There is a magical spell in the Israeli music. It is either the Mizrahi (middle-eastern) motif swirls, or the simple and naive words about the future, love and understanding sang in this fragile land - but you feel it in your heart. When I first came to Israel in 1991, Galei Zahal (Israeli Army Radio) was my window from the four-bedroom apartment shared by seven new immigrants of various ages and distant relationships into the world of young and confident Israelis. I fell in love with the songs of Izhar Ashdod, Haverim shel Natasha, and Yehuda Policker.
We kept listening to these songs in LA and Boston, discovering new albums and artists on every visit to Israel, trying to recreate the sacred feeling of Iom Shishi (Friday) through Israeli newspaper and music. Together they served as a poison and anti-poison, with the newspapers usually being disturbing and infuriating, while the music healing and nostalgic.
Moshe had always adored Ehud Banai and a few years ago bought two tickets for us to attend his concert in Boston. A strong storm on that day dumped seven feet of snow, cancelling schools, altering traffic and job schedules. Our babysitter called to cancel, afraid to drive on the slippery icy roads after the storm. We were quite certain that the concert will not take place but the organizers insisted that Banai and his band are coming from NYC by bus. Moshe went with a few of our friends, navigating his 4-wheel drive through the frozen Narnia land. Banai and his group ended up arriving two hours late. They reciprocated by playing for three straight hours and the auditorium cheered by joining in, dancing and standing ovations.
Through their songs, Ehud Banai, Arkadi Duchin, Aya Korem, Nehama Sisters and others, brought us here. They may very well be the reason why thousands of Israelis living abroad always hope to go back one day, they are the best and most honest PR Israel has.
Now, our first outing back here is a concert of Ehud Banai in the Gesher theater in old Jaffa. Illuminated palm trees, cobblestone plaza and evening humidity seems to be a surrealistic alternative to Boston's snow. A Sepharadic rocker, singing inside a Russian theater, located in a mostly Arab town. Despite the biting price of the tickets the theater is packed. As soon as the songs come up we feel at home.
We kept listening to these songs in LA and Boston, discovering new albums and artists on every visit to Israel, trying to recreate the sacred feeling of Iom Shishi (Friday) through Israeli newspaper and music. Together they served as a poison and anti-poison, with the newspapers usually being disturbing and infuriating, while the music healing and nostalgic.
Moshe had always adored Ehud Banai and a few years ago bought two tickets for us to attend his concert in Boston. A strong storm on that day dumped seven feet of snow, cancelling schools, altering traffic and job schedules. Our babysitter called to cancel, afraid to drive on the slippery icy roads after the storm. We were quite certain that the concert will not take place but the organizers insisted that Banai and his band are coming from NYC by bus. Moshe went with a few of our friends, navigating his 4-wheel drive through the frozen Narnia land. Banai and his group ended up arriving two hours late. They reciprocated by playing for three straight hours and the auditorium cheered by joining in, dancing and standing ovations.
Through their songs, Ehud Banai, Arkadi Duchin, Aya Korem, Nehama Sisters and others, brought us here. They may very well be the reason why thousands of Israelis living abroad always hope to go back one day, they are the best and most honest PR Israel has.
Now, our first outing back here is a concert of Ehud Banai in the Gesher theater in old Jaffa. Illuminated palm trees, cobblestone plaza and evening humidity seems to be a surrealistic alternative to Boston's snow. A Sepharadic rocker, singing inside a Russian theater, located in a mostly Arab town. Despite the biting price of the tickets the theater is packed. As soon as the songs come up we feel at home.
One of my favorite songs "I will bring you" ("אביא לך")
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