Singer Maya Dadon Announces Her Return to the Stage

Maya Dadon, who was born and raised in Kiryat Shmona and first came to public attention at age 15, says she is returning to performing after a long absence from the stage. In a special interview on Tuesday with Oded Menashe on "Israel Boker," she said, "I am coming back after several years of development and maturation, it will be very moving." Dadon also said she had served in the army’s performance troupes during her time away from the spotlight.

She spoke about a song she performed in memory of Sgt. Barak Daniel Halpern, a squad commander in the Givati Brigade who was killed in fighting in northern Gaza. "The song is called 'Shakhan Neshamah' because he really was one in the army too," she said. "I immediately rushed to do it, it is an honor for me. The family was very moved."

Dadon, who now lives in Tel Aviv, said she still feels deeply attached to her hometown. "There is nothing like Kiryat Shmona," she said, adding that her parents still live in the north and that she visits them regularly on weekends. She also described the security situation in the area, saying she had spent two weeks there recently and found it extremely difficult because, even when there were no sirens, people could hear explosions from Lebanon and live under constant pressure.