Events Industry

From The UK to Israel: The Entrepreneurial Journey of David Yefet in a New Country

January 20, 2023 By Michael

David Yefet, a former UK resident, recently made the bold move to Israel with his family, and he’s bringing his unique talents and entrepreneurial spirit with him. As a former partner in a family-run online footwear business, David’s background in e-commerce and events have made him the perfect candidate to take on the exciting challenge of building a new business in a new country.

With almost five years of experience in the event industry and a passion for photography, David found his true calling in the niche world of photo booth hire. He and his wife had to think creatively to supplement their income, and the planning and execution of their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah party proved to be the perfect catalyst for their new venture.

David’s first paid event was a resounding success, thanks to the trust and support of a fellow school parent. Though there were a few hiccups along the way, David and his team learned from the experience and emerged stronger for it.

David’s photo booth business in Israel is still in its early stages, but the positive response he’s received so far is incredibly encouraging. Before moving to Israel, David made two trips to the country to research and make connections in the industry. “I’m excited to continue building on the foundation I’ve laid and to expand the business into new market categories in the future.” He told Voices in Israel in an exclusive interview.

The pandemic dealt a blow to the events industry, but David didn’t let that stop him. He used the time to update his website and develop a new product, the Vintage Pod, an open-air booth that appeals to customers concerned about closed spaces.

David loves being in the events industry because it allows him to make new connections and friends while doing something he’s passionate about. The stress and fatigue that come with the job are worth it for the rewards.

In five years, David’s goal is for his family to be fully immersed in Israeli culture, including fluent Hebrew language abilities. For his business, David sees endless possibilities as he brings something unique to the Israeli market. He’s eager to expand and explore new opportunities in the corporate events sector and beyond. With his proven track record of creativity and resourcefulness, David Yefet is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

Reliving The 60’s and 70’s Through The Unforgettable Music of Larry & Mindy

January 18, 2023 By Michael

Introducing Larry and Mindy, two incredibly talented musicians hailing from the United States. Mindy, born in New York and immigrating to Israel on her own in 1982, and Larry, born in Miami and moving to Israel with his family in 1970, both have a rich history in music. Mindy studied piano and voice development as a young girl, and even sang with a group called “The Chosen Children”, traveling to perform for Jewish communities. Larry, on the other hand, discovered his love for music at a young age, learning to play the guitar by developing a love for it rather than reading notes.

In 2003, Larry was introduced to the Anglo folk music community in Israel, where he met many wonderful musicians and went on to perform a successful tribute to Simon & Garfunkel for seven years. It was in 2006, that Larry and Mindy met and discovered each other’s talents, leading to them forming a musical duo and eventually getting married in 2009.

With over 900 songs in their repertoire, Mindy and Larry have performed at numerous private events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions, as they enjoy the intimate atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with the audience on a personal level. Both play the piano, and Mindy has dabbled in guitar and flute, while Larry has a natural ability to play any instrument he picks up.

Join them as they take you on a musical journey, singing your favorite songs from the 60s and 70s, by artists such as the Beatles, Billy Joel, Carole King, and Simon & Garfunkel, just to name a few.

Larry & Mindy – Voices In Israel

But that’s not all, Mindy and Larry’s love for music goes beyond just performing on stage. They both still play ‘for fun’ and often play and sing together just for fun. It’s clear that music is a huge part of their lives and their passion for it shines through in their performances. Whether it’s Mindy’s powerful voice or Larry’s natural musical ability, you’ll be captivated by their talent.

They may not have specific favorite tracks, but their favorite singers include the Beatles, Billy Joel, Carole King, Don McLean, Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Carly Simon, Elton John, and John Denver. This diverse list of favorite singers is a testament to the variety of their musical influences and the wide range of songs they have in their repertoire.

So, if you’re looking for a truly unique and personal experience, look no further than Mindy and Larry. With their incredible talent and passion for music, they will create a truly unforgettable evening for you and your guests.

Their favorite type of event to perform at is private events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions, as they enjoy the intimate atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with the audience on a personal level.

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience their magic.

Collaboration, Diversity in Music and Creating Art – An Interview with Israel Portnoy, Singer Songwriter.

January 12, 2023 By Michael

“My dad was a musician turned Rabbi and, coupled with the fact that the weather in England was pretty dire, there was a lot of staying indoors playing music.” Israel Portnoy reflected on his childhood sitting outside his home located in Beit Meir, on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Voices In Israel - Israel Portnoy photography by Michael Katz — Voices In Israel – Israel Portnoy

After writing his first song at the tender age of six years old, it’s no surprise that he began to follow his passion. After receiving payment to play at a wedding, Israel began to think that there could be a future to being a professional musician. “My role in this world is when I’m interacting with humans through music, or music through humans. I think those two things are beautiful and they work very well together. It’s nice to be involved with something which universally speaks to everyone”. A very simplistic, yet deep, belief and the driving force behind Israel’s passion to continue creating original music.

“We were taught that there was business and pleasure and those two things were very much separate. You have to hate your job and be angry at the end of the day. I think the privilege of being born into this generation, is that more and more we’re realizing that those things can be combined. For me, that was a big moment realizing I could do both and they could be one and the same” Israel recounted.

Israel met his wife outside a venue where he was playing a gig, around nine years ago. Three years later they were married and nine months ago they became first time parents to a baby girl. “It’s been the most incredible, life-changing experience. I now identify as a dad first and foremost. She’s definitely the best art I’ve ever created. I’m going to put out a short EP with four or five tracks on her first birthday. I was writing songs to try and calm her down in the early stages. At 3a.m., figuring out how to get a baby to sleep, I never in my wildest dreams intended that the songs would have any kind of commercial value.”

It’s hard not to notice how AI is currently a trending topic, especially in the arts, and for creative inspiration. “I recently asked ChatGPT to write a song and then asked it to add chords. Then I was asking it to write a more Jazzy chord progression, and it’s just like ‘boom it’s doing it’.” Israel stated with amazement. “I was doing these short form covers on social media as a way of interacting with the audience. I did a song in Hebrew. There’s an auto lyric option and I didn’t realize this wasn’t English. I was getting English lyrics to a Hebrew song. This ended up being something that had me laughing hard. It was pretty funny. I thought, maybe other people find this funny. I shared this and indeed other people found it funny. Now it’s turned into this thing I do once a week. I call it ‘Silly Subtitles Sundays’. That’s just a very small idea of something coming as a result of AI Technology, which otherwise wouldn’t have existed. Something that came about due to the combination of technology and music”.

“Music is like any language. Each style of music has its own lingo. Its own phrases. Its own catchphrases. Even though they’re all different languages, there are certain things that they all meet on. Those are the things that unite the people listening to it. The differences are the things which give each one its unique voice. I think that’s a really beautiful way of connecting to a different audience you otherwise wouldn’t have necessarily connected to. Also, more importantly, it’s a way of creating art which goes beyond the kind of boundaries that you’ve set for yourself subconsciously. Those boundaries are created by what you know and do as a musician, so as soon as you bring someone else into the picture and you paint with them, then the result of that art is obviously going to be something which is far broader and more inclusive and more encompassing. In short, collaboration is very important”. He added on a final note.

The full interview can be seen here:

Reciprocal Energy Between The Musician and The Crowd; An Interview with Musician Johnny Sklar

January 5, 2023 By Michael

Since playing the strings of an egg cutter as a young boy, professional musician Johnny Sklar, in an exclusive interview with Voices In Israel, explained how he picked up one of his dad’s old guitars and began teaching himself how to play his first few chords.

“Around BarMitzvah age I went for a couple of lessons. A cousin of mine lent me a Jimmy Hendrix CD. It was all I wanted to do all day. Throughout high school I always had a guitar with me. Any moment that we weren’t in class we’d sit and play.” Johnny reminisced with a smile on his face.

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Johnny moved to Israel with his wife and three daughters at the end of 2018. Making Aliyah was something that the family had always dreamed of doing, so moving to Israel really was a dream come true. The family had a little over a year to get climatized to a new country, a new language, new schools, and a new way of life before the Covid pandemic kicked in.

Coming from a musical background, Johnny’s parents readily encouraged his pursuit of music. It was clear to them that he had a natural inclination to music. Johnny began playing school events, summer camps and was also asked to play at Smachot. His first professional gig was with a teacher who had a ‘rock blues’ band. After finishing school he was introduced to an Israeli percussionist. This led to the creation of a new band which encompassed many of the musical sounds of South Africa. The band, working alongside South African musicians, created an infusion of Middle Eastern and South African music. “The universal language of music is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together and to create something really unique”.

After a number of years working with many other musicians and bands, and playing at numerous private and communal events, Johhny was finally influenced to create the Johnny Sklar Band. This became the ‘go to’ band for most of the big communal events and also the main opening band for visiting overseas musicians.

The Covid pandemic led Johnny to uncharted territory and he added ‘guitar teacher’ to his list of talents. During that time Johnny also received requests to perform ‘online’ at people’s events. Whether it was pre-recording a song or attending an event via zoom, Johnny was there, guitar in hand, for all of his audience. When events opened up again with restrictions, and the number of live musicians was limited, Johnny became a favorite choice and often played to small crowds of just thirty to forty people.

Doing gigs in Israel brings a melting pot of people together at large events. Working off the energy of the crowd, Johnny keeps things exciting and fresh by catering to the diverse musical desires of the audience.

Looking to the future, Johnny can’t imagine himself living anywhere else, having made Israel home for him and his growing family. But he would like to travel and bring his original music to Jewish communities around the world.

To see the full interview, please click below:

Johnny Sklar – Interview with Voices In Israel

To catch a glimpse of Johnny performing ‘Have I Told You Lately’, click here.

Simchas That are Fantastically Fun, Meaningful and Memorable – An Interview with Eliyahu Kanush

December 29, 2022 By Michael

When Eliyahu Kanush met his soul mate, Rivkah Adinah, they didn’t just enter into holy matrimony they also created Holy Simcha Entertainment. Providing energetic DJ services and dance leaders for every event, Holy Simcha has gone from strength. Now Eliyahu and Rivkah Adinah are expanding the business into a full event production company. In the words of Eliyahu “We’ve transitioned to becoming an events company. That means we work with select vendors and in select venues. That way we can really optimize the Simcha. Our vision statement and tagline is ‘Simchas that are fantastically fun, meaningful and memorable’. That’s it. It’s super simple.”

Eliyahu Kanush - Voices In Israel — Eliyahu Kanush – Voices In Israel

Whilst studying in Yeshiva in his twenties, Eliyahu met Rivkah Adinah at a Shabbat table in Bat Ayin, a small Yishuv located in the Judean Hills. Divine intervention was on their side before and during their first meeting. Rivkah Adinah was attending because she thought there would be no single guys present and just minutes before Shabbat came in, Eliyahu had realized that the person he had been with was not the person for him. When they met at that Shabbat table, the conversation flowed, and they both realized they had met their other half.

Eliyahu saw the potential to bring in American style DJ’ing at events in Israel, which included dance floor activities, awesome props like giant inflatable balls and a three-meter-tall inflatable Hasid doll, and even a jump rope and so Holy Simchas began to offer their unique services to a mainly Anglo clientele. Over ten years and a thousand events later, Holy Simcha had established a successful presence at events in Israel.

The full interview with Eilyahu Kanush can be viewed below:

Mishael Music; Musician Extraordinaire

December 8, 2022 By Michael

Mishael Dickman, originally from New York, came to live in Israel at the age of ten. He started learning piano when he was just six years old. In his teens he began to branch out to guitar and saxophone. While traveling across Russia as an emissary from the Jewish Agency, he started learning flute instruments. This was mainly due to the fact that it was too difficult to carry a piano or guitar and wood wind instruments are definitely more robust for traveling. He now plays 12 instruments including piano, guitar, ukulele, drums, bass, harmonica, saxophone, recorders and more. His two favorites are Saxophone and piano.

After his army service, at the age of 23, he founded a band called ‘Para Aduma’. Mishael realized that if he learned drums and had a better understanding of the instrument, it would help when giving direction to the drummer in the band. And, with the same thought process, he also learned guitar and bass.

His first professional gig came about from teaching a child for his BarMitzvah. The parents knew about Mishael’s musical background and, with their forthcoming event approaching, told Mishael that they were looking for a six-piece band. This gave Mishael the initiative to start a six-piece band in order to get into the business as a professional. His first band consisted of family and friends and proved that this was the direction he wanted to follow. And so, his first professional gig was at the Mount Zion Hotel with a six-piece band consisting of, among others, a violinist, saxophonist and a vocalist. This was the start of his professional ‘Simcha’ career, but parallel to that he was still promoting his original music band ‘Para Admua’. The new six-piece simcha band was called ‘Tzuzamen’. Eventually Para Aduma and Tzuzamen merged to form one band doing everything and toured Israel playing original songs written and composed by Mishael.

Asked if he still plays for fun, as some professional musicians have been known to lose their passion if they play as their fulltime career, he answered with a comparison about playing music to being thirsty. A gig satiates the thirst to play, but when there is downtime from events, the thirst needs to be quenched by continuing to play for fun. It’s during these ‘downtime’ periods when he becomes most creative and continues to write and compose original music.

Another talent that has come to the forefront of Mishael’s skillset is being a DJ. In the last few years Mishael made the decision to ‘up his game’ and offer this service at events in addition to his other many musical talents.

Mixing it up as a DJ

When he’s working at events one of the driving forces that keeps him going, is his personal connection that he forges with the families who hire him. On a personal level the thing that keeps him going is learning new instruments. He may get repeat requests for the same songs, but he stays innovative by offering these songs with the new instruments that he is constantly learning.

Mishael Music in full swing

Looking to the future he sees himself as upping his game in two directions. One – producing whole events, including music and offering the complete package to this clients. With his already vast knowledge of the events world and the many connections that he has established over the years, puts him in a very unique and opportunistic position. The second option is to up the music game by offering ‘Live-On DJ’, combining electronic back tracks with live musicians at live events.

BarMitzvahs are his favourite type of event, more so than weddings, mainly because they are typically smaller, more informal and there is more opportunity to connect to the family and the guests.

During the Corona pandemic was when Mishael downsized from Para Aduma and decided to rebrand and just offer ‘Mishael Music’. Many businesses rebranded during this time and many others collapsed completely. The Corona pandemic was not a good time for anyone involved or connected to the events industry. Mishael manged to get through this dark time and is now back in full swing.