From Harpo's Harp to the Galilee: Adina Haroz on Walking Three Years to Her Dream

What would you do if you wanted to learn harp — but there was only one teacher in your entire country, and she told you you were too old?

This week on the Strings of Hope Podcast, I’m sharing my conversation with Adina Haroz — one of Israel’s celebrated harpists, and my very first harp teacher.

Adina grew up in Israel at a time when you could count all the harpists in the country on two hands. After losing her father in war, music became her family’s way of keeping his memory alive. When she chose the harp, there were two problems: no teacher would take her — and there wasn’t even a harp to play.

Then something extraordinary happened. Harpo Marx’s wife donated one of Harpo’s harps to a museum in Israel.

For three years, Adina walked every day to that museum — rain or shine, every day except Shabbat — to practice on Harpo’s harp. It was a long walk, but still walkable. And she did it. Every single day.

What happened next changed the course of harp in Israel.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Following one’s passion and turning dreams into reality
• Learning through mistakes — and finding beauty in them
• Balancing motherhood and family with life as a professional musician
• Teaching students of all religions in the Galilee
• Why she’s learning Arabic at this stage of her career
• What keeps her passionate about teaching after all these years
• Leaving room for “what if…” and improvisation in life

This is a story about dedication. About refusing to let “no” be the final answer. And about how one person’s persistence can open doors for an entire generation.

🎧 ADINA’S MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7iYrh7z7NSyZnUtcn6MSWQ

🎙️ ABOUT THE STRINGS OF HOPE PODCAST Conversations with harpists, harp builders, and music artists from around the world — exploring their life stories, challenges, and what helped them keep going when the path wasn’t clear.

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A note from me: Adina was my first harp teacher. Hearing her full story reminded me that the people who guide us often carry journeys we never fully knew. Three years. Every day. Walking to play someone else’s harp in a museum. That kind of dedication changes lives.

Till next time — stay tuned 🎶 Simcha