Israeli-Iranian singer Rita performs at U.N.

(JTA) — Israeli-Iranian singer Rita performed at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.

The “Tunes for Peace” concert Tuesday night, sponsored by the New York and Los Angeles chapters of the Iranian American Jewish Federation and the UJA-Federation of New York and hosted by Israel’s permanent mission to the United Nations, was just the third-ever full-fledged concert in the U.N. venue. 

The singer, who goes by just her first name, but whose full name is Rita Yahan-Farouz, performed in Hebrew, English and Farsi.  The audience was comprised of Iranian expatriates, Israeli diplomats, U.N. employees, and representatives of 140 U.N. delegations, according to Haaretz.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon introduced the evening using the word “shalom” and called Rita “a cultural ambassador,” according to Haaretz.  

“It is our sincere hope that this musical evening will echo from New York to the hearts and minds of people throughout Israel and Iran,” said Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N.

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