Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Tofa'ah

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Years active
  
1981-present

Origin
  
Jerusalem, Israel

Past members
  
See below

Record labels
  
Tofa'ah, Phenomenal Music

Website
  
tofaah-jewish-music.com

Members
  
Yona Yakobovitz Mindy Furher Tamar Attias Lois Weinstein Susan Hendrickson Jessie Schechter Samara Hendrickson Karina Karewiecz

Albums
  
For All Time, AZAMRA, Dare to Listen, B'Simcha, Feel The Power

Genres
  
Jewish rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk music

Tofa ah concert feel the power


Tofa'ah (Hebrew: תופעה‎‎, "phenomenon" or "happening") is an Israeli Jewish rock band formed in Jerusalem in 1981. They are notable for being the first all-female Orthodox Jewish band, preceding later groups like Ashira and Bulletproof Stockings. They have released ten albums since 1984.

Contents

Overview

Founder Yona Yakobovitz (drums, piano, vocals) moved to Israel from Saratoga Springs, New York in 1981 to attend seminary. There, she befriended and played with other young female musicians and decided to create an outlet for religious women looking to express themselves musically. This became Tofa'ah, which formed that same year with an original lineup featuring Esther Leuchter (vocals), Rachel Kantorowitz (violin), Joy Shapiro (flute), Ann Rahel Silverman-Limor (guitar), Tehilla Shwab (vocals, flute), and Devora Belinky (flute).

Tofa'ah have toured throughout the United States and Israel, performing at venues as diverse as women's prisons, the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, and the court of the Belzer Rebbetzin. They have also appeared several times on Israeli radio and television.

Musical style

The band plays a mix of blues, jazz, and rock and roll, citing as influences Joni Mitchell, Pat Benatar, and Earth, Wind & Fire, with Yakobovitz herself citing Shlomo Carlebach, The Rabbis' Sons, and Diaspora Yeshiva Band.

Current

  • Yona Yakobovitz – drums, piano, vocals
  • Mindy Furher – guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals
  • Tamar Attias – flute, whistles
  • Lois Weinstein – percussion
  • Susan Hendrickson – percussion
  • Jessie Schechter – percussion
  • Samara Hendrickson – vocals, percussion
  • Karina Auday Karewiecz – bass
  • Former

  • Esther Leuchter – vocals
  • Rachel Kantorowitz – violin
  • Elaine Wolman – bass
  • Joy Shapiro – flute
  • Ann Rahel Limor – guitar
  • Laiya Rothberg – vocals
  • Tehilla Shwab – vocals, flute
  • Elaine Wolman – upright bass
  • Devora Belinky – flute
  • Linda Levine – upright bass
  • Nancy Segal – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Miriam Sandler – vocals
  • Sunita Staneslow – harp
  • Tasha Baloo – clarinet
  • Judy Amsel – violin
  • Leah Orso – violin
  • Discography

  • The Sound of Joyous Song (1984)
  • For All Time (1996)
  • B'Simcha (2000)
  • Dare to Listen (2002)
  • Azamra (2006)
  • Feel the Power (2009)
  • Lights (2011)
  • Songs

    No Secrets No LiesFor All Time · 1996
    Feel the PowerFeel The Power · 2009
    AzamraAZAMRA · 2006

    References

    Tofa'ah Wikipedia