From Israel to Franklin High

The faces onstage were unfamiliar and so was the language, but students at Franklin High School in Highland Park didn’t appear to mind as they gathered in the courtyard Tuesday to watch Hadag Nahash, an Israeli hip-hop-rock-funk group, perform songs entirely in Hebrew.

Before a crowd of more than 400 -- an amalgamation of skinny jeans, sneakers, backpacks and hair gel -- Hadag Nahash lead vocalist/rapper Sha’anan Streett chanted into the microphone, “Ma sheba ba, ma sheba ba” (What comes, comes).

Fans of the recent Adam Sandler film “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” recognized it as the comedy’s opening score to which a long-haired Sandler struts and gyrates.

But the song is actually politically motivated, as is the entire repertoire of Hadag Nahash. Formed 12 years ago in Jerusalem, the six-member group and its five albums are well-known in Israel for promoting social consciousness. The band’s message to its homeland torn by violence and civic strife is simple: Make love, not war.

“We do deeply believe that the only solution is a peaceful one, not a violent one,” Streett, 37, said. “This voice of young Israelis needs to be heard more because it exists in our city. Sometimes it doesn’t exist enough in our parliament.”

Hadag Nahash, which means “snake fish,” has performed across the globe for international audiences and hosted concerts in low-income areas in Israel where admission is equivalent to about 25 cents. The group had its biggest hit with “Shirat Ha’Sticker,” known as “The Sticker Song,” which was a litany of bumper sticker slogans seen in Israel that reflect the country’s divisive political climate. Some of the lyrics: “We have no children for needless wars; the Left helps the Arabs; Bibi is good for the Jews; Oslo criminals [should be brought] to justice.”

The consulate general of Israel champions Hadag Nahash and was instrumental in bringing the group to Franklin.

“It’s really personalized world history curriculum, and also it exposes kids to other cultures they don’t normally see in Highland Park,” said Assistant Principal Crystal Powell, who noted that the student population at Franklin is predominantly Latino.

As 11th-grader Tonee Reyes, 16, who watched the performance with interest put it, “It’s good. It’s not the usual.”

And the foreign lyrics didn’t stop some from nodding along. “We find a lot of audiences that don’t understand Hebrew are moved by the music,” said keyboardist David Klemes, 36, who, along with his bandmates, speaks English.

The excitement around Hadag Nahash, which likens itself to the Roots, was elevated by a surprise appearance by Rob Schneider, who co-starred in the “Zohan” movie. Schneider had watched the musicians perform the previous night at the Avalon and volunteered to appear with them at the school. Upon his arrival, the actor was surrounded by autograph seekers until he hopped on stage and encouraged the students to clap and jump along with the band.

“I thought it might help the kids relate to them more if they’re introduced by someone they know through movies,” the actor said.

Schneider and Hadag Nahash later met in the school cafeteria for a Q-and-A session at which students asked about the group’s musical inspiration and the members’ thoughts on the recent U.S. presidential election.

Miriam Aguilar, 17, said she had held a narrow view of Israel and its people before hearing the group. “We can’t be closed-minded about things,” she said. “I think we’re more the same than I thought.”

--

corina.knoll@latimes.com