As our brothers and sisters in Israel sit in the “mamad” (merchav mugan dirati – apartment’s safe area), and as a consideration of our brothers and sisters in Israel, this week’s column will be little different. Let’s review some songs to raise the morale and bring some happiness to the mamad or those who sit in shelters. For those who read the column in Israel, please be mindful of the other people in the mamad/shelter for whom the music may be too loud. It is always good to be considerate, especially at these times.
I remember as a kid during the Gulf War, we used to sit in the mamad with gas masks. We stayed home from school and learned in the teachers’ homes. We carried the gas masks with us and practiced how to use them. The reason the Israeli government gave gas masks to the Israelis was because of the fear that Iraq would launch chemical missiles to Israel. Baruch Hashem, it didn’t happen. But many Israelis still remember the experience of sitting in the mamad. Unfortunately, in the last few days Israelis have again needed to remain in the mamad or shelters. We hope and pray that the war will end soon, with Israel being victorious over its enemies.
I think the first song that comes to almost anyone’s mind these days is “Am Yisrael Chai.” This song has so many versions. One of my favorites is a South American style by Yehuda Glantz on his album Naale. Start with this song, but I recommend listening to the entire album. High chances that at some point people in the mamad will start dancing.
Idan Amedi is not only a popular singer, he’s also a fighter, a reservist soldier who got wounded during the war in Gaza. He’s a hero, and he also makes great music. Check out his beautiful song “Chelek MeHazman,” which was released in 2016.
“Keev Shel Lochamim,” (“warrior’s pain”) is a song which Amedi wrote about his experience during his army service as a fighter in the IDF. It’s a beautiful, melancholy song. But that’s not the only reason I recommend it. I recommend it also because Idan Amedi deserves it. He could easily be excused from serving in reserve. But he went to fight for Am Yisrael.
We love our soldiers. We support our soldiers. And if a soldier also happens to be a musician, I’d want to include him on my playlist.
“Lo Tenazchu Oti” (“you’ll not beat me”) by Yehoram Gaon is an Israeli classical. Written by Naomi Shemer in honor of the Yom Haatzmaut celebrations of 1984, the song became very popular over the years, as Israeli musicians performed the song.
“From my window, I see a street which seems like a rising river, and people go to work.” “VeTinokot shel Beit Raban Im Hayalkut Sheal Gabam, UByedehem Anfei Hadas Porchim.” “And Jewish kids with their school bag on their back, and in their hands few flourishing myrtle branches. And it suddenly becp,es clear, and I say to myself: No, no, no. You’ll not beat me. I’m not getting beaten so quickly.”
And thankfully, these days, we are defeating the Iranians. We’re not getting beaten. We beat up our enemies. We’re strong. We know what we do. We’re winning. And Be’ezrat Hashem, we will continue to win. We will defeat our enemies.
Which brings me to the next song. One of my favorite songs: “Eize Tov Hashem” by Udi Davidi.
“Eize Tov Hashem.” “Toda Lecha Hashem.” Thank you, Hashem. Especially on days like these, we must not forget that all our success in the war is only thanks to Hashem. Yes, we might have the best pilots, the best Mossad agents, and the best army. But without the help of Hashem, nothing of what we saw in the last days would happen. Since last Thursday, we have seen miracles revealed. We have seen the big miracle that Hashem did for us – such a perfect operation is not something which is possible in reality. A small country in the middle east repels a big country in just a few hours and has open skies to our aircrafts?
How many scary scenarios heard we heard in the last few years about the day Israel will have to attack Iran? It seemed to complicated, nearly impossible. So obviously, we give the credit to our dear pilots, Mossad agents, our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and all those who were involved. But we must not forget that the main reason everything worked perfectly is just because of the hashgacha of Hashem. Hashem protects us. Hashem protects Am Yisrael. And in the last couple of days, the whole world has seen how Hashem protects Am Yisrael.
In the last couple of days, instead of listening to music in the car, I have been listening to Fox News. The hosts are amazed by the Israeli performance; they glorified Israel. But we must always remember, it’s all from Hashem.
“Golani Sheli” performed by Yehoram Gaon, is the hymn of the Golani Brigade. The song has an upbeat rhythm. It starts quiet and becomes more upbeat. It is a song which will raise morale in the mamad.
Another cool and upbeat song is “Himnon Givati,” the Givati Brigade hymn. If you like the Givati song better, you shouldn’t say it near a Golani fighter, or you might get in trouble, and vse vsersa. (If you ask me, my favorite beret is the red one, which I had the honor to wear…)
“Am Hanezach Lo Mefached” is another very upbeat song that I don’t think relates to any specific singer; there are many versions and performances of this song on YouTube. Just search for it and pick up your favorite one.
Another must songs in the mamad or the shelter are obviously “Am Yisrael Chai” by Eyal Golan, “Mi Sheberach” for the IDF Soldiers. My favorite performance is the one of the IDF Rabbanut, which you can listen to on their YouTube.
And now for a quick trivia quiz: without Google or AI (or reading the answer in the next paragraph), from which song is the tune for the popular “Mi Sheberach” for the IDF?
The answer is: the song “Eretz Tzvi” by Yehoram Gaon, which was written for the movie about the Entebbe raid, “Mivtsa Yonatan.” Yonatan is Yoni Netanyahu, z”l, who was killed during the raid. After the second Lebanon war in 2006, a new verse was added to the song in memory of Roi Klein, z”l.
Roi Klein was a major in the Golani Brigade. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers. Before he died, he shouted “Shema Yisrael.”
One of my favorite songs which I also often enjoy playing on my keyboard (and if you search well on YouTube, you might be able to hear me playing it) is the song “Levinyomin” by Avraham Fried from the album Chazak!
Recently, I even had an argument with my singer. He argued that we should not perform the song because no one knows it. I argued that of course people know! This is my favorite song, after all! It is a very upbeat song, a song I have played for years on my keyboard. So, I made a quick survey on Shabbat in my shul. To my disappointment, most of the people were not familiar with the song.
So whether you are already familiar with this song or not, I’d like to introduce you to “Levinyomin,” and dedicate the song to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is doing so much for Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael, managing the war since Oct. 7, and changing the Middle East. Netanyahu works tirelessly for Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael. He has made all the efforts to return our hostages, and is now leading Israel to an historical victory over Iran.
UBeezrat Hashem Naase VeNatzliach.
