By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

“I’m coming to the U.S. to perform and it makes me very, very happy because it’s been a while and, also, after last year — the cancellations and all — here I have festivals that did book me,” singer/songwriter Daphna Levy says via Zoom from her home on a moshav (village) not far from Ben Gurion Airport.

Levy’s international touring career came to a halt in the wake of the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023 and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war.

About seven months ago, she resumed touring. Levy will headline Temple Israel’s Jewish Cultural Festival at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 8.

Two weeks later, she’ll perform in Minneapolis at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

Levy has sung at the Bansko Jazz Fest in Bulgaria, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Paris’ New Cultural Center, the Baku Jazz Festival in Azerbaijan, and Croatia’s Zrinski Art Festival.

“Normally, everywhere I perform, I’m an Israeli and a Jewish performer, and everywhere I go, I always tell about Jewish tradition and about Israel,” Levy says.

“It doesn’t matter where, even in Muslim countries — not Arab countries, of course — but I perform in places like Kosovo, Albania, Azerbaijan. And a lot of times I also collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so I have this huge banner of Israel right on top of my head during the performance. So you see, it’s a strange place to be for me now.”

To this listener, Levy’s jazz phrasing calls to mind Ella Fitzgerald — remarkable for a sabra (native-born Israeli) whose parents are also sabras. On her father’s side, she says, she’s a 14th-generation sabra with roots in Tiberias.

Levy was born and raised in a suburb of Tel Aviv.

“American culture is my thing. I guess it all comes down, just like anything else, to love. To the love of it. And throughout the years, I developed my own style and my own sound, which is kind of a crossover of jazz with Hebrew songs, Jewish music, Mediterranean sounds.”

One of her songs, Tiberias Blues, is a nod to her father’s lineage.

“It depicts the scene of Tiberias 200 years ago. It’s very visual, based on what I saw and what I read. I did some research before I wrote this.”

In Dayton, she’ll also sing a jazz arrangement of a song from Fiddler on the Roof.

Accompanying Levy at the Jewish Cultural Festival will be pianist Itay Abramovitz.

She hopes her June performances in the U.S. will develop into a tour, with more bookings to come.

“It hasn’t been as easy this time. I just accept that this is what’s going on in the U.S. right now. So I do my best to focus on bringing good to the world through music.”

When asked how the massacre and war have impacted her life in Israel, she says, “I’m just really tired, honestly. It’s been all the anxiety with the sirens. You never know when it’s going to happen and whether you’re going to be home or driving the car. You’re constantly worrying about our soldiers and the hostages.”

Levy says she’s hopeful first and foremost for all the living hostages to return safely.

“That’s the top priority. And then a lot of work will be needed to heal this society.”

More festival highlights
New this year to the festival will be food for purchase from All The Best Delicatessen.

Temple Israel’s bakery in partnership with Ghostlight Coffee’s bakery returns this year, along with Graeter’s. Entertainment includes the return of the Miami Valley Klezmer Ensemble, Mary “Mahira” Rogers, and the Shimmy Cats.

The children’s area, near the open-air vendor marketplace, will include a petting zoo, stories, games, and crafts.

Inside the temple, congregants will lead tours and speakers will present on topics including Judaism, the Holocaust, and Dayton’s Jewish history.

Temple Israel will host its Jewish Cultural Festival, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Admission is free. Food, beverages, and crafts are available for purchase. Full schedule at tidayton.org/festival.

To read the complete June 2025 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.