Noa Kirel Says Daniel Peretz Has Become More Religious

Israeli singer Noa Kirel said on Sunday that her husband, goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, has become much more observant recently. Speaking at a launch event, she said he “puts on tefillin every day” and that when they spend weekends in England, where he plays for Southampton, they never skip Friday-night kiddush.

Kirel added that the change appears to be linked to Peretz being physically far from Israel. “He really got into it even more recently, it’s nice for me to see that,” she said, explaining, “He wants to feel close, and religion brings you closer.” She also said the couple strongly believes that everything always works out for the best.

The comments came shortly after a difficult medical episode for Kirel. After an emergency hospitalization for appendicitis, she and Peretz boarded a second honeymoon last week. Despite the circumstances, they were seen at the airport preparing to leave for a new destination, Italy.

Kirel also shared on Instagram that after five days of home IV treatment three times a day, she received doctors’ approval to continue treatment with pills. The trip had previously been cut short when she suddenly fell ill shortly after landing in Japan, leading the couple to abandon the honeymoon and return to Israel immediately. Kirel later told followers why she had to come back, writing that “my appendix wasn’t really cooperating.”