Yehuda Poliker: the Greek-Israeli rock voice of the second generation

Where his sound comes from

Poliker's parents were Greek Jews from Salonika who survived Auschwitz. He grew up with Greek at home and Greek records on the turntable, and started out in the rock band Benzin before going solo with 'Einayim Sheli' — an album of Greek songs in Hebrew that made the bouzouki a legitimate Israeli pop instrument.

Songs to start with

• אפר ואבק Afar VeAvak — "ash and dust", the second-generation anthem (1988)
• חלונות גבוהים Chalonot Gvohim — "high windows", his best-known ballad
• רדיו רמקול Radio Ramkol — the title track of his 1985 breakthrough
• פחד Pachad — "fear", with words by Yaakov Gilad
• כמו צמח בר Kmo Tzemach Bar — "like a wild plant"

His writing partner

Almost all of Poliker's key lyrics come from Yaakov Gilad, whose mother Halina Birenbaum survived Auschwitz. The two built the album 'Efer VeAvak' (1988) as a joint act of memory; it is regularly listed among the greatest Israeli albums ever made.

Learning Hebrew with Poliker

Poliker is a gift to learners: slow tempos, clear consonants, short lines, plain vocabulary and heavy repetition. Start with Afar VeAvak on Shir-ly — synced karaoke lyrics with nikud, transliteration and English, then fill-the-blanks and listening games built from the song's own words.

Frequently asked questions