An aria for Allah

[Gimel]

She might be female, she might be Muslim, but that doesn't seem to have stopped soprano Enas Massalha from becoming the first Israeli Arab Muslim woman to perform with the Israel Opera.

Set to perform in the company's upcoming production of The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar, which begins this weekend, the 25-year-old says: "As a performer, singer and artist, I have to say is amazing. It is the goal every singer wants to reach."

Massalha's decision to become an opera singer was an easy one. She says that by the age of 18, she knew she was destined for a career in the field.

" sounded different and interesting," says Massalha, who grew up in the Israeli Arab village of Daburiya near Nazareth. "It was also a challenge for me to learn different languages and many other new things. I explored, studied and fell in love with it, slowly but seriously."

Full story

Another Israeli Arab success story.

[drdon326]

1. Wonderful story.....

Somehow that previous thread of Israel being a "racist
apartheid country" becomes a joke.

Indeed, another Israeli arab success story.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. No, it doesn't become a joke...

In most cases where a people are discriminated against, there will be some success stories. People like this woman don't succeed because there's no discrimination, they succeed despite the discrimination. Though I guess using yr logic, the success of Albert Namatjira means that Australia wasn't a "racist apartheid country", and if you dare to argue that one, yr going to lose that debate just as quickly as you'd lose one that Israeli-Arabs don't suffer from discrimination and that Israel isn't indulging in apartheid in the Occupied Territories...

Violet...

[Gimel]

3. Her story

Her interest was obviously furthered by the Israeli musical institutions, and she didn't mention difficulties with discrimination. Her success was made possible by her family's liberal ideas, as Muslim women from more orthodox families would not allow this career for their daughters. This is what she makes clear in her statements.

To succeed at the age of 25, she had obvious talent, but no big roadblocks in her career.

"...But Massalha says there's nothing unusual about it because she comes from a conservative Muslim community, a 'very accepting village and a very open family.'

....In communities where Islam is observed more strictly, there might be a conflict, observes Massalha.

'If I lived in a more restrictive place, they would have a problem with what I do.' "
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