Barbra Streisand Performs in Hebrew at Shimon Peres' 90th Birthday Bash

(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90)

Israeli President Shimon Peres was guest of honor at a spectacular 90th birthday party in Jerusalem this week. The party was part of the fifth annual Presidential Conference hosted by Peres.

The conference, titled Facing Tomorrow 2013 took place from June 18-20, 2013 at Jerusalem's International Convention Center. It was organized in partnership with Hebrew University. More than 5,000 participants attended this year’s event, including Jewish Humor Central's Los Angeles Bureau Chief Esther Kustanowitz.

As Tia Goldenberg wrote for the Associated Press Wednesday,

Scattered in the audience among Israeli Cabinet ministers and local clergy sat actors Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone. Rwandan President Paul Kagame sat in the front row beside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now an international envoy to the Middle East.

(Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90)

The star of the night was Streisand, dressed in a flowing black dress accented with gold jewelry. Streisand sang the Jewish prayer "Avinu Malkeinu," which Peres called "heavenly" and gave her a long embrace and two kisses on the cheek. The prayer, which means "our Father, our King" is recited on the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and reflection. Streisand said the prayer was meant to "cause all hate and oppression to vanish from the earth."

Peres, who serves in a largely ceremonial position, was serenaded by local musicians and entertained by dance troupes, one of which intercut its music with inspirational quotes from the nonagenarian leader.

Here's the video of Barbra Streisand singing Avinu Malkeinu at the event.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

(A tip of the kippah to Dan Mosenkis for bringing the video to our attention.)