Jubilant Song: 5 Israeli Women of Music

Stand for Israel  |  March 24, 2020

Black and white image of Shoshana Damari singing.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth;
burst into jubilant song with music”
(Psalm 98:4)

As we observe Women’s Month, we’re sharing stories of some of the women who have made the Jewish state what it is today. And just as the psalmist called for us to “shout for joy,” the musical ladies of the Holy Land have certainly provided His people “with music.”

The First Lady of Israeli Song and Poetry

Singer and songwriter Naomi Shemer wrote “Yerushlayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold),” which became Israel’s unofficial second national anthem after the Six-Day War of 1967.

Israel’s True Folk Singer

An Israeli singer, lyricist, composer, and arranger, Chava Alberstein has been called the most important female folk musician in Israel’s history.

The Queen of Hebrew Music

A Yemeni-born Israeli singer, Shoshana Damari (shown above) became known as the “Queen of Hebrew Music.”

An Inspired Israeli Teacher

One of the last greats of the Central European Violin School, Ilona Feher made aliyah (immigrated to Israel), where she became a renowned violin teacher.

‘Light a Candle’

Sarit Hadad represented the Jewish state in the 2002 Eurovision contest and was named Israel’s “best female singer of the 2000s.”