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| Barbra Streisand echoes Monroe's birthday tribute for Shimon Peres | Barbra Streisand echoes Monroe's birthday tribute for Shimon Peres |
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| Perhaps it lacked the raw sexuality of Marilyn Monroe's breathless birthday ode to JFK more than 50 years ago, but Barbra Streisand's tribute to the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, on Tuesday evening had a sombre power that enthralled the audience of 2,000. | Perhaps it lacked the raw sexuality of Marilyn Monroe's breathless birthday ode to JFK more than 50 years ago, but Barbra Streisand's tribute to the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, on Tuesday evening had a sombre power that enthralled the audience of 2,000. |
| At Peres's request, the Jewish-American diva sang Avinu Malkeinu – Our Father, Our King – to mark the president's 90th birthday at a gala celebration in Jerusalem that included video tributes from Barack Obama, Bono and Vladimir Putin. | |
| In the front row at Jerusalem's international convention centre were Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Sharon Stone; Robert de Niro sat a row behind. Streisand, dressed in a simple black outfit, sang first in Hebrew before launching into People, her signature number. | In the front row at Jerusalem's international convention centre were Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Sharon Stone; Robert de Niro sat a row behind. Streisand, dressed in a simple black outfit, sang first in Hebrew before launching into People, her signature number. |
| Peres – the world's oldest head of state – said it was "worth waiting 90 years to hear such a heavenly voice". | Peres – the world's oldest head of state – said it was "worth waiting 90 years to hear such a heavenly voice". |
| The birthday bash wasn't just a frivolous celebration, but the start of the Presidential Conference, a gathering of global figures in Jerusalem to discuss weighty issues such as leadership in tomorrow's world. | The birthday bash wasn't just a frivolous celebration, but the start of the Presidential Conference, a gathering of global figures in Jerusalem to discuss weighty issues such as leadership in tomorrow's world. |
| Despite the furore over the physicist Stephen Hawking's decision to boycott the conference in protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians, about 5,000 politicians, diplomats, academics and cultural figures are attending Facing Tomorrow, the name of the three-day event. | Despite the furore over the physicist Stephen Hawking's decision to boycott the conference in protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians, about 5,000 politicians, diplomats, academics and cultural figures are attending Facing Tomorrow, the name of the three-day event. |
| Streisand, 71, who is also performing at two concerts in Tel Aviv this week during her first concert tour of Israel, promised that she had "something special planned" for Peres's celebration. She was due to be joined onstage by her son, Jason Gould, and sister, Roslyn Kind, with whom she was to sing duets. | Streisand, 71, who is also performing at two concerts in Tel Aviv this week during her first concert tour of Israel, promised that she had "something special planned" for Peres's celebration. She was due to be joined onstage by her son, Jason Gould, and sister, Roslyn Kind, with whom she was to sing duets. |
| Streisand, a lifelong supporter of Israel, described the country as "a shining beacon of hope in the world" after landing at Ben Gurion airport in her private plane on Saturday, accompanied by her pet dog and a 150-strong entourage. | Streisand, a lifelong supporter of Israel, described the country as "a shining beacon of hope in the world" after landing at Ben Gurion airport in her private plane on Saturday, accompanied by her pet dog and a 150-strong entourage. |
| However, she quickly courted controversy by criticising ultra-Orthodox attitudes to women after being awarded an honorary doctorate from Jerusalem's Hebrew University. "I realise it's not easy to fully grasp the dynamics of what happens in a foreign land, but it's distressing to read about women in Israel being forced to sit in the back of the bus, or when we hear about Women of the Wall having metal chairs thrown at them when they attempt to peacefully and legally pray, and that women can't sing in public," she said. "To remain silent about these things is tantamount to accepting them." | However, she quickly courted controversy by criticising ultra-Orthodox attitudes to women after being awarded an honorary doctorate from Jerusalem's Hebrew University. "I realise it's not easy to fully grasp the dynamics of what happens in a foreign land, but it's distressing to read about women in Israel being forced to sit in the back of the bus, or when we hear about Women of the Wall having metal chairs thrown at them when they attempt to peacefully and legally pray, and that women can't sing in public," she said. "To remain silent about these things is tantamount to accepting them." |
| Ultra-Orthodox custom forbids women to pray aloud or wear traditional prayer shawls, and encourages gender segregation in public spaces. Streisand visited the Western Wall, the revered Jewish site in Jerusalem's Old City and the scene of monthly feminist protests for the past 24 years, on Monday. | Ultra-Orthodox custom forbids women to pray aloud or wear traditional prayer shawls, and encourages gender segregation in public spaces. Streisand visited the Western Wall, the revered Jewish site in Jerusalem's Old City and the scene of monthly feminist protests for the past 24 years, on Monday. |
| Streisand – who as a child attended an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn, New York – praised Hebrew University's mix of Jewish and Arab students. "Jews and Arabs sit together in classrooms, sit together in the cafeteria and learn from the same professors," she said. "I wish the world was more like the hallways of Hebrew University … [it] is proof that people can live in peace." Streisand, a longtime supporter of the US Democratic party and of gay rights, has sold around 145m records over her 50-year career, and won two Academy Awards, eight Grammys and five Emmys. About 32,000 fans are expected to attend her concerts in Tel Aviv on Thursday and Saturday. Peres, who has been Israel's president for the past six years after serving twice as prime minister, turns 90 on 2 August. The next oldest head of state, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, turns 90 next February. | Streisand – who as a child attended an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn, New York – praised Hebrew University's mix of Jewish and Arab students. "Jews and Arabs sit together in classrooms, sit together in the cafeteria and learn from the same professors," she said. "I wish the world was more like the hallways of Hebrew University … [it] is proof that people can live in peace." Streisand, a longtime supporter of the US Democratic party and of gay rights, has sold around 145m records over her 50-year career, and won two Academy Awards, eight Grammys and five Emmys. About 32,000 fans are expected to attend her concerts in Tel Aviv on Thursday and Saturday. Peres, who has been Israel's president for the past six years after serving twice as prime minister, turns 90 on 2 August. The next oldest head of state, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, turns 90 next February. |
| • This article was amended on 21 June 2013. The Hebrew phrase "Avinu Malkeinu" was mistranslated as "Our Forefathers". This has been corrected. |