Rami Kleinstein | 39th Berlin Jewish Culture Days

Born in New York and raised in Israel, the pianist received piano lessons from Daniel Barenboim’s parents. Today, he combines classical technique with emotional directness. His songs, carried by piano and voice, reach a broad international audience with their intensity and love of melody.

Kleinstein gained widespread recognition through his close collaboration with singer Rita Farouz, his partner at the time. He wrote and produced many of her most successful songs, including “Shara Barchovot,” with which she represented Israel at the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb. Since 1986, he has released numerous albums—all featuring Hebrew lyrics.

With “תפוחים ותמרים” (“Tapuach ve Tmarim”), Rami Kleinstein created a timeless classic in 1995 that is still played regularly on the radio today and also creates a warm, positive atmosphere at festive occasions. The song centers on a woman who, after a failed romance, initially experiences heartbreak and loneliness. It is only the small things in everyday life—symbolized by the eponymous “apples and dates”—that gradually lead her back to hope, self-confidence, and a zest for life. Thus, the song evolves from a ballad about loss into a quiet plea for optimism and self-assertion.

Many of his more recent songs are more personal and reflective, including “חכי עם הדמעות” (“Wait With the Tears,” 2024) and “מחר חדש” (“Machar Chadash” – “Tomorrow Is New,” 2025). They are partly shaped by his processing of the events following October 7, 2023.