Nehedar will bring her new music to life in a performance on June 19 at FeelBeit in Jerusalem. 

By NERIA BARR

The Jerusalem Post

Maureen Nehedar’s latest single, “Chesed,” for which she wrote both lyrics and music, marks a poignant chapter in her musical journey.

As the second release from her upcoming fifth album, following the title track, “Moledet,” it signals a deeply personal and introspective turn in her artistry.

Nehedar will bring this new music to life in a live performance on June 19 at FeelBeit in Jerusalem, a concert that promises to be a heartfelt celebration of her journey.

From Iran to Israel

Born in Isfahan, Iran, Nehedar immigrated to Israel at the age of two, fleeing the upheaval of the Islamic Revolution. Her mother, married at 15 in an arranged union, made the courageous decision to leave the marriage and start anew in Israel, raising Maureen and her sibling as a single parent. This act of defiance against traditional norms laid the foundation for Nehedar’s understanding of strength and survival.

Growing up in Jerusalem, she often felt like an outsider. Attending schools where most students and teachers were Ashkenazi, she grappled with a sense of cultural disconnection. Her mother worked multiple jobs to support the family, instilling in Maureen the values of resilience and self-reliance. “There was no room for weakness. I had to grow up quickly,” she recalls.