Israeli superstar Rita performs at art trauma charity evening

Over 200 people proudly supported The British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI) at a musical evening held at St John’s Wood Synagogue in north London.

The event, in collaboration with The Houmous Foundation and Tali Tzemach of Tzemach Productions, was a show of solidarity for BFAMI’s emergency relief art trauma projects.

Pamela Crystal, BFAMI co-chair said: “We are a week away from Chanukah – the festival of light and miracles. Never have we needed this light more than now.”

Barak Ganor, director of culture at the Israeli Embassy in the UK spoke of the importance of unity and community and the power of culture in bringing people together.

The audience heard from photographer and influencer, Blake Ezra, who spoke about his personal journey and connection to Israel. He said: “We are all grieving, grieving for the person we were on 6th October but we have and we will come back stronger…. this is the Jewish community 2.0”.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, spoke about his own journey to Sunday’s march from his home in north west London to standing in front of 105,000 people. He said: “We will not bow. We will stand strong”.

JFS student, Shelly Chitiyat, sang beautiful songs of hope, warming the stage for the headline performance from Israeli superstar and icon, Rita. Following her Hatikvah on Sunday’s march, she sang a few of her favourite hits with the audience singing every word alongside her.