Naomi Polani (Hebrew: נעמי פולני; 4 August 1927 – 15 April 2024) was an Israeli musical director, theater director, singer, producer, actress and dancer.[1][2][3] She was the Israel Prize laureate for Theater and Dance in 2019.

Naomi Polani
נעמי פולני
Polani in 2011
Born(1927-08-04)4 August 1927[citation needed]
Died15 April 2024(2024-04-15) (aged 96)
NationalityIsraeli
Other namesNeomi Polani
Occupations
Known forFounded the singing group "HaTarnegolim" ("The Roosters")

Music career edit

Polani founded the singing group "HaTarnegolim" ("The Roosters") in 1960, in charge of musical and acting direction and choreography.[4][5][6] The original group included Yehoram Gaon and HaGashash HaHiver.[6][7][8] They were referred to in The Jerusalem Post as "one of the most exciting things that ever happened to Israeli pop. They brought us some of the greatest hits of all times".[6] Among their hits are "The Neighborhood Song", "Everything's Gold" and "My Great Kid Yossi".[6] In 2011, she worked with a new iteration of the group.[6][9]

Honors edit

Polani received the Moshe Halevi Theater Arts Prize from the Tel Aviv Municipality in 2001.[citation needed]

On 13 November 2007, she received the Akum Lifetime Achievement Award.[10] She also received an honorary award from Bar-Ilan University for her contribution to Hebrew song.[11]

In 2017, a tribute evening was held in her honor on her 90th birthday at the Ein Gev Festival.[citation needed]

In April 2018, she received a special honor from President Reuven Rivlin at the 70th Independence Day ceremony at the President's Residence.[12]

In 2019, Education Minister Naftali Bennett informed Naomi Polani that she had won the Israel Prize for 5779 in the field of theater and dance: "Her rich cultural work has given us dozens of dance, theater and music works. Naomi, who was one of the stars of the Palmach troupe during the War of Independence, is a true cultural warrior."[13]

Personal life and death edit

Naomi Polani was married to the singer and actor Lior Yenai, but they divorced in the 1970s. The couple had two children: the actor and singer Yotam Yenai (1964), who performed with The Roosters band and was an actor at the Haifa Theater, and Iya (1968) – a nurse by profession. Both became religiously observant in their adolescence.

Polani lived in Moshavat Kinneret from the 1980s. She died on 15 April 2024, at the age of 96.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ Motti Regev, Edwin Seroussi (2004). Popular music and national culture in Israel. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520936881.
  2. ^ Virginia R. Domínguez (1989). People as subject, people as object: selfhood and peoplehood in contemporary Israel. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 198. Retrieved 31 July 2011. polani.
  3. ^ Helen Kaye (13 February 1989). "Artists' Honour". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  4. ^ Don Rubin (1999). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Europe. Routledge. ISBN 9780415251570.
  5. ^ Motti Regev, Edwin Seroussi (2004). Popular music and national culture in Israel. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520936881.
  6. ^ a b c d e Ury Eppstein, Michael Ajzenstadt (13 June 1999). "These chicks have got to grow". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  7. ^ Motti Regev, Edwin Seroussi (2004). Popular music and national culture in Israel. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520936881.
  8. ^ Don Rubin (1999). Contemporary Theatre: Europe. Routledge. ISBN 9780415251570.
  9. ^ Barry Davis (12 October 2000). "Succot forecast: Festival fever". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  10. ^ יודילוביץ', מרב (5 November 2007). "המפעל של פולני". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ יודילוביץ', מרב (14 November 2007). "האם אמרו לך פעם?". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  12. ^ ""תודה, חביבי!": נעמי פולני תקבל פרס הוקרה מנשיא המדינה – וואלה תרבות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 1 April 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ חיות, איה (19 March 2019). "פרס ישראל לתיאטרון יוענק השנה לנעמי פולני". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "במאית הלהקות הצבאיות נעמי פולני הלכה לעולמה בגיל 96". www.inn.co.il. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

External links edit