The Sixteenth Sheep

An Israeli Classic Crossing Borders and Generations

"The Sixteenth Sheep" (HaKivseh HaShishah-Asar) is a children's album created in Israel in 1978, but it carries significance everywhere in the world and at any moment in time. This sheep has the ability to speak to the child within us, at any age and anywhere on earth.

This is a unique album, created by some of the most talented musicians and creators in Israel. They composed a work of art that merges story and music. The rich and universal lyrics, which encourage critical thinking, are understood by any audience reading the translations in their own language.

The songs speak to the child about the world, from the child's own perspective. This makes them beloved by children and adults alike, and relevant to children in every culture around the globe. For example, songs about a closed playground, the fear of thunder and lightning during a storm, being "The Prettiest Girl in the Kindergarten" (according to her mother) and still feeling sad, and more.

The 1978 record has been voted several times into the list of the greatest Israeli albums of all time. This beautiful children's album was also adapted into a children's play performed at the Cameri Theatre in 1991, broadcast as a television program in 1995 and 1999, and revived again in 2000.

The Revival – January 2024

In January 2024, eight Israeli musicians living in the Netherlands decided to collaborate on a moving tribute show. We believe that reviving this famous children's album is a project more significant and relevant than ever. In these challenging times, where Israeli and Jewish communities around the world face a complex reality, returning to core values — family ties, mutual support, preserving nature, love for animals, human connections, hope, and disappointment — is essential for maintaining our shared human values.

In a country like the Netherlands, where Israeli and Jewish communities are a minority, raising awareness of these issues is especially important. Therefore, the show is performed in Hebrew, with Dutch translations provided in the program. Performing such a beloved album will not only bring nostalgia and joy to Israeli and Jewish families but also serve as a bridge for cultural exchange and understanding within the communities in the Netherlands.

My father played this record for me when I was a child, and now I play it for my son. And I know that my son will play it one day for his own children. This musical work is still considered one of the most successful albums ever produced in the history of the Israeli music industry, and it has no equivalent in Europe. It combines styles, vocal arrangements, and harmonic and rhythmic movements that are not typical of ordinary children's songs. "The Sixteenth Sheep" challenges its listeners and respects them — whoever they may be.

Ultimately, the revival of "The Sixteenth Sheep" has the potential to be not only a successful cultural endeavor but also a source of unity and inspiration for us and for the next generation.