Sarit Hadad

Sarit Hadad (born 1978 as Sarah Hudadatov) is one of Israel’s most famous singers. She gained international recognition when she represented Israel at Eurovision 2002 with the song “Light a Candle,” where she finished 12th in the contest. Her career spans over three decades, during which she has released more than 20 albums. Hadad’s music blends catchy pop with Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) flavors. She remains a beloved pop icon in Israel and continues to perform and record new music today.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Hadad was born in the town of Afula in northern Israel and grew up in a large musical family as the youngest of eight children. She showed talent from an early age. As a child, she taught herself to play musical instruments like the piano, organ, guitar, accordion, and even the darbuka (a Middle Eastern drum). By age 8 she was already performing locally, impressing audiences as a child prodigy. At 15, she joined a youth band in her city Hadera. When Hadad was 16, music impresario Avi Gueta discovered her at a local performance and became her manager. Under his guidance, she began her professional career and recorded her debut album Spark of Life in 1995. That first album (titled Niẓoẓ HaḤayyim in Hebrew) followed the popular Mediterranean pop style of the time. The album sold well and put her on the map in the Israeli music scene.

Rise to Stardom in the 1990s

By the late 1990s, Sarit Hadad’s popularity in Israel was soaring. She initially built a following in the Sephardi/Mizrahi Jewish community. She performed Middle Eastern pop songs in clubs and weddings. In 1997, A Jordanian TV director saw her perform and invited her to Jordan. Hadad became the first Israeli singer to perform professionally in Jordan, appearing under a pseudonym due to political sensitivities. That tour was a success and led to her releasing an album Sings in Arabic in 1997, which was sung entirely in Arabic and even sold in Arab countries. This cross-cultural achievement was rare and demonstrated that music has no boundaries.

Also in 1997, Hadad collaborated with the popular Israeli ethnopop band Teapacks on a song. Her 1998 album Law of Life (Ḥok HaḤayyim) became a major hit and effectively broke her into the Israeli mainstream. From that point on, Hadad turned into a national star. She produced a string of successful albums annually, many of which topped the Israeli music charts. Every record she released in this era was an immediate success. She also racked up industry honors. Israeli radio and TV frequently voted her “Singer of the Year” multiple times during the late 90s. By 2001, with numerous hits under her belt, Sarit Hadad was firmly established as one of Israel’s leading female singers.

Eurovision 2002: Representing Israel on the Big Stage

However, the biggest international spotlight on Hadad came in 2002. Israeli television selected Sarit Hadad to be Israel’s Eurovision 2002 representative. She performed the ballad “Light a Candle” (Hebrew title: Nadlik Beyakhad Ner) at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. The song was a heartfelt plea for hope and peace, delivered partly in Hebrew and partly in English. The performance earned 37 points and finished in 12th place out of 24 entries in the 2002 contest.

Continued Success and Musical Evolution

After Eurovision, Sarit Hadad continued to thrive and evolve as an artist. She kept up a prolific output, releasing hit albums through the 2000s and 2010s at a remarkable pace. Albums such as Only Love Will Bring Love (2003), Miss Music (2005), and The One Who Watches Over Me (2007) all enjoyed commercial success. In fact, many of her albums in the 2000s reached the No.1 spot on Israel’s album charts. Her music style also grew over time. Hadad remained true to her Mizrahi pop roots, infusing songs with Middle Eastern rhythms and instruments. However, she also experimented with contemporary pop and dance influences. Moreover, she is versatile in languages: she has recorded songs in Hebrew, Arabic, English, and even Georgian, Turkish, and Greek, appealing to diverse audiences.

Hadad’s fame led her to perform internationally as well. In December 2006, she embarked on a U.S. tour called “Sing with Sarit,” drawing big crowds in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. By this time she had a growing fanbase among Jewish communities abroad. In July 2007, none other than pop superstar Madonna revealed that she is a fan of Sarit Hadad’s music. Madonna was quoted as saying she enjoyed listening to Hadad’s songs while dining at a kosher restaurant near her home. 

Throughout the 2010s, Hadad continued to release new music, including a self-titled album Sarit Hadad in 2015 and Sara Sings in 2017. She also celebrated 20 years of her career with a special album (20 in 2011) and live concert recordings at the famous Caesarea amphitheater in Israel. In 2020, Hadad collaborated with Netta Barzilai, Israel’s Eurovision 2018 winner, on a duet. 

Television Appearances and Media Presence

In addition to her recording career, Sarit Hadad expanded her presence into television and media. She has been a frequent guest on Israeli TV specials, award shows, and holiday concerts. Notably, in 2012 she joined the panel of coaches on the inaugural season of The Voice Israel. As a judge on The Voice, she mentored aspiring singers. Hadad has also been involved in other television projects. For example, she partnered with classical singer David D’Or in 2004 to record a children’s music DVD called Pets in Tunes.

Sarit was invited to perform at Israel’s 60th and 70th Independence Day celebrations and has appeared on international stages, from Europe to North America. 

Personal Life and Milestones

Despite her fame, Sarit Hadad has always emphasized her personal values and milestones. She comes from a traditional Jewish background and observes certain religious practices. For instance, she does not perform on Jewish holidays or the Sabbath, choosing to rest on those sacred days. 

In September 2021, Hadad made headlines for a very personal reason: she came out publicly as a lesbian and introduced her long-time partner, Tamar Yahalomi. Tamar Yahalomi is a songwriter who had also competed on an Israeli music show. To share this news with her fans, Sarit released a song titled “Ahava Kmo Shelanu” (“A Love Like Ours”), featuring her partner in the music video. This announcement was a significant milestone for Hadad, as she had kept her private life relatively guarded for years. The Israeli entertainment industry and fans widely supported her, and she was praised for her honesty and courage.

Sarit is also a proud mother. She welcomed her first daughter, Noya, in 2017. Later, she and Tamar expanded their family. A second daughter, Shira, was born in May 2020, and a third daughter, Adele Esther, in November 2022. Balancing motherhood with a music career, Hadad often says her children are her biggest joy and inspiration. 

Legacy and Recent Achievements

Sarit Hadad’s impact on Israeli music is profound. In 2009, Israel’s Channel 24 (Music 24) named her the “Best Female Singer of the 2000s,” recognizing her dominance of that decade. A year later, in 2010, major Israeli media outlets Galgalatz and Channel 24 honored her as “Israel’s Singer of the Decade”. Hadad has also won multiple local music awards. She received an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Israeli Act. 

Even in recent years, Hadad has not slowed down. She continues to perform live, often to sold-out crowds. In 2019, she was invited to sing in the Eurovision Song Contest pre-show events when the competition was hosted in Tel Aviv. During the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hadad stayed connected with fans by live-streaming performances from her home studio. In 2023 and beyond, she has released new singles and performed at major cultural festivals in Israel. Her ability to adapt and remain relevant in the ever-changing music scene is a testament to her talent and dedication.