|
|
April 9, 2004
Feel Israeli with music
Kan Noladeti to mark Yom Ha'atzmaut in Vancouver.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The national service required of all Israeli citizens is a rite
of passage into adulthood, and the memories created in the army
– or in an alternative national service – are carried
with Israelis throughout their lives. Now, a small group of recent
Israel Defence Force veterans is immortalizing their memories through
song, travelling to Diaspora Jewish communities sharing traditional
and contemporary Israeli folk music with audiences around the world.
The group, Kan Noladeti, takes its moniker from an Israeli
folk song of the same name, which translates as "That's My
Place." The lyrics speak of being born in eretz Yisrael, raising
a family there and dying in the land of ancient hopes. The group
has only been around for a few months, but Kan Noladeti is already
being dubbed "Israel's newest musical sensation."
Fresh out of their mandatory service in the army, the seven young
musicians will travel to Vancouver for Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations
at the Chan Centre, on the University of British Columbia campus.
This monumental concert marking the 56th anniversary of the creation
of the state of Israel is the only North American engagement for
the group, which consists of five singers, a guitarist and a keyboardist.
The members of the group are all in their first year out of the
service, and range in age from 20 to 22.
Vancouverites will have the opportunity to hear Kan Noladeti in
advance of almost any other Diaspora community, but organizers suggest
the group may soon be a household word.
Though the band is made up of young, fresh-faced and wholesome singers,
Kan Noladeti is not Menudo; their music is not bubble gum pop, but
some of the oldest and most beloved tunes in Jewish and Israeli
tradition, songs like "Al Kol Eleh" and "Jerusalem
of Gold."
Kiki Rotstein, Kan Noladeti's producer, told the Bulletin
in a telephone interview from Israel that army entertainment groups
have had a long tradition, bringing messages of hope and solidarity
to Diaspora and other audiences, and, of course, providing important
morale boosts to soldiers themselves.
Kan Noladeti's visit to Vancouver is significant not only because
it is the group's only stop on its first North American visit, but
because the message the group brings is one of hope for the future,
at a time when the news from Israel is too often negative.
"We want to bring you something that is fresh, new – young
people bringing new hope for Israel, for peace," said Rotstein.
On a night when the world's Jewish community is celebrating the
56th anniversary of Israeli statehood, Rotstein said, Kan Noladeti's
visit will make Vancouverites "feel more happy – you'll
feel Israeli."
Many of the songs will be familiar to Jewish audiences and singing
along is entirely welcome, he said.
Rotstein said the too-frequent bad news coming out of Israel is
part of the reason why it's important for Diaspora audiences to
hear groups like Kan Noladeti, which replenish the Zionist spirit
in a time of vast challenges.
"It's not the only reason, but it's one of the reasons,"
said Rotstein.
Tickets for Kan Noladeti are $12 and available through Ticketmaster
at 604-280-3311 or through the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver
at 604-257-5100. The concert takes place Monday, April 26, 7:30
p.m., at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
^TOP
|
|
