Israeli music scene inspires Yom Limmud

By Hagit Ashual, volunteer in Yom Limmud 2014 Volunteer subcommittee

Picking the names for the rooms for each Limmud event is one of the ways to make the event unique. The volunteer steering committee recently had a heated discussion about what we should name the three session rooms. 

Ultimately our inspiration came from the unexpected departure of Arik Einstein, one of the most iconic and influential performers who shaped the Israeli music and theatre scene. We too want Yom Limmud 2014 to be inspiring. We decided that the creativity of Israeli legends would be perfect for the event. The rooms in Yom Limmud 2014 will be named after talented musicians and performers that influenced the Israeli music scene dramatically: 

Arik Einstein, Naomi Shemer and Yehorm Gaon.

Arik Einstein (3 January 1939 – 26 November 2013) 

Born and raised in Tel Aviv under the name Arye Einstein, he served the military in the Nahal entertainment group. During his service he was named Arik as a nickname, and was known by this name ever since.

Arik started to perform immediately after his national service, and became a coherent voice of the Israeli public. He was once quoted “I do not decide to sing in this style or another, I sing my character”.

For over 50 years he recorded over 500 songs and featured in 34 albums. Arik's sudden death (from smoking related heath issues) created a wave of farewell events with his inspiration; the popular Israeli news portal YNet allowed the public to vote and rate his songs, the following song won as his number 1 song - עטור מצחך זהב שחור (Your forehead is decorated with black gold) -  

Naomi Shemer (13 July 1930 - 26 June 2004)

Naomi was an Israeli singer, songwriter and composer, commonly known as the “First Lady of Israeli Songs and Poetry”.

Shemer was one of the most important Hebrew songwriters since the foundation of the State of Israel - many of her songs became the very bedrock of Israeli culture, her songs made references to the reality in Israel.

Shemer reached the pinnacle of her career in 1967 when she wrote the legendary "Jerusalem of Gold", regarded since as ‘the second Israeli anthem’. The song was commissioned to the Israeli Music Festival by the mayor of Jerusalem at the time, Teddy Kollek. Sang by Shuli Nathan at the night after Israel’s 19th Independence Day, the song immediately resonated among the public. After the 1967 war, Shemer added another part to the song, that refers to the reunion of the holy city of Jerusalem (which was divided until then).

In 1987, Shemer was awarded the Prize of Israel in 1983 for her contribution to Israeli music. Over the years she was awarded four honorary doctorates. Shemer also served as chair of the Israeli Entertainers' Union and a member of the Academy of Hebrew Language.

Yehoram Gaon (born 28 Dec 1939)

One of the greatest Israeli singers. Yehoram began his career as an entertainer at the Nahal entertainment group, but quickly realised that his will to sing is bigger than everything. He took part in the legendary “Yarkon Bridge Trio” (singing group), along with Arik Einstein and Beny Amdursky; however shortly after, Yehoram decided to leave and study acting in New York. He got famous in the musical “Kazablan”, and from that point the way to the Israeli consensus was short and quick.

Yehoram won the Israeli Music Festival in 1969, and became the preferred singer for song writers such as Naomi Shemer and Haim Hefer. Yehoram Gaon has no less than 20 solo albums and 19 collections; he played in 12 films and 5 different theatre plays. In recent years Yehoram has been participating as a judge in the popular Israeli Idol TV show.

Yehoram is also know for his support for the Ladino language, the language spoken among Spanish exile Jew communities since the middle ages. Ladino was spoken in his Jerusalem home whilst growing up, later he became a scholar and a poet in Ladino. Yehoram recorded 4 albums in Ladino.

We hope this blog has helped you learn a bit more about these talented artists. To be inspired and to listen to some of their music, join me at Yom Limmud 2014 - June 15 @ UNSW. There will also be live music by American Jewish music soul sensation Sam Glaser and klezmer vocalist Fay Sussman on the day. 

Hagit

Click here to book; for more information on the full program visit the Limmud website www.limmud-oz.com.au.

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- Parents! Yom Limmud is offering fully supervised activities for preschool aged kids 3-5 and primary aged kids 5-12.