Israeli music is medicine for the soul

Music has always been a source of comfort, pride, and strength for Israelis and Jews around the world during tough times, and particularly so since October 7, 2023, and the resulting war in Gaza.

And since December last year here in Australia, music has weaved its healing blanket for many, in the aftermath of the deadly Bondi Beach Chanukah terror attack.

Even more recently, in March this year, it has done so again for Israelis, when they spent night after night running to their nearest bomb shelter, as missiles and drones were fired towards them by the Islamic regime in Iran, and its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Why is this so? Because music just makes everything better.

And with the variety of music streaming apps available today, listening to Israeli music has never been more accessible.

There are many published studies around that have shown the benefits of music to people’s health and well-being, and for reducing stress and anxiety.

As Professor Shayna Weiss from Brandeis University put it, music in Israel since October 7 has become “the comforter in chief”.

Symbolic or comforting songs soared to the top of Israel’s music charts throughout 2024 and last year, as the Israeli population – and the singer-songwriters within it – turned to music to express themselves in these deeply trying times, to deal with trauma, to raise spirits, or to satisfy a need for unity, pride, and strength.

There’s way too many songs to mention, and they span a full range of musical styles and emotions, from softly sung ballads to dancefloor dazzlers.

And what better time is there than Yom Ha’atzmaut to embrace and celebrate the role, depth, and variety of Israeli and Jewish music released in the last 30 or so months?

So, turn up the volume, hit the beat, and sing Am Yisrael Chai!

THE AJN’S ISRAELI PLAYLIST

If you haven’t already done so, use the timely occasion of Yom Ha’atzmaut to check out, enjoy, and subscribe to ‘AJN’s Israel Tunes’ – our own Spotify channel, created in January 2025.

So far, it has a compilation of more than 100 Israeli songs that were mostly released in 2023 and 2024, along with some new covers, older Israeli chart toppers, and a trickle of hits by well-known Jewish American artists.

There’s a big range of styles, tempos, and moods in that mix, and collectively, listening to them will not only lift your spirit, but bring a bit of Israeli life, culture and pride to wherever you happen to be – in your car, in your family room, or out for a walk or run.

You will find songs by Israel’s most popular current artists, including Ishay Ribo, Omer Adam, Itay Levi, Yasmin Moallem, Sarit Hadad, Keren Peles, Eyal Golan, Akiva, Stilla & Ness, Hatikva 6, and plenty more.

HITS WITH EXTRA MEANING POST-OCTOBER 7

It could have been the messages in their lyrics, the feelings or moods they reflected or fostered, or the way they were sung. But whatever the reasons, a stack of Israeli songs that were released just before or after October 7, struck a particular chord for millions.

Arguably the most well-known song, Am Yisrael Chai [The people of Israel live] by Eyal Golan – instantly became one of the most popular Israeli songs on YouTube, Spotify on social media, and at many communal events, due to its catchy melody, spirit, and call for togetherness and pride amid wartime.

Yasmin Moallem’s cover of 1978 David Broza song Yihiye Tov [It’s going to be okay] provided comfort through its powerful message of hope amid hard times, as did Yagel Oshri’s Latzet MeDika’on [Overcoming Depression], whose lyrics focused on lighting the way home, even in the darkest of nights.

Young rap/hip hop duo Ness & Stilla’s hard-hitting, anger-filled hit Harbu Darbu [war strike/unleashing hell] provided some release for many feeling numb and powerless in the weeks and months following October 7, and it went viral for that reason. The lyrics called on various units of the IDF to wipe out Hamas’s leaders, and expressed the sentiment that “there will be no forgiveness”.

Hatikva 6’s song Giborey Al [Superheroes] made the top 5 in the Israeli charts by mid-2024, and was also a rallying call for the war effort and pride in the IDF, but with a very different approach and tone to Harbu Darbu. The main line in its chorus is “In each of us hides a soldier, ready to save the world”.

One of the most moving songs released during the Israel-Gaza war, with its stunningly beautiful vocals by Roni Dalumi, accompanied by Idan Raichel, was Tachzor (Come Back) – a kind of musical prayer for the return of all the hostages.

In terms of live performances, the most impactful was arguably a mid-2024 concert in Jerusalem by singer, Fauda series actor, and IDF reservist Idan Amedi, who reunited on stage with one of the combat medics, Tuvia Book, who had saved his life in January of that year, when he was severely injured in an explosion while serving in Gaza.

UPLIFTING NEW TUNES

There’s loads of upbeat, feel-good music released by Israeli singers and bands in the last 12-18 months.

Here are just a few examples of songs and artists that will lift the mood. And when you find and play them on your fave music streaming app, it will find and suggest many more for you that sound similar.

Yuval Dayan’s beautiful and soothing voice has been on Israel’s airwaves for well over a decade, and the chorus in her latest big hit, Hine Bahu Hayamim (Here the days come) absolutely soars. It’s a pure pop song about being open to change, going with the wind, and not giving up.

Any of Odeya’s new tracks will get you dancing, such as Parparim (Butterflies), Papi, Rocky, or her dance hit with Sarit Hadad called Bahorot Tovot (Good girls).

So too, will Eden Ben Zaken’s uber cool and purposely posh new track Tofeset [Catch].

For pure pop bliss, play anything recent by Agam Buhbut.

For soaring vocals, try Tamar Reili’s power balad Bakbuk bayam [A Bottle by the sea], Omer Adam’s latest song Mishpacha ve’Kavod [Family and respect], Ben Zur’s Tashlich [Throw it], slow builder Porchim Leshuvam [Bloom for their return] by Ishay Ribo, or Pe’er Tasi’s pop rock cracker Of Muzar [Strange bird].

For a more chilled groove, turn to Yasmin Moallem’s hip hop flavoured Ten Li et ha Esh [Give me the fire], Akiva’s Tseadim [Steps], Hatikva 6’s Lichzor Habayita [To return home], or Chole Yare’ach [Moonstruck] by Itay Levi.

And Israeli metal stalwarts Orphaned Land’s latest release is a cover of the timeless Jewish liturgical hymn “Echze Be’Noam”. It’s starts quietly, and builds nicely from there, creating a spirited sound that goes back to the band’s roots in the early 1990s.

EUROVISION MAGIC

Israel’s bold, brilliant and breathtakingly successful performances at the last few Eurovision Song Contests are another instant, and ongoing, source of inspiration, prowess, and pride.

In 2023, Noa Kirel sang a song called Unicorn, and finished in third place – Israel’s best result since it last won the event in 2018.

In 2024, Eden Golan’s Hurricane [originally titled ‘October Rain’], received the second highest public votes tally, and came fifth overall in the final.

In 2025, Nova festival massacre survivor Yuval Raphael’s performance of New Day Will Rise saw her earn the contest’s most public votes, and earned her second place overall.

It’s definitely worth experiencing those amazing performances of those songs by watching the again on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Israel is set to soar again in the 2026 Eurovision, from May 12-16 in Vienna, represented by Israeli pop singer Noam Bettan, who will sing Michelle, in French, Hebrew and English.

THE JEWISH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

There are some absolute standout, musically brilliant, and emotionally powerful songs and live performances that were created or delivered by Jewish Australian artists in recent months.

In mid-2025, Canberra-based Liana Levin went into the recording studio and created – with the input of Adam Starr – a beautiful rearrangement of Israel’s 1995 Eurovision entry, Amen.

It was for Israeli Yarden Bibas, as a heartfelt musical tribute honouring his wife Shiri and their very young children Ariel and Kfir – all of whom were murdered while taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Levin said she hopes the song helps “make the spirit strong”.

Another very worthy mention must go to two mesmerising performances in Sydney by SHIR – a diverse group of Jewish musicians directed by member Ben Adler.

First, they delivered a powerful performance in front of more than 20,000 people gathered for a vigil at Bondi Beach just a week after the December 14, 2025 Bondi Beach Chanukah terror attack that killed 15 people and injured more than 40.

SHIR was then included in the 2026 Australia Day Live concert in front of the Sydney Opera House, and their performance of Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu – broadcast live around Australia on ABC TV – marked the debut of a Jewish song in the program.

At the Shloshim vigil held beside the temporary memorial and the Bondi Pavilion, Ilan Kidron sung a special version of Waltzing Matilda, in memory of 10-year-old Matilda Bee Britvan, with Matilda’s father Michael and her little sister Summer singing along behind him, and more than 1,000 attendees. The lyrics were both beautiful, and heartwrenching: “Once a little bright girl played by the ocean shore, under the shade of the tall pine trees, and she sang and she laughed, with the dancing flames of Chanukah, you’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.”

Last but not least, talented Sydney brothers Ezry and Mizzi Israel – in the days that followed the Bondi terror attack – wrote, sung, and recorded the song Light Will Win – Ha’or Yenatzeiach, and it became part of their healing process.

They made a video clip of the song, which went viral when released, and then had the honour and opportunity to perform the song live on stage at the official reception event for visiting Israeli president Isaac Herzog, held on February 9 at the International Convention Centre Sydney.