‘Make-a-Wish’ kids sing with Streisand, Peres
Group of children with life-threatening illnesses hosted at President's Residence
President Shimon Peres and his guest Barbra Streisand on Monday met at the President’s Residence with 20 children from the “Make-A-Wish” foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.
The children had written a letter 10 days earlier asking to meet Peres for his imminent 90th birthday and to meet Streisand, who is in Israel for two concerts and for Tuesday night’s opening of Peres’s annual Presidential Conference
The children sang with Peres and Streisand and presented gifts from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “In our eyes you are heroes fighting for life, carrying hope,” Peres said.
One of the children, Raphael,19, from Kfar Tavor, told Peres: “You give me strength, optimism and hope that there will be peace in country.”
Koral Vedder, 16, who suffers from a rare form of cancer, sang Streisand’s song, “People,” and was praised by Streisand for a “beautiful” performance.
She added: “It’s so powerful to be in a room with you all, and especially the children, who touched my heart. When I sing ‘Avinu Malkeinu’ tomorrow night for President Peres at his birthday party, I will sing it for you all, so you hear the hope I have for you, for this country, for the world.”
Also on Monday afternoon, Streisand accepted an honorary doctorate of philosophy at the Hebrew University.