Eden Golan singing October Rain in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv. Photo: Ziv Koren/Polaris
Eden Golan singing October Rain in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv. Photo: Ziv Koren/Polaris
Intense Jewish prideMusic has been part of Judaism since the dawn of time

Feel the musical magic

Knowing music brings comfort and joy to everyone who hears it, the AJN has compiled a list of uplifting and comforting Israeli songs for the community to enjoy.

If you live in my house, you must love music. It’s a prerequisite for being part of the family. Why? Because music makes everything better.

Feeling frustrated? Play some music. Feeling sad? Play some music.

Kids arguing? Have a dance party in the living room and let them shake all their sillies out. Feeling happy? Well, that playlist is only going to make you feel happier.

There are many studies around showing the benefits of music.

In a TED Talk shared a few years ago, music educator researcher Dr Anita Collins shared findings from years of research by neuroscientists which found that when people listen to music, their brain lights up.

“They would get the participants to do all sorts of tasks, reading maths problems, and they would see certain areas of the brain light up,” Collins explained. “But when they asked the participants to listen to music, they saw fireworks. They had never seen so many areas of the brain light up at the same time.”

Collins was speaking about the benefits of music education in young children, and how learning music helps in all areas of life.

“When they asked the participants to listen to music, they saw fireworks. They had never seen so many areas of the brain light up at the same time.”

“What if a large number of scientific studies had found that there was one activity that could improve our cognitive function, help our memory systems to work, help us to learn language, help us to moderate our emotional states, help us to solve complex problems and help our brains to be healthier into later life,” she asked as she opened her talk. “What if that activity, unlike the momentary pain of a vaccination needle, is actually enjoyable for everyone involved,” she continued, explaining that the activity in question is as “old as our cultures and societies itself.”

Music has certainly been part of the Jewish culture since the dawn of time, with our prayers being lovingly sung throughout the ages.

And music has certainly been a comfort for many Jewish people around the world during tough times, particularly since October 7.

Consider Eyal Golan’s Am Yisrael Chai for example. The song was released two weeks after October 7 and quickly went viral. It has become one of the most popular songs on YouTube, Spotify and social media since, with many organisations – including those here in Australia – using it at their events. It’s catchy, upbeat and brings a sense of belonging and hope to everyone who listens to it (and sings along of course).

Then there’s Yagel Oshri’s Latzet MeDika’on which translates to ‘Overcoming Depression’. With lyrics talking about lighting the way home, even in the darkest of nights, it’s no wonder the moving song has become the soundtrack for videos shared on social media of returning soldiers and loved ones.

In 1978, David Broza released Yihiye Tov, a song written by songwriter and poet Yehonatan Geffen. Literally it translates to “it will be good” but most people use the phrase as a way of saying “it’s going to be ok”.

According to Kveller, the song was written about Anwar Sadat’s visit to Israel, the dreams of peace that it offered, and also the dream of better days. It has been rewritten several times throughout the years, and in May 2023, it was reproduced by Jasmin Moallem.

While not inspired by any particular political event, the song has really encapsulated people’s feelings post-October 7, especially because of what did inspire Moallem. As written in Kveller, “It was an intimate song about a couple sitting together and telling each other that no matter what, everything will be okay. Something about the spirit of that song has captured everyone in these post October 7 days, when the idea of things being okay seem so alien. ‘In the end, it will be okay/The flowers will go back to blooming/You’ll see that it will be okay,’ Moallem sings.

The image of the red anemones in the fields outside the kibbutzim that were attacked on October 7, which became a symbol of grief, make the song feel almost prophetic.”

One of the more recent songs by Keren Peles alongside the children of October 7 was released on the one-year anniversary of the attack. Peles has described Outside My Home as “the story of a complete life of a country in crisis, a reminder to continue to sow, even though and in the name of what was taken” explaining that the space outside their home is where children should be able to eternally run free without fear. Peles sings with children whose families were affected by the massacre and those who were released from Hamas captivity, including Emily Hand who sings the final line, “I lost my fear/In the field behind my home”.

And then of course, there’s Hurricane – formerly October Rain – by Eden Golan which was Israel’s entry to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Israel had to edit the song twice for it to be accepted into the contest, removing anything that could be understood as political or obviously connected to October 7, which is how it was renamed as Hurricane. Golan though has performed October Rain in its original form, most notably at Hostage Square.

There’s no denying that music can bring up memories – good and bad – and stir up some pretty intense emotions. Research has shown that music can reduce stress and improve one’s mood. Which is perhaps why the Jewish people have always embraced music – we’ve been through our fair share of persecution and tough times and music has helped us heal mentally and emotionally while fostering connection.

As Collins said at the end of her TED Talk, “music is a beautiful and wonderful art form that almost every human being on the planet enjoys in so many different ways, every single day.”

It’s definitely a source of connection in my home, with music constantly blasting from the radio in the car and from the speakers in the house.

What brings me the most joy is when my five-year-old requests Am Yisrael Chai, then Baderech Hamelech and then Tel Aviv.

And then, he sings along at the top of his lungs.

There’s definitely intense Jewish pride in the next generation.

The AJN has compiled a list of Israeli songs with requests submitted by you in the community.

Our hope is that you too play this at top volume, showing your pride and love for our Jewish homeland.

Subscribe to our Spotify channel for regular playlists.

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