Simmons found more family jewels on his homecoming
Jewish Telegraph, April 2011
MUSIC legend Gene Simmons had a surprise on his trip ‘home’ to Israel.
The Kiss frontman met a brother and three sisters whom he didn’t know about.
The Kiss star, born Chaim Witz, emigrated to America with his Holocaust survivor mother Flora at the age of eight after his parents divorced — and he had never returned until now.
The 61-year-old and his partner, former Playboy model Shannon Tweed, are in Israel as part of his reality TV show Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels.
On Monday, Simmons tweeted: “In Israel, land of my birth. Very inspiring. Bethlehem. Nazareth. Galilee, Jerusalem. Home to the religions — Judaism, Christianity & Islam.
“Never knew I had a brother and three sisters. Kobi, Sharon, Eugenia and Drora. We met. We reconnected. We loved each other.
“My father left when I was 7. Was married 6x (six times). No one knows where he was born, or how many children he had. He’s always been a mystery to me.”
Partner Shannon posted a picture of Simmons playing the guitar wearing a yarmulke that belonged to his father.
The couple, along with son Nick, were visiting Yad Vashem when last week’s bomb exploded in Jerusalem — killing British woman Mary Jane Gardner.
Simmons said the attack would not discourage him from going ahead with plans for Kiss to tour Israel in the near future.
He said: “There’s one thing that unites Israelis, Arabs and all humanity. We all strive to be free. There’s a new generation of Arabs who are doing astonishing things.
“We have to take a moment to honour Arabs for having the courage to stand up.”
Simmons, who last week slammed musicians who boycott Israel for political reasons, believes Jews and Arabs can peacefully coexist.
He said that the bombing was the work of extremists who do not believe in freedom, democracy or peace.
He also tweeted: “A profound salute of respect and admiration to Arabs around the world for standing up and demanding freedom. We are one.”
The couple also spent time at the Kotel, Masada and Haifa where they visited the hospital where Gene was born.
Shannon tweeted: “I have fallen in love with Israel.”
Kiss fans packed into the King David executive lounge at the Dan Carmel Hotel, Haifa, to hear Simmons talk to them in English and Hebrew.
He also stayed at the Dan Tel Aviv, saying Dan Hotels had given him “royal welcome”.
Meanwhile Wienerworld continue their Kiss obsession with another DVD this month.
On April 11, they release Kiss — Invasion about Vinnie Vincent’s tenure in the band from 1982–84.
The DVD features rare interviews with Vincent, who took the persona of The Whiz using an Egyptian ankh design as his make up.
This week, Wienerworld released Kiss — Meet the Press.
