Singing acapella to stay in the show. But we managed it
British teenager Adir Tov is a member of a boy band competing on the Israeli version of the TV talent series
THE ISRAELI Embassy has accused St James’s Church in Piccadilly of attempting to “incite against Israel and Israelis” by unveiling a replica of the West Bank barrier.
Embassy officials were originally signed up to speak during the “Bethlehem Unwrapped” festival which opened on December 23. It includes comedy, music and a “Bethlehem feast” prepared by celebrity chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. But the embassy pulled out this week amid heated protest from UK Jewish bodies.
In a statement addressed to the Anglican Church, an embassy spokesperson said: “Our intention has always been to conduct an open dialogue with church institutions, and it is rare that we would turn down an invitation to participate.
“However, we have closely followed the unfolding of the Bethlehem Unwrapped event this past week, and have been brought to the inescapable conclusion that this is not an event which is intended to deepen understanding or promote reconciliation”.
According to the embassy, the festival “has proven to be a one-sided affair that unfortunately does nothing to bring the sides together” and to participate would be “disservice to the hundreds of Israelis, Jews and Christians alike, murdered in acts of suicide terrorism which the barrier was established to prevent”.
Board of Deputies vice-president
Replica wall is ‘highly biased against Israel’
JonathanArkushdescribedthechurch’s actions as a “poor model of interfaith dialogue” and “highly biased against Israel”.
According to the church, the festival was organised in response to the Kairos document 2009, calling on Christians across the world to help the plight of Palestinian Christians.
“Some people are very moved and grateful,” church warden Jo Hines said. “But then, there is a very vocal minority who are quite hostile and accuse us of being all sorts of things that we’re not.
“This is not anti-Israel. It is about being able to discuss, rather than take sides.”
The replica wall stands eight-metres high and stretches across the façade of the 350-year-old church.
“IT HAS been a dramatic week for the band. Last Wednesday, we sang Mily Cyrus’s song Wrecking Ball and thought we did well, but got put in the bottom two of the seven remaining acts.
“We thought that was it for us because we were up against two sisters who were amazing singers – everyone thought they would be in the final.
“They were in the same category as us, so our judge Ivri Lider had to decide who to save. He chose us, much to our total shock. We had already promised each other backstage that we’d stay together if we were eliminated, but we really did think we were going home.
“We weren’t so comfortable with our next song choice on Saturday night, which was in Hebrew, and didn’t find much time to rehearse because we were busy with press interviews.
“Again, we found ourselves in the bottom two and this time had to compete in a live sing-off.
“Just as we were starting, Ivri jumped up and shouted: “Stop the playback!” He then told us to take out our earpieces, put our microphones down, come up to the judges’ table and sing acapella — all on live TV.
“It was so difficult keeping in time and pitch because the audience were clapping along with us, but it went well and the four judges all agreed they wanted us to stay.
“We’re getting constantly recognised wherever we go now. It’s fun, but tough because our fans are young kids, so we always have to be watching what we’re saying.
“My Hebrew is improving and Israel is becoming more like home to me.
“The next live show is on Sunday and we’re working on new songs. It’s tiring and we’re arguing a lot, but I feel so much safer and happier as part of a band rather than as a solo artist.”