Israeli singer Noa is looking forward to celebrating Yom
Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, with the Greater Cleveland Jewish
community.
“Every performance is joy, and Israel is my beloved homeland,”
she said in an email interview from Thailand. “Israel’s existence is a
miracle, and her day of independence is an opportunity to celebrate her
many achievements, while at the same time reminding ourselves there is
still much work to be done.”
Noa’s free concert, set for 8 p.m., will
highlight the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community-wide Yom
Ha’atzmaut celebration Monday, May 5, at Executive Caterers at
Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. The Federation is partnering with more
than 50 local Jewish organizations, including the Cleveland Jewish News,
at the event, which begins at 6 p.m.
Noa, known in Israel by her full name of Achinoam
Nini, is Israel’s leading international concert and recording artist,
according to her website, having sold more than 1.5 million albums
worldwide. She sings in English, Hebrew and Yemenite and will be
accompanied by guitarist and musical director Gil Dor and
multi-instrumentalist Adam Ben Ezra.
“Gil and Adam are both phenomenal musicians,” she
said. “We give the audience the best of our hearts and our heads,
hoping to inspire and be inspired.”
Noa, 44, often plays percussion instruments
onstage as she sings. She has been performing since 1990 and said she
does between 50 and 100 concerts per year around the world.
“I dislike categorization (of my music),” she
said, “but if forced to give people something to hang onto, I would say
think of Joan Baez and Sheila E. with a Middle Eastern twist.”
Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to Yemeni-Jewish parents, Noa lived in New York from age 2 until her return to Israel alone at 17.
“I returned to Israel after meeting a young
officer and future medical student on a summer vacation when I was 16,”
she said. “It was this great love that drove me to leave New York and
rediscover the country of my birth.”
That officer was Dr. Asher Barak, and he and Noa
have been married 22 years. They live on a kibbutz in Israel called
Shefayim with their three children: Ayehli, 13, Enea, 10, and Yum, 4.
Noa, who describes herself as a cultural Jew,
said her musical influences include Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Paul
Simon, James Taylor, the Police and J.S. Bach. She is most well known in
Israel for a song titled “Boi Kala” and abroad for the theme song from
the film, “Life is Beautiful.”
“I just finished a new album called ‘Love
Medicine,’ which will be out in June,” she said. “I will be performing
new songs from that album on this U.S. tour.”
Throughout the family-friendly event, young
children can enjoy arts and crafts, balloon artists and face painting
while learning about Israeli life and culture. The entire family can
sample various kosher foods, ranging from traditional Israeli favorites
like falafel to American fare such as chicken strips and french fries.
Guests can also tour an Israeli shuk, or marketplace, where vendors sell jewelry, exotic spices and handmade wares.
The Federation’s Young Leadership Division is
partnering with Cleveland’s Jewish young professionals groups to host a
falafel dinner with Israeli beer and wine at 6 p.m.
WHO: Israeli singer Noa will perform
WHEN: Monday, May 5, at 6 p.m. Noa’s concert begins at 8.
WHERE: Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights
COST: Free, except for a 6 p.m. dinner for young professionals. Cost of the dinner is $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
.jpg)
