Friday, June 21, 2013

Barbra Streisand Performs in Hebrew at Shimon Peres' 90th Birthday Bash


(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90)
Israeli President Shimon Peres was guest of honor at a spectacular 90th birthday party in Jerusalem this week. The party was part of the fifth annual Presidential Conference hosted by Peres.

The conference, titled Facing Tomorrow 2013 took place from June 18-20, 2013 at Jerusalem's International Convention Center. It was organized in partnership with Hebrew University. More than 5,000 participants attended this year’s event, including Jewish Humor Central's Los Angeles Bureau Chief Esther Kustanowitz.

As Tia Goldenberg wrote for the Associated Press Wednesday,
Scattered in the audience among Israeli Cabinet ministers and local clergy sat actors Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone. Rwandan President Paul Kagame sat in the front row beside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now an international envoy to the Middle East.
(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90)
The star of the night was Streisand, dressed in a flowing black dress accented with gold jewelry. Streisand sang the Jewish prayer "Avinu Malkeinu," which Peres called "heavenly" and gave her a long embrace and two kisses on the cheek. The prayer, which means "our Father, our King" is recited on the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and reflection. Streisand said the prayer was meant to "cause all hate and oppression to vanish from the earth."
Peres, who serves in a largely ceremonial position, was serenaded by local musicians and entertained by dance troupes, one of which intercut its music with inspirational quotes from the nonagenarian leader.
Here's the video of Barbra Streisand singing Avinu Malkeinu at the event.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

(A tip of the kippah to Dan Mosenkis for bringing the video to our attention.)

37 comments:

  1. OMG-----she brought me to tears.......such an exquisite Yiddisha Neshama singing-----and watching everyone-(especially Bill and the birthday boy) kvelling..... PRICELESS---thank-you Dan----Shabbat Shalom everyone! M.A.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this moment in history.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing this moment in history

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing! She is so talented. Love her.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wounderful performance as always she still has it and they were kvelling,a great man and a great birthday gift.JVS

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shalom! We can make this world a much better place turning toward each other without fear and anger. Thank you Barbra for singing that sacred song so beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  7. OMG! it's beautiful
    Happy Birthday Simon Peres!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Louise Glaser-Sydney,Australia- - I was at Thursdays concert, the treat of a lifetime for me, her biggest fan !!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful, wonderful it brought tears to my eyes just for the spirit of the whole singing. If only it could inspire people to peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Inspirational....got chills...what a meaningful message.

      Delete
  10. So beautiful. Barbra Streisand never disappoints. Thank you for bringing this amazing event to us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. simply great ! with great persons , I did noty know we had our birthday on the same day with such an person I admire so much congatulations Mister president SHIMON PERES and many returns !

    ReplyDelete
  12. We are all blessed with the love of God when we hear a voice that comes straight from heaven. We pray for Israel and it's leaders, we pray for peace, and we pray for each other.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Birthday to you. We know you don't remember speaking to us in the streets of Jerusalem in 1985, but we still do. We pray for peace. Barbara, you are great!

    ReplyDelete
  14. From her mouth to G-ds ears. Shalom We need more Barbras.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Barbara you are great.
    I love when you sang Avinu Malkeinu.
    I am Jewish too.
    I loved your speach.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a marvelous tribute to a marvelous human being. We pray for peace for Israel and for all the PEOPLE in the world. Thank you Barbara for a chilling tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Barbara is still great and wonderful, in spite of her voice not the same as years prior. The world should take notice of this heartwarming event and step in tune to the Brotherhood of peace and serenity.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful performance super classy and elegant thank you and let's hope for peace bh

    ReplyDelete
  19. she has an amazing voice, but she should have leart what the words mean, not make up her own meaning

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm so grateful to have received the link to this beautiful event. Happy Birthday to a courageous man and nation. Barbara, you are so beautiful, thank you singing and removing doubt in our heart. We are all the same, what a wonderful inspiration.
    Shallom, and Father, Hear our prayers!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a glorious moment. Happy Birthday Shimon Peres. Thank you Barbra. There will never be another like you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have always been tearful when Barbara Streisand sings. This time did not disappoint. What a wonderful tribute to a great man. Thank you, I love the sentiments of the song. IEG

    ReplyDelete
  23. BARBARA YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! YOU BROUGHT ME TO TEARS... YOU ARE THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Two of my favorite songs! Feels me with hope!
    She is so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I was lucky enough to be at a concert in Brooklyn N.Y. and when she sang the song "the way we were" I did cry then and I felt tears again while she sang this time as well. I am 85 years old and I can well imagine how Shimon Peres felt. Avinu Malkeinu usually sung at the services of the Jewish New Year truly says it all. What a gift to be able to express feelings so beautifully. Thank you for bringing this to us.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm so farklempt. I have shpilkes in my genektagazoink.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Saturday I will be 77 and hope to reach 90 like Mr. President Shimon Peres and have a great Birthday Party with the wonderful, talented
    and soulful person singing to me like Barbra Streisand. Congratulations Mr. President and have a long life. Thank you BARBRA.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Simply amazing. So thrilled that I was able to see Barbra in person. Her voice has never changed one bit. Totally awesome! Thrills up and down my spine.

    Leone

    REGO PARK QUEENS NY

    ReplyDelete
  29. \what talent and contributions this ethnic group has given =the world needs more like them

    ReplyDelete
  30. Several months following this performance I still get chills just listening.
    I agree with everyone else: Barbra is still amazing at 71!!

    ReplyDelete