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Leonard Cohen in Israel

Video Art Display With Rare Footage

Leonard Cohen, Matti Caspi. Courtesy Anjani Thomas Collection, Isaac Shokal, Doron Yakobi, Uri Dan – Farkash Gallery
Leonard Cohen, Mati Caspi. Courtesy Anjani Thomas Collection, Isaac Shokal, Doron Yakobi, Uri Dan – Farkash Gallery

*On display until December 30, 2023*

Legendary musician Leonard Cohen’s relationship with Israel was complex. Cohen, raised observant, was a devout Zen-Buddhist for thirty years, though he famously maintained his connection to Judaism throughout his life. His soul-searching – grappling with his own heritage – intermingled with Israel’s story. From his first trip to Israel in 1960 as an unknown writer, when he met renowned Israeli poet Natan Zach at the iconic Café Casit in Tel Aviv, to two concerts in 1972 as a musical superstar – Cohen became one of Israel’s favorite rock icons. At his first concert here, a fight broke between audience members and security at the Yad Eliyahu sports arena, when Cohen asked the audience to move closer to the stage. At his second concert, Cohen famously did not feel his performance was living up to his expectations. He stopped playing in the middle of a song, and retreated to his dressing room to meditate. Half an hour later, he returned to the stage and brought his audience to tears. For Cohen, the event was traumatic – for those who were there, unforgettable.

Video Art Display With Rare Footage

*On display until December 30, 2023*

Legendary musician Leonard Cohen’s relationship with Israel was complex. Cohen, raised observant, was a devout Zen-Buddhist for thirty years, though he famously maintained his connection to Judaism throughout his life. His soul-searching – grappling with his own heritage – intermingled with Israel’s story. From his first trip to Israel in 1960 as an unknown writer, when he met renowned Israeli poet Natan Zach at the iconic Café Casit in Tel Aviv, to two concerts in 1972 as a musical superstar – Cohen became one of Israel’s favorite rock icons. At his first concert here, a fight broke between audience members and security at the Yad Eliyahu sports arena, when Cohen asked the audience to move closer to the stage. At his second concert, Cohen famously did not feel his performance was living up to his expectations. He stopped playing in the middle of a song, and retreated to his dressing room to meditate. Half an hour later, he returned to the stage and brought his audience to tears. For Cohen, the event was traumatic – for those who were there, unforgettable.

The Yom Kippur War

Leonard Cohen. Courtesy Anjani Thomas Collection, Isaac Shokal, Doron Yakobi, Uri Dan – Farkash Gallery
Leonard Cohen. Courtesy Anjani Thomas Collection, Isaac Shokal, Doron Yakobi, Uri Dan – Farkash Gallery

When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Cohen was moved by the threat against Israel and arrived to help take part in the war effort. He was on his way to volunteer on a kibbutz when he had a chance meeting with Israeli singer Oshik Levi at the California Café. Levi was organizing musicians to perform for soldiers on the front lines and persuaded Cohen to join. Cohen, for his part, thought his songs were not uplifting enough for the beleaguered troops, but he went anyway. An iconic photograph shows Cohen with then General Ariel Sharon and Israeli rocker Matti Caspi in the Sinai. The war and the faces of the exhausted soldiers affected Cohen deeply and inspired him to write on of his most famous songs, Lover Lover Lover – whose original version opens with the words “I saw my brothers fighting in the desert”. Cohen performed in Israel again in 1985, and in 2009 for his final concert in the country, at which he spread his hands over the audience, giving them the Priestly Blessing, saying: “I don’t know when we will meet again, but I promise to give you all that I have tonight.”

The Yom Kippur War

When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Cohen was moved by the threat against Israel and arrived to help take part in the war effort. He was on his way to volunteer on a kibbutz when he had a chance meeting with Israeli singer Oshik Levi at the California Café. Levi was organizing musicians to perform for soldiers on the front lines and persuaded Cohen to join. Cohen, for his part, thought his songs were not uplifting enough for the beleaguered troops, but he went anyway. An iconic photograph shows Cohen with then General Ariel Sharon and Israeli rocker Matti Caspi in the Sinai. The war and the faces of the exhausted soldiers affected Cohen deeply and inspired him to write on of his most famous songs, Lover Lover Lover – whose original version opens with the words “I saw my brothers fighting in the desert”. Cohen performed in Israel again in 1985, and in 2009 for his final concert in the country, at which he spread his hands over the audience, giving them the Priestly Blessing, saying: “I don’t know when we will meet again, but I promise to give you all that I have tonight.”

More Images

Credits

Supported by the Government of Canada | 

Thank you to the Embassy of Canada

Producer and director | 

Robert de Young

Editor | 

Eric Basset

Curator | 

Asaf Galay

Chief curator | 

Dr. Orit Shaham Gover

Producer | 

Michal Houminer

Translation | 

Sivan Raveh

Sound mix | 

Ronen Nagel

Color | 

RGB Post Productions

Graphics | 

Ayala Sharot

Photos courtesy | 

Anjani Thomas Collection, Isaac Shokal, Doron Yakobi, Uri Dan – Farkash Gallery

Archival footage courtesy | 

Sony Music Entertainment, inc

Concert footage courtesy | 

Unified Heart Productions, LLC and Sony Music Entertainment, inc

Produced by | 

Unified Heart Productions, LLC

© 2020, All Rights Reserved | 

Free admittance for Israelis evacuated from the south and north, and soldiers.

Plan Your Visit

Visiting Hours

Sunday
10am-5pm
Monday
10am-5pm
Tuesday
10am-5pm
Wednesday
10am-5pm
Thursday
10am-5pm
Friday
10am-2pm
Saturday
10am-5pm

Admission Prices (NIS)

Regular
52
Israeli Senior citizens
26
Persons with disabilities, college/university students, “olim”
42
Children under 5 years old
Free entrance
Soldiers in uniform
free entrance (please show I.D.)

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Our Location

Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv Entrance from gate #2 (Matatia gate)