Sarit Hadad: ‘Music has no religion’
Fiona Green is a features writer
Israeli singer Sarit Hadad, who has performed professionally since she was 16, has an incredible 22 albums to her name. She chats to Fiona Leckerman about her chart-topping career ahead of her headline performance at the ZF’s Yom Haa’tmaut celebrations…
Adored Israeli songstress Sarit Hadad will take to the stage in London as part of the ZF Yom Haa’tmaut celebrations. The MTV European Music Award winner and judge on the first series of The Voice Israel – who counts Madonna among her fan – will play her second concert in London, 10 years after her debut at Wembley Arena back in 2005.
On returning to the UK, Sarit says: “It’s always good to be back and enjoy the love from my audience. It’s amazing every time to go on stage and see the crowd singing my songs and taking the time to have fun.”
She adds: “It will be so nice to be in London for Yom Haa’tzmaut, I still remember the crowd lifting up Israeli flags and connecting to Israel on this special evening. It was a great warm experience and a big celebration. I can’t wait to feel that again.”
After performing for Jewish communities all over Europe and America, Hadad reflects: “If I’m being honest for me, every audience is the same, as I feel that music connects people. As long as I can see and get the love back from the audience I’m happy.”
Performing professionally since she was 16 and with 22 albums to her name, she confesses how, at the tender age of eight, she that music was what she was born to do. “I grew up in a musical family. Everyone was always dancing and singing. I thank God I have been blessed with this talent and can share it with people.” But Hadad concedes: “It also takes faith and determination to get where I am today.”
Her talents go beyond just singing: “I play almost every instrument by ear, without having to read the notes. I play drums, guitar, melodika and darbuka, I can’t help trying every instrument.
“Music has no religion, no mother and father. Music is in everyone’s heart and soul and for me, music is life.”
She recently released a self-titled album, Sarit Hadad. “I feel that this album is very special. This time I was more involved with the production, with every sound and note. I am very proud of this album.”
Chart topping Sarit Haddad will headline the ZF’s celebrations of Israel’s 67th birthday on 23 April, sharing the line up alongside West End performer Israel Ernest, who has starred in Les Miserables, My Fair Lady and Chicago.
For more information and to book tickets call 0208202022 or email dalia@zfuk.org
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
