Tamar Festival 2021: Music lights up the desert of the Dead Sea

Wearing masks and whispering enthusiastically, families and fans weaved their way across the sand in the dark, the light faces of the desert mountains whispering their way into a night of music and excitement.

The crowd varied – teens in shorts and sandals and middle-aged couples in kipots and headdresses, elders over 60, and families with children, all dressed in bright faces at the prospect of a concert after a long cultural draft. with.

Hanan faced Ben-Ari while taking the stage, seated about 2,000 and even more standing in a huge amphitheater. The atmosphere was electric – everywhere you looked, the audience was smiling and singing with a freedom that was infectious.

“I really didn’t believe this would happen. And even when the show was set, I didn’t think anyone would come.” Ben Ari said from the stage. “Some people say that the artist is the sun, and the audience reflects his light like the moon. But under this full moon you are the sun. And I promise we’ll make your light shine a million times. “

The 33-year-old singer-songwriter has two successful albums. While many of his songs speak of God and religion, and one of his most famous singles is a lament for the dissolution of Gaza (ima im haiti yacholi), their music is directed at everyone, as they ask, “Don’t label me on Wikipedia” (Wikipedia) In a show longer than two hours, Ben Arie was full of energy, jumping on stage and filling every word with emotion.

Singer and songwriter Hanan Ben Ari performs at the annual Tamar Festival in Dead Sea Masada site, September 2021(Credit: Tamar Hanan)

for their songs cholem como yosef (Dream like Joseph), Ben Airy came into the crowd and stood atop a stand between the open field and the bleachers, singing and chanting his words in the center of the thousand-strong circle.

The audience burst into applause when guest stars Berry Sakharof, Mika Shitrit and Amir Benayun joined the stage. sakharof sangee halalyot And made the old fans go wild; Shitrit, a songwriter signed to Timeless Classics: Biglal Harochfellow masmerim venotzot And came again when Amir Benayun sang a mesmerizing rendition shavurei levy (Heartbroken) by Ben Erie as well as his own famous ‘Omed Bashari’ And kshat ‘atzuva.

“Look around you. Look to your right, to your left. Everyone around you looks different, acts differently, believes differently, probably votes differently,” said Ben Ari told his audience. “But we are at our best when we are together. this is on israel“

When the final song was over, many people were left in front of an empty stage where music was still playing over loudspeakers and danced completely carefree.

Visitors to the Tamar Festival Sunrise Show wait for the cable car to climb to the top of Masada, September 2021(Credit: HADAS LABRISCH)

We were taken in glass-walled cable cars, beaming down a spectacular view of the full moon dunes and the dazzling Dead Sea.

In what felt like an intimate camping trip, visitors of all ages were convened near the stage, where a large straw mat strewn with pillows awaited. Soft music was playing on the red-light stage, the rest of the heritage site was shrouded in darkness.

Singer and songwriter Karen Peles performs a sunrise show at the annual Tamar Festival in the Dead Sea Masada site, September 2021(Credit: HADAS LABRISCH)

There was no barrier between the stage and the frightened spectators, most of whom were still wrapped in blankets. With soaring energy and laughter between sets, the talented musician sang many of his popular songs while playing keyboards. “I made a living from being dumped. My heart breaks and I make a song out of it,” she said, singing itai.

The night was still dark and the temperature was rising as the singing group Hatikawa joined Sesha Keren on stage. Together, they sang Balam Shell (in his world), Lachjor Haibaita, And Hachi israeli By the reggae group, Peles singled out parts of the rap with effortless ease. By this time the audience was standing on their feet, singing and dancing.

It was clear Peles was weak and a bit cranky after she revealed her hospitalization last month on social media, having recovered from an illness. But as the night went on, it seemed like any pain was a propeller, and he performed like a true rockstar with insane energy, pushing his voice to the brink and singing powerful renditions of his classics.

As morning approached, Masada Fort magically appeared all around us and Peles ended his show with the much-awaited show mabuli, followed by a recently released release named Bat Li Pit’om.

The sun rises over Masada at the Tamar Festival, September 2021(Credit: HADAS LABRISCH)

“It was my dream to perform at the Festival Ha-Tamar,” Peles said. “Thank you. It doesn’t feel real.”

The Tamar Festival continues tonight (Friday) with veteran artists Gidi Gove and Yehuda Polikar. Idan Raichel will conclude the festivities on Saturday night.