God & I: Noa

IS NOA a Jewish name?

It is the abbreviation of my real name, Achinoam Nini. Achinoam was King David's wife.

Do you think you have anything in common with her?

No, nothing, she was a very quiet and patient woman.

You were born in Israel, your family moved to New York. How did you find it living as an Israeli Jew overseas?

It was difficult though New York is full of Jews. We went to a religious Jewish school where most children were of Anglosaxon/Eastern European descent, and we were the only dark skinned children there. Then in the streets, the neighboorhood was tough, full of black and puerto-rican kids. We didn't fit there either. My brother was sometimes picked on and even beaten on his way to school because of the way we dressed. Fortunately we had our family to lean on (my uncles and grandparents lived with us, like a tribe.), and I escaped into my music.

Did you have a religious education?

My parents enrolled me in a yeshiva, a Jewish school in New York where I received a religious education.

You attended the prestigious Martha Graham School of Dance. What inspired you to then move into the sphere of music?

To this day I love modern dance passionately, but it was clear to me that my strongest talents were in music, not dance. Songwriting was my ultimate love-medicine, but to this day, I dance as much as I can during my concerts.

At 17 years of age, you decided to go back in Israel. Why is this?

I was in love with a young manliving in israel , who later became my husband and is now the father of my child.

When you reached 18 years of age, you were called to carry out military service spending two years in the army, not an easy task for a woman... How did you find this experience?

The idea of a woman in the military being problematic did not cross my mind. It is very natural in Israel since all women must serve, and besides, not one moment in my life have I ever felt inferiour to any man for any reason (on the contrary, especially since I gave birth). In the military I sang in an army band, entertaining soldiers; it was tough but it gained me a lot of experience and made me strong.

Well, thank you, I did not know that is what I am considered. I just do my best, honestly and lovingly, and I work hard, that's all. Success is a very subjective term.

You were the first Jew in history to have sung Ave Maria before the Pope. Can you tell us about this event?

I felt very honoured to have the opportunity to sing in the Vatican for the Pope. There are many things which this Pope stands for which I believe in very strongly, especially his statements about no wars in the name of God and his reconciliation with Judaism and his support for the State of Israel. I have great respect for this extraordinary man, and this is why I felt very proud to be able to sing for him. I would also say that only thanks to the efforts of religious leaders, as the Pope, to bring about communication between peoples, do we have any chance of arriving at peace in this world.

Did you actually have the occasion to speak with the Pope?

During the Jubilee 2000 (the second time I sang for him), I went up to him to shake his hand and exchange a few words after my performance. I thanked him for his visit in Israel, and encouraged him to continue in the ways of compassion and open-heartedness.

On account of this performance, you attracted the anger of Israeli Orthodox Jews, why is this?

People are afraid to lose their identity. I feel sorry for those who live in fear and behind closed emotional doors. But I must say, the very large majority of people in Israel was delighted and honoured by this performance.

Do you think music can contribute to changing the situation in the Middle East?

A musician's role involves finding the key to opening the people's hearts. But it is important to place deep values into these hearts when they open. This is why I came to Padua and I sang in the Basilica of Saint Anthony. A Jewish woman in a Catholic Church is a very powerful sign: only through mutual comprehension can we attain peace in the world.

To begin with I feel very sorry for anyone who feels he has to threaten someone for working for peace. I refuse to feel threatened by someone like that and to live my life in fear. Yitzhak Rabin was a great hero of mine and he said something which I feel is very very wise and sensitive; that is that we have to continue fighting terror as if there was no peace process, and continue making peace as if there was no terror. I think that is exactly what I will continue to do as well.

Exremely exciting and supportive.

I think it can only be resolved by a combination of symmetrical apology, recognition of human rights, sharing of the land and finally, the painstaking rebuilding of trust. This will take generations, but it is possible through non-violent communication.

I believe that every human being under the sky has the right to live freely and independently in their own country. Of course, anything I think I deserve, I think another human being deserves as well. I believe that we as human beings should work to break the borders between us. But in some cases like this one, we have to first create borders before we can break them. I would hope that the Palestinian State that would be created in the near future would respect a free and independent Israel as well.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for decades. Do you think that the international diplomatic service is adequately committed to obtaining peace in the territories involved in this conflict?

Not enough. The international community tends to take sides rather than recognising their total inability to fathom the complexity of the situation, and the importance of supplying a secure and supportive platform for dialogue. The media are catastrophical in their blood-thirsty, ratings-driven accounts.

The most important thing that the European Union and the United Nations can do is maintain neutrality because I think the situation we are in right now is an extremely symmetrical situation. The kind of self-righteousness and side-taking which exists very often nowadays within the European Union is extremely destructive. I think that both sides of the struggle have done terrible things to each other and both sides have a lot of justice. To point fingers this way or that way is not helping anybody and it is not going to help us find a solution. The European Union and the United Nations need to provide a platform for dialogue, they have to support the kind of communication that we need in order to be able to solve our problems. That is their role and it is the only thing that will help us.

This war has been going on for years and so far peace has never been achieved. Why is this?

We are in a very complicated situation where forces of evil, forces that support destruction on the Palestinian side right now are quite dominant and I am very sad to say that. I totally believe that the large majority of the Palestinian population want nothing more than to live normal lives and peaceful lives. But right now there doesn’t seem to be a strong leadership which can help them achieve that goal I am sad to say. I hope that very very soon the Palestinian people themselves will help a strong, compassionate leadership rise within them, so that we can communicate more easily. The same is true of the Israelis; I think the Israelis should take the responsibility of choosing the right kinds of leaders, whoever they be, right or left, that will support dialogue with the Palestinians in order to arrive at two free, independent countries living side by side. I think this is definitely possible. There are plenty of people in Israel who are able to do that. In the next elections, I hope that whoever is elected, and I am not sure who that is going to be, will take the responsibilty to lead the country into a dialogue and into a final solution.

Financial support for established relief organisations and humanitarian groups, support for all groups who support a non-violent solution to the conflict, medical aid, opening the borders to refugees, but above all: no taking sides! There is evil and good on both sides, and the dead are all dead, they will not be back. we must look to the future without judgement, only with compassion and hope.

The Basilica is absolutely beautiful! As it gives me great hope about the future of both of our religions.

Who is God for you?

God is love.

How do you live your faith?

I am not a very religious person. I believe in living life lovingly and compassionately. I take nothing for granted.

Out of everything you have accomplished in your life so far, what is the one thing which makes you the most proud?

My son. Being a mother is the most beautiful thing ever to happen to me. I have been swept away by a cyclone of tenderness and passion. I can only wish for my life to continue in this way always, dividing my energy between being a mother and a singer. I ask for nothing more.

What would you like the future to hold for your son?

I wish him happiness and peace.

You named your son Ayeyah? which is an Indian American name which means ‘Second Wing’. Why is this?

I called him this because I grew up in the United States and I love the culture of the American Indians very much. I feel they are very connected to the earth. I feel that my son is my second wing, which that is what his name means, and only with my son can I fly.

What is peace for you?

Peace is the smile on a child’s face, my own child. It’s the ability to live every life very simply. Maybe peace is nature, God and simplicity.