Clash Among Leading Cantors Over Umm Kulthum Sparks Cultural Debate
A heated dispute erupted this week in the world of Jewish liturgical music between prominent cantors Moshe Habusha and Yechiel Nahari regarding whether the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef listened to the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Habusha denied the claim, stating in an interview that Rabbi Yosef would never waste time listening to Umm Kulthum. In contrast, Nahari cited a passage from Rabbi Mordechai Hassidim's book "Gdola Shimusha," recounting an occasion when Rabbi Yosef was heard listening to Umm Kulthum's music at home. Nahari further asserted that various cantors, including himself and Habusha, had their music played in Rabbi Yosef's car, office, and home, alongside Umm Kulthum's songs.
The weekly "Zofnik" column in the "Kikar" news outlet also covered numerous social and cultural events involving prominent figures in the Israeli religious and political sectors. Highlights included Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef's vacation in Austria, the strategic advisor whose car was stolen abroad, and various rabbis and politicians seen engaging in leisure and religious activities. Notably, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett broke a five-and-a-half-year silence with the ultra-Orthodox media by granting an exclusive interview.
Other notable moments featured the celebration of French billionaire Tzvi Amar's aliyah to Israel, with blessings from Rabbi David Yosef and appearances by public figures such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who also showcased his singing talents. The article also mentioned a near-fatal car accident involving chef Lior Michaeli, the popular performances of the band Zusha in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market, and various religious leaders and politicians participating in community events and prayers.
The column concluded with a list of the week's most viewed articles on "Kikar," including reports on a secret Pentagon order against Iran's Revolutionary Guards, a tragic bus accident, and escalating Iranian threats against Israel.
