Naomi Polani

Naomi Polani was born in 1927 in Tel Aviv

Polani was born in Tel Aviv in 1927 to Yehi'el Polani and Ada née Chissin. Her maternal grandfather was Dr. Chaim Chissin, one of the founders of Tel Aviv.

She studied acting at Ha'Ohel Theater and dance with Gertrud Kraus, and graduated from Gymnasia Herzliya. She then joined the Palmach, trained at Kibbutz Hatzerim and escorted convoys to Jerusalem. During the War of Independence she helped found the Palmach troupe HaChizbatron.

After the war she acted at the Cameri Theater and studied music with Herbert Brin and dance with Noa Eshkol. Between 1958 and 1961 she directed the Northern Command, Armored Corps and Nahal bands, shaping a staging style of songs, skits and acted movement. She also composed the song "Al Gadot HaYarkon" to lyrics by Haim Hefer.

In 1960 she founded HaTarnegolim with former band members, and the group disbanded in 1963. In 1966 she founded a children's theater and then HaHamtzitzim, which broke up soon after. She later arranged music for Kol Yisrael radio programs and taught music in the Jordan Valley.

In 1998 she staged a revival of HaTarnegolim songs at the Israel Festival. She received the Israel Prize in 2019 and died in 2024.