AKRON, Ohio — Singer-songwriter Rami Feinstein is strumming his guitar back in northeast Ohio after touring Israel as part of a six-person ensemble.

What You Need To Know

  • Seven American hostages remain in Gaza, according to the American Jewish Community.

  • More than 41,000 people have been killed in Israel's year-long offensive against Hamas, the majority of which, are women and children.

  • A group of musicians from northeast Ohio performed in several cities across Israel with the hopes of bringing hope to the community.

“This is a unique thing. This hasn't happened in other places in America in terms of having a group of artists. Most of the majority of that group is not Jewish.”

Feinstein is from Tel Aviv, moving to Akron area two years ago and becoming the community emissary for Jewish Akron. He’s also the leader of the Akron for Israel tour, performing eight shows in nine days across Israel, including Kibbutz where dozens were killed and taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023. This comes as casualties remain high in the middle east, reaching nearly 45,000 in Gaza and around 1,100 in Israel.

“We performed at Hostage Square. There’s more than 100 hostages still in Gaza held by Hamas, their families, their loved ones,” Feinstein said. “Everybody’s waiting for them, hurting every day, praying and waiting for their return.”

Feinstein still has friends and family back home in Israel, and he said they continue to feel the devastation of the Oct. 7 attacks. 

“We just wanted to show the people of Israel that we support them. We see their pain. They are not alone. They are seen,” he said.

Singer-songwriter Angie Haze said she isn’t religious, but she feels a connection to the Israeli community.

“I’m a survivor of sexual abuse and assault, and so when October 7th happened, and I saw that there was no advocacy for the women in particular who were raped and assaulted, I knew I had to speak up,” she said.

She said the band wanted to show people in Israel they were not forgotten.

“I sobbed the entire time,” Haze said. “My heart was just so heavy for. For the people there and for the misunderstanding of the people there.”

Feinstein said the international tour is only the beginning.

“We are definitely considering so many things right now because this thing went way over anything that we expected in so many levels, both emotionally and the response for us,” Feinstein said. “The impact that it had on us, it changed our lives.”