s 75th, just the ticket to enjoy an Independence Day celebration wherever you are. No, you won’t find this year’s equivalent of “Shevet Achim Va’achayot”. But you will find a list of songs to inspire, uplift, and entertain you – and get you swept up in the worldwide celebration of this incredible milestone.

Join us as we present ten songs perfect for this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut. Listen, watch, and fill your day with national pride! (And by the way, we played most of these songs on our recent podcast. Check them out in Israel Hour Radio Episode #1152.)

Agam Buchbut, Ella Lee, Or Amrami Brockman & Lahakat HaTzva’it – Anachnu HaDor Haba (We Are the Next Generation)Ladies and gentlemen, we present the theme song for Israel’s 75th birthday celebration. The message? Every generation has a mission – and this generation takes its mission very seriously.

The song is sung by current IDF members Agam Buchbut, Ella Lee, and Or Amrami Brockman.

The baton is now passed to the next generation – the generation born after the wars, after the revival of the State, after the Holocaust. And what hasn’t been said about this generation? This is the TikTok and “story” generation, the “instant” generation, Generation Z.

But one more thing: this is a more sophisticated, smarter, more sensitive and exciting generation, a generation that has a mission no less important than those that preceded it: to keep the house in order.

The writer of the lyrics of the song, Moshe Klughaft, says: “Fifty years have passed since ‘Choref 73’ and we have arrived at ‘Aviv 23’ of the next generation”

The verses of the song range from the time of the Bible, through the Holocaust, the miracle of the revival of the State – to the present day.

Shaanan Streett & Friends – Ma Nishma, Yisrael? (What’s Up, Israel?)A few months ago, the Jewish Agency asked Jews around the world to submit lyrics for a special song for Israel’s 75th. That song is now a reality, courtesy of Shaanan Streett (of Hadag Nahash) along with Jewish artists from around the world singing in several languages. Their message? We may speak different languages, but we are one people. And when we are unified, we speak in one voice, no matter where on earth we may live. Can you think of a better message from Israel in honor of this special milestone?
Subliminal & the Shadow – Am HaNetzach (The Eternal Nation)Subliminal V’hatzel are together again, and we couldn’t be happier. Their unique, hard-hitting raps of the early 2000s, tackling some of Israel’s most sensitive issues head on, are legendary. So it was only a matter of time before Subliminal and the Shadow released a new song, celebrating the resilience of our special nation on the occasion of its 75th birthday. No, living in Israel isn’t easy, and the country is not without its problems, the boys tell us. But we will persevere. “We’ve come a long way together,” they sing, “and together we’ll face it all – delusions, lies, and fear…but the eternal nation is not afraid.”4. Eden Ben Zaken & Rami Kleinstein – Mila Tova (A Good Word)In light of this week’s celebration, we’d love to overlook the country’s problems over the past few months. But let’s face it, Israel is as fragmented as ever, and unity is little more than a dream these days. Well, Eden Ben Zaken and Rami Kleinstein want to change that with a positive message for this time of year. It’s time for kindness to return to the streets of Israel, they argue, and for all of us to learn the value of a kind word. There is beauty and love throughout the land of Israel. We just need to open our eyes and soak it in. The song concludes with a recognition of the sacrifices that were made to ensure we have a strong national homeland – a fusion of the two holidays we’re observing this week. Read a translation of the song here.
Ofra Haza & Zohar Argov – Kan L’olam (Here Forever)Both Ofra Haza and Zohar Argov passed away many years ago, right? So how are they singing a new duet together? Through the magic of artificial intelligence, of course. By analyzing hours of recordings of each artist, AI was able to reproduce their voices in a brand new song. Kan Broadcasting writes: “‘Kan Leolam’ (‘Here Forever’) is the first musical production in Hebrew whose singers’ voices have been reproduced using AI technology. The song was produced as part of the 75th Independence Day Celebrations of the State of Israel as an initiative of KAN, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, by the “Session 42″ Production and Tec company. The artificial intelligence technology was used in the production of the song together with the Israeli company Aiode, by sampling the recordings of the two legendary artists from the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation’s archives and recordings owned by the Reuvani brothers. The production was done with the full approval of the families of Zohar Argov and Ofra Haza, as a tribute to their voice and musical heritage.”

Creepy? Heck, yes. But pretty amazing nonetheless.

Nicole Raviv feat. Yair Levi – Narrow BridgeA recent olah from Canada, Nicole Raviv presents a gorgeous rendition of a song (attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav) that many of us have been signing our entire lives. While every Jew has their own story, we all come together on a Narrow Bridge. “International singer, songwriter and actress Nicole Raviv teams up with the World Jewish Congress and the Jewish National Fund-USA to launch the ‘Narrow Bridge’ project, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Israel,” the video’s description writes. “Through her rendition of ‘The Whole Entire World is a Very Narrow Bridge’, sung in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, she and Israeli singer Yair Levi call for unity amongst Jewish communities all over the world. We hope to bring people together and inspire a sense of shared heritage and identity.”
Revivo Project – Shir Moledet (Homeland Song)What’s a celebration without fun, upbeat, joyous music from Revivo? In 1988, the group “Puncher” released “Shir Moledet” – a song longing for the old-time songs of Eretz Yisrael, songs like “Shiri Li Kineret”, for example. “The songs of another time,” the song laments, “had to them some flavor of the old and good land of Israel.” Released in conjunction with Radio HaTachana 101.5, the music video features guest appearances from the members of “Puncher”, in addition to Aviva Avidan, Yoav Yitzchak, Haim Moshe, Avihu Medina, and other old-time Israeli singers. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, this song is sure to liven up your Yom Ha’atzmaut party.
Ma Kashur – Ani Nishar (I’m Staying)Though this song is a little less-new than most of the others on this list (it was released in September 2022), it’s still a great way to celebrate Israel this Yom Ha’atzmaut. The Ma Kashur trio does a great job singing the praises of Israel, warts and all. With lyrics by Noam Horev (“Matanot Ktanot”) and music by Elai Botner, “Ani Nishar” offers a cynical yet loveable look into life in Israel. Sure, Israel can be a tough country to love sometimes. With all its problems, though, we’d never want to live anywhere else.
Stephane Legar – Mama IsraelaStephane Legar was born in Bat Yam, Israel, to Christian parents from Togo. But he only attained Israeli citizenship in 2021, after serving in the IDF. It’s safe to say that the country has been good to Stephane, making him a household name in the Jewish State. Now, Stephane Legar shares his own love letter to the country that embraced him.

“Not everything with you is easy,
I confess
But you’re the reason I’m here
You didn’t give me what I wanted
And I got what I didn’t expect
You’re the first one to give me a stage,
Now I’m all yours forever.”

Ofek Levi – Herzl Amar (Herzl Said)A song we stumbled upon while researching this article, by an artist we’ve never heard of. But by invoking the name of Theodore Herzl, Ofek Levi certainly caught our attention. The colorful, culinary scenes of the shuk certainly don’t hurt, either. Levi’s message is similar to those in other songs here: Israel is far from perfect, and sometimes it can be frustrating beyond belief to live there. But it’s ours, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. “

“Among all the disputes, we want to live in you [Israel]
There is no other place where we can be ourselves
Yes, you are here for us, since the dawn of generations
In other words, Israel, you are home.”

We hope these songs help enhance your Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, and bring you even closer to the beauty (and the balagan!) of the State of Israel. Heard any other great songs for Israel’s 75th? Be sure to let us know in the comments. Happy birthday, Israel!

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Each year on Yom HaZikaron, the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization produces an extremely emotional music video for Yom HaZikaron. This year, the organization is once again helping us internalize the pain of Yom HaZikaron from anywhere in the world.

In January 2023, Kobi Marimi released a new single, “Aba Sheli” (My Father). At the time of its release, Kobi wrote on social media:

When I was little I really wanted to be my parents’ age
I already wanted to be big and independent
One that does not depend on anyone.
I thought I knew everything about life.
Today I understand that my parents are also children.
That each and every one no matter what age and at what point in life is someone’s son or daughter.
And all we need sometimes is a familiar hug from our loved ones.
My new song came out today
‘My Dad’
I wrote it about my father, my mother, my grandfather, about me.
I think this is the most vulnerable song I’ve released to date and I’m excited to share it with you.

Now this emotional song is back, re-purposed and re-recorded for Memorial Day 2023. And its words take on a whole new meaning among the backdrop of children, young and old, longing to hug their fathers just one more time.

You can find a translation of the song here, though you won’t need it. The images speak for themselves.

Want to connect to the pain of Yom HaZikaron like they do in Israel? Start here. And bring tissues.

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Israel’s 75th birthday is finally here, and it’s time to kick back and CELEBRATE the miracle and the magic of the modern State of Israel. And if you ask us, there’s no better way to celebrate than by listening to uplifting, inspirational, and FUN Israeli music! This week, we kick off our celebration of Israel’s 75th with songs marking this exciting milestone in the history of the country. Most of the songs are brand new, and they’re all powerful and uplifting. Join us for a star-spangled musical tribute to our beloved homeland, and spend Yom Ha’atzmaut 2023 with us! (Original Air Date: April 23, 2023)

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Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 is here, and in Israel, it’s impossible not to feel it. From the wail of the nationwide siren to the special programming on Israeli television and radio, this important day continues to be shown the respect it deserves.

But outside of Israel, we need to work a little harder to bring meaning to the day. Thankfully, Israeli culture can help us internalize the messages and memories of Yom HaShoah. And this year, we have some powerful new material to inspire us.

Here are a few of the must-see videos this Yom HaShoah:

“Paskol Shlishi” – The Third SoundtrackA new album of 13 songs written by Israeli musicians is the latest effort to connect young people to the Holocaust. The album, titled “Paskol Shlishi” (Third Soundtrack), was created by Moshe Klughaft, a political campaign manager and songwriter. Klughaft brought together a mix of major Israeli musicians to collaborate with Holocaust survivors on original songs about the WWII genocide.

Listen to the entire album here, including special live performances presented on April 17, 2023.

The Times of Israel wrote a full review of the project, including interviews with many of the artists.

According to the article, the album is the latest in a long line of Israeli music that has explored the Holocaust. In the 1950s and 1960s, Israeli artists like Natan Alterman and Yitzhak Shamir wrote songs about the Holocaust as a way to process the trauma of the event and to create a sense of national identity. In the 1970s and 1980s, Israeli artists like Yehuda Poliker and Chava Alberstein wrote songs about the Holocaust from the perspective of the second generation, who were raised by Holocaust survivors.

“Paskol Shlishi,” is a continuation of this tradition. The songs on the album are written from the perspective of the third and fourth generations, who have no personal memories of the Holocaust. The songs are a way for these generations to connect with the Holocaust and to learn about the lessons of the event.

Yuval Dayan – Sha’ar HaRachamimYuval Dayan does a magical job covering the famous Meir Banai tune, “Sha’ar HaRachamim” (Gate of Mercy). She writes on Facebook:

As the years go by and I delve into the stories of horrors and unimaginable pain, the lives that were cut short and the dreams that turned into a real nightmare, I am suddenly in awe of the power of those who survived even one day in the ghettos and the wilds, and of those who are here to tell.
You, who hold one side of the chain and wait for us to catch up and move on to our children.
We must remember. We must not forget. The disaster must not fade with the years.
You, the ones who had a chance to escape and stayed to fight.
I admire the spirit that beat strongly in you. The one that should not have been given up. And we must not give up for you.
When we skip between the stages at the memorial events of the State of Israel or sit on the couch and watch the broadcasts from home with an aching heart, I take with me one sentence that was said by Rabbi Kalonimus Shapira during the Holocaust and that held the souls of many, and managed to resonate further: “The greatest thing in the world is to do someone else a favor.”
I dedicate this performance to the honor of all those murdered in the Holocaust. of all those who did not give up on the dream. And I salute from the bottom of my heart and soul those who survived to tell.

Idan Amedi – Mamshich Lit’od 2023In 2011, Idan Amedi released a song called “Continuing to Walk”. The song was inspired by a book by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel. Now in 2023, Idan re-released the song, providing more context on social media. Idan shares how he read Rabbi Lau’s book “Out of the Depths” shortly before his army service. It affected him deeply, guiding many of his actions ever since. One passage he particularly remembers tells of a conversation between Rabbi Lau and his eldest brother Naftali before they parted ways in Buchenwald:

“You’re a big boy, soon to be 8. I must tell you the truth: we don’t have a father, we don’t have a mother, I’m going too. You’re left on your own. I don’t believe this hell will end. But if this inferno ends and you stay alive, remember that there’s a place in the world called Israel. Repeat after me: “Israel”. Just go there. This is our home. They don’t kill Jews there. This is our home.”

Are there any videos missing from our list? Contact us and let us know. May we NEVER FORGET.

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From Shotei HaNevua to a successful solo career, Israeli singer Avraham Tal is enjoying a wave of popularity in Israel. And now he’s coming to the USA!

Avraham Tal is a highly acclaimed Israeli singer and songwriter who has captivated audiences across Israel and beyond with his soulful music and powerful vocals. With a career spanning over two decades, Avraham has released numerous chart-topping albums and singles, and has won widespread critical acclaim for his unique blend of Middle Eastern and Western musical influences.

In a career spanning more than 25 years, Avraham has gone on to become one of Israel’s biggest musical stars, selling out concerts and earning countless awards and accolades for his work. His music is known for its heartfelt lyrics, catchy melodies, and powerful vocals, and has been described as a perfect blend of pop, rock, and Middle Eastern sounds.

Now, Avraham is preparing to bring his incredible live show to audiences across the United States. With a series of upcoming concerts in major cities across the country, he is set to introduce American audiences to his unique musical style and unforgettable performances. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Avraham Tal in San FranciscoSunday, April 30, 2023
11:00 am – 3:30 pm
San Mateo Event Center
346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA

Avraham Tal in Los AngelesMonday, May 1, 2023
8:30 pm
The Canyon – Agoura Hills
28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills, CA

Avraham Tal in SeattleWednesday, May 3, 2023
8:30 pm
Meydenbauer Center
11100 Northeast 6th Street, Bellevue, WA

Avraham Tal in MiamiSaturday, May 6, 2023
10:00 pm
Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill, FL

Avraham Tal in New York CityMonday, May 8, 2023
8:00 pm
Sony Hall
235 W 46th Street, New York, NY

Why see Avraham Tal in concert? We’ve got over TWO HOURS of proof you’ll have a great time! Enjoy this full-length Avraham Tal concert, taking place on Israel’s biggest stage – the Caesarea Amphitheatre.

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Chag Sameach! The holiday of Passover is here to remind us of the blessing of freedom…bringing with it some darn good music. The songs of the seder are simply legendary, with melodies that just about everyone knows and loves. But when your favorite Israeli singers bring their own unique styles to these beloved melodies, the result is beautiful and inspirational. Grab a slice of matzah or a macaroon, tune in this week for your favorite songs of the season, and get ready to sing along! (Original Air Date: April 9, 2023)

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Israel Hour Radio Podcast – Episode #1151 – Playlist1. Sruly V’netanel – Passover Medley | YouTube 2. Quinta and a Half – Passover Medley | YouTube 3. Yeladim Project – Simcha Rabba | YouTube 4. Aya Korem – Mitzrayim | YouTube 5. Ishay Ribo – Ani Shayach La’am | YouTube 6. Friends of the IDF – Ma Nishtana | YouTube 7. Gad Elbaz – Ma Nishtana | YouTube 8. Itay Levy & Narkis – V’hee She’amda | YouTube 9. Boys Town Jerusalem – Dayenu | YouTube 10. David Broza – Eliyahu Hanavi | YouTube 11. David D’or & Tomer Hadadi – B’tzeit Yisrael Mimitzrayim | YouTube 12. Shefita – Echad Mi Yodea | YouTube 13. Various Artists – Echad Mi Yodea | YouTube 14. Various Artists – Al Mi At Chachama | YouTube 15. Chava Alberstein – Chad Gadya | YouTube

YouTube Playlist: Click Here

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Several weeks ago, we reported that the Jewish Agency was looking for your help in writing a special song for Israel’s 75th.

With submissions received from around the world, the song is now complete.

The Jewish Agency has released “Ma Nishma, Yisrael?” (What’s up, Israel?), the handiwork of Shaanan Streett of Hadag Nahash. You can watch the song and learn more on a special web site, voices-together.org.

The song features a number of artists from around the world, singing in Hebrew, English, Portuguese, German, Russian, French, and Amharic. The message of the song? No matter what language one speaks, the message is the same: we are one nation, with a common love for Israel.

About “Voices Together”From the web site:

To celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday, The Jewish Agency for Israel and Z3 Project partnered with Shaanan Streett, the frontman of HaDag Nahash, one of Israel’s most popular and influential hip-hop bands, to create a song that brings together the unique voices and diverse faces of the Jewish people in Israel and overseas. The project, which originated as part of our Partnership2Gether network which connects Jewish communities around the world, invited Jews globally to submit lyrics that expressed what Israel at 75 meant to them. Many of these messages were then incorporated into the lyrics of the song, performed by Shaanan and seven artists from all over the world who work in different languages. Artist and music producer Michael Cohen, known as Cohen, joined the production of the accompanying music video, which was also made accessible in sign language thanks to Israel’s Sign Now organization.

Who are the participants?The Voices Together web site includes bios of all the performers in the song:

Shaanan Streett (Creator): Born and raised in Jerusalem, Shaanan Streett is an Israeli artist, musician, scriptwriter and social activist. He is the lead singer of HaDag Nahash, one of Israel’s most popular and influential hip-hop bands, and has also released two solo albums. In 2001, Shaanan founded the “One Shekel Festival” association, which works to make culture accessible for marginalized communities. Today, besides making music, he cohosts the Dream A Dream podcast.

Shaanan was approached by The Jewish Agency to lead the Voices Together project and was thrilled to come on board because of his deep understanding and appreciation for global Jewish peoplehood and connecting Jews worldwide and Israel through the arts, and specifically through music.

Westside Gravy (English): Raised mostly in San Diego, California, Noah Shufutinsky, who goes by the stage name Westside Gravy, received a Zionist education from his Russian-American Jewish father and Black Jewish mother. He graduated from George Washington University in 2021 and made Aliyah in July 2022.

Westside Gravy began writing songs and beats at age seven to express himself and got more serious about his music in high school when he started performing covers of other rappers’ material. He is best known for his anti-BDS song “Diaspora,” which he wrote and produced as a 19-year-old college sophomore.

He learned of the Voices Together project from his university rabbi who knew someone involved in the initiative and knew right away he wanted to be part of it as he would listen to HaDag Nahash in elementary school and felt this song was a way to give immigrants to Israel a chance to shine and celebrate the Jewish state.

MC Sapinho (Portuguese): Sandro, who goes by the stage name MC Sapinho, is a rap and reggaeton singer originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who currently lives in Ashdod, Israel. A 40-year-old married father of four, he immigrated to Israel by himself in 2000 to fulfill his dream of Aliyah. He served as a fighter in the Golani unit and was seriously injured in a military operation in Tulkarm.

MC Sapinho started performing as a child at parties and singing for friends, and a famous singer even took him under their wing. Today, he performs at the Lima Lima club and sings reggaeton there and does a lot of gigs abroad. When he is not performing, he works at Ten Bis in Tel Aviv.

A friend who works at The Jewish Agency told MC Sapinho about the Voices Together project and as he was a fan of Sha’anan from HaDag Nahash, he was very excited to be part of the song.

Lea Kalisch (German)Lea Kalisch was born and raised in Switzerland and moved to New York City at age 20. A singer, songwriter, actor, producer and entertainer, Lea has performed in numerous Yiddish plays, including her one-woman show, “In Love with a Dream,” in 2019. In 2020, she made a name for herself with the release of her debut single “Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop” as well as its music video, which was largely shot in Israel.

Lea enjoys utilizing Jewish texts (mainly from the Bible) in her work and making it modern while exploring what it means to be a Jewish woman. She is fluent in English, French and German, and also knows Yiddish, Spanish, Italian and Hebrew. Lea learned of the Voices Together project from an Israeli rabbi acquaintance who thought she’d be a great addition to the song given her unique background and Lea was happy to be asked to join in.

MC Pinhas (Russian)Born in Belarus, Pinhas Tsinman immigrated to Israel about a year ago from Ukraine where he had lived for 16 years, having worked as a Chabad emissary there for 12 years. He first started playing music at age eight when he learned to play the flute, followed shortly after by the guitar. By age 10, Pinhas was already part of a band that performed covers of Russian rock songs and was writing his own songs too. When he finished high school, he continued to perform with local bands.

In his 20s, Pinhas traveled to the US and deepened his relationship with Judaism, and during that time, he was exposed to the singer Matisyahu, who was both a Chabad Chasid and a quality reggae singer with Jewish content, inspiring Pinhas to compose songs about Judaism and life in Hasidism, which is how he got back into music.

Pinhas learned of Voices Together through a Jewish Agency emissary he knew in Ukraine and he immediately knew he wanted to participate as the project and its message of spreading unity really spoke to him.

Judith (French, Hebrew)Judith Mechi is a singer and composer who immigrated to Israel six years ago from Paris, France. She started performing professionally at the age of 16 and even participated in a singing reality show in France that included duets with famous singers. When the program ended, she started working on her first album which was released at the age of 20, followed by a second album at age 24.

When Judith was 25, she decided to take a break from music and do some traveling. While on vacation in Israel for two weeks, she fell in love and decided to move to Tel Aviv. After living in Israel for a bit, she was contacted by the Israeli reality singing show Rising Star and participated in their 2019 competition.

Today, Judith writes songs in both Hebrew and French. Her agent informed her of The Jewish Agency’s Voices Together project and after being sent the melody, she wrote lyrics within five minutes, the words just pouring out of her. Judith is thrilled to be involved in Voices Together because, beyond the song, she feels she is taking part in something historic and big.

Dere Work (Amharic)Deres Workneh immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia when he was 11 and currently lives in Petah Tikva. He graduated from boarding school and then studied electronics and electricity in preparation for his Israeli military service, drafting into the Air Force. In the army, he began to practice music, rapping in Amharic.

Before making Aliyah, he started learning Hebrew at a Jewish Agency school in Gondar, Ethiopia, so for him, being part of the Voices Together project was a full-circle moment. He learned about Voices Together through a friend working at the hip-hop magazine “The Hip-Hop World” and was very enthusiastic about being a part of it because of how The Jewish Agency helped him in the past.

JBC (English)Jonah Baron Cohen (who goes by JBC) was born in Sydney, Australia, but moved to London, England, at a young age, later becoming active in the Habonim Dror Jewish youth movement. Growing up in a musical home – his father was a musician and other family members also work in the creative world – he began playing the piano as a kid and decided at age 15 that music was what he wanted to do with his life. Today, he performs around Europe with a group of local artist friends.

JBC joined the Voices Together project after learning about it through a friend and really connecting with its vision as Judaism is a very significant part of his life though he doesn’t typically incorporate it into his music.

Hila Almog (Sign Language)Hila Almog was born deaf to deaf parents. Communication was challenging but even as a girl, she loved music as she could hear some of the sounds but not the voices, becoming a big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest and all its grandiosity. Hila’s love of music inspired her to start translating songs into sign language, using a translator to help her understand the rhythm of the words.

Today, Hila is the Vice President and Deaf Community Manager of the Tel Aviv company Sign Now, which offers real-time sign language interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) people on their smartphones for free. She is married with three kids; her husband is deaf and her children are all hearing. Hila is also a sign language teacher and lecturer and has written two books and made dozens of Israeli songs accessible in sign language.

She learned about the Voices Together project through a friend and it immediately interested her as she felt it was a great opportunity to increase awareness in the music world of the deaf and hard-of-hearing population and help remove barriers.

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Moments before the start of Passover 2023, Ishay Ribo presents his list of reasons why he’s proud to be a Jew – and an Israeli.

With strong echoes of the traditional melody of “Ma Nishtana” (the Four Questions) throughout, Ishay’s new song “Ani Shayach La’am” (I Belong To The Nation) is a strong statement of Jewish pride.

And as we’ve come to expect from Ishay, the song adds a strong dose of religious pride as well.

“So how is my nation different from all other nations?” he sings in the refrain. “All other nations neither see nor hear their god / But for the nation to which I belong / God is their ruler.”

He goes on to sing about how his nation is:

“the oldest in the archive”
“the one no historian understands”
“one for which a large sea tore apart”
“one that defies logic”
“one that survived in every era”

Ishay wrote on Facebook that he wrote that song when he was only 16 years old.

“It was at this time that I started with the guitar,” he said, “and somehow it turned out to be a song that has remained in a drawer ever since. But my dear mother really liked this song. And every year when Pesach comes she asks me: ‘Ishay, when are you bringing him out into the world?’

“So on the last Seder night I promised her that this year I would make an effort because she was asking so much.”

Ribo added that he hopes the song can help unify the nation during these turbulent times.

“So on days like this when there is a lot of background noise,” he writes, “despite the dispersion and separation that supposedly exists between us, we belong to the same people that came out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea and endured endless tribulations, the people who returned to the Land of Israel contrary to all human predictions.”

“No, Ishay Ribo, You Can’t Say That Anymore”The new song, however, has already generated some controversy.

In a blog post on The Times of Israel, Alon Goshen-Gottstein (founder and director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute) writes “No, Ishay Ribo, you can’t say that anymore”:

…what makes Israel special, in the words of the catchy refrain, made all the catchier because it echoes the tune of ma nishtana: All people’s idols neither see nor hear. In other words, what makes the people of Israel special is that they alone have god, and all nations worship only idols who are lifeless.

This is absolutely terrible theology, about to be popularized by Israel’s most popular singer, at a time when religious extremism is on the rise – a song with the potential of replacing “your village should be burned” in the mouth of religious extremists.

Why is it terrible theology? Because no one – absolutely no halachic or aggadic authority – subscribes to the view that today only Israel knows God, and all others only worship idols. These biblical words have been followed by thousands of years of Jewish reflection and Jewish ruling that have established the legitimacy of at least some other religions, possibly all.

“I imagine the singer is totally unaware of the potential harm his song can cause if it rises in the charts,” Goshen-Gottstein writes. “If I can glimpse his heart through his music, his is a pure heart that seeks to unite and generate love. Yet, the message he delivers in the song has the potential of delivering hate and leading to violence.”

National anthem or “terrible theology”? Eager to hear your take on Ishay Ribo’s new song in the comments.

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Ishay Ribo will play Mini Israel in Latrun on Monday, April 10Pesach is a glorious time to be in Israel! The weather is (usually) great. The atmosphere is (usually) positive and upbeat. And the food? Glorious, despite the restrictions of the holiday.

And with most of the country off from work all week, Israel’s musicians take the opportunity to come out and play. From star-studded festivals to musicals for the entire family, there are plenty of opportunities to go out and enjoy some quality entertainment during the holiday.

(Just leave plenty of time to get there. With everyone off from work, the traffic will likely be horrendous.)

So if you’ve made plans to visit Israel for Passover 2023, well, we’re jealous. But we still want to help you make the most of your trip. Here are five Israeli concerts taking place before, during, and after Pesach 2023 that we think you’re going to love.

Static in Tel Aviv – Monday, April 3Static has a lot to prove. Newly “single” in more ways than one (he divorced his wife and his musical partner in the span of just a few months), he wants to prove that he’s just as entertaining on his own as he was teamed up with Ben-El Tavori. Is he? His managers certainly think so, booking him in one of Israel’s largest arenas in his first major solo concert. After you’ve listened to his new solo album, take an evening off of Pesach prep with what’s sure to be a high-energy concert. You can be sure the industry will watch this one closely to see how Static does on his own. Get tickets here.
Jane Bordeaux feat. Red Band in Binyamina – Saturday, April 8Have you seen the new music video by Jane Bordeaux? Once you do, you’ll know what a joy it is to watch this amazing band. With a lead singer who’s simply adorable, to a string of hits with a sounds that’s all their own, Jane Bordeaux in concert is a must-see experience for anyone’s bucket list. Performing under the stars in the famed Shuni Amphitheater in Binyamina, Doron and company will be joined on stage by Red Band, a wacky group of musical puppets. Sounds like an event you must see to believe. Get tickets here.
Ishay Ribo in Latrun – Monday, April 10Ishay Ribo in concert is not just a show, it’s a cultural phenomenon. In today’s deeply divided Israeli society, Ishay’s music appeals to nearly every single citizen in the State of Israel. Religious and secular. Men and women. Left and right. Young and old. No matter who you are, you are moved by the religious-themed pop music of Ishay Ribo. The sight of Israelis of all walks of life singing Jewish songs together is an experience that will take your breath away. Make your Pesach extra-special by taking part in this amazing concert at Mini-Israel in Latrun. Get tickets here.
“Kaner Al HaGag” (Fiddler On the Roof in Hebrew) in Tel Aviv – Multiple DatesYou’ve seen it dozens of times, but have you ever seen it in Hebrew? You’re in luck…it’s playing all week long at Heichal HaTarbut (Charles Bronfman Auditorium) in Tel Aviv. Sure, “Fiddler” may be a little less glamourous than the other options on this list, but c’mon…can you think of a better way to celebrate the holiday of freedom than by seeing this show in Israel? With the recent passing of Chaim Topol, there’s been a renewed interest of late in this musical classic. Sure, “Fiddler” may be a little less glamourous than the other options on this list, but c’mon…can you think of a better way to celebrate the holiday of freedom than by seeing this show, in Hebrew, in Israel? Bring your family to sing along out loud with every word of “Fiddler on the Roof”.

Monday, April 10, 8:30 pm – Tickets
Wednesday, April 12, 8:30 pm – Tickets
Thursday, April 13, 8:30 pm – Tickets
Friday, April 14, 2:00 pm – Tickets

Shlomo Artzi in Binyamina – Thursday, April 13Yup, it’s still Passover everywhere else in the world, but you’re in Israel! By Wednesday night, the holiday’s over and you’re munching on pizza, pasta, and all the Israeli delicacies you can eat. So before heading back to reality, take a trip to see the reigning king of Israeli music. Shlomo is at his best when he’s on stage, and a Shlomo Artzi concert is an experience like none other. You know all the songs, and so does everyone else in the audience. So warm up your voice and get ready for the most supercharged karaoke night you’ve ever experienced. You’ll fall in love with Shlomo all over again. Get tickets here.

There you have it. Five spectacular entertainment opportunities to enjoy in Israel during Pesach 2023. Did we miss an important event? Please let us know! Wishing one and all a Chag Sameach!

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Mother’s Day? Father’s Day? They’re nice and all, but we can do better. Around the year 2000, it was decided that Yom HaMishpacha – Family Day – would be celebrated in Israel on the 30th of Shevat. Ever since, Israelis enjoy the day as an opportunity to celebrate our beautiful families. In honor of the occasion, we’ve put together a fun playlist of family collaborations in Israeli music. Husbands and wives, parents and children, an aunt and nephew, siblings, cousins…it’s all here this week. Gather the family and enjoy an amazing selection of Hebrew songs! (Original Air Date: February 26, 2023)

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A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Hadag Nahash – Echad Echad (One By One)Israeli hip/hop group Hadag Nahash has never shied away from opening the window, observing what’s going on in Israeli society, and putting their unique spin on what they see. And let’s face it. No matter your feelings about the current situation in Israel, there’s certainly a lot to talk about. This time, the boys are taking a stand against extremism and polarization: “One by one / Everyone takes sides / And hatred blinds the eyes / one by one.” While much of the slang might be difficult for non-native Hebrew speakers, take some time to try to understand this one. Do you agree with their sentiments?
Jane Bordeaux – Lo Yotze LeMessibot (I Don’t Go Out To Parties) “Can’t ignore when there’s that song in the background…” This is the line that opens the new song by Jane Bordeaux that talks about the need to sometimes just dance all our problems out. Precisely from a deep understanding that problems never end, they only change. That there is always something to confront, there are always matters that need to be resolved – so the desire and need to take easy breaks in between and simply dance this moment without pangs of conscience, without apologizing.

“Dancing to move your heart and shake what hurts…
Can’t ignore when this song plays, when I have tightness in my chest, I just need a little more
That electricity will be released in my body, that nothing will be important”

Lessons to live by, indeed.

Roni Dalumi – BaDerech El HaYam (On the Way To The Sea)Roni Dalumi is a busy lady. She’s currently alternating between SIX different theatrical shows (including “Yentl”, “Mamma Mia”, “My Favorite Year”, and others). She’s about to return to TV, playing a starring role in an upcoming series for Kan 11. And of course, she’s making music.

With music and lyrics co-written by Roni herself, the song takes us back to a very difficult time in the life of the popular singer. Roni explains: Roni writes about the song – “A few years ago, just before Corona entered our lives and shook the world, when everything around me still seemed clear and simple, I went and plunged into a crisis. Outside, there was optimism and joy, but in my heart, a fracture grew and widened. Not many knew at the time what was going on with me, only a few relatives, friends and of course my husband Alon. Our happy home became sad and difficult.

“Alon, who is a true partner and friend, so wanted to help, strengthen and maybe even save – “Let me be your eyes when you can’t see” he said to me one morning. But I asked him to let go of my hand. I realized inside that I was experiencing defining moments, in which I had to reinvent and find my own strength to face me. The important conclusion I came to following this moment of ours, is that only I can save me, and my strength is all I need to grow from the difficulty. The song “On the way to the sea” is about the most strengthening thing that Alon could do for me at that moment – and that is to trust me. To let me go on this journey alone in order to bring my heart home.”

Dudu Aharon – Ima Ima (Mother, Mother)Dudu Aharon believes that Mizrachi music has lost its way, and he’s out to restore the genre to its former glory. In his upcoming album, Dudu is recreating the types of songs he grew up with. The new song “Ima Ima” – with music and lyrics co-written by Dudu himself – is one such example. Oh, and by the way, his people are saying that a USA tour is in the works, with stops in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Hatikva 6 – HaChaim Zeh Achshav (Life Is Now)Hatikva 6 is celebrating 20 years as a group with an upcoming album (their eighth) and an upcoming celebration in Caesarea on June 1st. The new song “Life Is Now” describes the understanding that everything that has been built and achieved so far is all grown up, so everything that happens next is the result of preparation and hard work. “Abandoning anxieties about tomorrow / abandoning regrets from the past / throwing away what feels unnecessary / staying with what’s left.” The very cool music video features lead singer Omri Glickman’s face in many different stages of life. Don’t miss it.
Anna Zak feat. Mergui – HoodieA few months back, the world learned that Anna Zak would be collaborating with Mergui for a new song. Why is this significant? Because Mergui is the ex-boyfriend of Noa Kirel, who is probably Anna’s main “rival” in Israeli music. Whether or not there’s a real rivalry going on, it sure makes for juicy gossip. Anyway, the music video was filmed one night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv, and be warned: the catchy pop tune will be stuck in your head for a while.
Agam Buchbut – Lo Shoma’at (I Don’t Hear)Days after appearing in a new music video from Static’s debut solo album, Agam Buchbut is back with a true “girl power” song. The new pop tune speaks of a relationship gone bad, and we get to hear Agam’s side of the conversation between her and her former lover. The colorful music video uses artificial intelligence to animate Agam’s face in a unique way. Fans are sure to enjoy this latest effort from Agam Buchbut, as she battles for Israeli pop music supremacy against artists like Noa Kirel and Anna Zak.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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Shiri Maimon poses for photographers at a press conference, September 7, 2018 (Photo Credit: Josh Shron)It’s been a busy few weeks for Shiri Maimon.

On Sunday, January 29, Shiri and her husband Yoni welcomed a new daughter to the family, named Emma. The couple already had two sons, Itay and Elai.

Just a few days later, Shiri released a new song, entitled “Ima” (Mother), celebrating the brave moms of the world. “The song describes exactly how I feel these days”, Shiri wrote on social media. “I became a mother of three, do you understand? Cause I don’t. 🙂 How many tears do I hide… Every single one of them – a whole world unto itself. I have created a life.

“The words describe the strength, the quiet power, the crises and our being a solid rock. Mothers.
I want to dedicate this song to you, the lionesses and heroines who sacrifice their bodies and souls to create miracles every day anew. Every mother – will understand.”

A few weeks later, Shiri shared yet another announcement with the world: she would celebrate her 20-year-career with a special concert on Israel’s biggest stage. Shiri’s 20-year-anniversary show is scheduled for June 8 in the Caesarea Amphitheater (tickets available here). To help us get excited, Shiri released a short video reminding us of the biggest moments of her career – and wow. There have been a lot of memorable milestones, to say the least!

Shiri Maimon’s Career HighlightsThe video features some of Shiri Maimon’s biggest career highlights:

Singing on television at a young age
An appearance in the music video for “Ilu Hayit” by Tipex
Her audition for season one of “Kochav Nolad” (A Star Is Born), followed by her electrifying performance of “Don Quixote” in the final episode of the season (she came in second, with Ninet Tayeb winning the season)
Shiri’s appearance in Eurovision 2005, singing “HaSheket SheNishar” resulting in a fourth place finish for Israel
Singing “Ahava K’tana” from her first album, still one of her greatest hits
Appearing in “HaLehaka” on stage
From her second album, “Yoter Tov Lisloach”
Winning Best Israeli Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008 with “Now That You’re Gone”
Shiri’s collaboration with Shimon Buskila, with a large-scale concert tour and live album
Appearing as a judge in Israel’s version of “The X Factor”
Starring in the Israeli adaptation of Evita
Appearing on Broadway, as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago”
Sitting at the judges’ table on “HaKochav Haba” for several seasons
A major concert in Caesarea in September 2022 (in the middle of her pregnancy)

Finally, organizers of Israel’s official Yom Ha’atzmaut ceremony announced recently that Shiri Maimon would perform at this year’s event on Mount Herzl in celebration of Israel’s 75th birthday (Itay Levy is scheduled to perform as well, with others expected to be announced). Shiri has represented Israel at the official state ceremony before, in 2019 and 2020.

Not bad for a 20-year-career, no? Mazal Tov, Shiri!

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If you tune into some of Israel’s radio stations this week, you might hear something unusual: another station’s jingle.

Three of Israel’s major music stations – Galgalatz, Kan Gimmel. and Kan 88 – are teaming up to fight road rage on Israel’s congested streets and highways. And they’re doing it in a very neighborly way.

Galglatz posted the special public service announcements they’ve been running on their Facebook page.

After the “competing” station’s jingle plays, an announcer says “no, this is definitely not a mistake. You just heard the ‘sign’ of another station on Galgalatz. Because on the road, there’s room for ego. Let’s be less angry and competitive, and a little more supportive and kind, so that we can beat the violence on the roads.”

“When you get behind the wheel, get rid of your ego,” another announcer concludes.

Highway safety has long been a problem in Israel. According to a recent article in The Guardian, “traffic deaths dropped [in Israel] by only 4.7% in last decade, compared with a 31% fall worldwide.”

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Our listeners share their favorite Israeli songs…and this time, we’re pleased to welcome Allison Rusgo to the Israel Hour Radio studios! Allison lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she works as a university professor. She was born in Manhattan but grew up in Charlotte, NC after moving there with her family in the early 1990s. Allison attended Camp Judaea (CJ) in Hendersonville, NC for many summers as a camper and staff member, where she developed a strong connection to Eretz Yisrael and Israeli music. Her playlist of Israeli classics is inspired by her many summers and memories at CJ – and you’ll find yourself singing along to every word! (Original Air Date: February 19, 2023)

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A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Miri Mesika – Nisharnu B’yachad (We Stayed Together)“It’s an Israeli love song, and even more than that, a love song for Israel.” So writes Miri Mesika about her new song of unity during these tumultuous times. Miri is recently back from London, where she received high praise for her starring role in “The Band’s Visit”. In fact, she was nominated for “Best Actress in a Musical” for London’s 2023 Olivier Awards. But Miri says she remains Israeli through and through. “”I came back from London and realized that you can take me out of Israel, but you can’t take Israel out of me,” says Miri. “Even where they speak English, I saw Haifa and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. My loves are forged on the road, always on some trip on the way to Kinneret, Masada to Tel Aviv. And even when we have the most bitter fights in the car, in the end we always got home. And we stayed together.”

“Outside, sunsets bleed / like the square of 95 [Rabin Square, presumably]
Maybe it’s time to ask for / some light, some hope
Love has seventy faces / We are all a bit the same
We want one thing..”

HaMishkafayim Shel Noyfeld feat. Guy Mazig – Tamid Yeladim (Always Children)Shmulik Noyfeld is a songwriter who regularly composes songs for others under the “Noyfeld’s Glasses” umbrella. This time, he composed a melody and sent it to Guy Mazig. He knew just what to do with it. “When Shmulik contacted me and sent me this beautiful melody,” Guy writes, ”I immediately felt that he was touching me exactly at the points that connect me to my place as a father to Zohar, my daughter, and her need for an anchor and comfort. ‘Tamid Yeladim’ is a very personal song that talks about a personal experience we went through as a family. Amit Mizrachil, our beloved 10-year-old nephew left us two years ago. He was a member of our house and a soulmate of Zohar Mezig – my daughter. They were a duo! The moment when we had to tell Zohar that Amit would not be coming back was one of the hardest times we went through, and the words came out of it.” A beautiful, emotional musical experience, emerging from one of life’s darkest moments.
Elai Botner feat. Yishai Levy – Itach Ad Sof HaZman (With You Until the End of Time)Yet another songwriter who regularly writes songs for other artists, Elai Botner has partnered with the best of ‘em. This time, he dips his toe into the “Mizrachi” genre with the help of Yishai Levy. “As a creator – I’m always looking for new challenges,” Elai writes. “Things I haven’t done yet ignite my curiosity and turn on the creative switch. As a kibbutznik, it goes without saying that the Mediterranean (Mizrachi) genre was not innate. Certainly not in the formative years of my childhood. But ‘Mediterranean’, really, is the most Israeli there is. And the very musical trills of the best singers in the genre always amazed me, fascinated me.”

“You don’t need to be familiar with the history of Mediterranean singers throughout the ages,” Elai continues, “to know that Yishai Levy is one of the forefathers of the genre, and one of the people whose voice and songs shaped it. Mediterranean or not, as far as I’m concerned, there aren’t many singers of such stature…those who know how to give each syllable in the text a special treatment, and each note its own flavor and emphasis. Yishai Levy serves with supreme grace, so for a songwriter like me, a collaboration like this is both a challenge and a dream.”

Lior Narkis & Shahar Saul – Kapayim (Clapping)Lior Narkis, a 30-year veteran in Israeli music, hasn’t released a new song in almost a year. Shahar Saul, meanwhile, is a newcomer who’s having an incredible year. His song “Duvshania” was one of the hottest songs of 2022, and the song of the year on Kan Gimmel radio. Throw in songwriting by Eden Hason and others, and you have the makings of a big hit in Israel. One listen, and we think you’ll have this song stuck in your head for a long time. And that’s a good thing.
Aviv Geffen & Micha Shitrit – Osher B’kapiyot (Happiness In Spoonfuls)Aviv Geffen and Micha Shitrit, two veterans of Israeli music, clearly are not happy with the state of Israeli society today. Here’s what they have to say about their new collaboration: “The song is about the daily survival war of the citizen who is playing in the impossible reality in Israel. It doesn’t matter which [party you voted for] in the last election and which team you support, in the end every person feels that their voice is not heard and the war for their tomorrow becomes more difficult. It’s a feeling that sadness comes in bags and happiness comes in spoonfuls. This is a protest song of the “gray man”, citizens without a single crushing line [i.e. everyday centrists] but those who are counted only in polls. It is a prayer for brighter days of hope and less social darkness.” Ouch – strong words indeed.
Mergui feat. Marina Maximilian – Segol Bahir (Light Purple)Segol Bahir is a 2021 hit for Mergui that you won’t find on YouTube, now that Mergui is working to become an international star. But it’s a song that he apparently struggled with before its initial release. “I didn’t know exactly how to deal with it, let alone releasing it. But seeing how each of the people closest to me cried when he heard it, made me realize that…something special happened. And that the reason I was afraid of [releasing the song] was because it was an open book, yes, and vey real.” Now, Mergui performs the song with Marina Maximilian in an emotional performance in front of a small audience.
Static & Agam Buchbut – Tarantula‘A few weeks ago, we brought you details of Static’s new album, “Liraz”. While the critics haven’t been all that kind to Static over his new endeavor, one song that was well-received was his collab with Agam Buchbut. Well, now there’s a music video for “Tarantula”, enabling more people to see and hear what all the buzz is about. It’s hard not to miss his antics with Ben-El Tavori, but Agam isn’t a bad substitute at all.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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Just a week in Israel. Sometimes it’s all you need to recharge your batteries and fall in love with the country all over again. Josh is back from a week in Israel, and is so excited to share the music he heard along the way. Is there anything special, meaningful, or inspirational about the playlist? No, not at all. But when you’re sitting in a restaurant in Israel, and a song you love comes on…there’s just nothing like it. Come along on the journey with us this week, and tell us…what’s your most memorable musical moment in Israel? (Original Air Date: February 12, 2023)

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Sometimes when you hear a new artist for the first time, it’s love at first listen. You immediately like what you hear, and know instantly you’ve become a fan.

But have you ever heard an artist, and was immediately turned off? Probably.

In fact, Yann Selka is betting on it. Our favorite master of Israeli music impersonations is back with a brilliant new video: “The is how 20 artists sound to people who REALLY hate them”.

Perhaps he had an ulterior motive. As Yann flashes on the screen for literally half a second, “Or…I just tried to do impersonations but they came out cringeworthy so I figured out how to release them anyway.”

Spot-on as always, and with appropriate musical accompaniment, Yann covers Mergui, Matti Caspi, Ron Danker, Netta Barzilai, Shiri Maimon, Arik Einstein, and many more. His Aviv Geffen impersonation, in particular, is hilarious.

The reaction so far has been overwhelmingly positive, but the video might have unexpected consequences. “Sadly,” one commenter joked, “for those artists I love, now when I hear them I’ll only hear your impression of them.”

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A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Zehava Ben – Laila Lavan (White Night)Written by Noam Horev, “Laila Lavan” is the first new single from Zehava Ben we’ve seen in a while. But she’s certainly been busy, with concerts on Israel’s biggest stages like the Caesarea Amphitheater and Tel Aviv’s Menorah Hall. On April 13, Zehava is set to perform “Zehava’s Mimuna” at Ganei Yehoshua in Tel Aviv, which promises to be one big Israeli-Moroccan party.
Arik Lavie & Danny Sanderson: L’olam Lo Tuchal Lachzor (You’ll Never Be Able To Return)“At the beginning of Corona, I received a call from Danny Sanderson. He told me that he found a recording on the computer that Arik made in his studio shortly before his death, when Danny was collecting materials for the “Toldot HaMayim” album.

Danny wrote and composed a song called “You will never be able to come back” and was looking for a singer for the song. Arik was called to a rehearsal and that’s where the home recording was born. In the end the song was recorded by Barry Sakharoff.

When Danny found the recording with Arik on the computer, he saw it as a sign that the song should actually be Arik’s too and sent it to me.

In honor of Arik Lavie’s 96th birthday, we are happy to release the song together with a clip prepared from archived materials for listening and viewing.

Arik may not be able to return but he is always with us thanks to the music. Congratulations Arik and thank you Danny.”

– Shoshik Lavie-Shani

Noa Kirel – UnicornSo much has already been said about Israel’s 2023 Eurovision entry, “Unicorn”. But what is the significance of the song’s title? The production team responds: “In the creative process, the artistic team sat down and looked for what is occupying people throughout the country and the world today? Above all the answers hovered the feeling that the world has completely changed after the coronavirus. Huge changes are felt in every field – economy, politics, climate, technology, social networks and especially the person’s confrontation with everything that happens around him. We felt that in order to deal with the rapid pace of changes, each and every one of us needs a strength greater than life to stand up to the world. A power that can only be found in fairy tales, in fantasy stories, in mythology: unicorn power. We chose a unicorn from mythology, because of its quiet power. When in most areas there is a feeling of struggle against changes, the unicorn stands strong, stable, beautiful and quiet. This is how he manages to deal with every challenge that stands in front of him.”

Good luck to Noa Kirel in Eurovision 2023!

Osher Cohen & Odeya – Ani Po (I’m Here)This new duet is not as new as it seems. Released originally as part of a new album by Osher Cohen, it quickly became a breakout hit despite not being released as a single. Now, with more than two million views on YouTube (and Odeya‘s star growing brighter every day), the duo is sending it out to radio stations so that they can start playing it too. Something tells me they’ll be happy to oblige.
Dana International – La CucarachaDana International is celebrating 30 years of a successful music career with a new song, “La Cucaracha”. Despite her success, she still considers herself “the laziest singer in the world.” Why? “Sometimes I get mad at myself for not releasing more songs,” she says. “I never felt the need to release songs like a machine for a living or to justify my existence. It happens when I really feel that time has passed, that the hunger is back and that I connect to music.” But ever since the success of “Achla Gever”, her successful collaboration with Static & Ben-El, she’s been hungry for more. The new hit, Dana says, is “a song of empowerment for girls that comes from a place of female strength.” Dana fans should watch for a new documentary on her life, set to debut on Israel’s “Yes” network on March 23.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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If you want to connect to Israel, you need to connect to its thriving culture. We can help! Join us this week for a look into the new Israeli music of the past two months. And wow, what a line-up! Hanan Ben Ari, Noa Kirel, Ninet Tayeb, Harel Skaat, Omer Adam, Narkis, and many, many more. Enjoy this upbeat playlist, jam-packed with brand new tunes from the most popular Israeli singers of 2023! (Original Air Date: January 29, 2023)

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After months of anticipation, it’s finally here…Israel’s official entry to Eurovision 2023. It’s called “Unicorn”, sung by Israel’s biggest star of 2023, Noa Kirel.

Noa officially announced that she would represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest back in August, long before most other countries made any announcements.

In January, we learned the name of the song. Ever since, the word “Unicorn” has been on the lips of many Israelis, eagerly awaiting the reveal of the official song. The song’s production team includes Doron Madalie (co-creator of “Toy”, “Shevet Achim Va’achayot”, and many other hits), Yinon Yahal, Mai Sepadia and Noa Kirel herself.

There was even a tiny teaser, shown to the world last week.

🦄 Is this tease of Noa Kirel’s “Unicorn” making you go wild?#eurovision #esc2023 pic.twitter.com/eU9TpUfG6G

— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) March 2, 2023

Just before the release, Israel ranked at #6 in the odds on favorite to win.

What do you think of Israel’s entry this year? Talk about it on our Facebook group, Israeli Music Community.

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Shlomo Artzi & Idan Amedi – AchimA roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Shlomo Artzi & Idan Amedi – AchimShlomo Artzi:
“Here is a simple and not cynical truth: we are brothers. The song ‘Brothers’, which is published today, was written in a time of pain, worry and fear of the rift that is opening up between us. Its intention is to symbolize the shared experience of Israeliness. We sing ‘Achim’ together out of great faith, my brother Idan Amadi and I, and Dodo Tassa, our talented brother who produced the song and plays the wonderful guitar solo in it.

Naomi Shemer, who is mentioned in the song several times, left this country many dreamy songs and these important words: She wrote, ‘Freedom begins at home, in the family. A family is a collection of freedoms. We don’t step on each other’s toes.’ So let’s just not forget that (don’t step on each other’s toes, anywhere) and remember that we knew we survived here thanks to the ability to perceive our lives as unique and democratic in the harsh space of the Middle East.

“Both Idan and I spoke…about the shared fate of all of us, and the desire to ask the elected officials to find a way to maintain the fabric of life that unites brothers who seem to be so different but somehow similar.

Optimistic? Yes, I’m still optimistic.”

Idan Amedi:

“This morning the song ‘Brothers’ written by my teacher and rabbi Shlomo Artzi is released.

It comes in the days when the heart is full and sensitive and the stomach of the country turns over with worries.

I thought a lot about what to write this morning but for some reason the words refused to come. And when I can’t find words I try to go back to look for them at the starting point. at home.

My late grandfather was a construction worker and a man of words, and his love for Israel was immense. So much so that even after he retired, he worked at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl. He took care of the burial of IDF soldiers, the maintenance and construction of the tombstones of the dead. At the beginning of May 1991, the late pilot Moshe Leshem was killed while performing his duties. On Friday of that week the head of the cemetery asked my grandfather to finish Moshe’s tombstone by Sunday, the last day of shiva. My grandfather, who didn’t usually work on Fridays, came especially that day to finish preparing the tombstone.

The next day, Saturday night, my grandfather passed away and he did the last kindness in his life with a man he didn’t know, but I have no doubt that he saw him as a brother. I heard this story by chance a few years ago and since then it has been coming back to me in all kinds of places, and in the last few weeks it has been coming back to me a lot.

Maybe because I’ve become a bit worried and I’m asking us all to calm down, maybe because this song has come now so that we remember that we have one destiny, and these are our brothers who stand on both sides.

I recognize them better now than ever, the one from the street and the football, the synagogue and the cinema, my friends from the reserves.

And maybe I’m just missing some distant starry night.

Thank you Shlomo for inviting me to sing with you and for teaching me over the years, even without knowing it, to write about love and longing for the country and the people who live here, people who, with all their difficulties and scratches, I love with all my heart.”

Dudu Tassa & Shlomi Saranga – Savta Chana (Grandma Chana)Dudu Tassa & Shlomi Saranga – Savta Chana (Grandma Chana)From Dudu Tassa’s new 51st studio album, “Shemesh V’anan”. Dudu: “There is one special song on the album, ‘Grandma Hana’, I wanted to bring a singer to this song who, as soon as you hear him, you immediately know it’s him, someone with a unique and deep voice, it was clear to me that it had to be Shlomi Saranga, He came and gave the song exactly what I was looking for.
Adi Bity – DisneyAdi Bity – DisneyAdi Bity has a long history with Disney. Her voice can be heard in a number of Hebrew Disney movies, and she is featured in an international version of “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin”. But now, it appears like Adi is distancing herself from the famous mouse. “When I wrote the song, I wrote me, my life, my journey,” Adi Bity writes. “The time I disappeared on purpose. I did not want the defamation that I did not create, but unfortunately I was drawn into it every day. Years of self-searching, the decisions, growing up, what I didn’t go through. I turned from Cinderella to dirty, like in fairy tales, like in Disney…I learned to do everything on my own and took responsibility for my life. Today I am here, stronger than ever, surrounded by a strong team that believes in me, and my voice will be heard. I don’t trust you, I don’t trust them – I trust myself.”
Harel Skaat – Mazkir Lach Ktzat OtiHarel Skaat – Mazkir Lach Ktzat OtiA new soul-searching ballad from Harel Ska’at. “Life takes a turn and sometimes changes direction, but the memory of the loves that accompanied us always remains and affects who we are and what we are,” Harel writes. “This song was written and dedicated to my first and old loves, who I broke their hearts and they mine. Working with Osher Cohen in the studio was overwhelming and exciting. Together we plunged into my teenage years, into the young and innocent loves, and to a large extent also into the musical worlds I grew up on. “
HaGiraffot & Netta Barzilai – Messiba Ra’ah (Bad Party)HaGiraffot & Netta Barzilai – Messiba Ra’ah (Bad Party)Netta (and her nails) joins forces with The Giraffes for a fun new song about a party where anything can happen…but should be forgotten the morning after. Netta: “The song is an typical stream of consciousness in my head when I go out to a party, and let’s just day, I didn’t enjoy it. I move between feeling pathetic and enjoying being free and surrendering to the beat and the moment. There’s no better partner than The Giraffes to convey such a feeling to a song.” Party on.
Ella Lee – Ratziti She’ta’uf (I Wanted You To Fly)Ella Lee – Ratziti She’ta’uf (I Wanted You To Fly)For the first time, Ella Lee is getting involved with the creative process. She co-wrote the song with Guy V’yahel, a new hit leading up to the upcoming release of her debut album. She’s been a busy lady: in addition to starring in the kids’ series “Shumakom” – a role created just for her – she also is set to appear in the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars”. She’ll also appear as the female lead in the upcoming theatrical production of “Hair”…all while serving in the military band of the IDF.

“I am very excited that this song is finally coming out and reaching you,“ Ella Lee said. “It is a very personal song for me. I was involved in the entire process of its creation from beginning to end together with Guy and Yahel who went hand in hand with me and also produced the song exactly as I imagined….The song shows another side of me, another side that you didn’t know, it presents me in a different and more mature way than what you have heard from me so far, and I hope you like it too.”

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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We’ve long believed that Israeli music immersion is a fantastic way to improve your Hebrew. Turns out we’re not alone.

“Café Oleh”, the popular virtual Hebrew-language class organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh, devoted this week’s class to Israeli music. Specifically, instructor Jay Rosen looked at Israeli protest songs, which have long provided Israelis with an outlet to express their frustrations about society.

“We teach modern Hebrew in an Israeli context,” Jay explains in the video. “So understanding Israeli culture is key to learning Hebrew.”

Jay Rosen, Cafe Oleh Instructor
(YouTube screenshot)Jay taught the lyrics of three songs:

Shir L’shalom (Song For Peace) by Lahakat HaNachal – written in 1969, this classic Israeli song took on iconic status in 1995 when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin read it at a peace rally moments before his assassination.
Shtei Etzba’ot MiTzidon (Two ‘Fingers’ From Sidon) by Shimi Ron – telling the story of a soldier’s experience in the First Lebanon War
Eizo Medina (What a Country) by Eli Luzon – a 1986 hit written during a time of economic difficulty and unemployment for many Israelis.

Each song reflects frustrations, grievances, as well as hopes and dreams of many Israelis. Jay helps us understand the lyrics of each song, as well as the circumstances that led to each song’s popularity.

An hour well spent for any Israeli music fan!

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Remember “Happy Birthday”, Israel’s entry to the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest? Well it’s back, 24 years later.

Gavriel Butler, one-fourth of the boy-band Eden that originally performed the song, released two solo re-mixed versions of the song this week. One was mostly in Hebrew (like the original), and the other entirely in English.

The iconic song received quite a bit of attention in 1999, as the follow up to Israel’s Eurovision-winning 1998 song, “Diva” by Dana International. The song placed fifth in Eurovision 1999 in Jerusalem.

Since 1999, Gavriel has remained active in the Israeli music scene, most notably recording and performing with Subliminal’s “TACT Family”. He recently joined the crew on stage as part of Subliminal and Hatzel’s reunion concerts, beginning in January 2023.

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We’re now one week away from the release of “Unicorn” by Noa Kirel. In the meantime, however, curiosity over Israel’s 2023 Eurovision entry is at a fever pitch.

The world will finally get to hear “Unicorn” in a special TV broadcast on March 8. But first, Noa and Kan Broadcasting released a tiny teaser of the song, in which you can – sort of – hear Noa listening to the song in headphones.

“Great song,” Noa says. “It’s a shame you can’t hear it.”

Noa keeps listening and begins humming along. That is, until she’s “scolded” by someone offstage. “Oopsie,” Noa replies.

What a tease.

Meanwhile, i24 News reports that “Unicorn” is already available online, leaked mostly on Whatsapp and Telegram channels. It appears to be authentic. “According to unnamed sources who have heard the released song,” i24 reports, “it was indeed ‘the song that Noa will perform, at most, minor changes have been made,’ although it was unclear whether the version was a mock-up or the final one.”

We’ll let you do your own investigation to find the leaked Eurovision Song Contest entry online (we couldn’t.). For the rest of us, we’ll just have to wait until March 8.

Eurovision 2023 begins on May 9 in Liverpool.

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Gali Atari – Ein Li Eretz AcheretAs we approach Israel’s 75th, the editors of “Yediot Achronot” newspaper wanted to know: What would Israeli citizens vote as the (unofficial) Song of the State? (Hint: it’s been quoted by Nancy Pelosi.)

Voters faced the difficult task of choosing between five finalists:

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) – the iconic love letter to Jerusalem, written by Naomi Shemer in the dark days leading up to the Six Day War
Ani V’ata (You and I) – the optimistic song of hope and unity, with music by Miki Gavrielov and lyrics by Arik Einstein
Halleluyah – winner of the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by “Chalav U’dvash” featuring Gali Atari
HaPerach B’gani (The Flower In My Garden) – Zohar Argov‘s most famous song, helping to bring “Mizrachi” music to the mainstream
Ein Li Eretz Acheret (I Have No Other Country) – by Gali Atari, with music by Corinne Allal and lyrics by Ehud Manor, written in response to Manor’s brother’s death during Israel’s War of Attrition.

And the winner is…The people have spoken: “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (I Have No Other Country) is the people’s choice for the most meaningful Israeli song of all time.

Hear Gali sing the song at the awards ceremony:

“I’m not surprised by this choice at this time,” said Atari, as quoted in Ynet. “I have to say that ‘I have no other country’ is a song that I think the entire State of Israel loves. All citizens in the State of Israel love it without exception. And this song always raises its head when something happens, difficulties in the country, a crisis. Like for example what is happening now, it raises its head again and is more relevant than ever. Thank you to all the voters. ‘The country’s song’, there is no greater honor than that.”

Gali Atari reacts to winning the honor of “Song of the State”When first released, the song was seen as a protest song against Israeli involvement in Lebanon, and over the years it was adopted by various protests. Arik Sinai was the original choice to perform the song, but he gave it up. Gali Atari then recorded it for the first time in 1986. Over the years it was also performed by Yizhar Cohen, the Binyamins and Manor himself.

It’s also one of the most quoted songs in Israel. Over the decades, politicians from across the spectrum have used its lyrics to drive a point home. It’s even made its way to America, where Nancy Pelosi quoted it speaking about the Capitol insurrection in January 2021.

הרגע הזה שננסי פלוסי, יו”ר בית הנבחרים האמריקאי, מצטטת את “המשורר הישראלי הגדול אהוד מנור” ומקריאה שורות מתוך “אין לי ארץ אחרת”.

חזק מאוד. pic.twitter.com/4Ws9Mi79Bb

— Yanir Cozin – יניר קוזין (@yanircozin) January 13, 2021

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Was 2013 actually TEN years ago? Crazy but true. It was the year of the Boston Marathon bombing, the 90th birthday of Shimon Peres, the passing of Arik Einstein…and Miley Cyrus teaching us how to ‘twerk’ on MTV. In music, however, Israelis were listening to Nathan Goshen, Keren Peles, Elai Botner, Idan Amedi, and many more. Join us as we take a musical trip back in time, and re-live the moments that made us smile, cry, and connect to Israel from ten years ago. (Original Air Date: January 22, 2023)

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סטטיק – לירז | Static – LirazA roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Static’s New Album – “Liraz”The big news this week? Static is out with his long-awaited solo album, his first effort ever since parting ways from Ben-El Tavori. And after conquering the country (and the world) as his alter-ego “Static”, he’s ready for the public to get to know his real identity, Liraz Russo. Static and a team of producers and creators “locked” themselves in a villa in Caesarea for a month, and are finally ready to unveil their creations.

The album contains deep and honest texts that reveal new sides of Static, with the idea that everyone already knows Static, but there is another whole side of Liraz that has not yet seen the light of day. Static: “I went through an extraordinary year full of bumps both personally and professionally. I got divorced twice [from his wife, Sarit Pollak, as well as from Ben-El] and it crushed me both as a person and as a musician. Everyone knows me from the beginning as part of a duo and suddenly there is no longer a duo. At the same time my relationship also collapsed and this made me realize that I have to take a step back…and to go out and discover Liraz and Static again, and that’s where the growth and creation came from.”

The album features collaborations with Eden Ben Zaken, Agam Buchbut, and Itay Levy, as well as nine additional songs from Static himself. Listen to the entire album here.

Yehuda Poliker – Mevulbal (Confused)יהודה פוליקר – מבולבל | 2. Yehuda Poliker – Mevulbal (Confused)In 1996, Michael Gerzon passed away at age 50. In addition to his work in math, physics, acoustics, and digital audio (he invented the first stereo microphone), he was also a gifted poet. Shortly after his passing, his friend Gilad Keren translated his poems into Hebrew. Yehuda Poliker took note and was moved by the poetry. He set many of the songs to music, and even recorded them in 2007. However, 16 years later, one of these recordings is finally seeing the light of day. In light of the division in Israel nowadays, Poliker felt that the lyrics now take on a whole new meaning.
“And if you think I have answers // it’s an illusion //
I’m confused confused confused // I’m looking for truth and I’ve found a lot //
But the illusion of truth is shattered // by a light breeze of reality..”
Eden Hason – Shuv (Return)עדן חסון – שוב | Eden Hason – Shuv (Return)Eden Hason begins 2023 as one of the most listened to singers in all of Israel. He topped the Spotify and Apple Music charts as the most-streamed artist of 2022, and shows no signs of slowing down. This soft, authentic new ballad, written by Eden himself, once again allows Eden to open up and share a piece of himself with his many fans.
Amir Benayoun – Shuv MeChadash (Starting Over Again)עמיר בניון – שוב מחדש | 4. Amir Benayun – Shuv MeChadash (Starting Over Again)Though the video just might make you a little dizzy, Amir Benayoun’s newest single is a return to his roots as he reunites with producer Shmulik Daniel. “20 years have passed since the release of his first album ‘Only You’,” the press release reads, “a significant milestone in his career and in Israeli music in general. Amir Benayoun’s songs capture hearts thanks to his unique voice, his delivery full of emotion, his unique sound and the moving lyrics. Amir Benayoun, an Israeli singer-songwriter, one of the most decorated and respected in Israeli music for years, releases a new single and returns to collaborate with music producer Shmulik Daniel, with whom he collaborated at the beginning of his career.” On May 11, Amir will celebrate his upcoming album with a special concert at Ampi Shuni in Binyamina.
Tamir Greenberg – Rosesתמיר גרינברג – Roses | Tamir Greenberg – RosesAn Israeli singer who sings ENTIRELY in English. That’s been the marketing strategy behind Tamir Greenberg – and it’s working. The former “HaKochav Haba” winner is enjoying a flurry of popularity in Israel over the past year, with a number of huge singles and many sold-out concerts behind him. Tamir wrote the words and melody for the new song, and is very excited to share it with the world. “The song ‘ROSES’ was written years ago,” Tamir writes, “and since then I have always looked for how to touch it and refine it, in the production, the arrangement, the text. Recently, everything has gathered and crystallized into the creation that I have been waiting to play for you for a very long time.”
Queenta Ensemble – ShoshanaQueenta Ensemble – KalaniyotOn March 23, Israeli musical diva Shoshana Damari would have turned 100 years old. She’s been gone since 2006, but her legacy lives on in a big way. Now, five accomplished female musicians breathe new life into her repertoire. While musician Chen Levy was working on the artistic direction of the inaugural “Queenta” Festival in Israel for female jazz, which included ensembles led by female musicians only, she watched Kobi Farange’s documentary film “Queen Shoshana” about Shoshana Damari. She discovered that Shoshana – the queen of Israeli music – actually had strong ties to the Jazz community overseas. Shoshana performed with Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra at the Canada Jazz Festival, and established a close relationship with another queen, Nina Simone. Chen decided that the Queenta Festival would center around the music of Shoshana Damari, with an album to follow. Listen to the entire album here, and read more of Chen’s story in The Jerusalem Post.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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In 2018, singing duo Yonina released “Shir Shel Boker”, a fun, upbeat song expressing gratitude for a new day and all the adventures that come along with it.

Now in 2023, the folks at the Jewish National Fund asked Yonina to translate the song to English for use in a promotional video. And the finished product will undoubtedly lift your spirits.

With a fun melody, uplifting words, and gorgeous imagery of a typical day in the life of the State of Israel, the video highlights all of JNF’s initiatives on behalf of the Jewish State.

According to the video, JNF is “creating new beginnings every day”.

Creating new beginnings for Olim and Ukrainian refugees
Opening new worlds to children of the Gaza envelope
Connecting Jewish youth to Israel every day
Helping our heroes save lives every day
Creating new employment opportunities
Delivering new agri-tech to farmers in remote regions
Bringing new quality of life to residents of the Negev
Empowering people with disabilities every day
Offering new hope at the first ever rehab center in the Negev
Building new facilities for sports and recreation
Providing remarkable healthcare every day
Creating a new future for students from Africa and Asia
Promoting tourism in the Galilee region every day
Supporting new communities in the north and south

Need a boost of inspiration, or a little help getting going in the morning? We think this video is the perfect pick-me-up to make your day better.

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אליעד – כתובה בספרים | Eliad – K’tuva BaSefarim (Written In the Books)A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Eliad – K’tuva BaSefarim (Written In the Books)Don’t you love it when Israeli culture and Jewish culture intersect? With references to “Shir HaShirim”, the Song of Songs, Eliad moves us as always with his brand new ballad. With Israel’s increasing embrace of Valentine’s Day, perhaps this song came out just in time to set the mood for the romantic occasion?
Bar Tzabari & Micha Shitrit – Gulot (Marbles)בר צברי ומיכה שטרית – גולות‎‎ | Bar Tzabari & Micha Shitrit – Gulot (Marbles)This new song, with lyrics written by Bar Tzabari himself, longs for the simpler days Bar remembers from childhood. “Many times I feel that the world is running forward and I stay put,” Bar writes. “The pace is different, youth, the media, the songs, the music, the technology. I am connected to the present and miss what was….The song was written about a great longing for the simplicity that used to be, when we looked more with our eyes and less on screens….From the moment we started recording the song, I imagined Micha joining in telling my feelings with his voice and his perspective. Micha for me is a music school. The best creator and musician we’ve had here since forever, and above all an amazing person that I welcome the privilege of singing this song with.”
Yardena Arazi & Mikiagi – Shneinu (The Two of Us)ירדנה ארזי ומיקיאגי – שנינו. Yardena Arazi & Mikiagi – Shneinu (The Two of Us)Another song released in time for Valentine’s Day (since when did Valentine’s Day become such a big deal in Israel), this new song is part of Yardena Arazi’s upcoming album consisting entirely of musical collaborations. For “Shneinu”, Arazi partnered with Mikiagi, lead singer of the iconic “Noar Shulayim” band of the 80s. For two veteran Israeli singers who have been doing their thing for many decades, they sound pretty good, no?
Carakukly – Ma’adim (Mars)כרקוקלי – מאדים‎‎ | Carakukly – Ma’adim (Mars)Yet another song released in time for Valentine’s Day: “I’ve already sung songs about a breakup
/ So I wrote a love song here / In the end it’s me and you” read the lyrics of “Ma’adim” the new song by the Carakukly sisters. “A huge hit from the creation studio of Carakukly, the coolest and most fascinating female musicians in Israeli music,” reads the press release that accompanies the new song. “The two made the music video by chance with their best friend Amit Slickter. When they came to shoot the cover of the single and found an old camera, they decided it was worth recording the moment.” Ever wonder what Liron and Tal Carakukly look like upside down? We didn’t think so. But you’ll enjoy nearly three minutes of that view in their new music video.
Eliav Zohar – Etzli (With Me)אליאב זוהר – אצלי | Eliav Zohar – Etzli (With Me)If you’re a fan of Eliav Zohar, the most recent winner of “HaKochav Haba”, you’re already familiar with his new song “Etzli”. That’s because he performed this original song on the hit reality show, as well as part of every concert he’s played since. Now, the help of producer Shmulik Daniel, he’s ready to share it with the world. Eliav had two big hits with his songs “Michal” and “Shedim BaEinayim”, and we have no reason to think he’s slowing down any time soon.
Gali Atari – KsheHalev Hu Chofshi (When the Heart Is Free)גלי עטרי – כשהלב הוא חופשי | Gali Atari – KsheHalev Hu Chofshi (When the Heart Is Free)For many years, Gali Atari has worked closely with the late Yitzchak Klepter, who passed away in December, 2022. In fact, nearly every one of her albums includes a song written by Klepter. Apparently, there’s room for one more collaboration between the two. “After Yitzchak Klepter’s passing, I felt that his last word had not yet been spoken, as far as I was concerned,” Gali writes. The guitar solo on the new song was performed in Klepter’s unique style, and Yitzchak’s voice even makes a guest appearance here. “At the end of the song, there is an authentic piece of singing by Yitzchak and me together when I heard it for the first time at his house. Thinking of you, singing with you. Thanks, Yitzchak.”
Mika Moshe – Chazaka Yoter (Stronger)מיקה משה – חזקה יותר | Mika Moshe – Chazaka Yoter (Stronger)Mika Moshe, the 15-year-old powerhouse mentored by Miri Mesika on “Beit Sefer L’muzika” (Music School) in 2020, is out with a new song of strength and determination. “Chazaka Yoter” (Stronger) is Inspired by Mika’s thoughts and experiences as a high school student in Kfar Bloom. While Mika doesn’t write her own songs, she apparently is very involved in all aspects of the creative process – emerging as a strong voice for the young people of Israel.
Kobi Aflalo – Kama Pashut (How Simple)קובי אפללו – כמה פשוט | Kobi Aflalo – Kama Pashut (How Simple)Not long ago, Kobi Aflalo made news in Israel by speaking out against vulgar lyrics in Israeli music. Seems he struck a chord among some folks, and his profile has been raised in Israel ever since. So he’s been busy lately, and seemingly enjoying every minute. This new song takes Kobi closer to his Moroccan roots. According to the accompanying press release, it’s “the kind of song that only one listen is enough to get addicted to. Full volume, please.”
Itay Levy – Chatzi Ben Adam (Half A Man)איתי לוי – חצי בן אדם | Itay Levy – Chatzi Ben Adam (Half A Man)Currently delighting audiences in the stage production of “Kazablan”, Itay Levy is enjoying a deep connection with his audience who keeps coming back for more. Welcome to “Chatzi Ben Adam”, Itay’s newest single written and produced by Dolly and Penn. “The single ‘Chatzi Ben Adam’ tells about couples who balance each other; each of them is a much bigger half that symbolizes the relationship between them,” Itay writes. “Recently a lot of things are happening in my life that move me very much, I am full of action and gratitude for what exists….I recently celebrated my 35th birthday, and there is no better way to enter a new year in my life than with a new song. Hope you like this song and get excited about it like I do.”
Shlomo Gronich – Kacha Zeh Achshav (That’s How It Is Now)שלמה גרוניך – ככה זה עכשיו | 10. Shlomo Gronich – Kacha Zeh Achshav (That’s How It Is Now)Shlomo Gronich has been largely out of the spotlight lately, but he clearly has more songs to sing. His newest, a beautiful ballad called “Kacha Zeh Achshav” seems to be autobiographical; a soul-searching of sorts: “I was a boy and I was also old. Music filled my life. Now I need one more touch of love, one more melody before I continue to Mount Moriah to meet God’s face.” Let’s hope Shlomo offers many, many more melodies during his time on this earth.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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Last Thursday (February 9), Shlomo Artzi performed in front of a full house at Binyanei Ha’uma in Jerusalem. But an eight-year-old named Ben Karaso became the true star of the show.

As Shlomo sang “Melech HaOlam”, Ben and his mother were spotted dancing in the aisle. Moments later, producers decided their choreography was too good to ignore – so they decided to feature them on the giant screen behind Shlomo. As the audience cheered them on, Shlomo himself turned around to watch as he finished the song.

Watch the video:

“There were quite a few exciting moments at the concert at Binyanei Ha’uma in Jerusalem on Thursday, but it seems to us that this moment surpassed them all,” Shlomo Artzi’s Facebook page reads. “Watch the boy who captivated the audience in ‘King of the World.'”

Meet Ben Karaso, viral dancing sensation.Since the concert, we’ve learned that Ben lives in Ramat HaSharon, dances in a dance troupe, and plays the piano.

Interviewed by Walla, Ben seemed to love every minute. “The audience noticed and the cameraman noticed. Then suddenly they put me on the screen. Mom suddenly says to me, ‘Ben, look at the screen!’. I look and say: ‘What?!’. I was shocked. The audience told Shlomo: You have a guest. People in the audience called me ‘king’ and my mother ‘queen’.

“At the end they actually asked me for an autograph,” Ben continued. “We just wanted to dance. I really enjoyed myself, I left really happy and I was really overwhelmed. I said thank you very much to my parents and everyone who encouraged me afterwards. I was very excited. I had fun”.

The Walla article also shares some interesting details about Ben’s connection with Shlomo Artzi:

“‘My grandfather and Shlomo Artzi’s father came to Israel on the same ship and became friends,’ Ben reveals to us, and also wrote thanks on his mother’s Facebook account on Artzi’s Facebook page: ‘I want to thank you for your lovely show. I was really happy that my parents brought me to see you. Now I understand why they like your songs so much.'”

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A weekly look into the best performances on live Israeli radio. Some of the best musical performances you’ll hear are brought to you on radio stations throughout Israel, as artists visit to promote their latest single, album, or upcoming performance. So what’s new this week? Read on.

Itay Levy on GalgalatzYou know how sometimes when an artist sings, you can tell that they really FEEL the song in their kishkes? Well, Itay Levy is one of those great artists. In the video above, Itay covers a song by Bar Tzabari called “HaPerek Haba”, and does it quite nicely. Prepare to be moved.

Eden Me’iri on Eco99fmAny Eden Me’iri fans in the house? You’ll love his rendition of “HaDerech HaBayta” (The Way Home) by Pe’er Tassi. Eden actually co-wrote the lyrics to this song, so it only makes sense that we get to hear him covering the song.

Noam Kleinstein on GalgalatzShe’s a brand new aunt (her sister Meshi just welcomed a new son) with a brand new album! For the past few years, Noam Kleinstein has been releasing songs into the Israeli music universe, and now she’s ready to compile them into her very first album. To mark the occasion, Noam (daughter of Rami and Rita) stopped by the Galgalatz studios for a 40-minute concert, provided here for your viewing pleasure. Don’t miss her cool acapella number “Shir T’filla”, beginning at 23:07.

E-Z on Radios 100FMYou should know that Milog translates “Gushfanka” as “1. Official stamp, seal; 2. Confirmation from an authorized or official source”. You should also know that Israeli rapper E-Z has been turning heads lately, after releasing his funky collaboration with Noa Kirel with the above title. Well, Noa didn’t accompany him to the Moshiko Stern show on Radios, but E-Z did a good job singing the song on his own. Although we would have loved to see Noa join in the fun, this version is fun, too.

Danny Bassan on GalgalatzJust before heading to the USA for a concert in Boston, Dani Bassan played a mini-concert in the Jaffa studios of Galgalatz. The lead singer of T-slam sang a number of well-known hits, such as “Shir L’shalom”, “Darkeinu”, “D’varim She’ratziti Lomar” and many more.

Netta Barzilai and Stephane Legar on GalgalatzNetta and Stephane have been making the rounds lately to promote their new collaboration. Their partnership brings to mind another duo who recently joined forces: Rema and Selena Gomez, whose hit “Calm Down” has been a global sensation lately. Can Netta and Stephane do the song justice? Our vote is a resounding “yes”.

Seen any great live performances lately on Israeli radio? Send ’em over to us!

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Noa Tishby (Wikipedia) / Rihanna (Screen Capture)Rihanna has earned praise for her head-turning comeback performance at this year’s Super Bowl. But Israeli singer/model/activist Noa Tishby was not happy with the show.

“Did Rihanna have to play a Kanye song during the Super Bowl Halftime Show?” Tishby wrote on Twitter. She accompanied the tweet with a video, in which she went into further detail.

Did @rihanna have to play a #Kanye song during the #SuperBowl #HalftimeShow? pic.twitter.com/oo5DdPozpw

— (((noa tishby))) (@noatishby) February 13, 2023

“Rihanna has so many hit songs,” she said. “Did she have to do a Kanye song? Did she have to? Because, the thing is if a pop artist would have said that they’re going ‘death con 3’ on any other ethnicity, let alone everything else that he’s said, they would have been canceled, and not played at the Super Bowl.”

“So again,” she concluded, “Jews don’t count.”

Tishbi was referring to Rihanna’s inclusion of the song “All of the Lights”, from West’s 2010 album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy“ on which she sang. Tishby’s tweet and video generated more than a million views in 24 hours.

According to Newsweek, Noa Tishby wasn’t the only one to speak out:

“A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism told Newsweek that, ‘Rihanna’s inclusion of a Kanye West song on one of the biggest stages in the world is grossly insensitive.’

“The spokesperson added: ‘It was only a couple of months ago that West said that he wanted to go ‘defcon 3’ on the Jews and denied the Holocaust. This is not a man who deserves such a glamorous platform.

“This is a blunder for Rhianna and her handlers, and they must make clear that they do not wish audiences worldwide to associate her with West and his vile views.'”

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(Image: Moshe Shai/FLASH90)Our listeners pick their favorite Israeli songs! This time, we’ll meet Leeaht Guzi, who has put together an amazing playlist for your listening pleasure. Leeaht lives in Washington DC with her husband, Amir, moving there after completing her Masters in Government in Israel. She works at a nuclear innovation startup as Director of External Affairs. Growing up with Israeli parents in California, Leeaht spent her summers with her grandparents in the suburbs of Haifa, which cultivated a lifelong love of Israeli music. You’ll love getting to know Leeaht, and you’ll love singing along to her favorite songs! (Original Air Date: January 8, 2023)

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שירי מימון – אמא | Shiri Maimon – Ima (Mother)A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about this weekend. Buckle up…’cause we’ve got a whole lot of ’em this Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

Shiri Maimon – Ima (Mother)Mazal Tov to Shiri Maimon, new mom to her third child, a daughter born on January 29, 2023. In honor of this special milestone, Shiri wasted no time releasing a new song saluting the brave moms of the world. “The song describes exactly how I feel these days”, Shiri wrote on social media. “I became a mother of three, do you understand? Cause I don’t. 🙂 How many tears do I hide… Every single one of them – a whole world unto itself. I have created a life.
The words describe the strength, the quiet power, the crises and our being a solid rock. Mothers.
I want to dedicate this song to you, the lionesses and heroines who sacrifice their bodies and souls to create miracles every day anew. Every mother – will understand.”
Redband & Odeya – Wanna Be Yours (Arctic Monkeys Cover)Redband & Odeya – Wanna be yours (Arctic Monkeys Cover)Unexpected duet of the week #1: It’s pretty amazing how many artists collaborate with Redband, a wacky group of musical puppets. First, well, they’re puppets. Second, their lead singer only speaks and sings in English. In any event, they’ve created some pretty darn good music with some of Israel’s biggest stars. The latest is Odeya, who is quickly becoming a big deal in Israel. Problem is, it’s pretty hard to understand her in English. Comprehensibility aside, the new song is a nice cover of the “Arctic Monkeys” song, “I Wanna Be Yours”.
Arik Sinai & Rotem Cohen – HaShir HaZeh Nichtav Achshav Alayich (This Song Is Now Written About You)אריק סיני & רותם כהן – השיר הזה נכתב עכשיו עלייך | Arik Sinai & Rotem Cohen – HaShir HaZeh Nichtav Achshav Alayich (This Song Is Now Written About You)Unexpected duet of the week #2: Two generations, one message: love is eternal. “This is a vulnerable love song that represents masculinity In its true strength,” the artists write, “to give up the ego in order to be able to truly love and understand that romance has no time and no place.” The song was written by Tal Segev, who brought the two men together: Arik Sinai, as a mature man who has always been considered a romantic; and Rotem Cohen, who has become the Israeli symbol of the “new romantic”. Want an English translation of the song. We’ve got you covered.
Mosh Ben Ari & Aviv Bachar – Ad She’yaavor Za’am (Until Anger Passes)Unexpected duet of the week #3: Two great songwriters, one exciting collaboration. This is the first in a series of songs co-written by Mosh and Aviv, with a full album scheduled to drop in March. A special concert is planned for April 9 at Ampi Shuni in Binyamina. So if you like this song (and we think you will), get ready for many more!

Sarit Hadad – Mikol HaAhavot (Of All The Loves)שרית חדד – מכל האהבות | Sarit Hadad – Mikol HaAhavot (Of All The Loves)Who doesn’t love this classic song by the Idan Raichel Project from 2005? Originally made famous by Maya Avraham on Idan’s second album, the song remains a huge part of the Israeli soundtrack ever since. Sarit Hadad clearly loves it too, and decided to put her own spin on the song. Sarit: “A few years ago I sang it together with [Idan] Raichel as part of a performance and since then it has stayed with me. I always knew that I would make my own version of it someday. Two months ago Raichel and I met again and sang it together on the piano, and again I felt the same moment from a few years ago.
This time I decided you should hear it too… and it’s your turn to dedicate it to your loved ones.” Sing along!

Avraham Tal – Tzalakot BaAsphalt (Scars in the Asphalt)אברהם טל – צלקות באספלט | Avraham Tal – Tzalakot BaAsphalt (Scars in the Asphalt)Avraham Tal returns with a poignant and painful song, a straight look at current Israeli reality and complexity. As he explains it: “Did you know that during the destruction of the Second Temple, the Romans came outside the walls of Jerusalem, and just before breaking in, they realized that we would destroy ourselves in a civil war between us? So it was. They besieged the city walls for several months, we fought each other, and then in an instant they overwhelmed us. We still haven’t internalized the message and here history is repeating itself. When will we learn? We cannot win any battle as long as we are divided. Everything that is happening here now burns inside me. We must unite and become stronger as a nation, as people who want to live a quiet and safe life in our wonderful country.”
Shimon Buskila – Prachim BaShamayim (Flowers In the Sky)שמעון בוסקילה – פרחים בשמיים | Shimon Buskila – Prachim BaShamayim (Flowers In the Sky)Have we featured a breakup song this week? Well, now we have, albeit an upbeat one. Shimon Buskila, who keeps sounding better and better with each new song, delivers a new single called “Flowers in the Sky”. The song depicts an unrequited breakup, and the intense desire of all of us for love.
Victoria Hanna – Pich Im Pi (aka Birds and a Cherry)Victoria Hanna – Pich Im Pi | ויקטוריה חנה – פיך עם פי – ציפורים ודובדבןPerhaps best known for teaching us the Alef-Bet in a fun and unusual way, Victoria Hanna is back. This time, she’s celebrating Chaim Nachman Bialik on what would have been his 150th birthday. Victoria arranges Bialik’s words into song as only she can. Would Chaim have approved if he was here to see it? You decide.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

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Ninet Tayeb on GalgalatzIt’s definitely one of the the hottest new songs blaring on Israeli radios, and Ninet woke up early to sing it live. Morning gal Hadar Marks welcomed Ninet Tayeb to the Galgalatz studios to perform her hot new song, “Ma Yihiyeh Itach” (What Will Be With You) – video above.

While she was there, she also belted out one of her earliest hits, “Hee Yoda’at” (She Knows).

As you may recall, it was only a few months ago that Shiri Maimon covered the very same song in the very same studio, shortly after turned heads by singing the song on “Hakochav Haba”.

Sharon Haziz on Eco99fmIt’s been a while since we’ve heard from Sharon Haziz, a mainstay of Israeli radio in the 90s and early 2000s. But Sharon is back on the scene with her a new song. Eco99fm recently welcomed Sharon onto their air, where she covered “Mila Tova” (A Good Word) by Yehudit Ravitz. (By the way, if you haven’t heard Sharon’s new song “Nisheret Levad”, you can check it out below.)

Mooki on Radios 100 FMMooki is in the house! He stopped by the Moshiko Stern show on 100 FM, entertaining the audience with two songs. First, “Mah She’over Alai” (What’s Coming Over Me), one of his latest, and second, “Elohim”, by now a classic Mooki song:

Seen any great live performances lately on Israeli radio? Send ’em over to us!

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On April 29, 2023, Israeli rock band Mashina will celebrate 40 years of the band’s existence in the famed Caesarea Amphitheater.

Then, on June 1, 2023, they’re bringing the exact same show to the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Arguably the most successful rock band in Israel’s history, Mashina is responsible for a long list of hit songs that continue to withstand the test of time in Israeli music history. Now they’re getting ready to celebrate their success, with two big shows in two big cities.

Their fans can’t wait. The famous all-things-entertainment magazine “Variety” interviewed Mashina’s lead singer Yuval Banai, breaking the news about the upcoming show in New York City.

“We decided it was time. We’re in great shape, and we’ve been getting hints from the huge Israeli community in the New York area that they miss us,” says Banai, as quoted in “Variety”.

“We’re celebrating 40 years of friendship, of creativity and of performing,” Banai continues in the article. “The show touches on our entire career, starting chronologically with our first song and ending with our most recent. It’s the best of the best of the best. It touches on all of our signposts and it’s big, long and enjoyable. We’re 60 but we’re at our peak.”

If you’re thinking this is gonna be good, well, we think so too. Here’s how to get tickets:

Mashina in New York CityThursday, June 1, 2023
8:00 pm
Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway @ 74th St, New York, NY

What’s it like to see Mashina on stage? Here’s a taste of their performance from a previous Caesarea show.

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דויד ברוזה – La Mujer Que Yo Quiero | David Broza – The Woman With MeA roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about this weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!

David Broza – La Mujer Que Yo QuieroIn 1983, David Broza released “HaIsha She’iti” (The Woman With Me): a selection of Spanish songs translated into Hebrew by Yonatan Geffen. The album was a huge success, catapulting David into stardom in Israel. Now, in honor of the album’s 40th anniversary, David returned to Spain to record nine of these songs in their original Spanish, all played on solo guitar as only David Broza can. “I had to practice the original language and find my voice and the personal delivery of each and every song,” David writes. “Only after I finished the recordings did I realize what a metamorphosis I went through in the preparations for the recording. I was determined to record all the songs in one day and in one sequence. The recording took nine consecutive hours without a break and it took me a few days to calm down from the intensity in the studio.”
Aviv Geffen V’hata’uyot – Maki’ah Et HaYofi (Throwing Up Beauty)אביב גפן והתעויוט – מקיאה את היופי | Aviv Geffen – Throwing Up BeautyLiterally called “Vomitting Beauty”, this new song tackles a problem that Aviv Geffen believes doesn’t attract nearly enough attention. “This is a silent and biggest addiction that is rarely talked about,” Aviv writes. “[The song] was written after I found myself visiting hospitals too many times encouraging girls and boys who suffer from eating problems – and of course broken families around them who live in constant worry. This sad phenomenon is part of the signs of the times when the digital world and social networks emphasize beauty and thinness and the “good life”. It also leaves leaves victims light years away from their soul.”
Ivri Lider – Mapat HaKe’ev (Map of the Pain)עברי לידר – מפת הכאב | Ivri Lider – Mapat HaKe’ev (Map of the Pain)One night, Ivri Lider woke up after – literally – dreaming a song. He ran to the studio and quickly wrote and sang the song he dreamt. And so, “Mapat HaKe’ev” was born. Not only did Ivri write the music and lyrics, but also took all of the photos in the video. “Each of us has our own private pain map,” writes Ivri.
“A map full of paths of emotions, personal landmarks of the heart. Topographical layers of moments, people and places that unite into one human document. This map, if we agree to look at it, will lead us between happiness and joy, sadness and loneliness, people and memories. It will lead us to ourselves.”
Eden Me’iri – Lo Sama Lev (She Didn’t Notice)Eden Me’iri has been very busy lately. Without checking the stats, it feels as if he’s got a new single coming out on a very regular basis. His latest was written and composed by Eden himself, together with Yanon Yahal and Shai Pinto who are responsible for many successful hits in recent years.

Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!

The post New Israeli Music Friday: 2.3.23 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Netta Barzilai and Stephane Legar on Radios 100FMNetta and Stephane, probably the wackiest personalities on the Israeli music scene today, recently joined forces for a new song called “Matematica” (Math). They paid a visit to Moshiko Stern on Radios 100FM to present their new song (video above).

While in the studio, however, they took the opportunity to sing some solo hits as well.

Here’s Stephane Legar singing “After Ima’leh”, a song on which he originally collaborated with Itay Levy.

And Netta belted out one of her most powerful songs to date, “I Love My Nails”:

Tipex on GalgalatzKobi Oz and Tipex joined Hadar Marks on Galgalatz recently. They took a few of their most popular songs of all time and updated them for 2023. The result is pretty darn funny, and delivered as only Kobi Oz can.

Elai Botner & Yaldei HaChutz on Eco99fmWhoa, this one is gorgeous. One of our all-time favorite Ivri Lider songs…one that makes us emotional every time we hear it, covered beautifully by Elai Botner, Adar Gold, Ohad Shragai, and Tom Geffen, aka Elai Botner and Yaldep HaChutz. It’s “Mishehu Pa’am” as you’ve never heard it before. Chills.

Eliav Zohar on Radios 100FMHe won this past season of “HaKochav Haba”, he’s had a few hit songs since, and now he’s making the radio rounds to ensure he remains a household name. Our final video of the week features Eliav Zohar covering one of Arkadi Duchin‘s most famous songs, “Mi Ohev Otach Yoter Mimeni” (Who Loves You More Than I Do).

Omri Smadar on GalgaltzNope, we’ve never heard of him either. But Galgalatz hosted him and his band for 30 minutes of live, mostly instrumental music – with a few fairly interesting musical instruments thrown in here and there. His song “Didgital” (at 6:52) in particular is pretty darn cool.

Seen any great live performances lately on Israeli radio? Send ’em over to us!

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(Image: Moshe Shai/FLASH90)Happy New Year! 2022 was another great year for Israeli music. Recorded on the very first day of 2023, this week’s podcast looks back at the very best of the past 12 months. What were the biggest musical stories? Who were the breakout stars of the year? What songs can’t you get out of your head? We’ll explore all that and more this week on Israel Hour Radio. But tell us…what were YOUR memorable musical moments of 2022? (Original Air Date: January 1, 2023)

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It’s been a while since we’ve heard Noa Kirel singing in English. But with her new hit “Gone”, it’s clear her international career is heating up.

Sponsored by Peugeot Israel, the new music video is all-Noa, all the time. This time, she’s left the backup dancers behind, for a video that shines the spotlight entirely on Noa.

Her voice is getting better and better with every new song. But Noa’s dancing? Well, let’s just say her impressive footwork is on full display, along with a few gravity-defying moments that make the video fun to watch.

As Noa Kirel fights to become a major player on the international music scene, she’s attracted the attention of People Magazine for this new single. She gave People a behind-the-scenes photo tour of “Gone”, chronicling the making of the new video.

Mako reports that “Gone” was filmed in Warsaw, Poland. The price tag for flights, accommodations, staff, production costs, and more? One million shekels.

The production team was equally impressive. Among the writers of the song is Michael Pollack, who recently worked with Maroon 5 in “Memories”, Justin Bieber in “Holy”, Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus in “Prisoner” and more.

The song was produced by “Monsters & Strangers”, who worked with Justin Bieber on “Ghost”, and with Selena Gomez on her latest song “My Mind & Me” from her documentary.

After “Please Don’t Suck”, “Bad Little Thing”, and “Thought About That” – not to mention Noa’s participation in Eurovision 2023 – could “Gone” be the hit that propels Noa Kirel to international stardom? Time will tell.

The post Noa Kirel Stuns In New English Language Hit, “Gone” appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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It’s that time again…time to look back at the biggest and best new Israeli songs of the month. November 2022 certainly didn’t disappoint! This month, we feature new Israeli music by some of your favorites – including TWO new songs from Idan Raichel (one is a collab with Omer Adam!), a duet from Shlomo Artzi and Keren Peles, a Gidi Gov interpretation of a Randy Newman song, plus new tunes from the Shalva Band, Roni Dalumi, Benaia Barabi, and many more! (Original Air Date: December 11, 2022)

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They put rap music on the map in Israel. From 2001-2006, their politically charged sound was a major part of the Israeli soundtrack. And we haven’t seen them together on stage in a very long time.

But now, Subliminal V’Hatzel (the Shadow) are back.

In late 2022, the duo announced a pair of reunion shows, taking place in Tel Aviv on January 21 and 22, 2023. And to help us remember why we loved them so much, the duo released a brand new song on January 10.

From the press release:

“Just before the joint show at Menorah Hall [in Tel Aviv] and 15 years since they released a joint song, Subliminal and the Shadow are joining forces and releasing today for the first time a new single that will make us all raise our hands in the air.

“Next week Subliminal and the Shadow will make history on stage at Menorah Hall!
And they will perform a historic show on the 360-degree stage at Menorah Hall – on January 21-22, 2023. Finally, after a disconnect of more than a decade, Subliminal and the Shadow join forces and raise Menorah Hall, ensuring the show that everyone is waiting for. Subliminal and the shadow, with the TACT Family, in a huge show, full of emotion, rhythm, joy and soul – with the songs that became the soundtrack of our lives in the Land of Israel.”

What are your memories of Subliminal V’hatzel? What do you think of their new collaboration?

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Meet Jason Hecht of Chandler, Arizona: avid Israeli dancer, pinball fanatic, and all-around fun guy. He’s also a very active member of our Israeli Music Community, and jumped at the chance to present a playlist of his all-time favorite songs on Israel Hour Radio! Most of Jason’s song choices are inspired by Israeli dances he’s learned throughout his life, and his playlist is colored by the many stories that are a part of his musical journey. Join Josh and Jason for a joyous hour with a jolly playlist! (Original Air Date: December 4, 2022)

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Did you know that gratitude is good for your health? Studies show that people who practice daily gratitude tend to be healthier, spend less time in hospitals, and exercise more. Do you get the same benefits if you listen to SONGS of gratitude? Let’s find out with this special Thanksgiving-inspired playlist. In this episode, we also speak with Yann Selka, an insanely-talented YouTuber who brings creativity, humor, and so much more to Israeli music. If you didn’t know his name before, you’ll be grateful to meet him now. THANK YOU for listening to Israel Hour Radio! (Original Air Date: November 27, 2022)

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH YANN SELKA ON YOUTUBE:

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By now, it’s pretty well-known that Noa Kirel will represent Israel in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. But now, she’s also representing YES, one of Israel’s largest cable TV / internet providers.

A new commercial for YES features Noa rubbing elbows with some pretty big names in Israeli Eurovision history, including Sara’la Sharon (Eurovision 1993), Dana International (Eurovision 1998 and 2011), Kobi Marimi (Eurovision 2019), and Izhar Cohen (Eurovision 1978).

Eurovision 2023 will take place May 5-13 in Liverpool.

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On November 20, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat touched down in Israel and addressed the Knesset. To many, this day marked the beginnings of the fulfillment of a dream… the dream of peace in the Middle East. 45 years later, that dream has come even closer to fruition, with several other Arab countries now enjoying normalization with the State of Israel. To mark this historic anniversary, Israel Hour Radio presents an hour of songs about dreams. Can Israeli music make your dreams come true? Probably not… but these songs CAN inspire us to never stop dreaming. (Original Air Date: November 20, 2022)

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The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1139: All I Have To Do Is Dream appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Ready to party like it’s 1999? Israel Hour Radio takes you back to a year that saw the invention of Napster, the Euro, Spongebob, Bluetooth, and fears of Y2K. But in Israeli music, we were much more interested in Sarit Hadad, Rita, Shlomo Artzi, and Eyal Golan. Let’s take a trip back to 1999 in […]

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On this week’s edition of “Timeless Tunes on Tuesday”, we go all the way back to where we began…1969! Each week, we’ll look back at some of the best songs of each year, beginning in 1969 and heading all the way to 2022! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gZlwvfzLIr/ Like the show? Please help us grow! […]

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Got a case of the Mondays? We’ve got the cure! Three words: NEW. ISRAELI. MUSIC. Hear it all hear first, discuss it with the community, SMILE, repeat. WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gY4m7p1Ji2/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a member of MyIsraeliMusic.com: https://myisraelimusic.com/membership Shopping on Amazon? Use this link, […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 21, 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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While Thursday is usually our “Artist Spotlight” day, we were unable to be with you yesterday…and if we wait too long to bring you this week’s NEW Israeli music, it will all pile up and some will definitely fall through the cracks. And we wouldn’t want that, would we? WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gX-Sk5ZGxA/ Like […]

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On today’s edition of “Timeless Tunes on Tuesday”, we take you all the way back to the founding of the State of Israel nearly 75 years ago. Let’s listen together to the music of 1948! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gQbVY1oMkv/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a member of MyIsraeliMusic.com: […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 15, 2022 (1948 Special) appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Your New Israeli Music Monday starts NOW…with new stuff by Shiri Maimon, Matti Caspi, Sarit Hadad, Noa Kirel, and more…including a musical celebration of Rami Kleinstein’s 60th birthday! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gOzUH3HwDu/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a member of MyIsraeliMusic.com: https://myisraelimusic.com/membership Shopping on Amazon? Use this […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 14, 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Today we take a deep dive into the music and fun of “Quinta VaChetzi” – an amazing Israeli acapella group that always makes it look easy. Watch and smile! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gJyCimzVbZ/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a member of MyIsraeliMusic.com: https://myisraelimusic.com/membership Shopping on […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 10, 2022 (Quinta and a Half Special) appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Idan Raichel will appear live in concert in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston in November 2022. In honor of his upcoming shows in the USA, Idan sat down with Israel Hour Radio host Josh Shron to discuss his career, his busy schedule during Coronavirus, the making of some HUGE songs, his upcoming […]

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The best NEW Israeli music awaits! Join us for an up-to-the-minute look into the Israeli music scene of 2022, accompanied by some of the coolest music fans anywhere. It all combines to create a fun, inspiring, immersive musical experience! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gHQreRHx91/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 9, 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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We recently had the exciting opportunity to sit down with Idan Raichel, one of the most successful and beloved artists in Israel for the past 20 years. We asked of about his life, his experiences during Coronavirus, his submission for the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, the making of “Shevet Achim VaAchayot“, his upcoming US Tour, […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1137: The Magic of Idan Raichel appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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TIMELESS TUNES ON TUESDAY: Every Tuesday, we take you back to the Israeli music of yesteryear, to help us understand how Israeli culture has morphed throughout the decades. This week: welcome to Israeli music, circa 1949! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gHssIGQtky/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a member […]

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Another Monday? Well, if there’s a proven way to turn a Monday from “sigh” to “yay!”…this is it. Brand new Israeli music has the mysterious power to improve your day in the most wonderful ways. Try it! WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gFjX2l9-qY/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become a […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 7, 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Amidst the Jewish holidays and Israel’s latest round of political campaigning, the Jewish State still managed to find time to release some exceptional musical entertainment! This week, your favorite Israeli music podcast presents the best new Israeli songs of September and October 2022, with a long list of your favorite singers. Should we drop a […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1136: New Israeli Music – September/October 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Who’s ready for the weekend? We’ll help you ease into Shabbat with the perfect blend of Israeli music. Today: we remember Yitchak Rabin on the 27th anniversary of his assassination…play music related to this week’s Torah portion…and of course, our Friday Finale. All with the help of our live studio audience. Shabbat Shalom from My […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 4, 2022 appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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It’s Election Day in Israel – again – with candidates vying for the chance to become Israel’s next Prime Minister. Which got us thinking…how many Israeli songs can we find about becoming the Prime Minister? Well, seven, apparently… WATCH TODAY’S EPISODE ON FACEBOOK:https://fb.watch/gxeWr5C7y8/ Like the show? Please help us grow! Show your support and become […]

The post My Israeli Music Live – November 1, 2022 (Israeli Election Day Special) appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Our August Chagigot are in full swing, and this week, we’ll do our best to help you wake and smell the coffee (or tea) with our Chagigat Shirei Cafe V’teh! Israelis are obsessed with their coffee, and clearly love to sing about it. Thanks to our wonderful community, we’ve come up with an hour of […]

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On August 14, 2022, we awoke to the sad reality of a world without Tzvika Pick, who passed away earlier that day at the age of 72. Within minutes, we at Israel Hour Radio scrambled to pull together more than a dozen of Tzvika’s greatest compositions, both sung by him and by other Israeli musical […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1127: Shalom, Tzvika appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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As we get closer to Tisha B’av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, our tradition encourages us to think sad thoughts. But here at Israel Hour Radio, our job is to uplift you, not depress you! So this week, rather than playing ‘sad’ songs, we’re sharing an hour of songs about sadness, and they […]

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In 1982: Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time…’E.T.’ becomes one of the highest-grossing films of all time…and Israel releases some of the best songs of all time! What did Israeli music sound like 40 years ago? It sounded pretty darn good, actually. Take a walk down memory lane and […]

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Ready to party like it’s 1948? Israel’s 74th may be behind us, but the celebration continues today and every day! We’re celebrating the miracle of the modern State of Israel with a collection of songs released specifically for Yom HaAtzmaut throughout the years. Especially since the birth of YouTube, Israeli singers have worked hard to […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1120: Your 2022 Yom HaAtzmaut Party Soundtrack appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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The weeks after Passover are an emotional roller coaster in Israel, taking us on a gut-wrenching journey from the lowest depths to the highest highs. It all begins this week with Yom HaShoa – Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to remind us of the greatest tragedy the Jewish people have suffered in history. While the […]

The post Israel Hour Radio – Episode #1119: Remembering the Holocaust Through Israeli Music appeared first on MyIsraeliMusic.com.

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Snow? Ice? Frigid temperatures? Though these things do occur from time to time in Israel, they are rare. This time of year, however, Israelis do see quite a bit of rain – and rather than a nuisance, it is seen as a blessing. Apparently, they like to sing about it too! So this week on […]

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After nearly two long years, Israel is officially open once again! Josh didn’t waste a moment in buying tickets for himself and his family, and boy, was it good to be back! This week, we present the tunes heard throughout his recent trip, experienced mostly from the driver’s seat of a rental car. What’s blaring […]

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Even if you’ve never heard the name Yoram Taharlev, you’ve definitely heard many of the songs for which he’s responsible. Taharlev was a master lyricist, who wrote at least 1,000 Israeli songs throughout his life. Yoram Taharlev passed away on January 6, 2022 at age 83, and we take time this week to marvel at […]

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Happy 2022! As we begin a great new year of programming and fun, let’s take some time to catch you up on the latest and greatest in Israeli music, shall we? And yes, December’s new releases were pretty great indeed. You’ll hear incredible new releases by artists like Hanan Ben Ari, Omer Adam, Yasmin Moalem […]

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It’s been a fun year in Israeli music! With Coronavirus still a major part of our lives, 2021 will be remembered only slightly better than 2020. But in Israel, the music industry remained as exciting and vibrant as ever. As 2021 draws to a close, Israel Hour Radio looks back at the most popular Israeli […]

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Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome digital marketer, family man, and Israeli music fan David Alpern of Long Beach, California to Israel Hour Radio! As a former DJ of a similar Israeli music radio show, David’s excited to get back into a radio studio and spin his favorite Israeli tunes, just as he did during his […]

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In December 1994, Josh Shron walked into the studios of WRSU Radio … and never left. Now in December 2021, he celebrates his 27th anniversary on the air, and you’re invited to the anniversary party! Um, well…actually, it’s a birthday party, because we couldn’t find too many good Israeli anniversary songs. We did, however, find […]

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Don’t let the light go out! Chanukah 5782 may be behind us, but the magic and light of Chanukah can be with us all year long. Let those good feeling stay with you by enjoying 60 minutes of Israeli music for Chanukah! You’ll hear classic favorites, new original selections, some amazing acapella interpretations, and much […]

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If the names Idan Raichel, Ivri Lider, Sarit Hadad, Static and Ben-El Tavori, and Shlomi Shabbat mean anything to you, you’re going to love this show! You’ll hear all of them and many more as we look back at the best Israeli music of November. From remakes of popular songs to power ballads…from songs of great sorrow to songs of great joy…from fun dance tracks to early Chanukah presents…you’re sure to have a great time catching up on the latest and best music Israel has to offer! (Original Air Date: November 28, 2021)

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It was the year Atari was born, Elvis died, and ‘Star Wars’ first brought us to ‘a galaxy far, far away.’ But this week in 1977, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt arrived in Israel for the very first time, ushering in an era of peace between the two countries which is still in force today. In honor of that momentous occasion in Israeli history, we set our Israeli Music Time Machine back to 1977 to look back at the most popular songs of the year. Assuming you were around back then, what are your memories of ’77? (Original Air Date: November 21, 2021)

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There’s no place like home… After about 18 months away, Israel Hour Radio is back home at WRSU Radio! It feels so good to be back in the studio where the magic happens, and we’re celebrating this milestone with all of you by playing songs of homecoming. It turns out a lot of Israeli artists like to sing songs about coming home, and we’ve compiled a great playlist of songs to remind us all of the simple joys of home. It feels great to be back! (Original Air Date: November 14, 2021)

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Watch Josh’s first break back in the studio!

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He’s still one of Israel’s biggest names in entertainment, but surprisingly, due to all kinds of strange technical problems, he’s never performed in the United States!

Until now: Omer Adam is coming to the United States this April!

In 2018, Omer had to cancel a US concert tour due to visa problems for some of his crew, Then in 2020, Omer’s sold out shows didn’t happen due to Coronavirus. Now in 2022, Omer Adam is coming back, with stops in LA, Miami, and New York!

These shows have been a long time coming, and excited fans in the USA can’t wait. Don’t miss your chance to see Omer Adam, the current king of Israeli music, when he comes to your area. Oh, and on your way to the concert, be sure to listen to our list of the top Omer Adam songs of all time.

Omer Adam in LA Tuesday, April 5, 2022
8:00 pm
Shrine Auditorium
665 W Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Omer Adam in Miami Thursday, April 7, 2022
8:00 pm
The Fillmore Miami Beach
1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL

Omer Adam in New York Saturday, April 9, 2022
10:00 pm
Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Sunday, April 10, 2022
8:00 pm
Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Want of taste of what to expect when you see Omer Adam in the USA? In July 2019, Omer Adam performed for a sold-out crowd of 50,000 at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv, with all the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas spectacular. The entire show recently came to YouTube, and any Omer Adam fan will love the show! The show’s full playlist is available here. While it’s unlikely for the USA shows to be as glamorous as the one below, we think you’ll still have a good time.

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