Shalva Band

The Shalva Band (Hebrew: להקת שלווה) is an Israeli band consisting of eight disabled musicians.[1] The group was formed in 2005 at the SHALVA organization,[2] which supports and empowers individuals with disabilities and their families in Israel. The band has performed on several occasions in Israel and around the world, including conferences, cultural events, and in ceremonies at the official residence of the President of Israel.[3]

President Donald J. Trump applauds the Shalva Band, performers at the Israeli American Council National Summit Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Hollywood, Fla. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

The band has cooperated with leading musicians from Israel, including Shlomi Shabat, Avraham Fried, Moshe Peretz, Eyal Golan, David Broza, Idan Amedi, Shiri Maimon, Yonatan Razel, and Natan Goshen.[4] Internationally famous singers and actors, including Demi Lovato and Jamie Foxx, have praised the band.[5][6]

The band gained public interest in 2019 when it competed in HaKokhav HaBa,[7] a music reality show which selects the Israeli representative to the Eurovision Song Contest.[8] The band reached the final stages of qualification, but later learned that they would be required to disobey Shabbat observance during rehearsals for Eurovision. Ultimately, they decided to respect the religious beliefs of several band members and withdrew from HaKokhav HaBa.[9] The band was then invited to perform as the interval act of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 – without violating the beliefs of any member of the band – with a cover of "A Million Dreams".[10][11][12] A few days before performing at Eurovision, the band also performed at the torch-lighting ceremony that opens the celebrations of the Israeli Independence Day.[13]

The band has gone on international tours including performances to North and South America and Europe.[14][15] Their American debut was for the Israeli American Council,[16] where they performed for President Donald Trump[17] and summit attendees.[18] They performed at Eton College's interfaith concert in 2018.[19]

Shalva Band's first official music video is a mash-up of Matisyahu's "One Day" and "Let It Go" from Frozen, along with a few other pop songs.[20]

References
  1. "Israel's Shalva Band continues to make a difference". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  2. "Shalva Band wins hearts performing at Eurovision - watch". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. "Watch: Shalva Band wows President Trump". www.israelhayom.com. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  4. "Knesset holds annual 'Songs in Their Memory' event honoring Israel's fallen soldiers". Knesset. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  5. Rudee, Eliana (2 December 2019). "A new kind of ambassador: The rise of Israel's Shalva Band and Netta Barzilai". JNS.org. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  6. "Jamie Foxx praises Shalva Band". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  7. staff, T. O. I. "The real winners of 2nd Eurovision semifinal? Shalva Band wows the world". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  8. "The rising stars of Eurovision who pulled out of the final". BBC News. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  9. Oster, Marcy (6 February 2019). "The Shalva band chooses Shabbat over representing Israel at Eurovision". The Times of Israel.
  10. "Israel: The Shalva Band withdraws from The Next Star...but they will perform at Semi-Final 2 of Eurovision 2019". wiwibloggs. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  11. Stein, Gil (13 March 2019). "Why this Israeli band of disabled musicians said no to Eurovision". J. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  12. Matyas, Nadine (23 May 2019). "The band that inspired the world to rethink disability". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. Ross, Adam (11 February 2019). "The Shalva Band: Winning Israeli Hearts through Music and Jewish Values". aishcom. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  14. "Shalva Band 2017 Tour". Israel Connection Tours. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  15. "Israeli band of disabled musicians kicks off world tour in London". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  16. Kaplan-Mayer, Gabrielle (2 December 2019). "Popular Shalva Band That Won Hearts At Eurovision To Perform In U.S." jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  17. Day, Video of the. "Watch: Shalva Band Performs for President Trump at Israeli American Council National Summit". Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  18. "Shalva band makes American debut at Israeli-American Council event". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  19. "Israeli disabled musicians perform at British College". Israel National News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  20. Leichman, Abigail Klein (3 October 2017). "Band of disabled musicians to tour US, Canada, Mexico, UK". Israel21c. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
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