Eviatar Banai

Eviatar Banai (also spelled Evyatar or (incorrectly) Evitar; Hebrew: אביתר בנאי; born February 8, 1973) is an Israeli musician, singer and songwriter.

Upon his return to Israel he settled in the desert town of Mitzpe Ramon, where he started working on his second album, Shir Tiyul (שיר טיול, Trip Song).

On Purim day of 5765 (2005) he released his new album `Omed Al Neyar (עומד על נייר, Standing on Paper), produced by Gil Smetana.

One song was an adaptation of a poem by Rachel, some others were contributed by Etgar Keret, Amir Lev and Gilad Kahana and rest were written by Banai.

Banai released his fourth album Layla Kayom Yair (לילה כיום יאיר, The Night will be as Bright as the Day; taken from Psalms 139:12) on November 22, 2009.

It was similar in musical style to `Omed Al Neyar, while the lyrics showed Banai's deeper involvement with Judaism.

In October 2018, Education Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Banai would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Jewish-Israeli culture.