israel at 75
Jewish Agency, Others Partner on New
Song to Amplify Jewish Unity, Diversity
T o celebrate the state of Israel’s
75th anniversary, the Jewish
Agency for Israel and the Z3 Project
have partnered with infl uential HaDag
Nahash lead singer Shaanan Streett to
create a song that brings together the
diverse faces of the Jewish people in
Israel and around the world.

In its Voices Together project, the
Jewish Agency and Z3 invited Jews
worldwide to submit short passages
that expressed what Israel meant to
them. Streett and eight other artists
from across the globe who work in
diff erent languages, in collaboration
with the Jewish Agency and Z3, then
incorporated the sentiments of the
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submitted messages into their lyrics
for an original song titled “Ma Nishma,
Israel?” (“What’s Up, Israel?”) and
performed the song in a music video.

Artist and music producer Michael
Cohen, known simply as “Cohen,”
joined the production of the music
video, which was made accessible in
sign language.

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Streett
is an Israeli artist, musician, script-
writer and social activist. Aside from
his work with HaDag Nahash, one of
Israel’s most popular hip-hop bands,
he has released two solo albums. In
2001, he founded the One Shekel
Festival association, which works to
make culture accessible for marginal-
ized communities. He also co-hosts the
Dream A Dream podcast.

The other artists featured in the new
song include:
• Belarus-born Pinhas Tsinman, who
immigrated to Israel about a year
ago from Ukraine, where he had
lived for 16 years and worked as a
Chabad emissary.

• Deres Worknech (Dere Work), who
made aliyah from Ethiopia when he
was 11, and began to practice music
by rapping in Amharic while serving
in the Israel Defense Forces.

• Sandro Koren (MC Sapinho), a rap
and reggaeton singer originally from
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, now a father
of four living in Ashdod, who started
performing as a child at parties.

• Judith Hasin (Judith), a singer and
composer born in France who par-
ticipated in the Israeli reality sing-
ing show “Rising Star” in 2019, and
today writes songs in both Hebrew
and French.

• Noah Shufuntinsky (Westside
Gravy), who was raised in San Diego
and began writing songs and beats
at age 7, and learned of Voices
Together from his university rabbi.

• Australian-born, U.K.-raised Jonah
Baron Cohen (JBC) — the nephew
Shaanan Streett
of famed comedian and actor Sacha
Baron Cohen — who grew up in a
musical home and today performs
around Europe with a group of local
artist friends.

• Lea Kalisch (Rebbetzin Lea), who
was born in Switzerland, has per-
formed in numerous Yiddish plays,
and is best known for her debut sin-
gle “Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop.”
• Hila Almog, vice president and
deaf community manager of the
Tel Aviv company Sign Now, which
off ers free, real-time sign-language
interpretation that is accessible on
smartphones. The music video also features
dancers Viktoriya Bakhova, Polina
Gutkina and Sonya Zavelska.

“Ma Nishma, Israel?” is being used in
P2G communities as part of the celebra-
tions of Israel’s 75th anniversary.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, chair-
man of the executive at the Jewish
Agency, emphasized the song’s role as
a timely and much-needed vehicle for
Jewish unity.

“Given music’s status as the univer-
sal language, this new song gives
voice to Jewish unity and global
Jewish peoplehood at a time when
those values urgently need to be
bolstered and amplifi ed,” Almog said.

“Shaanan Streett and his collaborators
have sent an unmistakable message
that, whether it be relations between
Israel and the Jewish world or among
the Israeli people themselves, the ties
which bind us together will always
overcome the transient tensions that
threaten to divide us.”
Zack Bodner, CEO and president of
the Oshman Family JCC and founder of
the Z3 project, an initiative that reimag-
ines Israel-world Jewry relations,
said: “Voices Together celebrates
the beautiful diversity of the Jewish
people, bringing together artists and
words from around the world to create
a powerful tribute to Israel’s 75th
birthday. With unity as our guide, we
have harnessed the power of music
to amplify the voices of Jews from all
walks of life, highlighting the impor-
tance of community and connection.

“Our message is clear: We may be
diff erent, but when we come together
as equal partners, our collective voice
is strong and resilient,” Bodner contin-
ued. “This project is a testament to the
power of diversity and the beauty of
unity, and we couldn’t be more proud
to be a part of it.” ■
Courtesy of Shaanan Streett via JNS.org
JNS.org



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