Pop diva and Eurovision winner Dana International has recorded dozens of songs in several different languages, but she never thought she'd wind up singing the Hebrew alphabet, the singer said of her new single "Ivrit, Ahuvati" (Hebrew, My Love), which she has recorded as part of a new campaign to encourage aliyah.
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"After we finished recording, I was asked to teach a lesson via Zoom, but I think I'll pass on that. I'm really not cut out to be a teacher," she said.
The World Zionist Organization's Aliyah Promotion Department operates aliyah preparation centers in the Americas and in western Europe that teach future immigrants basic Hebrew. The department runs over 300 Hebrew classes a year in which some 4,000 students are enrolled.
"Hebrew, My Love" is a song that celebrates the Hebrew classes and is designed to encourage a sense of solidarity among the teachers and students, as well as encourage aliyah.
The song was composed by Guy Mensch, with words by Yoav Ginai, and in additional to Dana International's lead vocals feature the voices of students and teachers from the WZO's Hebrew classes around the globe.
The song officially debuted at the President's Residence in Jerusalem in a live performance on Sunday, which marked the birthday of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew. President Isaac Herzog and acting chairman of the Jewish Agency Yaakov Hagoel were both there, as was head of the WZO's Aliyah Promotion Department, Marina Rosenberg-Koritny.
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