24 | JUNE 13 • 2024 
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ichael HarPaz, 
the renowned 
Israeli entertainer 
and former Detroiter who 
has performed around the 
world, will be performing at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
(CSZ) in Southfield on Tuesday, 
June 18, at 7:30 p.m. 
The event, “
An Evening with 
Michael HarPaz — Songs and 
Stories from Tel Aviv,
” is part of 
a busy summer in Detroit for 
the multitalented HarPaz.
Not only is he performing at 
CSZ, but he’s also performing at 
Camp Tamarack for Tamarack 
Family Fun Day and will 
be emceeing the opening 
ceremonies of the 2024 JCC 
Maccabi Games at Little 
Caesars Arena. 
HarPaz says all of that 
stems from what he’s been 
doing recently, which is a lot 
of “hasbara,
” which means to 
explain, and is a word he says 
has taken on a whole new 
meaning since Oct. 7. 
“It’s basically sort of 
explaining to the world the 
truth, basically trying to fight 
all the fake news and the false 
narratives,
” HarPaz says. “I have 
been making lots of videos that 
give a real vantage point from 
someone from the U.S. with 

an American background but 
living here in Israel during these 
insane times.
” 
Coupled with his singing, 
acting and performing since 
Oct. 7, he’s been doing these 
videos on his own volition and 
posting them to social media.
HarPaz feels if there’s a way 
he can educate at least one 
person or shine some light on 
some truth or even perhaps 
help some college-aged students 
who are having difficulty 
combating antisemitism, that is 
his responsibility.
“
A lot of these videos I’ve 
been making and posting on 
my social media have been 
getting a tremendous amount 
of traction,
” HarPaz says. “So 
in lieu of these videos, lots of 

different English-speaking 
Jewish communities around the 
world have asked me to come 
out and speak and talk and do 
hasbara.
”
Since Oct. 7, HarPaz has 
done these events in New York, 
Los Angeles, Las Vegas and 
even Tel Aviv and Warsaw. 
HarPaz has lived in Israel 
since 2006, and also has a 
degree in Near Eastern and 
Judaic Studies from the 
University of Michigan. 
“So, I do know what I’m 
talking about. I’m not just 
pulling facts out of thin air,
” he 
says. “I know the history quite 
well.
” 
A portion of the proceeds 
of this event will go to support 
Israeli victims of terror and 

their families.
“There’s gonna be a full-on 
concert, and I’m also going 
to weave in some anecdotes 
I think people will find 
fascinating in just how the 
events of Oct. 7 have seeped 
into every nuance of everything 
in this country, everywhere,
” 
HarPaz says. 
HarPaz’s sister, Daniella 
HarPaz Mechnikov, is the 
executive director of the 
kosher food pantry Yad Ezra. 
HarPaz refers to her as the “real 
rockstar of the family,
” with all 
the work she does to help the 
community at large.
HarPaz will also be taking 
some questions from the 
audience. Plus, he may have a 
couple surprise guests up his 
sleeve.
“It will be an intimate, 
acoustic evening,
” he says. 
“
Always my first goal is to 
entertain the audience, I hope 
they enjoy the music, and I 
hope they are touched and 
moved.
” 
The event is generously 
sponsored by the Weisberg 
Family Concert Fund.
To buy tickets, visit 
shaareyzedek.shulcloud.com/
event/an-evening-with-michael-
harpaz-.html. 

Renowned Israeli entertainer will be busy in Metro 
Detroit this summer “explaining to the world.”

Michael HarPaz Performing at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

OUR COMMUNITY

