Mordechai Zeira

Mordechai Zeira (; July 6, 1905 – August 1, 1968), born in Kiev as Dmitry Greben, was an Israeli composer. Mordechai Zaira (Greben) was one of the most important Israeli composers and songwriters. He wrote melodies for the best poets and songwriters, including Jacob Orland, Nathan Alterman, Aharon Ashman and Alexander Penn. His works are still played today, some in modern versions by young artists. At the time he was called “the troubadour of the Hebrew singer”. Biography Mordechai Zaira was born Dmitry Mark (Mitya) Greben in the city of Kiev in the Russian Empire (now the capital of Ukraine). He studied mechanics at the Polytechnic of Kyiv, but due to the difficulties of earning a living, he stopped his studies after two semesters and moved to sewing shoes. In 1924 he was arrested for being in the Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair, but received a permit to leave the Soviet Union and immigrated to Israel at the age of 19. In Israel, he joined Kibbutz Afikim (then called “Kibbutz Hashomer Hatzair S.S.S.R.”), which was then located near Yavne’el. The members of the kibbutz staged a performance of a Hebrew opera called “Carmela”. The orchestra, which included a concertina and co