Join us on Sunday September 26, 2021 at Noon PDT/3:00 PM EDT/22:00 Israel time for a conversation between Robbie Gringras and Sha’anan Street, one of the most influential and respected cultural voices in Israel today. The lead singer and songwriter of Hadag Nachash, Israel’s most popular hip hop band, Sha’anan has released 7 albums with the band, as well as 2 albums of his own. He is a screenplay writer (“The Wonders”), a former columnist (Time Out Israel), a peace and social activist (who founded The One Shekel Festival), and a lifelong Jerusalemite. While Israel’s art and culture scene has largely moved to Tel Aviv, Shaanan remains one of the most recognizable faces in Jerusalem. Far from leaving, he owns a bar in the Shuk, has written about it for National Geographic and other publications, his children attend a joint Jewish-Arab school and, time and again, has chosen to stay in spite of the difficulties it brings. The program is the second of a 3-part series of conversations with three legends of Israeli music. We will explore the background, influences and musical styles of each musician – and through each musician examine social and political challenges of the modern State of Israel.

HaDag Nachash have been recording music albums for twenty years now, and their youthful energy, high quality musicianship, left-leaning politics, chutzpah and tolerance continue to ring through all their work. Each album has been as popular as the last, they have won best song, best album, and best band of the year several times – and their concerts are filled now with three generations of fans. When an artist continues to resonate with such a large proportion of Israelis for so long, it is clear that their music can tell us much about Israel itself. The songs of HaDag Nachash, whose lyrics are mostly written by Shaanan Streett, make up the anthems of Israel’s key moments of the past two decades. It is their genius that they were able to provide the uplift, dance, and choruses for such difficult times as the 2nd Intifada, remembering the assassination of Rabin, the Social Justice protests, and more. We will be visiting a selection of their songs, that reveal the most about the Israel they write about and perform to.

Robbie Gringras is a British-born Israeli living in the Galilee, working in education, performance, and writing. Since emigrating to Israel with a Literature degree from Oxford University, a teaching qualification, and his own theater company, he has trained hundreds of educators in generating honest complex connections to Israel. While Creative Director of Makom, he coined the phrase “Hugging and Wrestling with Israel”, drove the 4HQ System of Israel Education, and wrote for and ran the Makom website. His article on “Educating with Art without Ruining It” was commissioned for the International Handbook on Jewish Education. Robbie has also taught at Israel’s main theater schools, directed several plays, and his solo shows have performed throughout the world in English, Hebrew, and Spanish. He’s married to Dorit, a magical stained-glass artist, and they have two kids. [Full disclosure: Robbie took HaDag Nachash on their first foreign tour and translated their songs into English for their YouTube channel!]

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)