Israeli singer and songwriter Ariel Zilber has been the target of formidable opposition since changing his life, becoming a Torah observant Jew. Making things even worse, he is an outspoken right-winger who frequently speaks out in support of the residents of Yehuda and Shomron.
The most recent incident surrounds a prize for his contribution to music from ACUM (Union of Composers, Writers and Publishers in Israeli Music). The original plan, to bestow upon him the “Life Achievement Prize” was canceled in response to an outcry from leftists, one in particular, Dalia Rabin, a daughter of the late prime minister who sits on the board of directors. She expressed her adamant opposition to bestowing the award upon him due to his right-wing affiliations. For her, his musical talents are of no value for as long as he is frum and right-wing.
Preceding Rabin was national singer Achinoam Nini, a fanatic left-wing activist.
Nini announced she would not accept her price from the organization because ACUM was also honoring Zilber. Rather than withdraw the prize from Nini, the ACUM decided to take Zilber’s Live Achievement award.
True to his outspoken hashkafa, in his acceptance remarks Zilber called to close down ACUM immediately and replace it by an apolitical organization that honors talent without regard to one’s political affiliation.
Among those expressing outrage was Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who posted his protest on his Facebook page. “The capitulation by ACUM and the decision to give Ariel Zilber a prize for his contribution to music and not the Lifetime Achievement Award is a dangerous submission and flattery of the Bolshevism of radical leftists.”
Bayit Yehudi leader Minister of the Economy Naftali Bennett wrote that this joins the list, referring to the decision by the University of Haifa not to bestow and honorary doctorate on Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Yisrael Aumann because of his right-wing views.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
ACUM has a goyishe kup.
Anyway, why does he want their recognition? If CAIR was thinking of giving me an award, I’m pretty sure I’d turn them down.
and you just noticed it now…
Israel was founded by and for Jews who really wanted to be hard core communists but were banned because they were Jews. They took over the zionist movement from Jews who wanted to be secular liberals (19th century style). The consistent trend that defines zionism is the desire to get away from being Jewish.
Let me see if I understand this. The headline says that in Israel, the left wing reigns supreme. Did someone tell the Likud prime minister or his governing coalition? Or, is it true what the anti-Semites say, that left-wing Jews control show business and therefore the banks and the world. It must be so, because that’s what the YWN headline says about some old guy who is having trouble getting some music prize.
“True to his outspoken hashkafa”
Never be ashamed to speak up loudly for TRUTH.