Rivka Zohar

Rivka Zohar (Hebrew: רבקה זהר‎‎; June 30, 1948) is an Israeli singer.

Rivka Zinati (later Zohar) was born and raised in Akko, Israel. Her father, Aaron Zinati, was a fire chief. Zohar studied in Akko, and in the agricultural school in Nahalal. Rivka's family is of Moroccan origins, having arrived in Haifa in the beginning of the 19th century.

As a child, she appeared on Tshuot Rishonot ("First Applause"), a radio program aimed at the discovery of young talent.

In 1967, Rivka auditioned to participate in Lehakat HaNahal, a popular Israeli army band, but was not chosen. Shortly thereafter, she successfully auditioned for the composer and producer Ilan Mokhiah.

In the beginning of her military service, she performed in front of the Israeli navy, with the accompaniment of an accordionist. Those performances were well received by the soldiers, leading to the creation of Lehakat Heyl Hayam (The Navy Band), which immediately began rehearsing for the program Ve BaYom HaShlishi ("And On The Third Day"). During the band's rehearsals, Yair Rosenblum presented Rivka with the song Ma Avarekh ("How Shall I Bless This Child?"), composed to the lyrics of Rachel Shapira. Rivka was the soloist for the song, which became the show's greatest hit when it aired in 1968.

In 1967, the Navy Band performed the song "Ma Avarech" written by Rachel Shapira in memory of a young man from her Kibbutz fallen in the Six-Day-War. Yoram Taharlev (song writer) meets a carpenter carving a chair for Elijah the Prophet and inspired by him writes the lyrics of the song "Al Kapav Yavee". 1969. Rivka Zohar sang the song in the song festival; it was voted the "song of the year" and won the "David's Harp" award.

Natan Alterman, moved by her voice, added her to the musical "Tsats and Tsatsa" (1969). He wrote especially for her "Oriana" and "Zemer Shalosh Hatshuvot". She was also noted for performance of "Gedalya" and "BeKerem HaTemanim".

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