Israel Portnoy is no stranger to life’s twists and turns. The UK-born singer-songwriter has moved alone to another country, settled into a new life, and even dealt with a fire that destroyed his home and his recording studio. But despite these hardships, music has always been his constant—a way to express, heal and connect with the world. But when it came to where his journey started, there were humble beginnings.

“My passion for music started early on,” Portnoy shared with The Jewish Link. “My first gig was actually at a wedding ceremony—I think I was 8 or 9 at the time. My father was a rabbi in South Manchester—he now lives in Israel—and I often found myself on the bimah, singing along with my siblings. Singing at the wedding though was when it all clicked for me. I had this moment where I thought, ‘I love doing this. I’m being paid to do this. This is what what I want to do for the rest of my life.’”

At 16, Portnoy moved to Israel alone, seeking a new chapter. Though he initially studied at a yeshiva, he quickly found that his heart wasn’t in it.

“I spent most of my time in my room with my guitar,” he continued. “I enjoyed learning, but it never connected in the same way that music did. I would always be thinking about what songs I could write, what melodies would sound nice. If I wasn’t making music, I’d get distracted.”

After leaving yeshiva, he enrolled in the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute (under Cantor Naftali Herstik OBM) and subsequently in the Rimon School for Jazz & Contemporary music, but even that proved less than what he was looking for.

“It was too structured,” Portnoy continued. “I gained an incredible amount from my year and a half at Rimon but the process of making music for me is very personal, and so I wasn’t finding the freedom I needed to explore and express myself. I needed more creative freedom, so I dropped out of that school too.”

Deciding to pursue music professionally, he formed a group with his brother called The Portnoy Brothers. Together, they released two albums. These days though, Portnoy is mainly focused on his solo career.

“The fact that I get to wake up and make music is everything,” Portnoy continued. “Some people grow up and leave their dreams behind and that could have easily been me, so I consider myself very lucky and I think 8 year old me would be thrilled to know I’m still working at it.”

In 2019, Portnoy faced what he describes as the biggest challenge of his life when a fire destroyed his home. Despite losing so much, Portnoy channeled his resilience into his music, leading to the release of his album Facing Flames, which reflects his journey of rebuilding and rediscovery.

“Facing Flames was all about finding a path forward after the fire,” Portnoy continued. “I was devastated and lost pretty much everything. But I had to keep going, and music has always been my outlet. I’m really proud of how that album turned out.”

Fast forward to 2024, and Portnoy now has a daughter, Aura, who he describes as his biggest inspiration. He’s also working on his latest solo project, Poetry in Prayer, which takes his work in a more spiritual direction, exploring themes of faith, identity and the Jewish experience. The song Imadi, which he recently released, is Portnoy’s response to the overwhelming grief and tragedy of October 7.

To listen to his song, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c1G9BIf3jA&ab_channel=IsraelPortnoyMusic

“The word ‘Imadi’ means ‘with me,’ but in a deeper sense, it’s more like ‘within me,’” Portnoy continued. “After the attacks, I couldn’t release any music. It felt like everything I’d written was suddenly irrelevant. But then I realized this song was actually more relevant than ever.”

The lyrics of Imadi reflect a tension that Portnoy believes is central to Jewish identity: the ability to hold pain and hope simultaneously.

“As Jews, we have this unique ability to grieve for strangers and celebrate life all at once,” Portnoy continued. “That duality is part of who we are, and I think it’s reflected in the song.”

Portnoy has been performing more community events and synagogue concerts in recent months, where the focus has shifted from showcasing his talent to fostering connection and healing through music. Since October 7, he says it’s been less about the songs themselves, and more about what the music can do for the people listening.

“It’s about creating a shared experience where we can process our collective pain, but also hold onto hope,” Portnoy went on to say. “At the heart of it, that’s what music is really all about.”

Portnoy’s journey continues with the upcoming release of more tracks from Poetry in Prayer, as well as ongoing performances in New York and New Jersey, Israel and beyond. To learn more about his music or to book him for a private event, visit his website at israelportnoymusic.com. You can also follow him on Instagram, @israelportnoymusic.

Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at www.adamssoapbox.com.