Israel "Sruli" Portnoy () is an English-born Israeli singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as half of the band The Portnoy Brothers with his younger brother Mendy. He also has a solo career and has released albums as a solo artist, most notably ''Facing Flames ft. Guilda,'' which was released in the aftermath of a forest fire burning his home in the village of

Mevo Modi'im Mevo Modi'im (, ''lit.'' Modi'im Gateway), officially Me'or Modi'im (), is a moshav in central Israel. It is also known as the Carlebach Moshav. Located north-west of Modi'in on Highway 443, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hevel Modi'in Regi ...

Early life

Portnoy was born in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

, England, as the sixth of nine children. His father is a rabbi and former

orchestra conductor Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary duties o ...

. He and five other siblings made ''

aliyah ''Aliyah'' (, ; ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine (region), Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the Israel ...

'' to Israel as adults, though, as of August 2023, Portnoy has been residing in the United States. He and his brother Mendy studied music from a young age and began playing together around age 14, though Sruli said he began "making up songs" from as early as age 6. He originally took piano lessons, with Mendy taking guitar, before the two switched. At age 16, Portnoy moved to Israel to study at

yeshiva A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The stu ...

but said that he "spent most of istime in isroom with isguitar" and subsequently left to study at Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute and later on the Rimon School for Jazz & Contemporary Music for a year and a half before leaving to find more creative freedom.

Discography

With Portnoy Brothers

*''Learn to Love'' (2016) *''No Complaints (2019)''

Albums

*''Facing Flames'' (2021)

Extended plays

* ''Guilda LIVE Lookout Session (Guilda Live)'' EP (2023)

Singles

*"Peace of Prayer / Shalom" (2020) *"Aura" (2023) *"Mi Haish" (as a featured artist with

Nissim Black Nissim Baruch Black (born Damian Jamohl Black; December 9, 1986) is an American-Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Under the stage name D. Black, he released the albums '' The Cause & Effect'' (2006) and '' Ali'yah'' (2009) and was ...

and The Niggun Project) (2023) *"Baby Boo" (2023) *"Heart & Soul Medley" ( Thank You Hashem, Israel Portnoy) (2024) *"Shalom (Live at Zion Gate)" (2024) *"IMADI" (as part of his upcoming album ''Poetry in Prayer'') (2024) *"HASHIVENU" (as part of his upcoming album ''Poetry in Prayer'') (2024) *"Seed of Abraham" featuring Hasidic Billboard Charting Artist,

Moshe Reuven Moshe Reuven Sheradsky (), known professionally as Moshe Reuven, is an American rabbi, musician, entrepreneur and public speaker. Early life Sheradsky was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida. In high school, he began making music with his fr ...

(2024) *"GESHEM / LET IT RAIN" (as part of his upcoming album ''Poetry in Prayer'') (2025) *"Yizkor / Let Us Remember" (as part of his upcoming album ''Poetry in Prayer'') (2025) *"NEW DAY WILL RISE" ( Thank You Hashem, Israel Portnoy, a cover of Yuval Raphael's single with the same name) (2025)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portnoy, Israel Living people British emigrants to Israel Musicians from Manchester Jewish singers Jewish songwriters British rock guitarists British rock singers Jewish rock musicians 21st-century British guitarists Jewish British musicians 1990 births