A Tale of Four Jews: Boaz Cohen on Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Lou Reed

Four groundbreaking artists, four distinctive voices, and one story about the music that changed the world.

The Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem invites you to an engaging lecture by Boaz Cohen, award-winning radio broadcaster, author, pianist and lecturer on culture, who brings his deep musical knowledge and captivating stories about the artists, works and eras that shaped popular culture to an exploration of four of the most influential figures in popular music: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Lou Reed.

All four grew up in Jewish families with roots in Eastern Europe, emerged as major artists in the United States during the 1960s, and became defining voices of an entire generation. They blurred the boundaries between poetry and song, brought literature and philosophy into rock and roll, and gave popular music new depth and meaning.

Their songs captured the social and cultural transformations of the era: the struggle for civil rights, the Vietnam War, rebellion against convention, the search for personal freedom, and timeless questions of faith, love and identity.

This fascinating musical and cultural journey travels from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to New York’s Greenwich Village, tracing the stories of four pioneering Jewish artists who reshaped the language of music and left a lasting mark on popular music for generations to come. Throughout the evening, selected excerpts from interviews, films and live performances will bring their stories and their influence on the world of music to life.

Join us for a fascinating evening exploring four artists, four stories, and the songs that transformed the face of music.

Come for our exhibitions and stay for a captivating performance or thought-provoking lecture. Experience a Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem exhibition at 7:00 PM, then enjoy an evening of culture, art, and inspiration with one combined ticket.