Haifa. Balfour Street climbs from Herzl Street to Arlozorov Street at an almost vertical gradient. The road from my home in the Olive Valley passes from Masada Street through the old water tower, to the climb of the last and most difficult section of Balfour. A stranger will not be able to understand this. I invite all Tel Aviv drivers with a driver's license to perform an uphill jump in a car with a regular transmission at this location. About one hundred percent will fail. Even more. In this section the body is almost lying down and even a tank would have difficulty jumping uphill.
We reached the top, Arlozorov Street, crossed the road and arrived at Shimon Reichstadt's house. One floor above the shops was a three-room apartment and another, more full of joy and music than a twenty-room palace.
Shimon Reichstadt is my friend and Avraham is his older brother. Avraham is a sought-after handsome man, who could only be seen without the eternal black turtleneck in the hot summer months. Tight clothes and high men's heels. A style of clothing that was ahead of its time. Little Haifa knew every unusual character and Avraham, who was a dancer, boxer and a favorite of women, was a well-known figure. The parents ran an open house, exemplary hosts and they themselves are people who love life and entertainment, drink and food.
I often stayed at their house, especially on Fridays. It was never boring, not even for a minute. Many friends came to visit Avrahamla, and more than once the schedule got messed up and we children were used as an alibi.
The Arabs were dedicated to music.
The father of the family, who ran a battery filling business in the German colony, closed early on Friday and rushed home.
The many connections with the sailors have produced various records that have not yet been heard in Israel. A new song was released in Greece and a few days later it is playing in their apartment on Arlozorov Street. Sitting in the room, they hear the songs over and over again. A new song has just been released in Greece and one of the sailors has smuggled it out and is on his way here.
Stelios Kazantzidis sang 'Apopse Phila Me' 'Kisses of the Night'. The song became a hit in the Balkans and was performed many times. Manoli Hioti, one of the greatest bouzouki players in Greece at the time, took the singer Mary Linda and they performed the song wonderfully.
Someone brings out a guitar. They play, sing, and are treated to food and drink. Avrahamla brings out an accordion, Shmulik Kraus a guitar, and the celebration is in full swing. Many artists and singers from the center passed through this house when they were still unknown.
It's amazing that even before the announcement as artists, there were many guests from abroad, singers, musicians, and dancers visiting this humble home.
One of them, who came from the United States, was a singer of American folk songs who also stayed in Israel at the Reichstedt house, and diversified the musical life at home. For a considerable sum, he agreed to give me a few lessons. He was not a great teacher, but I managed to learn from him all kinds of musical ornaments to accompany cowboy songs and country songs on the guitar.
A new '78' record has arrived from Greece and everyone is flocking to hear it. The young singer Stelios Kazantzidis sings the song 'Pui Semana Na Me Dis' in his unique voice. The song is played over and over again. They know the song by heart and join in singing along with him.
The adults drink alcohol and we settle for the slush. This is the famous song that I've been searching for for decades. A fascinating story in itself. There are two people on Earth who own a copy of this song. One of them is me, so I won't eat it for sale in lentil stew. Maybe a little taste in the future.
"Lead Wool" was founded by Avrahamela and Shmulik. The duo has performed at various parties and events. They sing in two voices, accompany each other with guitar, and at the end of the show, they perform amazing ballroom dances. The audience loves the duo, which has enjoyed great local success. Shmulik Kraus was recognized in Haifa in his white uniform during his service in the Navy. Both are beautiful and talented.
Friday in my house the atmosphere is completely different. Dad returns from the carpentry shop with the start of Shabbat. Tired and exhausted from the whole week. I play complex and intricate exercises and pieces on the violin. Quiet and calm in every corner of the house. When I rest, my sister Rachel plays the piano. The meetings at Shimon's were engraved in my mind because of the complete opposite of what I was used to. The festive atmosphere is accompanied by singing and playing. Learning new songs and arrangements for two voices. All of this without touching the classical level, so I absorbed music of all kinds, and for that I can only be grateful.
Esther Zaid came into the picture like thunder on a clear day. An amazing voice, with phenomenal ability. The idea of combining her and turning the duo into the "Leader Trio" took shape. Rehearsals began feverishly. We children sat quietly on the sidelines and listened to the discussions about choosing the material, working on the voices, and finally the finished song.
We are also the audience and are the primary ear and respond accordingly. I have often been asked what I think, due to being a music student. The work was done without notes but only by ear, which, as is well known, is not a great advantage. The trio sounded wonderful and Esti and Avrahamela were about to get married. The argument over the division of profits between the three of them led to Shmulik Kraus' retirement from the trio. A very serious historical mistake… by Shmulik. Perhaps he suffered from accounting weakness and because of it he suffered for years from jealousy of the successful couple.
It is impossible to estimate the loss to the entertainment world from this disconnect. Later, Shmulik proved his power in composition, especially in the "High Windows" trio. Songs that quickly entered the pantheon of poetry in our country. Combining him with one of the amazing voices that arose here, would probably yield something unique.
The couple did indeed marry and changed their name to "Ofarim". Esther and Avraham Ofarim. The duo quickly rose to the top. Performances throughout the country and at the "Theatre Club" in Tel Aviv. Within a short period, a weekly program on British television, in which they host various artists and sing themselves.
The harsh Europe received them with great love and this brought a lot of money into their pockets.
Yoav, sorry for the mistake. The photo is from 56/57 and not as written.
Dear Yoav!
I spent many hours...in the house of the Ophers, reading invented things in the scriptures.
I know most of the truth. The name Ofarim was given by the father, who later committed suicide.
I already commented on the mistake in the photo. I repeat: On the right is Shimon, the brother of 'Ofer'.
And on the other hand, I am, and the photo is from 1966/67.
The author seems to be living the years of his youth and is telling a completely subjective story from his perspective. It is worth reading more sources to get a more complete and reliable picture. For example, there is no explanation for the circumstances in which the name "Oferim" was chosen.
And one more thing – a serious journalistic error that may not depend on the writer but on the website editors: the photographs are not of the Ophers at all, despite the caption underneath them. Moreover – it is stated that the photographer is one of the people photographed…
You are right, it is Shimon on the right and his brother Avraham who was the initiator and founder of the 'Oparim'.
On the left is me. This year is 56/57.
Hey, in the picture, this is Shimon Reichstadt, the late
He was the brother of Avi Ofarim.
According to my memory and knowledge: Esther Zeid (later Reichstedt) lived with her family on Ajlon Street (or the corresponding Irbid) on the descent from the liberation hill towards Kibbutz Galuyot.
From what I remember, you lived in Kassel above the beginning of the Valley of Olives, next to Nathan's Garden.
As someone who grew up on Arlozorov Street near the Reichstags, I had the honor of meeting them and the tyrants😉 and later had the honor of appearing with the lead duo in a video on Belgian television and spending time with them throughout the filming of the video in Brussels. Memories 🙏🙏🙏
I'm probably a little younger (only 72). I was told that Esther was our neighbor on Bezalel Street. Is that true?
The wonderful song was written by lyricist and journalist Uri Sharon. Thank you!
Indeed, the Ofarim duo made history in the field of Israeli singing and later in the entire world, in my opinion - thanks to the wonderful voice of singer Esther Ofarim and the manner of performing each song according to its character and uniqueness, as well as her special talent for singing in different languages as if they were her "mother tongue."
It's a common saying. Indeed – a duo of singers who made history!
A riddle that (no one) gave a prize on its side: And who wrote, at Avraham'la's request, a song composed by Shmulik Krauss and called "The Fisherman," and which was included on the first record by "The Ofarim" and later also in Esther Ofarim's wonderful collection?
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