Local Israeli cover band HaOpziot will get people dancing at this year\u2019s Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut celebrations on April 21. <\/i>(photo from JFGV)<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/i>\u201cAs we hold Israel close to our hearts, we are reminded that our connection transcends oceans,\u201d wrote Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, in a recent enewsletter. \u201cWe have the power to bring Israel closer, to feel it and to celebrate it together right here at home through our community\u2019s signature Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut event.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut, April 21, 7:30 p.m., Israeli musician and producer Ben Golan will headline our local celebration of Israel\u2019s 78th Independence Day. (See jewishindependent.ca\/story-of-israels-north<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Golan came onto Federation\u2019s radar when Shanken saw him perform during a 2024 visit to our community\u2019s partnership region in Israel, the Upper Galilee. Golan is from Kiryat Shmona, where he also runs a recording studio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to his own performance, Golan will join local Israeli cover band HaOpziot for a couple of songs during their set.<\/p>\n HaOpziot is comprised of Goor Cohen (vocals, guitar), Kobi Gabay (vocals, guitar), Yotam Ronen (bass guitar), Avishai Weissberg (lead guitar) and Omer Yehi Shalom (drums). The group was founded by Ronen and the band\u2019s former drummer, Maoz Kaufmann, in 2022. The pair posted a call-out on Facebook looking for musicians.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rest of us responded, we clicked instantly, and the Optziot were born,\u201d said Cohen.<\/p>\n The band performs a few times a year, at clubs around Vancouver, as well as at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. To find out where and when they\u2019re playing, people can follow the band on social media: Instagram, Facebook and\/or YouTube.<\/p>\n When asked how to describe their musical sound or style, Cohen said, \u201cIn short: high-energy, loud and often fast.<\/p>\n \u201cOur sound is a fusion of hard rock, punk and heavy metal, with subtle touches of Mizrahi influences, creating a style that strongly resonates with Israeli musical taste and culture,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n Each band member brings their different influences to the music, said Cohen, \u201cranging from mainstream to underground, old-school to contemporary, and classic to anarchistic. That diversity is a big part of what shapes our unique sound.\u201d<\/p>\n Federation\u2019s website page promoting the Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut celebration highlights some of the songwriters whose music HaOpziot performs, including artists like Mashina, Eifo Hayeled, Berry Sakharof and Monica Sex.<\/p>\n The band\u2019s popularity in the local Israeli community is how they came to Federation\u2019s attention, their sound suiting the vibe that Federation would like the event to have, with the night ending in a dance party.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will be the biggest crowd we\u2019ve played for so far,\u201d Cohen told the Independent<\/i>, \u201cand we\u2019re really excited to have more members of the community come see us in action.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Gabay won\u2019t be able to make the Yom Ha\u2019atzmaut concert. But no worries.<\/p>\n \u201cFor this show,\u201d said Cohen, \u201cwe\u2019ve asked Noga Veiman, our unofficial band manager, to join us on stage and take part as a band member \u2013 so, together, we\u2019ll deliver the high-energy show we\u2019ve been planning.\u201d<\/p>\n The night, of course, will begin in a more sombre fashion, with the conclusion of Yom Hazikaron, the day of remembrance for Israel\u2019s fallen soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in war and terror attacks. In Vancouver, the community\u2019s memorial service will take place on April 20, 7:30 p.m., both in person and online. To attend or watch, register at jewishvancouver.com\/zikaron<\/a>.<\/p>\n