Leonard Cohen opens his pockets for Israelis and Palestinians

July 29, 2009 - 10:43 AM by David

leonardMost international musical superstars who come to Israel might pay lip service to promoting peace in the region – like Paul McCartney did with his ‘Friendship First’ concert – but few actually put their money where their singing voices are.

Leonard Cohen is apparently the exception. In the middle of a long world tour that has raised him to the ranks of the world’s most loved performers, Cohen could have easily skipped Israel at the end of his European swing. But not only did he want to perform in the country, he decided that he couldn’t take money out of the country.

According to his manager Robert Kory, who spoke to me on Sunday, the revenue from Cohen’s Ramat Gan Stadium show on September 24th will be donated through a new fund to benefit Israeli and Palestinian organizations that are working toward conciliation.

The Fund For Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace will provide financial support for organizations and individuals working in Israel and the PA, focusing on bereaved Israeli and Palestinian parents who have experienced loss yet continue to strive to achieve peace in the region through their efforts.

Initial beneficiaries of Cohen’s altruism will be the Parents Circle – Family Forum, an NGO reprenting Israeli and Palestinian parents who have lost children in the conflict and who have made the commitment to work together in building a consensus for peace, the Peres Center for Peace Children’s Medical Program, Combatants for Peace, an organization which attempts to bring together IDF veterans and Palestinian terrorists who have renounced their ways, and the Palestinian Happy Child Center, a developmental center that works with special needs children in Ramallah.

“I got a call from someone identifying themself as Leonard Cohen’s manager. I thought to myself, ‘what’s going on here?’” laughed the Parents Circle founder Yitzhak Frankenthal, whose son Arik was murdered by terrorists near Ramallah in 1994.

“Robert told me that Leonard would like to donate money from his show to people who have paid the price and still continue to do what they can to achieve reconciliation. They invited me to meet them in New York, and I discovered two wonderful people – Leonard and Robert, they complete each other. It was really special and unusual to find someone like Leonard who cares about what’s going on here in the Middle East and tries to do something to help.”

While Cohen will undoubtedly be razzed by some for trying to put his two cents into our region of the world, and for the fact that the fund is going to be administered by Amnesty International, not perceived as Israel’s greatests friends, the fact that he’s doing something concrete that seems to be only helping Israelis and Palestinians in a non-political manner, if that’s possible, can only be commendable. He’s my man.

And here’s a tip for Cohen fans out there – an announcement is going to be made this week about the launching of ticket sales for the show. Get your wallet ready.

Tags: , , , , • Category: A New Reality, Business, General, Music, coexistence 

Comments

6 Comments on Leonard Cohen opens his pockets for Israelis and Palestinians

  1. NU Online | Singing for peace on Wed, Jul 29th 2009 10:34 PM

    2. [...] and he is making a stop in Israel, at Ramat Gan Stadium  on September 24. According to the blog Israelity, he is going to leave some tzedakah behind in order to promote peace: The revenue from [...]

  2. David-Joe on Thu, Jul 30th 2009 12:54 AM

    3. Typical American Jewish Liberal idiocy or worse, undeserved guilt.

    Does he not understand that Israel is involved in a real existential fight? That giving ANYTHING to Arabs merely strengthens them and reassures them in their goal to destroy Israel?

    Speak to any Palestinian in New York City and ask them what they think about Israel. They will be friendly and openly state that “the Jewish” have stolen their land and Israel must be destroyed.

    I cannot stand people like Cohen. They delude that the Arabs want peace and all that has to be done is promote it through these silly joint participations.

    Mr. Cohen you are a dolt. Go back to your music.

  3. Nicky on Mon, Aug 3rd 2009 6:01 AM

    4. Tickets for the concert sold out in a day! That’s not bad.
    Clearly not everyone feels the same as David-Joe.

  4. CHEN LING LING on Fri, Aug 7th 2009 3:09 AM

    5. DEAR LEONARD COHEN,
    I DONT KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT I KNOW YOU LOVE ISRAEL AS I DO.
    EVEN IF I HAD A HOLE IN MY POCKET, STRUGGLING FOR EXISTENCE
    EVEN AT 60, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE FEAST OF TABERNACLE ON SEPT.18.
    SINCE YOU ARE PERFORMING FOR A CAUSE SEPT.24. I HOPE TO
    PERSONALLY MEET WITH YOU.
    AM SURE YOUR POCKET WILL BE ENLARGED WITH A BIG GOLDEN HEART
    LIKE YOURS. ANYTHING PUT TO GOD’S KINGDOM FOR HIS PURPOSE
    WILL MULTIPLY HUNDREDFOLD. YOU WILL ALSO ENJOY SUCCESS
    AND PROSPERITY. MAY YOUR CAREER BE RICHLY BLESSED.
    HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SO I CAN SEE YOU SOON.
    IN CHRIST,
    YOLLY CHEN

    MOBILE 86-13502812369

  5. will hershman on Fri, Aug 7th 2009 10:12 AM

    6. Donot disparage “superstars” who come to Israel. Your statement,
    “Most international musical superstars who come to Israel might pay lip service to promoting peace in the region – like Paul McCartney did with his ‘Friendship First’ concert – but few actually put their money where their singing voices are…” Such a comment overlooks a couple of very important facts…the biggest fact is that Israel is hated vocally by too many; superstars who perform in Israel are giving overt approval for a Jewish state, and in doing so put themselves at risk…think about it and be grateful and RESPECTFUL for all the stars that EVER set foot on Israeli soil. As for donating to Israel, name another country in which any one performs where donating to the country or causes is even considered. Your hubris is a disservice and you disgraced yourself by such commentary. Applaud Cohen yes, don’t knock the other greats who have come to Israel. You owe Sir Paul an apology..jerk!

  6. Charlene Fairchild on Wed, Aug 19th 2009 9:54 AM

    7. Leonard Cohen is NOT an American, he is a Canadian. Go for it Leonard. Keep up the good work and please keep on singing.

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