Yarkoni, Yaffa (1925- )
Singer
Yaffa Yarkoni was born in Eretz Yisrael and began her life as a singer
in a coffee house in Givatayim owned by her mother. She served in the
Givati Brigade in the War of Independence and appeared in the army choral
troupe. She later traveled and performed extensively in the United States,
and she has recorded many songs in foreign languages, as well as in Hebrew.
Among her most famous recordings is her rendition of ".האמיני יום יבוא"
The decision to award Yarkoni the Israel Prize in 1998 for her contribution
to Israeli music was met with much approval. Dubbed "the singer of the
wars," Yarkoni appeared to many to have accompanied the country through
its often turbulent history; the jubilee year's prize thus culminates
simultaneously a chapter of Israel's history and of Yarkoni's career.
Yarkoni herself, who in previous years had voiced bitterness at not having
been chosen for the prize, noted the significance of receiving the award
at Israel's fiftieth anniversary of independence.
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